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Frequently Asked Questions for Blu-ray Disk Playback with Intel® Graphics

Content Type: Product Information & Documentation   |   Article ID: 000006968   |   Last Reviewed: 02/20/2025

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Which Intel® Graphics Controllers support Blu-ray Disc movie playback?Intel® graphics products and any Intel® products released after these, all support Blu-ray Disc playback. Be aware that individual experience may vary depending on the Blu-ray disc title and computer configuration.
  • Intel® G31 Express Chipset1
  • Intel® G33 Express Chipset1
  • Intel® G35 Express Chipset1
  • Intel® G41 Express Chipset
  • Intel® G43 Express Chipset
  • Intel® G45 Express Chipset
  • Intel® G965 Express Chipset1
  • Mobile Intel® GL960 Express Chipset1
  • Mobile Intel® GM45 Express Chipset
  • Mobile Intel® GM965 Express Chipset1
  • Mobile Intel® GS45 Express Chipset
Note 1 The Intel G31, G33, G35, and G965 Express Chipsets and the Mobile Intel GL960 and GM965 Express Chipsets only support software-accelerated decode of Blu-ray disc content. Software acceleration means the decoding of the content is performed by the processor.
Which operating systems with Intel® Graphics Controllers support Blu-ray Disc movie playback? With Intel® Graphics Controllers, Blu-ray disc playback is only supported with Windows Vista* and newer operating systems. Some media features required for Blu-ray disc playback, including content protection, are only available in the Intel® Graphics Driver for Windows Vista. Intel Graphics Drivers on the Windows XP* operating system still support playback of Standard/High Definition (SD/HD) video clips, DVD, and other sources of video.
What media players are optimized for Intel® Graphics Controllers? Intel has worked with key media application vendors to optimize media playback with Intel® Graphics Controllers. Key media vendors and their applications (including newer versions of these applications) include ArcSoft TotalMedia Theatre*, Corel WinDVD 9* with its Blu-ray Update Pack*, and CyberLink PowerDVD*.
How can I ensure the best possible media playback experience? It is important to ensure you are using the latest versions of the media player application, system BIOS, and the Intel® Graphics Driver.
  • Latest version of the player application
    It is recommended that you use a version of the player from your computer manufacturer. In addition, Intel has worked with key media application vendors to optimize media playback. Key vendors and their applications include ArcSoft TotalMedia Theatre*, Corel WinDVD 9* with its Blu-ray Update Pack*, and CyberLink PowerDVD 8*.
  • Latest System BIOS for your computer or motherboard
    Visit your computer or motherboard manufacturer’s website to check for the latest BIOS. If you have an Intel® Desktop Board, you can get the latest BIOS from the Intel Download Center.
  • Latest Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator driver from your computer or motherboard manufacturer
    Intel makes generic versions of the graphics drivers available, but it is recommended you use the latest drivers that were validated by your computer or motherboard manufacturer. These drivers can usually be downloaded from your computer or motherboard manufacturer's website.

    If you have an Intel Desktop Board, the latest driver that has been validated with your board can be downloaded from the Intel Download Center.

    To see if a newer generic graphics driver is available for your computer, visit the Intel® Driver & Support Assistant. If this utility finds that a customized driver is installed, see the page customized computer manufacturer graphics driver is detected for additional information.

My processor utilization is high when playing a Blu-ray Disc movie. Is this normal? Processor utilization is affected and can vary depending on a number of factors including the computer's configuration and the Blu-ray disc content being played. For example, older Intel® Graphics Controllers which support software decode of Blu-ray disc content will have high processor utilization since the decode is handled by the processor. Sometimes, older un-optimized software may cause unusually high processor utilization. It is important to ensure that an optimized media player version is being used along with the most recent graphics drivers and system BIOS.
I am unable to play Blu-ray Disc movies on my computer. What should I do? Try each of the following suggestions in the order listed below:
  • Check with your computer manufacturer to see if it supports Blu-ray disc playback. This is especially important if the computer did not originally ship with a Blu-ray disc drive and the drive was later added.
  • If your computer manufacturer has confirmed that your computer supports Blu-ray disc playback, then check if your computer has the latest version of the system BIOS, graphics driver, and media player. Refer to the How can I ensure the best possible media playback experience? question on this page.
  • Are you using the Windows Vista* operating system? Refer to the Which operating systems with Intel Graphics Controllers support Blu-ray Disc movie playback? question on this page.
  • Check to see if the problem is also seen when you play a different Blu-ray disc title.
  • If your computer uses the Intel® G45 Express Chipset or a chipset from the Mobile Intel® 4 Series Express Chipset Family, refer to the How do I check the PAVP setting on my computer? question on this page to check if PAVP Lite mode is enabled.
My video is displaying as black with an error message that the video cannot be displayed. How do I fix this? Download and install the latest Intel® Graphics Driver. Newer versions of our graphics drivers do not show this issue.
What is Protected Audio Video Path (PAVP)? Protected Audio Video Path (PAVP) is a feature to ensure a robust and secure content protection path for high-definition video playback including Blu-ray discs on the Windows Vista* operating system. PAVP ensures that computers supporting hardware-based decode acceleration are properly utilized in order to deliver smooth playback. In addition, PAVP reduces processor utilization by off-loading the video decode onto the chipset to free up the processor to perform other tasks.
Which Intel® Chipsets support PAVP? With integrated graphics, the desktop Intel® 4 Series Chipsets Family and the Mobile Intel® 4 Series Express Chipset Family are the first Intel® Chipsets to support PAVP. The computer’s BIOS, player application, and graphics driver must also support PAVP. Intel® Desktop Board products using the Intel 4 Series Chipset Family all support PAVP.
Which PAVP mode do Intel® Chipsets and Intel® Desktop Boards support? Computers using the integrated graphics controller of the desktop and mobile Intel® 4 Series Chipset families and designed to support Blu-ray Disc playback ship with PAVP implemented in Lite mode or has exposed a BIOS setting allowing the user to select Lite mode.

PAVP implementations in Lite mode meet the industry content protection requirements and allow use of the chipset's native hardware decode capabilities for best high definition media experience.
How do I check the PAVP setting on my computer? To check if PAVP is enabled on your computer, follow the suggestions below:
  • Check your computer's System BIOS
    Some computer or motherboard manufacturers may have exposed the PAVP setting within the System BIOS. Consult your computer or motherboard manufacturer's documentation on how to enter the System BIOS. Be aware that some computer manufacturers may not recommend users to enter the System BIOS menus or modify the System BIOS settings.

    If you see a PAVP setting in the System BIOS, then verify that PAVP-Lite is selected. If you do not see a PAVP setting, refer to the Why do I not have an option to select a PAVP mode or disable PAVP? question on this page.

  • Check with your computer or motherboard manufacturer
    If your computer's System BIOS menus do not show a PAVP setting, Intel recommends checking with your computer or motherboard manufacturer.
Why do I not have an option to select a PAVP mode or disable PAVP? Your computer may not be using an Intel® G41/G43/G45 Express Chipset, a chipset from the Mobile Intel® 4 Series Express Chipset Family, or a new Intel graphics product. These are the first Intel® Chipsets to support PAVP.

If your chipset supports PAVP, your computer or motherboard manufacturer has not exposed the PAVP setting in the System BIOS, but has typically enabled PAVP-Lite mode by default.

 

 

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