Intel iMac fast enough for HDTV playback?

[MartinAyla]

Hi

Do you think the new Intel iMac will be fast enough for 1080p playback without dropping frames?

I see that the Apple recommendations for 1080p in Quicktime 7 is a Dual 2.0 G5. Can this be compared with the new iMac, is it as fast?

http://www.apple.com/quicktime/guide/hd/recommendations.html

 

[BornAgainMac]

I believe that new ATI video card handles H.264 decoding for you. So the new iMac won't even sweat when playing a movie and use those idle CPU cycles for other things.

Check out the thread on the new ATI card for details.

 

[crazzyeddie]

I believe that new ATI video card handles H.264 decoding for you. So the new iMac won't even sweat when playing a movie and use those idle CPU cycles for other things.

Check out the thread on the new ATI card for details.

Indeed it should... if Apple has fully implemented that in software and drivers. Even then, one of the CPUs will probably use about 75% of its cycles.

 

[hvfsl]

On the PC, the X1600 (the graphics card in the Intel iMac) can do hardware decoding of H.264. So as long as Apple take advantage of it, you should be able to play 1080p content without problems.

However you will of course have to get a BlueRay or HD-DVD drive for the iMac when they comes out.

 

[MartinAyla]

Thanks for the answers.

But what if it doesn't use the GPU for HDTV playback (if Apple haven't implemented it yet in software)?

Can the CPU's handle it then?