Anyone know what is better to use here? Not sure if I should be using hardware or software decoding in my IPTV interface. I'm using IPTV Smarters w/ a Fire TV Box. All my other units are Firesticks.
Anyone know what is better to use here? Not sure if I should be using hardware or software decoding in my IPTV interface. I'm using IPTV Smarters w/ a Fire TV Box. All my other units are Firesticks.
I also wonder about the check box options?
I think its better to be software decoding unless your streaming box is high end like an Apple TV for example.
native can work better the hardware but remember when changing the player restart the app as the player wont take over until you have done so it will still have the other option on the playback video ..
Great thanks everyone!
I use software since it enables me to have subtitles on channels which carry it.
Hardware or native for me. Have a shield, and those 2 options have given me the best results in terms of smoothness for sports (the channel needs to be 60 fps as well)
Software is garbage, if watching sports @ 60fps it will look like shit.
I've farted around with smarters (playing with multi-screen feature) and came across a nasty surprise. Even if you have native or hardware decoding set in the options, when you play back a channel it doesn't actually do hw decoding until you press the HW on screen button and it turns red. :/
To answer the main question, hardware decoding is superior across the board until you get to the crazy shit like madvr which requires a ridiculous amount of processing, requiring a high-end CPU. For any sort of set top box, always choose hardware decoding: it has superior picture quality and smooth playback.
Obligatory "you should also try Tivimate" comment. :)
Try what's better for ya
Changed to Hardware on the Fire TV box, and the other 2 Firesticks.....definitely seems better! I was noticing if a scene was lets say.....5 seconds or more, you could start to notice a little bit of pixel degredation....then it would kind of "flick" real quick (if you notice carefully), and go normal............this was cycling constantly during long, still scenes. It was very noticeable during sporting events (football) this past weekend. Quality just wasn't there. After changing to hardware today, I can notice a difference. Can't wait to watch football again this weekend!
I use hardware setting on my Firestick 4k and Nvidia Shield. Runs well on both for me. Try them all and see which one gives you the better picture without buffering