Home Build - Blu-Ray Help

[cybergeo3]

Hello,

I recently built a new box for playing blu-ray discs. Everything is put together and working, but the blu-ray is not working properly. Here's a summary:

GIGABYTE GA-MA78GPM-DS2H AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
- onboard video ATI Radeon HD 3200 128MB DDR3 SidePort memory
AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000 3.1GHz Socket AM2 89W Dual-Core Processor Model ADV60000DOBOX
LITE-ON Black 4X Blu-ray DVD-ROM SATA Model DH-4O1S-66
1 dimm of 2gb ddr2 kingston valueram (spec'd at 667 but it wouldn't run stable so I manually adjusted down to 500 in bios)
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
50" Panasonic LCD HDTV 720p connected via hdmi

So I have tried both powerdvd8 ultra and totalmedia theatre. it would play in a choppy manner for about 10 seconds and freeze in both players. I installed anydvd and that doesnt seem to help. Now when I try to play the disc in totalmedia theatre, it won't begin to play.

Is the ram the source of my problem? When I bought all the stuff for the build online, I thought I already had ddr2 ram lying around, didn't and just bought a 2gig dimm at office depot to get the build done. Is there a minimum ram spec required for successful blu-ray playback? is it because I scaled it back to 500 causing a problem?

I have tested the drive and a regular dvd plays fine, no problems. Also, the blu-ray disc I am using to test is a free blu ray I got with a magazine with an episode of Coma starring Michael Madsen, I have not played it in another BD player so can't vouch for it, but I assume it's ok, and I'm waiting to actually buy a blu-ray disc until I confirm this drive will actually work.

I'd be happy to provide other info if it will help diagnose. I really appreciate any help you may be able to provide (because right now i'm sitting on $450.00 of non-working blu-ray

[Nathan P]

It could be the ram, i would suggest getting some proper DDR2 to see if that solves the problem. Also make sure you have all the latest drivers for your mobo and video card. Make sure your software is fully patched. After that you have only 2 things to look at. 1: update the firmare on your drive and your mobo BIOS. 2: Your video card might not be powerful enough to handle the decoding. I can't confirm at the mo as I currently use nvidia cards. Let me do some digging and I will get back to you.

Hope it helps.

[cybergeo3]

I have upgraded the drivers and firmware. That didn't seem to help either. I actually tried a whole slew of different driver combos from ATI that I saw recommended on other forums, but the general consensus was that the catalyst center software was garbage and did more harm that good, so i reformatted and am trying with simply bare bones, only using the most up to date firmware for the drive, and drivers from gigabyte.
Thanks for the quick reply!!!

I should also mention I have successfully played a movie ripped into an 8gb 720p file. The system handles playback of that, just not official discs. go figure

[Nathan P]

If the system is playing back files fine from the hard drive then it is an issue with your BD drive, see if there are any newer updates for your drive and also any potential problems with your OS. Other than that the only thing I can think of is to return the drive and try a different model. Other than that I'm stuck - but i throw out the problem to everyone else to assist you more

[prerich]

Originally Posted by cybergeo3

I have upgraded the drivers and firmware. That didn't seem to help either. I actually tried a whole slew of different driver combos from ATI that I saw recommended on other forums, but the general consensus was that the catalyst center software was garbage and did more harm that good, so i reformatted and am trying with simply bare bones, only using the most up to date firmware for the drive, and drivers from gigabyte.
Thanks for the quick reply!!!

I should also mention I have successfully played a movie ripped into an 8gb 720p file. The system handles playback of that, just not official discs. go figure

My suggestion...You may not like it but I would buy an ATI HD4550 video card instead of using the onboard hd3200. Can you apply an extra 128-256mb of ram to the video side? If you can't here's where you can get the HD4550 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121281

[trshaw]

I'd start with the ram before moving to a vid card. having a single dim of DDR2 will cost you performance, think construction zones on highway. Close down one side and everything needs to slow down.

What version of Windows are you using? I'd strongly suggest adding a second stick of RAM (same specs) and that should help boost performance.

When it comes to DDR2 memory Always add/replace in pairs.

As DDR3 and the new i7 we'll have to start replacing in sets of 3

[dadkins]

Originally Posted by trshaw

I'd start with the ram before moving to a vid card. having a single dim of DDR2 will cost you performance, think construction zones on highway. Close down one side and everything needs to slow down.

What version of Windows are you using? I'd strongly suggest adding a second stick of RAM (same specs) and that should help boost performance.

When it comes to DDR2 memory Always add/replace in pairs.

As DDR3 and the new i7 we'll have to start replacing in sets of 3

WHAT?!?
Hate to break it to you, this machine(and many of others) have 3GB of ram.
That can be either 2 sticks where one is 1GB and the second is 2GB *OR* 3 1GB sticks.

Yeah, they're DDR2.

Please cite any reference to your post, Thanks!

[prerich]

Originally Posted by trshaw

I'd start with the ram before moving to a vid card. having a single dim of DDR2 will cost you performance, think construction zones on highway. Close down one side and everything needs to slow down.

What version of Windows are you using? I'd strongly suggest adding a second stick of RAM (same specs) and that should help boost performance.

When it comes to DDR2 memory Always add/replace in pairs.

As DDR3 and the new i7 we'll have to start replacing in sets of 3

Unless the OP is using a 64bit OS getting a second 2gb stick of ram does no good (32bit windows can't use more that 3gb of ram). Two GB of ram should be plenty (I've ran BD off of 1gb of ram before - I've always used at least a 256gb video card). As an A+ Technician there is no rule on ddr2 having to be "replaced in pairs" - that was a rule for rambus memory. The only reason to use pairs is to access the dual channel option - which if the OP is using 32bit windows - would mean 1 GB sticks (x2).

[saljr]

AeroCool M40-BK Black w/ quiet fan 3-80mm & 120mm
ASUS M3N78-EM w/ XP Pro 32bit
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5050e w/Scythe SCMNJ-1000
SAMSUNG 2.5" 32GB SATA II SSD
ASUS Black 6X Blu-ray Model:BC-06B1ST
ASUS EAH4670/DI/512M w/ZALMAN VNF100
DViCO FusionHDTV7 RT GOLD HDTV
G.SKILL PI Black(2 x 2GB) DDR2 800 4-4-4-12 1.8V

All for under $1k and super fast & quiet.

[dadkins]

Originally Posted by prerich

Unless the OP is using a 64bit OS getting a second 2gb stick of ram does no good (32bit windows can't use more that 3gb of ram). Two GB of ram should be plenty (I've ran BD off of 1gb of ram before - I've always used at least a 256gb video card). As an A+ Technician there is no rule on ddr2 having to be "replaced in pairs" - that was a rule for rambus memory. The only reason to use pairs is to access the dual channel option - which if the OP is using 32bit windows - would mean 1 GB sticks (x2).

Yes!
This machine - VGN-AR190G - came from the factory as the *first* BD enabled laptop... with 1GB of RAM.
Worked great!

RAM is cheap though, so I bumped it up to 2GB - still plays BDs fine.

My other laptop is at 3GB - one 2GB SODIMM and one 1GB SODIMM.
It plays BDs fine too.

Thanks prerich!

[trshaw]

Originally Posted by prerich

Unless the OP is using a 64bit OS getting a second 2gb stick of ram does no good (32bit windows can't use more that 3gb of ram). Two GB of ram should be plenty (I've ran BD off of 1gb of ram before - I've always used at least a 256gb video card). As an A+ Technician there is no rule on ddr2 having to be "replaced in pairs" - that was a rule for rambus memory. The only reason to use pairs is to access the dual channel option - which if the OP is using 32bit windows - would mean 1 GB sticks (x2).

I agree in part. granted a 64bit OS would take full advantage of the full 4GB of ram. Running the DDR2 in dual channel will offer more through put and in my opinion better performance. Ideally (or I should say most cost effective way) would be to run 2x 1Gb and 2x 512Mb to minimize the cost and still maximize performance. However, the cost of memory is relatively cheap and often times buying 4x 1GB might be just as easy as buying a mix, as along as they have equal timings and latency you will see a performance difference in most applications when running dual channel memory even if a 32bit OS only able to address 3GB or upto 3.5GB depending on the configuration.

In most applications you may not notice a difference between single channel 2Gb and dual channel 2x1GB but I personally feel the main reason single channel configurations exist is that manufacturers are cheap. Consumers look at the delta between upgrades and see that they can buy a single stick of 2GB for same or cheaper than 2x1Gb and have room to expand if they so choose to in the future.

What flagged memory in this instance was that poster was required to underclock the memory by 167Mhz to me that cries foul....Unless the MB was only rated for a much slower ram, something is obviously wrong. Seeing that is MB is rated for DDR2 1066 and memory that is rated for 667 I would cry bloody murder. Now had poster bought memory that was out of spec (past DDR2 800) I would say underclocking is expected. But to have to underclock memory that is with in standard specs shows that something is wrong. The single channel configuration was one thing that stood out.

Just my observation if I'm wrong so be it.

[vamsilak]

the spec are all look good
now u said u updated all the drivers and firmwares
is your graphic card hdcp compatable?
now what kinda softy are u using? it could be the software problem
after all

[prerich]

Originally Posted by trshaw

I agree in part. granted a 64bit OS would take full advantage of the full 4GB of ram. Running the DDR2 in dual channel will offer more through put and in my opinion better performance. Ideally (or I should say most cost effective way) would be to run 2x 1Gb and 2x 512Mb to minimize the cost and still maximize performance. However, the cost of memory is relatively cheap and often times buying 4x 1GB might be just as easy as buying a mix, as along as they have equal timings and latency you will see a performance difference in most applications when running dual channel memory even if a 32bit OS only able to address 3GB or upto 3.5GB depending on the configuration.

In most applications you may not notice a difference between single channel 2Gb and dual channel 2x1GB but I personally feel the main reason single channel configurations exist is that manufacturers are cheap. Consumers look at the delta between upgrades and see that they can buy a single stick of 2GB for same or cheaper than 2x1Gb and have room to expand if they so choose to in the future.

What flagged memory in this instance was that poster was required to underclock the memory by 167Mhz to me that cries foul....Unless the MB was only rated for a much slower ram, something is obviously wrong. Seeing that is MB is rated for DDR2 1066 and memory that is rated for 667 I would cry bloody murder. Now had poster bought memory that was out of spec (past DDR2 800) I would say underclocking is expected. But to have to underclock memory that is with in standard specs shows that something is wrong. The single channel configuration was one thing that stood out.

Just my observation if I'm wrong so be it.

After further research - the memory may be a problem - due to the fact that a 2gb Kingston Value ram is not on the approval list of memory. That motherboard is rated for 1066 but the limitations of the CPU may force the memory to run at a lower speed. This is a tricky and picky board.

[prerich]

OP your motherboard is very finiky and picky Go to the Gigabyte website and look at the approved memory list and possible limitations. This is only a list of verified memory http://www.gigabyte.us/FileList/Memo...78gpm-ds2h.pdf There's the link for the list. I've seen other motherboards like this (very particular about the memory used). I still question the 128mb onboard video though - I'm only comfortable with running at least 256mb of ram for video if I'm doing BD.