kherrPremium
join:2000-09-04
Collinsville, IL | [HSI] Size of typical NetFlix movie What's the typical file size of a NetFlix movie (90 min) now and what will be the file size when they increase their data stream ??? I have 30M and the connection is fairly solid. I just signed up and wonder when I'll be pushing the cap (movie freak) even though most people say they rarely enforce it.. Once TiVo adds NetFlix to their Mini, I'll be in an even worse mess ...
I had a time getting my second TiVo to recognise NetFlix. I was beginning to think that only one Tivo would register (being only one stream allowed at a time). After a couple of hours and 3 visits to TiVo help, rebooting the second unit solved the problem. |
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aguenPremium
join:2003-07-16
Grants Pass, OR Reviews:
 ·Callcentric
 ·Verizon FiOS
| Only Netflix can give you a valid answer and their not talking as far as I know.
Just by way of providing some perspective (if you're not already aware):
From a decent digital cable TV provider, an 1080i HD video stream is ~16Mb/sec and a 720p HD video is ~11 Mb/sec.
Not knowing what type of encoding/compression Netflix uses is the main question as to what the actual file size(s) of a given video will be, as well as what the quality of the viewed video will amount to as well. |
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kherrPremium
join:2000-09-04
Collinsville, IL | Thanks for the answer. I didn't know there were that many variables. I guess I'll reset my router counter and try to figure from there. The only problem with that is that it counts by packets and not by bits/bytes. |
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Reviews:
 ·Charter
| reply to aguen
said by aguen:Only Netflix can give you a valid answer and their not talking as far as I know.
Just by way of providing some perspective (if you're not already aware):
From a decent digital cable TV provider, an 1080i HD video stream is ~16Mb/sec and a 720p HD video is ~11 Mb/sec.
Not knowing what type of encoding/compression Netflix uses is the main question as to what the actual file size(s) of a given video will be, as well as what the quality of the viewed video will amount to as well.
I don't know where to begin with this.
First off, Netflix already gives you the bitrates that they will run clearly on their site. With a current max at 4800kbps and in some places, if you are lucky enough, 5400kbps. This equals out to between 2.2GB per hour, to about 3GB per hour.
Second, Cable providers use crappy encryption (MPEG2 with crap tier encryption), so their "HD" streams usually result in sub-par pictures, even with much more bandwidth going to them, whereas, netflix uses MPEG4 streaming, which is a much better encode, and results in much better quality, even with its small size. Cable TV is nowhere near a 16Mbps(megabytes? really, M and m make a difference). If you meant megabits(mbps) per second, then I would say a cable 1080 stream is probably closer to 10, and the 720 is closer to 6 or 7, since their source is crappy, and its MPEG2 with crappy compression, and overly compressed to save space on the channels and lines. |
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Reviews:
·Charter
| reply to kherr
I don't know why he didnt google, or why he(the first response) didnt fact check, but netflix gives you their streaming rates(and thus, the data size per hour) on the site.
Max HD stream on Netflix is 4800kbps, which results in about 2.2GB per hour of usage.
If you get their "superHD" or 3D streams, those cap out at 5400kbps, which is about 3GB per hour.
The difference is that netflix uses MPEG4 part 10 (h264) streaming, which is a much better compressor, and bit for bit, gives better quality than a cable company could ever hope to match without significant upgrades to their systems.
So, while the netflix streams are usually smaller than what your cable companies own HD streams to your box are(typical HD from a cableco is about 10mbps for 1080, and 7 for 720), they are a much better quality because your cable company is using compression technology from over 10 years ago, and is still using the MPEG2 codec for video, which when combined, results in a terrible HD picture when compared to newer formats like netflix or hulu. |
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kherrPremium
join:2000-09-04
Collinsville, IL | From the menus I can SEE, there is no information as to bit rates. I have CRAPPY XP/IE that will not show all of the web page graphics. At best I have to slowly pass the pointer around the screen to find what are supposed to be dialog boxes and hope there is some clue as to what the dialog box does by the bottom line of the screen. Sorry I don't have $1000 right now to BUY a new computer. I cannot reinstall windows because I don't know where the disk is. If I could have found the info to start with I would NOT have asked. If there was another way to find the info I would have done it. If you have to give a smart ass answer, just don't reply. |
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aguenPremium
join:2003-07-16
Grants Pass, OR Reviews:
·Callcentric
·Verizon FiOS
| reply to Chubbysumo
said by Chubbysumo:Second, Cable providers use crappy encryption (MPEG2 with crap tier encryption), so their "HD" streams usually result in sub-par pictures, even with much more bandwidth going to them, whereas, netflix uses MPEG4 streaming, which is a much better encode, and results in much better quality, even with its small size. Cable TV is nowhere near a 16Mbps(megabytes? really, M and m make a difference). If you meant megabits(mbps) per second, then I would say a cable 1080 stream is probably closer to 10, and the 720 is closer to 6 or 7, since their source is crappy, and its MPEG2 with crappy compression, and overly compressed to save space on the channels and lines.
Perhaps you should learn that it's the "b" in Mb that differentiates between bits and bytes.
Also, if you happened to look at my user info, you would have noticed that I was once a FIOS user/customer. The DVR's we used had the means to measure the bit rate for various channels. I didn't see where the OP or myself were comparing "cable" tv to Netflix. |
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| reply to kherr
next time google. googling "netflix bitrates" would have save you lots of time. i was tempted to post this first. »bit.ly/13GXK5g |
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 DrDrewSo that others may surf.
join:2009-01-28
SoCal
kudos:8 | reply to kherr
Find them here:
»movies.netflix.com/HdToggle |
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