PC BR Playback Quality Problem

[ric_spooner]

I just DO NOT understand what I'm doing wrong here.

I've recently built a new system, the guts are sufficient to output full 1080 x 1920 Blu Ray. Below is a quick spec list (not complete)

Asus P6T Deluxe V2
Intel i7 920
Corsair Dominator 6GB Triple Channel kit
XFX 5770 HD
Lite-on BR Drive
2 x Samsung P2250 21.5" 1920 x 1080 (input DVI to DVI using samsung cable boxed with monitor, I've also tried a 5m one bought separately).

So the issue is, the quality is just not full HD, far far from it. I'm not going to pretend to be an expert in this area because I'm not...but I have seen full HD from Sky and Blu Ray on many different panels...and this is not the same. It's hard to me to explain what is wrong but the picture is quite granular and lacks...well, definition.

I've tried swapping the DVI cable and installing all the latest drivers. I'm using the free copy of PowerDVD 8 that shipped with the OEM drive. I also spoke to Samsung and they confirmed that the monitor should give a picture comparable to other 1080 HD panels I've seen.

I just can't figure out what I'm missing...surely the quality should be better than this? Hope this is all clear. Any advice on how I can trouble shoot or even isolate the problem would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Ric

[blckman]

Originally Posted by ric_spooner

I just DO NOT understand what I'm doing wrong here.

I've recently build a new system, the guts are sufficient to output full 1080 x 1920 Blu Ray. Below is a quick spec list (not complete)

Asus P6T Deluxe V2
Intel i7 920
Corsair Dominator 6GB Triple Channel kit
XFX 5770 HD
Lite-on BR Drive
2 x Samsung P2250 21.5" 1920 x 1080 (input DVI to DVI using samsung cable boxed with monitor, I've also tried a 5m one bought separately).

So the issue is, the quality is just not full HD, far far from it. I'm not going to pretend to be an expert in this area because I'm not...but I have seen full HD from Sky and Blu Ray on many different panels...and this is not the same. It's hard to me to explain what is wrong but the picture is quite granular and lacks...well, definition.

I've tried swapping the DVI cable and installing all the latest drivers. I'm using the free copy of PowerDVD 8 that shipped with the OEM drive. I also spoke to Samsung and they confirmed that the monitor should give a picture comparable to other 1080 HD panels I've seen.

I just can't figure out what I'm missing...surely the quality should be better than this? Hope this is all clear. Any advice on how I can trouble shoot or even isolate the problem would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Ric

Well, well, well...Ric. That is an absolutely good question. I just purchased an Asus 21.5" 1080P HD monitor as well and I ask that question as well. I think you may have a great point about this entire subject. I'm glad somebody is in the same boat I'm in. Well, not really. Well, I hear what you're saying. I notice when I played Transformers on 40" inch 1080P or any other television for that matter, you get that smooth and jellow-like image. However, when you see that same image and frame of the same movie you were watching on that 1080p PC monitor, it looks great but not like that on that huge television. Well, my friend, I myself, am in aww about this phenomenon. I think that the industry really needs to explain this better. However, I did hook up my HD-DVD player via HDMI to my Asus monitor and it looked much better. Interesting isn't it?

I just found about your monitor. It lacks and HDMI input. However, the response time is 2ms and the contrast ratio is better than some LCD televisions. It's contrast is off the charts. I wish it had and HDMI input so you can do some experimenting about what I said in the above paragraph. I also read a review about your color gamut is at 72 versus the 92 percent of the NTSC. Here is the link man. Here is some more clarification for you and your monitor. I hope this helps. One last thing though. That system is sick.

http://www.techtree.com/India/Review...05406-630.html

[curse]

what blu's did you test with the setup?

[ric_spooner]

Originally Posted by curse

what blu's did you test with the setup?

Hi guys,

Sorry, this is the first opportunity I've had to reply today.

I tested with four BR's.....don't judge me on these cos they weren't all my choice!!

StarTrek (Homage paid)
Lakeview Terrace (The worst thing SLJ's done since Snakes)
I Am Legend (Tollerable)
The Unborn (god awful movie!!)

The best of the lot was The Unborn, for quality of course, but it still wasn't right.

[ric_spooner]

Originally Posted by blckman

Well, well, well...Ric. That is an absolutely good question. I just purchased an Asus 21.5" 1080P HD monitor as well and I ask that question as well. I think you may have a great point about this entire subject. I'm glad somebody is in the same boat I'm in. Well, not really. Well, I hear what you're saying. I notice when I played Transformers on 40" inch 1080P or any other television for that matter, you get that smooth and jellow-like image. However, when you see that same image and frame of the same movie you were watching on that 1080p PC monitor, it looks great but not like that on that huge television. Well, my friend, I myself, am in aww about this phenomenon. I think that the industry really needs to explain this better. However, I did hook up my HD-DVD player via HDMI to my Asus monitor and it looked much better. Interesting isn't it?

I just found about your monitor. It lacks and HDMI input. However, the response time is 2ms and the contrast ratio is better than some LCD televisions. It's contrast is off the charts. I wish it had and HDMI input so you can do some experimenting about what I said in the above paragraph. I also read a review about your color gamut is at 72 versus the 92 percent of the NTSC. Here is the link man. Here is some more clarification for you and your monitor. I hope this helps. One last thing though. That system is sick.

http://www.techtree.com/India/Review...05406-630.html

I've done a lot of reading about this all over the net and there doesn't seem to be a simple explaination. The difficulty is in describing the actual quality "difference"...most of the words I would use are so vague they convey no real meaning at all.

Thanks for your input and I'm sorry to hear you're suffering the same issue.

[Sponge-worthy]

I've just always presumed that a software application/emulation (i.e., PowerDVD) will never perform as well as a dedicated hardware device.

[ric_spooner]

Originally Posted by ryan69969

I've just always presumed that a software application/emulation (i.e., PowerDVD) will never perform as well as a dedicated hardware device.

I couldn't honestly say...I've seen BR on other PC's and that quality has been everything I would expect. The kit in this system is all high-end, not the best but more than adequate I would say.

[Blacklac]

Originally Posted by ryan69969

I've just always presumed that a software application/emulation (i.e., PowerDVD) will never perform as well as a dedicated hardware device.

I prefer my PC setup for both Bluray and DVD. Both ffdShow and PowerDVD were both better that my standalone units (and my DVDO Edge video processor) at upconverting. The PC seems to have more depth than my Pioneer 51 for Bluray too.

All standalones are, are mini computers. Why would PC's fall short?

[Jello]

Weird. I have a Samsung Syncmaster 30" that does NOT have a native resolution of 1920X1080... it is 2560X1600 so some scaling is going on and Blu-ray looks absolutely breathtaking. I am also using a Nvidia based videocard and yours is a ATI based card. Same motherboard, processor and ram as you. Do you have the latest drivers installed for your video card?

Also to the other poster...there is no difference between HDMI and DVI other than HDMI carries sound and DVI does not.

EDIT: Check your monitor calibration here.
http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/