iTunes Protected Video Black Screen Solution (HDCP)

[esetnik]

I also have downloaded movies in iTunes working but black screen (no progress) streaming playback and Netflix error.

 

[mafx3]

Just wanted to let you guys know that I was able to fix all my problems by switching my SMBIOS to iMac Pro 1,1.

The issue I had was that whenever I disabled iGPU in BIOS, DRM (iTunes, Netflix, HBO, etc.) would work but FCPX wouldn't. Whenever I enabled iGPU in BIOS, FCPX would work but DRM would not. Vicious cycle. Since iMac Pro uses only dGPU, it doesn't use iGPU for encoding in FCPX (iMovie etc) therefore I am having no issues just sticking with the dGPU. Even when iGPU is enabled in BIOS (but probably unused by OS).

I was worried that it would affect my sleep and CPU performance since I am using i7 8700k not a Xeon. I haven't noticed any down falls. I am going to look into speedstep, lower frequency, etc. to see if it that part of the CPU is affected, however, my Overclock is still working (4.7Ghz) and honestly that is all I care about but for those interested I will post back and let you guys know what I find.

 

[Scott1204]

Just wanted to let you guys know that I was able to fix all my problems by switching my SMBIOS to iMac Pro 1,1.

The issue I had was that whenever I disabled iGPU in BIOS, DRM (iTunes, Netflix, HBO, etc.) would work but FCPX wouldn't. Whenever I enabled iGPU in BIOS, FCPX would work but DRM would not. Vicious cycle. Since iMac Pro uses only dGPU, it doesn't use iGPU for encoding in FCPX (iMovie etc) therefore I am having no issues just sticking with the dGPU. Even when iGPU is enabled in BIOS (but probably unused by OS).

I was worried that it would affect my sleep and CPU performance since I am using i7 8700k not a Xeon. I haven't noticed any down falls. I am going to look into speedstep, lower frequency, etc. to see if it that part of the CPU is affected, however, my Overclock is still working (4.7Ghz) and honestly that is all I care about but for those interested I will post back and let you guys know what I find.

Are you able to stream iTunes DRM movies?

 

[mafx3]

Are you able to stream iTunes DRM movies?

Yeah, all streaming services work. FCPX works, iMovie works. Matter of fact I’m having trouble finding something that doesn’t work. When I changed SMBIOS my USBFix Kext wouldn’t work but that because I had to modify from iMac19.2 to iMacPro1,1 for it to work.

Another problem with switching SMBIOS is to have to sign out of iCloud and restore my files back. Basically a re-setup for iMessage, iCloud, FaceTime, etc.

 

[esetnik]

@mafx3 when you switch to iMacPro1,1 did you lose QuickSync? Are you able to decode HEVC on the Vega64 or does it use CPU decoding.

 

[pastrychef]

@mafx3 when you switch to iMacPro1,1 did you lose QuickSync? Are you able to decode HEVC on the Vega64 or does it use CPU decoding.

QuickSync will not be available if IGPU is disabled. On macOS 10.14.5, if you use iMacPro1,1 system definition, HEVC should be handled by the dGPU.

 

[esetnik]

Are there any downsides to this approach? I have everything working on my system with connectorless framebuffer and quick sync enabled, but no protected video playback. Otherwise my system is a much better fit for iMac18,3. Are there other popular ways to get protected video playback without disabling iGPU entirely?

 

[mafx3]

@mafx3 when you switch to iMacPro1,1 did you lose QuickSync? Are you able to decode HEVC on the Vega64 or does it use CPU decoding.

Sorry for the late reply, theoretically yes, you will lose QS by Intel iGPU. However, it will be handled by Vega dGPU instead. I haven't run into any issues having iGPU enabled but what I noticed is that most Apple apps look into what SMBIOS you have. If you're running iMac Pro 1,1 it will complete leave iGPU unused. Maybe iGPU works with third party apps. Although, I haven't tested this theory...

 

[pastrychef]

Are there any downsides to this approach? I have everything working on my system with connectorless framebuffer and quick sync enabled, but no protected video playback. Otherwise my system is a much better fit for iMac18,3. Are there other popular ways to get protected video playback without disabling iGPU entirely?

I think there are a fair number of people doing it this way and have yet to see any of them report any issues. I'd say it's safe.

I think this is the most effective way to get DRM content to work.

 

[mafx3]

Are there any downsides to this approach? I have everything working on my system with connectorless framebuffer and quick sync enabled, but no protected video playback. Otherwise my system is a much better fit for iMac18,3. Are there other popular ways to get protected video playback without disabling iGPU entirely?

After researching this topic, I learned all video is all handled by frameworks (like AppleGVA). There is a mac model list with specs telling it what to use according to each model in each of the frameworks. In other words, when you open a video, or work on FCPX, it looks to the framework first to know what to do and how to handle the work to the hardware. Depending on your SMBIOS, it will pick that GPU. For iMac Pro, all video automatically goes to dGPU. You could potentially modify the framework as well but I don't have those instructions. There are some mods on AppleGVA using Shiki.kext.

I don't particularly know what is the requirement for DRM Protection but I imagine that the GPU and monitor cable have to be directly connected. This is why I think that iGPU processing for video doesn't work for DRM that is connected via dGPU. I may be wrong about this, would gladly accept another opinion/fact but for now, all I know I got my system working good with iMacPro1,1 SMBIOS.