Upgrading PC for Blu-Ray: HDCP & DVI/VGA

[Mad Dog 666]

Hi Everyone,

I've just bought a Blu-Ray drive for my PC and I'm now about to buy a new HDCP-compliant graphics card to suit.

Bearing in mind that I'm quite happy to display the output at non-HD quality on my old (non HDCP) monitor if possible,

1. can I buy an expensive card with 2 DVI outputs and use a DVI to VGA adaptor to display on my monitor (or will the card still look for the HDCP handshake and refuse to display as a result)

2. or am I better to buy a cheaper card with a VGA out and plug this straight into my monitor (and will it display?)

Thanks for your help,

Mad Dog

[hiro1030]

Hi,

It should work via VGA for now even though analog Component video is limited to 1080i (interlaced) resolution.

However, you should also consider what OS and software you are using.

If you are using XP and PowerDVD, you need to have a video card which Cyberlink has approved as Cyberlink have broken the HDCP check under XP in the latest PowerDVD update (4617). I use Radeon HD 4670 1GB and it worked fine with the previous version of PowerDVD 4407, but not with 4617.

However, it doesn't have to be a high-end video card. Even NVIDIA 8400 is approved by Cyberlink.

If you are using ArcSoft Total media Theatre (TMT), any mid-range video card should work like my Radeon HD 4670 ($70 for 512MB and $130 for 1GB).

[Mad Dog 666]

Thanks Hiro! (Real name or Heroes fan?!)

That's good news!

So, given that you say a VGA feed to my monitor will work,

is this possible using a DVI out with a DVI to VGA adapter

or do I need to go for a card with a direct VGA out?

I have seen 2 different versions of a Radeon 3650 and want to know which one to go for...

Many Thanks,

Mad Dog

[hiro1030]

A DVI to VGA adapter should work.

BTW, yep, that's my real name. I like the show too!