Add a BD Drive or Purchase New PC?

[Jumper12]

Everyone,

I am wanting to begin moving all of my movie purchases to Blu-ray from standard DVDs and need some expert advice on how to get started. I currently have a Media Server in my house which I use for mp3s, DVDs, and home movies. My rig is a couple of years old and it is running Windows XP Media Center 2005 with latest SP. Hardware specifics are in my signature. I have AnyDVD HD already installed.

Question is could I get by, initially, with adding an external BD drive (would like to read and write so I can use BD disks as file backups). If so, which drive model would you recommend? As being new to Blu-ray, I am concerned I do not know enough YET as to any technical or performance limitations I might run into with my current rig.

So questions is, purchase BD drive and connect externally via USB2.0 and a HD enclosure, or purchase a new PC?

Thanks for any suggestions!!!

[MOONPHASE]

i recommend getting a pc with blu-ray put in but thats just my opinion

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Jumper12

Everyone,

I am wanting to begin moving all of my movie purchases to Blu-ray from standard DVDs and need some expert advice on how to get started. I currently have a Media Server in my house which I use for mp3s, DVDs, and home movies. My rig is a couple of years old and it is running Windows XP Media Center 2005 with latest SP. Hardware specifics are in my signature. I have AnyDVD HD already installed.

Question is could I get by, initially, with adding an external BD drive (would like to read and write so I can use BD disks as file backups). If so, which drive model would you recommend? As being new to Blu-ray, I am concerned I do not know enough YET as to any technical or performance limitations I might run into with my current rig.

So questions is, purchase BD drive and connect externally via USB2.0 and a HD enclosure, or purchase a new PC?

Thanks for any suggestions!!!

You need a more powerful processor. I would build a new rig.

[Jumper12]

Originally Posted by prerich

You need a more powerful processor. I would build a new rig.

IYO, what would be the minimum system requirements?

[plee]

Originally Posted by Jumper12

IYO, what would be the minimum system requirements?

The low end quad-cores are decent prices right now and of course a nice raid setup which you probably already have from the previous setup.

[kaliraver]

Originally Posted by Jumper12

Everyone,

I am wanting to begin moving all of my movie purchases to Blu-ray from standard DVDs and need some expert advice on how to get started. I currently have a Media Server in my house which I use for mp3s, DVDs, and home movies. My rig is a couple of years old and it is running Windows XP Media Center 2005 with latest SP. Hardware specifics are in my signature. I have AnyDVD HD already installed.

Question is could I get by, initially, with adding an external BD drive (would like to read and write so I can use BD disks as file backups). If so, which drive model would you recommend? As being new to Blu-ray, I am concerned I do not know enough YET as to any technical or performance limitations I might run into with my current rig.

So questions is, purchase BD drive and connect externally via USB2.0 and a HD enclosure, or purchase a new PC?

Thanks for any suggestions!!!

Looking at your specs, that machine won't be able to handle Blu-Ray properly. I would highly recommend a new PC with a Blu-Ray drive.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by plee

The low end quad-cores are decent prices right now and of course a nice raid setup which you probably already have from the previous setup.

Good advise - saved me a lenghty post. I will add getting an 8 series Nvidia video card or a 2600HD or above ATI card. Nvidia's Hardware acceleration works with all the BD softplayers right now - ATI's, however, doesn't (Acrsoft TotalMedia Theater). Get the full version of PowerDVD Ultra. 2GB of memory and above - don't forget AnyDVD-HD. This should help. Hope this starts him off well.

[Obiit]

I'd just get a new graphics card (same ones as what prerich said) and a drive as the rest of your PC is ok. Just a note that if you have the drive internal it pages to the hard drive a lot but on USB2 it streams (it does with PowerDVD anyway).

DOH! forgot to add if your Dell is AGP then a new system will be best - ATI drivers for AGP are none-existent apart from those supplied on CD and AFAIK Nvidia don't do an 8 series AGP card.

[glogrono]

I currently have P4 2.8ghz, 1gb ram, and purchased an ATI HD-3450 for $49.99 and I play my backed up movies at 1080p with no problems. I'm running Vista Ultimate and have Cyberlink PcDVD Ultra. I will add that I have Vista runnin in classic mode, so there's no Aero interface and no sidebar. I also have disabled as many un necessary processes as possible. This is an HTPC, so I don't use it for anything other than watching tv and movies. I think a new video card and the blu ray burner should get you through for now.