Recommendations for a BD/Video Card

[FordLincolnMercury]

I would like to purchase a BD and possibly a new video card to get HD movies playing on my 37" HDTV.

Here is my setup:

OS: Win XP Pro
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ 2.4Ghz
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS - 512MB
RAM: 2GB DDR2 800
MOBO: ASUS M2N-SLI Deluxe AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI MCP ATX

I'd like to get an internal BD and possibly a second GPU. Any suggestions for getting good sound/video output to my 37" Vizio HDTV?

If you need any more info, I'll give you what I can. Also any ideas on how to get the best sound?

[prerich]

Originally Posted by FordLincolnMercury

I would like to purchase a BD and possibly a new video card to get HD movies playing on my 37" HDTV.

Here is my setup:

OS: Win XP Pro
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ 2.4Ghz
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS - 512MB
RAM: 2GB DDR2 800
MOBO: ASUS M2N-SLI Deluxe AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI MCP ATX

I'd like to get an internal BD and possibly a second GPU. Any suggestions for getting good sound/video output to my 37" Vizio HDTV?

If you need any more info, I'll give you what I can. Also any ideas on how to get the best sound?

Geforce 8500 gt or above.

[FordLincolnMercury]

Now will a BD from my PC using DVI to HDMI offer the same quality picture as a standalone Blu-Ray player with HDMI output?

What will I be sacrificing using this approach as opposed to the standalone players?

[Barnum]

If you would like to also be able to play games on the PC is would recommend the newest line by AMD or formally ATI. The newest 4850 has been getting great reviews. Much cheaper than any Nvidia solution.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by FordLincolnMercury

Now will a BD from my PC using DVI to HDMI offer the same quality picture as a standalone Blu-Ray player with HDMI output?

What will I be sacrificing using this approach as opposed to the standalone players?

Same PQ - no sacrifie whatsoever. P.S. the ATI cards are good ones too 4xxx series.

[Blaumann]

Originally Posted by FordLincolnMercury

I would like to purchase a BD and possibly a new video card to get HD movies playing on my 37" HDTV.

Here is my setup:

OS: Win XP Pro
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ 2.4Ghz
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS - 512MB
RAM: 2GB DDR2 800
MOBO: ASUS M2N-SLI Deluxe AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI MCP ATX

I'd like to get an internal BD and possibly a second GPU. Any suggestions for getting good sound/video output to my 37" Vizio HDTV?

If you need any more info, I'll give you what I can. Also any ideas on how to get the best sound?

Are you using a receiver for the audio? If so, what kind of input does it have?

Right now there are some limitations regarding the hq audio from Blu-rays via a htpc, the most noteable being that you have to more or less use analog outs if you want to take advantage of the hq audio formats like mulitchannel PCM, TrueHD or DTS HD MA. The combined digital HDMI video&audio connection doesn't work yet as it does on a PS3 for example.

But the upcoming new ATi 4xxx cards are supposed to have that feature finally working without any caveeats. So if you want a fully working hq audio via HDMI i would wait for one of these.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Blaumann

Are you using a receiver for the audio? If so, what kind of input does it have?

Right now there are some limitations regarding the hq audio from Blu-rays via a htpc, the most noteable being that you have to more or less use analog outs if you want to take advantage of the hq audio formats like mulitchannel PCM, TrueHD or DTS HD MA. The combined digital HDMI video&audio connection doesn't work yet as it does on a PS3 for example.

But the upcoming new ATi 4xxx cards are supposed to have that feature finally working without any caveeats. So if you want a fully working hq audio via HDMI i would wait for one of these.

These are already out I've started a thread about these cards. They still downsample to 48khz/16bits but if you have Vista, you can re-upconvert the decoded LPCM signal all the way to 192khz blah blah ect. The new Xonar HDAV 1.3 will supply a PAP (protected audio path) and no downsampling whatsoever - caveat - you must use Total Media Theatre. PowerDVD and WinDVD 9 are currently working on updates that offer a PAP via software patch (this patch will be free )

[blu-dave]

the older 8800gtx wern't as good for blu ray playback... 9600gt would be a good card, plus if yu want 2 gpu, 2 of these will give you great performance on alot of games!

[FordLincolnMercury]

Does it matter that I am running Win XP Pro 32bit

[FordLincolnMercury]

Here is the Plan:

I have already:
OS: Win XP Pro (32bit)
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ 2.4Ghz
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS - 512MB
RAM: 2GB DDR2 800
MOBO: ASUS M2N-SLI Deluxe AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI MCP ATX
HDTV: 37" Vizio HDTV

I will buy:
LITE-ON DH-4O1S-08 &
ASUS GeForce 9600 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16

My Questions:

Will this card be backwards compatible with my MOBO which does not support PCIe 2.0? I know it should, but I've read they don't necessarily?

Will the PowerDVD supplied with the LITE-ON drive be sufficient for playing Blu-ray? Or do I need to get the Ultra?

Finally, How bad is the audio going to be if I just take it off my mother board and straight to the analog of my TV?

Thanks

[trshaw]

Will the PowerDVD supplied with the LITE-ON drive be sufficient for playing Blu-ray? Or do I need to get the Ultra?
**************************

usually the PowerDVD supplied with the drives is a limited functionality product, mainly you will get stereo only audio using this. Strongly suggest getting PowerDVD8 Ultra. If you don't care about audio as much and stereo is fine (for instance don't have a surround sound system) the standard version should suffice.

[JadedRaverLA]

Originally Posted by FordLincolnMercury

Here is the Plan:
I will buy:
LITE-ON DH-4O1S-08 &
ASUS GeForce 9600 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16

My Questions:

Will this card be backwards compatible with my MOBO which does not support PCIe 2.0? I know it should, but I've read they don't necessarily?

You should not have ANY problems with that. I've installed several Nvidia 9x00 cards on older PCIe platforms without a single issue.

Originally Posted by FordLincolnMercury

Will the PowerDVD supplied with the LITE-ON drive be sufficient for playing Blu-ray? Or do I need to get the Ultra?

It depends on your definition of "sufficient." The OEM version of PowerDVD is supposed to be enough to watch Blu-ray movies... but they have been taking way too long getting updates out when new titles are released that have compatibility problems. If you pay for the Ultra version, it does get updated quicker... but I really dislike the idea of paying a company for a higher end version of software you already own just to get updates more frequently. My advice... try out the OEM version, and if you find yourself having too many issues with new titles consider paying for WinDVD 9 Plus.

Originally Posted by FordLincolnMercury

Finally, How bad is the audio going to be if I just take it off my mother board and straight to the analog of my TV?

Thanks

I assume you mean for the audio? If so, it will sound like anything else you watch on your TV. Lossless, DD, DTS... it really doesn't matter... you'll only get the sound your TV speakers can put out.

If you meant video using your existing graphics card, etc, you won't get playable quality from the CPU + GPU combination. You need the new graphics card.

[Obiit]

If your just going to be using the TV for audio then the onboard soundcard will be fine.

But i would start saving for a surround sound system and a new sound card. You lose half the entertainment of blu-ray only using the TV speakers

[FordLincolnMercury]

Thanks a lot. I will tell you how much I like it when I get everything hooked up.

[FordLincolnMercury]

Originally Posted by FordLincolnMercury

Here is the Plan:

I have already:
OS: Win XP Pro (32bit)
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ 2.4Ghz
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS - 512MB
RAM: 2GB DDR2 800
MOBO: ASUS M2N-SLI Deluxe AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI MCP ATX
HDTV: 37" Vizio HDTV

I will buy:
LITE-ON DH-4O1S-08 &
ASUS GeForce 9600 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16

I am having a problem!

I have downloaded all the drivers, and everything is up to date. CyberLink am I ready gives me all green lights.

BUT, on both my monitor and tv the image looks more like an upconvert than anything. I have tried "The Departed" and "Pirates of the Car... III"

Any suggestions as to what I need to do?

[dadkins]

37" Visio... Delivers 1366 x 768

Blu-ray Discs display at 1920x1080.
While BDs will look better than DVDs, until you get a screen that displays 1080p, you aren't getting the whole picture.

Some will also state that you need 55" or better - not unless you are 8 feet away from the screen.

If you ARE at ~8 feet or more from the screen... a 37" HDTV @ 1920x1080p isn't large enough for a 36° viewing angle. Too far away.

[JadedRaverLA]

Originally Posted by FordLincolnMercury

I am having a problem!

I have downloaded all the drivers, and everything is up to date. CyberLink am I ready gives me all green lights.

BUT, on both my monitor and tv the image looks more like an upconvert than anything. I have tried "The Departed" and "Pirates of the Car... III"

Any suggestions as to what I need to do?

Well, you don't have FULL 1080p resolution monitors, so that's likely part of the problem. Also, you aren't trying to display on both displays simultaneously are you? That can cause all kinds of issues with resolution.

Originally Posted by dadkins

37" Visio... Delivers 1366 x 768

Blu-ray Discs display at 1920x1080.
While BDs will look better than DVDs, until you get a screen that displays 1080p, you aren't getting the whole picture.

Agree 100%.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by JadedRaverLA

Well, you don't have FULL 1080p resolution monitors, so that's likely part of the problem. Also, you aren't trying to display on both displays simultaneously are you? That can cause all kinds of issues with resolution.



Agree 100%.

Ditto

[BIGD]

which graphic card is best on a pc to upgrade to blu ray, so the image could be displayd on 37 lcd. also need a graphic card with a short bracket i have an hp slimline no too much room to work with