Update: Netflix 4K streaming on a Windows 10 PC Tested with GPUs

by Hilbert Hagedoorn on: 11/28/2016 05:00 PM | source: | 46 comment(s)

Last week we mentioned in a news-item that only the new and upcoming Kaby Lake processors would be able to handly Netflix in Ultra HD on a Windows PC in combination with Microsoft’s Edge browser. This has now been tested with graphics cards.

German website Heise tested a number of hardware configurations in relation to 4K streaming, as it turns out modern graphics cards such as the GeForce GTX 1000 series and Radeon RX 400 series can’t display Netflix’s 4K content. Streaming 4K content is limited to Microsoft’s Edge browser solely, it is rediculous that it cannot even be watched with the official Windows 10 Netflix app (word however is that Netflix is working on this APP wise).

Netflix only switched to the 4K resolution when an Intel CPU of the 7th generation (Kaby Lake) is available. Now it is not something the graphics cards couldn't handle, but it's more a PlayReady 3.0 copy protection thing as the GPU or driver needs to support PlayReady 3.0 SL3000 and HDCP 2.2 copy protections.

Heise sums it is very simple, ” it’s astonishing that modern AMD-Polaris and Nvidia-Pascal graphics cards are not supported, although they support HDMI 2.0b and HDCP 2.2″. We think support will be added in the not so far future, AMD previously told Heise that Polaris should get PlayReady 3.0 support through a driver update.

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entr0cks
Member

Posts: 85
Joined: 2010-06-18

#5363649 Posted on: 11/28/2016 10:25 AM

If (and that's a big if) it has anything to do with the protection technology, it's another case of creating pointless software that only gets in the way for everyone - most of all the regular user/consumer.
If someone wants to copy and distribute something, they will succeed in doing so.
Easy, it's only "protected" if it's made useless - for example: the end user can't see it.
Possible to record the screen and outgoing audio in many ways.
At least the guys coming up with these kind of things get experience and a salary, but that's the only upside I can see to this.

Evildead666
Senior Member

Posts: 1302
Joined: 2003-09-14

#5363650 Posted on: 11/28/2016 10:26 AM

And the content/Production companies wonder why so many people copy from Streaming websites and torrent sites.

I tried Amazon and Netflix, and couldn't last more than a day.
Unfortunately, having only a 2Mbit line, i'm only allowed just under VHS quality, which looks extremely sh*t.

I am waiting for one of the dense b'stards that make up the distribution comapnies, to realise that a popcorntime type app, would not only alleviate all their bandwidth issues, but allow the people they want to sell to, to actually consume what they want.!

I don't exactly live in the sticks, its just not well served, by any provider. 5Km+ of copper.

Our tiny holiday village in Crete (which is much more remote than home here) has 12Mbit to the home, ffs. 6x what I have in outskirts of Paris.

So, back on topic : Netflix and Amazon are following the usual model, where all consumers are evil, especially those that pay for the right to be shafted.
"All pirating must be evil, look, we are allowing you to watch our content, with only a few restrictions : Country, language, quality, hardware,....nothing too difficult or resrictive mind you".

Hefny
Junior Member

Posts: 13
Joined: 2006-11-30

#5363665 Posted on: 11/28/2016 11:24 AM

Cheap Wintel stunt, pushing Win10 Kaby Lake :puke2:

0blivious
Senior Member

Posts: 2991
Joined: 2006-04-25

#5363673 Posted on: 11/28/2016 12:12 PM

The ways to stream Netflix currently:

Web browser.
Built-in TV app.
Roku. (AppleTV, etc)
Tablet/phone.

Nearly ALL new 4k sets already have built in Netflix/app functionality. (find me one that doesn't)

So yeah, I can see why people whine about this. We're clearly getting screwed over.

fantaskarsef
Senior Member

Posts: 11884
Joined: 2014-07-21

#5363676 Posted on: 11/28/2016 12:32 PM

hehe almost reminds me of how I can't even play Sin City 2 in normal HD because my 10 year old 1080p TV doesn't support the latest HDCP :rolleyes:

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