Streaming protected content with an upgraded video card

[cdf]

I am trying to understand this issue. I have a MVC-flashed Nvidia card, and I am always met with something like this in Safari when trying to stream protected content (from a television broadcaster's website, for example):

If I use Chrome instead of Safari, if I use my original GT 120, or if I disable the Webdriver, the video plays fine. Is this a generalized issue? Are there any recent cards (maybe the 1080 Ti) for which this doesn't happen? Do AMD cards suffer from it as well? Any information would be greatly appreciated.

 

[t8er8]

I am trying to understand this issue. I have a MVC-flashed Nvidia card, and I am always met with something like this in Safari when trying to stream protected content (from a television broadcaster's website, for example):

View attachment 766581

If I use Chrome instead of Safari, if I use my original GT 120, or if I disable the Webdriver, the video plays fine. Is this a generalized issue? Are there any recent cards (maybe the 1080 Ti) for which this doesn't happen? Do AMD cards suffer from it as well? Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Didn’t know this issue existed, I’m on an AMD rx 560, and I don’t encounter anything of the sort, this is a probably because AMD cards don’t need to download drivers because they’re built into Mac OS. Your issues pretty interesting, I’ll pose some questions for you first. Are you sure it’s your gpu that is the issue? Have you reinstalled the web driver? Are your drivers up to date? Have you tried different browsers ie Firefox? Since you said everything works fine on Chrome this could be a safari bug fixed in future updates it also could be an HTML5 or flash error, if this is the case and if it’s really a big issue for you, try reinstalling OS X or updating if you aren’t already on the latest version, get back to me with any updates. Good luck.

 

[TheIguana]

I believe this has to do with how Apple's Safari browser goes about decrypting HTML5 DRM protected video. The decryption is handled by a component of Intel's newer chips (2012 and newer), I don't believe it is something that Apple has enabled graphics cards to handle (even if they support similar mechanisms).

 

[cdf]

The occurs on a clean install of the latest macOS with the latest version of the Webdriver freshly installed. Like Safari, Firefox doesn't work. The issue has existed, it seems, at least since Sierra (when I got the card).

The system must be able to do the decryption, if it works with the Webdriver disabled, or apparently with AMD cards...

 

[DearthnVader]

The occurs on a clean install of the latest macOS with the latest version of the Webdriver freshly installed. Like Safari, Firefox doesn't work. The issue has existed, it seems, at least since Sierra (when I got the card).

The system must be able to do the decryption, if it works with the Webdriver disabled, or apparently with AMD cards...

Can you provide a link to some of the content you are trying to watch, and I'll see if I can view it with my RX580.

 

[cdf]

Can you provide a link to some of the content you are trying to watch, and I'll see if I can view it with my RX580.

Thanks. This would certainly help clarify the issue. Please note, however, that protected content is often region dependant and the decryption error doesn't appear until after the initial ads. Perhaps you could try any full episode of any show, for example, on cbs.com in the States.

 

[ActionableMango]

DRM:

• Adds cost and complexity to content provider, GPU developer, OS developer, and application developer
• Causes problems for legitimate users
• Doesn't stop piracy
• Ensures that the pirated version is more problem-free and compatible than the legitimate version, thus making the pirated version more desirable than the legitimate version

Can someone explain why studios still insist that everyone spend time and money to implement DRM?

 

[cdf]

I'm still really curious if this issue is widespread for upgraded video cards. Would anybody care to try to view a DRM video on Safari with an upgraded video card? If you're in Canada, try any full episode of any show on globaltv.com. As I explained in post #6, make sure that the initial ads have past before concluding that you can view the video.

 

[TheIguana]

I'm still really curious if this issue is widespread for upgraded video cards. Would anybody care to try to view a DRM video on Safari with an upgraded video card? If you're in Canada, try any full episode of any show on globaltv.com. As I explained in post #6, make sure that the initial ads have past before concluding that you can view the video.

Odd that works on my Mac Pro 4,1->5,1 with a GTX680.

That said, and as stated before, I'm betting this had more to do with Mac Pro's missing out on Intel Insider DRM technology. It wasn't introduced until Sandy Bridge (a generation after the 5,1 Mac Pro's) and is part of the reason why native HTML5 video playback in Netflix isn't supported on Mac's older than 2012.

 

[DearthnVader]

Thanks. This would certainly help clarify the issue. Please note, however, that protected content is often region dependant and the decryption error doesn't appear until after the initial ads. Perhaps you could try any full episode of any show, for example, on cbs.com in the States.

Works fine for me 10.13.4 Safari 11.1, RX580.

 

[cdf]

Odd that works on my Mac Pro 4,1->5,1 with a GTX680.

That said, and as stated before, I'm betting this had more to do with Mac Pro's missing out on Intel Insider DRM technology. It wasn't introduced until Sandy Bridge (a generation after the 5,1 Mac Pro's) and is part of the reason why native HTML5 video playback in Netflix isn't supported on Mac's older than 2012.

Thanks. While I understand that our processors lack the DRM technology, I don't understand how that explains why disabling the Webdriver makes the decryption work. I suppose with the 680, you aren't using the Webdriver.

Works fine for me 10.13.4 Safari 11.1, RX580.

Thanks. This seems to indicate that the Webdrivers are at fault in all this.

It would be great if someone using the Webdriver with a Maxwell or newer card could test this, as well.

 

[1madman1]

I'm still really curious if this issue is widespread for upgraded video cards. Would anybody care to try to view a DRM video on Safari with an upgraded video card? If you're in Canada, try any full episode of any show on globaltv.com. As I explained in post #6, make sure that the initial ads have past before concluding that you can view the video.

I can confirm it works fine on a MVC flashed GTX970 w/web driver 378.05.05.25f09, Safari 11.1.1, MacOS 10.12.6. No ads seem to have played back after the 11 minutes I could tolerate (and there was a clear commercial transition), but that could be due to the AdGuard plugin I have installed.

I'm wondering if the type of display connection could be related, I'm using Displayport but HDMI or DVI could be an issue if they aren't passing HDCP info correctly.

 

[cdf]

I can confirm it works fine on a MVC flashed GTX970 w/web driver 378.05.05.25f09, Safari 11.1.1, MacOS 10.12.6. No ads seem to have played back after the 11 minutes I could tolerate (and there was a clear commercial transition), but that could be due to the AdGuard plugin I have installed.

I'm wondering if the type of display connection could be related, I'm using Displayport but HDMI or DVI could be an issue if they aren't passing HDCP info correctly.

Thanks. I guess if I want to get to the bottom of this, I'll have to try with a Sierra installation and a different monitor. The plot thickens!

 

[cdf]

With a fresh install of 10.12.6, it's still a no-go for my MVC GTX 750 Ti and protected content...

 

[1madman1]

Does a well documented service like Netflix work? (In Firefox - it's been pretty much broken for older Macs in Safari for a while)

Does non-browser based DRM content play, for example iTunes HD content?

 

[cdf]

Does a well documented service like Netflix work? (In Firefox - it's been pretty much broken for older Macs in Safari for a while)

Does non-browser based DRM content play, for example iTunes HD content?

Thanks for the suggestions. Netflix works in Firefox, but so does other protected content. I don't have any iTunes movies, but trailers play fine...

I've read that the early-Maxwell architecture of the 750 Ti doesn't have all the hardware decoding capabilities of newer cards. So maybe the issue is that Safari does not recognize this GPU's limitations. Perhaps somebody with a GTX 750 Ti could chime in.

 

[Stux]

All your monitors need to be HDCP compliant, connected to HDCP compatible graphics cards, with a drivers which supports HDCP in order for Safari DRM to work.

 

[tsialex]

All your monitors need to be HDCP compliant, connected to HDCP compatible graphics cards, with a drivers which supports HDCP in order for Safari DRM to work.

I have not one, but three monitors from AOC that Safari throws HDCP error on Netflix and Firefox don't. Even on a Mac mini 2012.

 

[cdf]

I'm still so annoyed by this. Just so that I can get some closure and rule out a faulty GPU: Would anybody with a GTX 750 Ti like to try if they can view DRM content on Safari? (Please refer to post #8.) I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[bookemdano]

I'm still so annoyed by this. Just so that I can get some closure and rule out a faulty GPU: Would anybody with a GTX 750 Ti like to try if they can view DRM content on Safari? (Please refer to post #8.) I would greatly appreciate it.

I have a MVC-flashed 750Ti (not installed but I can easily install it to test for you), but I am not in Canada, so I doubt your link in post 8 would work for me. If you can find something that works in the US I'd be glad to test it.

 

[Ludacrisvp]

I tried to check as well, but apparently I have too strong of an adblock setup to watch cbs.com as regardless of browser I just get this:

Sorry, this video is currently unavailable. Please refresh your page or try again later. Need additional help? Check out our troubleshooting tips

And I'm not in Canada.
I have no issues watching DirecTVNow if that helps, this is on my MP3,1 with GTX650.

How is your monitor connected to the Mac? HDMI? DVI? DP? VGA?

 

[cdf]

I have a MVC-flashed 750Ti (not installed but I can easily install it to test for you), but I am not in Canada, so I doubt your link in post 8 would work for me. If you can find something that works in the US I'd be glad to test it.

That would be ideal. Thanks. Perhaps any full episode of any show on cbs.com (or any other broadcaster really).

How is your monitor connected to the Mac? HDMI? DVI? DP? VGA?

Thanks. My monitor is connected through DP. I've also tried HDMI with my TV and DVI and VGA with an older monitor.

 

[Synchro3]

I'm still so annoyed by this. Just so that I can get some closure and rule out a faulty GPU: Would anybody with a GTX 750 Ti like to try if they can view DRM content on Safari? (Please refer to post #8.) I would greatly appreciate it.

Once I tried a GTX 750 Ti in my Mac Pro: Could not play iTunes DRM movies

But no problems playing DRM movies with GTX 680 or GT 630.

So I guess it's an issue with some GTX 750 Ti.

 

[cdf]

Once I tried a GTX 750 Ti in my Mac Pro: Could not play iTunes DRM movies

But no problems playing DRM movies with GTX 680 or GT 630.

So I guess it's an issue with some GTX 750 Ti.

Thanks for your input. This is valuable information, especially now that some are looking into getting basic EFI cards, like the 630, 640, or even 750 Ti, for Mojave support.

 

[bookemdano]

Thanks for your input. This is valuable information, especially now that some are looking into getting basic EFI cards, like the 630, 640, or even 750 Ti, for Mojave support.

I ran on my MVC 750Ti for over a year regularly, and I don't remember ever seeing any kind of DRM-related errors. But then again I don't do a whole lot of video streaming on my Macs (have Apple TVs for that).

My Mac Pro is at work. On Monday I'll bring in my 750Ti, install it and will try playing some stuff that seems like it would be DRMed (what about Amazon and Netflix?). I will let you know my results.