H263 vs H264 | CIF vs 4CIF | 384k vs 768k

[jpowell79]

I was attempting to explain to a "non-AV" co-worker the differences between H263, H264, CIF, 4CIF, 384k, 768k in terms of quality for an end user.

My explanation may not have been "technically" 100% accurate, but I feel it offers a good idea of the differences.

If anyone wholeheatedly disagrees, please feel free to share your own opinions.

This is my explanation:

H.263/H.264 = Think "compression"
CIF/4CIF = Think "resolution" (i.e. image quality)
384k/768k = Think "smoothness" of the call

So if you imagined a H263 call was a word document, then a h264 call would be a "winzipped" word document.

So if CIF was a VHS recording, then 4CIF would be DVD (1080p obviously being blu-ray!)

If 384k was a "streamed" movie off the internet, then 768k was a movie you are watching directly from the hard drive

Now of course these examples are purely to offer an understanding, that the "average Joe" would understand.

If anyone has a far better way of explaining them, I'd be interested to hear :-)


....


Further to that I was asked what would be better:

Call A) H263 4CIF running 768k
Call B) H264 4CIF running 384k

Personally I would say Call A would be better UNLESS they were running at the same bandwidth, in which case I'd opt for call B.

Would you go as far to say that if bandwidth is not an issue whatsoever, it's better to go with H263 every time?

Interested in peoples opinions on this.

thanks

[AcidF]

Hey man

Here is a file i have found which explains.
Hope this helps.

[jpowell79]

nice pdf...thanks :-)