Is it possible?

[Gino_34]

I sort of have a really weird question to ask:

Is it at all possible to hook up a Blu ray player to a computer monitor? I still can't afford a nice big HDTV so I was hoping to purchase a standalone player and watch movies on my 19" pc monitor which displays 1280x1024 resolution. I know it's not going to display 1080p but it's the only HD source I own.

Can I buy an adapter that can convert component to VGA or something to that effect? (HDMI to VGA?) My monitor has both DVI and VGA inputs. I know there are blu ray pc drives available but I don't wanna go that route because I eventually want to view these movies on a HDTV. Hooking up a player to my computer would only be something temporary.

I don't think my pc monitor is HDCP compliant....would this stop me from viewing movies if I could get the player hooked up via VGA or DVI? Remember...I'm not going through my computer. Would it work?

Thanks.

[kpkelley]

Monoprice adapters

These are cheap enough that you could test another device to see if it would work with your monitor, so long as you have an hdmi capable dvd player or a friend with a blu-ray player you can try it out with first.

[Sammy]

HDMI to DVI direct to the DVi on the monitor with an optical connector for the sound to a receiver?

[Gino_34]

Originally Posted by kpkelley

Monoprice adapters

These are cheap enough that you could test another device to see if it would work with your monitor, so long as you have an hdmi capable dvd player or a friend with a blu-ray player you can try it out with first.

Thanks for that info. I did some of my own browsing online and found some adapters that cost $200 bucks!!! But if I can find or order a cheap enough adapter (under $15 bucks) maybe I'll give it a shot.

After seeing that component to DVI connector I have another question:

Will I need any other cables to make this work?

[CosmoKid]

Originally Posted by Gino_34

Thanks for that info. I did some of my own browsing online and found some adapters that cost $200 bucks!!! But if I can find or order a cheap enough adapter (under $15 bucks) maybe I'll give it a shot.

After seeing that component to DVI connector I have another question:

Will I need any other cables to make this work?

Audio. Most likely optical from the player to whatever you will be using for audio.

How far will you be sitting from this monitor?

I only ask because I think you may be wasting your money going Blu right now. Forget resolution, at the size of that monitor, and the seating distance, you may not see any difference between Blu and SD DVD.

[shooter3295]

Ok,....it can be done,....but what is the point ? Unless the monitor can do HD,...why bother. HD TV's are relatively cheap these days,...I have a Viewsonic monitor that does 1080p,...has HDMI input,....and didn't cost an arm and a leg (under $300). Besides the computer,...it's also hooked to my extra DTV receiver,...that outputs 1080i. There is no way to enjoy what Blu-Ray offers on a standard monitor.

[gekke henkie]

@ Gino_34:

I am sorry, but A.F.A.I.K. the options mentioned here above will not work. The reason is that HDCP will prevent you from exporting a HD-signal to a non-compliant display. In this case, you will only get a SD (standard def) signal and IIRC this will be about 480p, or so.

The '200 bucks'-adapters you mentioned, and I know only one of them, have hardware and software installed that somehow copies the HDCP-compliant signal from whatever display, to fake this HDCP-compatibility. This all means that you can now connect your BD-player with this adapter to a non-HDCP display (like your PC-monitor), and you will still get the HD-signal to your HD15-VGA input.

The only one I know about is called the 'HD-fury', but there might be more existing. For info on this $249 jewel, see: www.hdfury.com

[Gino_34]

Originally Posted by gekke henkie

@ Gino_34:

I am sorry, but A.F.A.I.K. the options mentioned here above will not work. The reason is that HDCP will prevent you from exporting a HD-signal to a non-compliant display. In this case, you will only get a SD (standard def) signal and IIRC this will be about 480p, or so.

The '200 bucks'-adapters you mentioned, and I know only one of them, have hardware and software installed that somehow copies the HDCP-compliant signal from whatever display, to fake this HDCP-compatibility. This all means that you can now connect your BD-player with this adapter to a non-HDCP display (like your PC-monitor), and you will still get the HD-signal to your HD15-VGA input.

The only one I know about is called the 'HD-fury', but there might be more existing. For info on this $249 jewel, see: www.hdfury.com

Damn....that's a wicked little device! But there's no way I'd drop close to $300 bucks on that (gotta add tax + shipping costs to Canada).

Even if I decided to buy it, my monitor can't display 1080p anyways. The best I'd get is probably 720p. (it can display 1280x1024 natively) If I end up buying that Samsung BDP-1500 I'd just hook it up to my standard def TV for now and eventually move it to my HDTV in the future once I get it. I heard that it'll upconvert my DVD's which would look slightly better because there's no compression artifacts.

Doesn't make sense to spend $300 bucks on an adapter when for around $500 bucks I can buy a nice 26"-32" HDTV. The reason I'm after that Samsung model is because I spotted it at a store going for $150 brand new!

[jomari]

whats the model of your monitor tho?

lets not jump the gun on this, maybe his monitor has hdcp. if so, then he can possibly do that and connect it via HDMI->DVI and have a audio cable connected to get sound for his system.

if it doesnt, then sadly, you cannot connect your blu-ray player to your monitor.

again this is a temporary fix for him as he mentioned, thus does not want to end up spending twice if ever.

[Gino_34]

This is the one I own:

http://www.soyo.com/product/LCD_Moni...CD_Monitor/335


I don't see HDCP listed anywhere. Oh well.

I checked under "Tech Specs" and didn't see it. It's a beautiful monitor with sharp detail and bright color. I have it hooked up to my Xbox 360 as well as my pc (using a data switch device). Makes me wonder about something else right now and I guess I should ask:

Are my HD-DVD's running at 480p because my monitor isn't HDCP compliant? I don't own the Elite model which means I have VGA hookup. Whenever I watch a flick it does look amazing...but now I'm wondering if it's really high res. Anyone care to explain?

[gekke henkie]

You are right Gino_34, spending $300 on the adapter makes no sense in your case. I think (guess) that it is the same HDCP-restriction with HD-DVD as it is with Blu-ray, meaning 480p only.

By the way, if playing a HD-disc with an aspect ration of 16:9 (or 1.78:1), your 1280 wide monitor could show a 720p picture max, so the gain would be quite marginal. When playing an anamorphic disc with an AR of 2.35:1 (most movies), your monitor could show a maximum resolution of 544 pixels vertical, so basically no real gain over the 480p mentioned.

Conclusion, I would start looking around for a nice bargain on a 1080(24p) capable display (the cheapest 'real' 24p-capable display without 3:2 pulldown is the 37LG60 currently A.F.A.I.K., see the 2nd post of this thread: https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=5155 )

[Gino_34]

Thanks for the advice buddy.

I actually found an even better deal than the Samsung 1500. I went to my local Zellers with the intention of buying it and then found that they had dropped the price of Sony's BDP S350 model to $199! It was an easy choice for only $50 bucks more. I've heard great things about this model so I bought it.

I'm only getting 480i at the moment until I pick up an HDTV down the road.

[cbm1965]

Originally Posted by Gino_34

Thanks for the advice buddy.

I actually found an even better deal than the Samsung 1500. I went to my local Zellers with the intention of buying it and then found that they had dropped the price of Sony's BDP S350 model to $199! It was an easy choice for only $50 bucks more. I've heard great things about this model so I bought it.

I'm only getting 480i at the moment until I pick up an HDTV down the road.

With a regular cable. HDMI to DVI. you should have hd. If your computer has a DVI connector the video card should do HD. At least 720p. With no extra purchases of any kind. Your sound card should have an input for your sound. Your Window media application does the work. It would look like your hd dvd.
Welcome to the world of blu ray

[Gino_34]

Originally Posted by cbm1965

With a regular cable. HDMI to DVI. you should have hd. If your computer has a DVI connector the video card should do HD. At least 720p. With no extra purchases of any kind. Your sound card should have an input for your sound. Your Window media application does the work. It would look like your hd dvd.
Welcome to the world of blu ray

The only DVI input I have is on the monitor. My video and audio card doesn't support HDCP and has no DVI out or rca out either. My video and audio cards are basic...nothing expensive. The entire pc cost was $500 and that included the monitor so I know for a fact that it's not capable of HD. The only HD source I have is the monitor. If I need to start upgrading I might as well just spend the money on a new HDTV. I don't know about you, but I want to watch hd content on a bigger screen and not on my 19" one. Plus, I want to able to relax and lie down and not sit on a chair staring at a computer screen.