Trying since May to build blu-ray capable PC

[Jeff_In_Louisville]

I am about at my wits end.

A friend wants a bluray PC and I have been working on it since May.

My original parts I thought were good enough but I have been upgrading from suggestions.

After upgrading the processor, ungrading the BD drive firmware, uninstalled/reinstalled powerDVD and I still can't play without stutters. and audio distortion.

Everything else works great on this PC (DVDs games etc).

I have all green on BD advisor (see bottom).

I have a core duo 3.0 ghz CPU; 8800GTS 640mb video card; 1gb ram; phillips spd7000bd drive; dual 400gb sata drives in a stripe raid; Asus p5w DH deluxe motherboard (using onboard realtek sound).

I am at a loss and can't fathom what could be wrong now.

Thanks in advance,
-Jeff

============BD ADVISOR================
Check Item BD Ready? Info
Processor : Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E6850 @ 3.00GHz Yes
__dwItemID=1001__ : szLibCPUName = Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E6850 @
__dwItemID=1002__ : dwLibClockRate = 3001
__dwItemID=1003__ : dwLibFamily = 6, dwLibModel=15, dwLibStepping=11
__dwItemID=1004__ : dwLibNumPhysicalProc = 2, dwLibNumCorePerPackage=2, dwLibNumLogicalPerCore=0
__dwItemID=1005__ : dwLibCorePerPackage = 2, dwLibTotalLogicals=2
__dwItemID=1006__ : szWMIName=Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E6850 @ 3.00GHz
__dwItemID=1007__ : szWMIManufacturer=GenuineIntel
__dwItemID=1008__ : dwWMIMaxClockSpeed=3001
__dwItemID=1009__ : bBatteryExist=0
__dwItemID=1010__ : szGuess=Core Duo TXX (Conroe)
System Memory : 1024 MB Yes
Operating System : Windows XP Service Pack 2 Yes
Graphics Card : NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS Yes
__dwItemID=1301__ : Adapter Compatibility: NVIDIA
__dwItemID=1302__ : VideoProcessor: GeForce 8800 GTS
Graphics card video memory : 640 MB
Graphics Card Driver : 6.14.11.6371 Yes
__dwItemID=1501__ : 2D Driver=6.14.11.6371
__dwItemID=1502__ : COPP=Yes
__dwItemID=1503__ : RGBOverlay=Yes
__dwItemID=1504__ : DEVICE=N/A
__dwItemID=1601__ : Driver 0:
__dwItemID=1602__ : [D:] PHILIPS SPD7000P
__dwItemID=1603__ : eHCMDrvType=0x002c67c7
__dwItemID=1604__ : CDRom=1 DVDRom=1 BDRom=1 HDDVDRom=0
__dwItemID=1611__ : Driver 1:
__dwItemID=1612__ : [F:] JI1836I VIH033Q
__dwItemID=1613__ : eHCMDrvType=0x00002fc7
__dwItemID=1614__ : CDRom=1 DVDRom=1 BDRom=0 HDDVDRom=0
Blu-ray Disc Drive : [D:] PHILIPS SPD7000P Yes
Software Player : PowerDVD 7.3.3319.0 Yes
Video Connection Type : Analog Yes
Program version : 1.0.1801.0
System language : 0409 ENU English English
Time : Sat Oct 20 21:22:57 2007
Computer : Desktop
System Name : HOMETHEATERPC

[rraquib]

Have tried using a real audio card? Embedded audio card seems to create stutter under cetain situations. Also for a PC like that why only 1GB RAM?

[w_tanoto]

just want to let you know, newer motherboard is not XP compatible (vista only). My attempt to install XP on my new laptop failed (I used raid, the installation went well, but can't load XP)

[jorg]

cheack ram ussage during watching the movie.
wait it says your video connection is analog?
"Video Connection Type : Analog Yes "
don`t u need digital?

[bdrex28]

I'd definitely suggest 2Gb of RAM and a separate Audio Card.

[bhampton]

PS3?

(Sorry. I was a avid HTPC user since 1999 but gave up last year and bought the PS3 and have no regrets. The PS3 is like a HTPC without all the non-stop hassles of a HTPC.)

-Brian

[chasswen]

you are deeply lacking ram load that sucker up.
my 3 cents inflation
chuck

[vanstone]

I hear The NVIDIA GeForce 8400, 8500, and 8600 GTS cards are better for HTPC use then the 8800 series. Something to do with PureVideo HD.

http://www.nvidia.com/page/purevideo_hd.html

Also check out this Product Comparison PDF http://www.nvidia.com/object/IO_43029.html

it states that the 85 & 86 have

- H.264 Decode Acceleration with IDCT and CAVLC/CABAC and
- VC-1/WMV Decode Acceleration with IDCT

The 8800 series does not. Not sure what all that means but I am Using an GeForce 8600 GT with no problems. Also I have 3 GB of ram but never get over about 800 MB when watching a movie. Using PowerDVD ultra and Windows XP MCE.

[PeterTHX]

GeForce 8600GTS.

Better for Blu-ray, has hardware acceleration that the 8800 lacks.

I have a 1.86GHz Core2 in my Media Center and a 2.4 in my main rig. The Media Center has an 8600GTS (w HDMI) and the 8800 is in the 2.4 GHz. BD playback is MUCH smoother on the Media Center. AVC/VC-1 titles stutter on the main rig.

[ESUNintel]

Like most of you have already said. For a blu-ray PC you really should have a stand alone audio card (a good one), preferably an 8600GTS card (as 8800 does not handle movies that well, it's mainly for gaming), and at least 2GD of RAM.

It might help if you use Vista (in the long-run), cause you are going to hate upgrading this computer later on, it won't be fun, and chances are that you will have to upgrade eventually (although the OS shouldn't be the problem now).

The RAID may be the problem, if the BD drive is SATA. A lot of mobo's hate it when you have 3 SATA devices plugged in (and one is just an optical drive).

Good Luck