Is this computer good enough to play Blu-Ray? - Blu-ray Forum

bugmenot · 05-01-2008, 05:30 AM

I just ordered a Dell Inspiron 530, with the following:

Intel Core2 Duo processor E8200 (2.66GHz,1333FSB)
2GB DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz
24 inch E248WFP Flat Panel Display
Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3100
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit)

I'm going to buy a Blu-Ray DVD-ROM drive separately, and now I'm reading about how you need really powerful hardware to watch Blu-Ray movies. So is my processor and amount of RAM good enough? And will I need to add a real video card, or will the Intel 3100 be good enough? Thanks.

jcrt2000 · 05-01-2008, 05:36 AM

you will need at least either an radeon 2400 or nvidia 8400 video card to watch blu rays. you also need to make sure the card is hdcp compliant.

Obiit · 05-01-2008, 11:18 AM

You will need a HDCP Hardware Acceleration graphics card - something like an ATI HD 3450 (or above) or an Nvidia 8600 (or above).

As it looks like your monitor is HDCP compliant (apart from the drive) your good to go

bugmenot · 05-01-2008, 10:31 PM

Would 256 MB of video memory be enough for me to watch Blu-Ray DVDs and also use the Aero interface of Vista? Or would I need 512 MB? The monitor is 24" widescreen.

Obiit · 05-02-2008, 03:14 PM

256 meg of video RAM is fine. But some blu-ray software players don't like the Aero interface (from what I've read) so you may have to turn it off for blu-ray then back on afterwords.

un4gvn94538 · 05-02-2008, 03:37 PM

http://www.cyberlink.com/english/tec..._gen/index.jsp

running this advisor from cyberlink is also helpful.

w_tanoto · 05-03-2008, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bugmenot

Would 256 MB of video memory be enough for me to watch Blu-Ray DVDs and also use the Aero interface of Vista? Or would I need 512 MB? The monitor is 24" widescreen.

it's enough. When you play BD, aero will be turned off automatically. This is what I hate when I play BD. Mine is 256MB

supersix4 · 05-03-2008, 11:13 AM

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1200702767829

bestbuy was running a sale for this week for the BFGtech 9600 gt OC 512mb for like 169 beast card for that price doesnt seem to be that price around the web

amazon has it for 220

http://www.amazon.com/BFG-GeForce-Ex...9813133&sr=8-2

outtie · 05-03-2008, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcrt2000

you will need at least either an radeon 2400 or nvidia 8400 video card to watch blu rays. you also need to make sure the card is hdcp compliant.

Please Contact me

w_tanoto · 05-03-2008, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcrt2000

you will need at least either an radeon 2400 or nvidia 8400 video card to watch blu rays. you also need to make sure the card is hdcp compliant.

I think Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3100 is sufficient to play BD using PowerDVD, but not WinDVD. Correct me if I am wrong.

The question is: is it HDCP compliant. Your monitor is said to be HDCP compliant, but I am not sure about your graphic card

05-01-2008, 05:30 AM	#1
bugmenot Banned Member since:Jan 2007	Is this computer good enough to play Blu-Ray? I just ordered a Dell Inspiron 530, with the following: Intel Core2 Duo processor E8200 (2.66GHz,1333FSB) 2GB DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz 24 inch E248WFP Flat Panel Display Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3100 Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit) I'm going to buy a Blu-Ray DVD-ROM drive separately, and now I'm reading about how you need really powerful hardware to watch Blu-Ray movies. So is my processor and amount of RAM good enough? And will I need to add a real video card, or will the Intel 3100 be good enough? Thanks.

05-03-2008, 11:13 AM	#8
supersix4 Blu-ray Archduke Top contributor Member since:Mar 2007 Blu-ray collection:572 Blu-ray reviews: 53 Trading Score:3	http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1200702767829 bestbuy was running a sale for this week for the BFGtech 9600 gt OC 512mb for like 169 beast card for that price doesnt seem to be that price around the web amazon has it for 220 http://www.amazon.com/BFG-GeForce-Ex...9813133&sr=8-2 Last edited by supersix4; 05-03-2008 at 11:15 AM.

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05-01-2008, 05:36 AM	#2
jcrt2000 Banned Member since:Feb 2008	you will need at least either an radeon 2400 or nvidia 8400 video card to watch blu rays. you also need to make sure the card is hdcp compliant.

05-01-2008, 11:18 AM	#3
Obiit Active Member Member since:Nov 2007 Location:Oldham, UK Home Theater Gallery:2 Blu-ray reviews:1	You will need a HDCP Hardware Acceleration graphics card - something like an ATI HD 3450 (or above) or an Nvidia 8600 (or above). As it looks like your monitor is HDCP compliant (apart from the drive) your good to go

05-01-2008, 10:31 PM	#4
bugmenot Banned Member since:Jan 2007	Would 256 MB of video memory be enough for me to watch Blu-Ray DVDs and also use the Aero interface of Vista? Or would I need 512 MB? The monitor is 24" widescreen.

05-02-2008, 03:14 PM	#5
Obiit Active Member Member since:Nov 2007 Location:Oldham, UK Home Theater Gallery:2 Blu-ray reviews:1	256 meg of video RAM is fine. But some blu-ray software players don't like the Aero interface (from what I've read) so you may have to turn it off for blu-ray then back on afterwords.

05-02-2008, 03:37 PM	#6
un4gvn94538 Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Dec 2007 Location:Limbo (Bakersfield, Ca.) 4K collection:143 Blu-ray collection:811 DVD collection:54 Digital collection:1494 Trading Score:277	http://www.cyberlink.com/english/tec..._gen/index.jsp running this advisor from cyberlink is also helpful.

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