Netflix quality restrictions

[mvitkun]

I was hoping I could get some help from the LTT community in finding out what bit-rates Netflix runs at in different OSs and comparing the browser vs app bit-rate.

 

If somebody running Windows 8, with a fairly good connection, could try playing the video titled "Example Short 23.976" in Chrome and then try playing it in the Windows 8 Netflix App.

And if somebody else could try running Netflix on Linux with Chrome using that same video.

 

I know that on Windows 7 it locks Netflix down to 720p @ 3000kb/s, I'm fairly sure Linux is also locked to 720p @ 3000kb/s, and I think that Windows 8 should still run at 720p @ 3000kb/s in browser but run at 1080p ****kb/s in the app.

 

When you play that video it'll gradually buffer it from Netflix's base quality to the highest quality supported and the bit-rate will show up in yellow text in the upper left hand corner.

 

thanks guys.

[Columbo]

Avsforum.com covered this topic. 1080p is streamed between 4.5-6.0mbps. Or 4500kb-6000kb's. Your 720p numbers are probably quite accurate.

[mvitkun]

Avsforum.com covered this topic. 1080p is streamed between 4.5-6.0mbps. Or 4500kb-6000kb's. Your 720p numbers are probably quite accurate.

I've looked through AVSForum and I can't find any thread that compares bit-rates available on Windows 8/10 with browser,Windows 8/10 with app, Windows 7, and Linux.

Maybe it's there somewhere, however there are hundreds of threads on AVSForum that could have this however they're all 200 pages long and you didn't link anything.

I know what the bit-rates for each streaming resolution would be, I'm wondering under what conditions it plays what resolution via what tool (browser/app).

[thekeemo]

Alt+shift+s

[Mew]

You can just press ctrl alt shift s. The only things that can get 5800kbps is Internet Explorer in Windows 8, the Netflix App, Safari in Yosemite, Chromecast, and Apple TV(I think). Everything else has a max of 3000kbps.

[Lays]

You can just press ctrl alt shift s. The only things that can get 5800kbps is Internet Explorer in Windows 8, the Netflix App, Safari in Yosemite, Chromecast, and Apple TV(I think). Everything else has a max of 3000kbps.

 

 

Would it be better to use the Netflix app then for quality? I'm on 8.1.

 

 

Also, @mvitkun how did you see what bitrate it was using in the app?

[Mew]

Would it be better to use the Netflix app then for quality? I'm on 8.1.

 

The bitrate is the same in IE and in the App, but Chrome, like you said is capped at 3mbps. The quality should be the same at the same bitrate since it'll use whatever video optimization settings you have in your driver settings. 

[mvitkun]

Would it be better to use the Netflix app then for quality? I'm on 8.1.

Also, @mvitkun how did you see what bitrate it was using in the app?

Going to that video, Example Short 23.976, shows it automatically.

[Lays]

Going to that video, Example Short 23.976, shows it automatically.

 

 

On the app it doesn't show it for me.

[mvitkun]

On the app it doesn't show it for me.

That's odd; it shows in every browser with that video, assumed it would work with the app too.

[Columbo]

I've looked through AVSForum and I can't find any thread that compares bit-rates available on Windows 8/10 with browser,Windows 8/10 with app, Windows 7, and Linux.

Maybe it's there somewhere, however there are hundreds of threads on AVSForum that could have this however they're all 200 pages long and you didn't link anything.

I know what the bit-rates for each streaming resolution would be, I'm wondering under what conditions it plays what resolution on via what tool (browser/app).

Those numbers I quoted are for 1080p streaming. Those are the bit rates for Blu-Ray players. I do not know what the bit rate is for computer based web browsers. The 64 bit version of Chrome or IE 11 should be able to stream at 1080p which is close to 6mbps. For 720p, the bit rate is around 3mbps. I have a Sony blu ray player that streams only 720p and another that streams 1080p. I can quite easily tell the difference. The latter player streams DD 5.1 surround.