Adobe has offered a beta version of Flash, 10.1, which provides some new features. As expected, the new version of Flash offers video acceleration through the graphics card, but only under Windows.

Linux and Mac OS X and 64-bit forgotten

First thing to know there is no 64-bit, apart from an alpha of Flash 10 for Linux. While 64-bit processors (and systems) are democratizing, it is a real problem. Secondly, the video acceleration is not available under Linux or Mac OS X, while the Flash is just one CPU to pit these two systems. Adobe says that Linux has no API for efficient decoding of H.264 (VDPAU while there) and that Apple does not provide access to APIs decoding in Mac OS X.

What to Windows

Under Windows, the video acceleration is available, but there are some restrictions. First, you have an NVIDIA: the GeForce 8 and above are supported, except the maps based on G80, where the PureVideo does not work (the GeForce 8800 GTX, Ultra and GTS first generation). In addition, on some cards (8400GS and ION, etc.), videos in 854 pixels wide (HQ on YouTube) do not support acceleration. At AMD, we need a map of the family 4000 or more or a PGI family 3000, and Catalyst 9.11. With Intel, the owners of machines GMA X4500 (G45) have a priori an acceleration, but the machines GMA 900, 950 and GMA 500 are not. Finally, Flash 10.1 support as Broadcom BCM70012, present in some netbooks.

Note still pending our tests of Flash 10.1 and the result is correct in only one case: with NVIDIA. With a GeForce, the gain is very important (the CPU usage never exceeds 50% on a platform 330 in Atom ION), whereas with an ATI card increases the CPU usage (it was impossible to play HD video so fluid on a Sempron) and with an Intel, the acceleration has no effect.