Looking for an external optical that plays UHD & 3D Movies

[Kunjer]

Hello everyone.

I'm hoping the community can help me out.

I've reviewed this post:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...&postcount=108

However, after doing some research of those listed external drives, I'm still unable to find an optical (external) that can play both?

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by Kunjer

Hello everyone.

I'm hoping the community can help me out.

I've reviewed this post:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...&postcount=108

However, after doing some research of those listed external drives, I'm still unable to find an optical (external) that can play both?

Your link was not copied as a URL correctly.

This is what you wanted to post
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...&postcount=108

[Kunjer]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Your link was not copied as a URL correctly.

This is what you wanted to post
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...&postcount=108

Thank you for the assist, JohnAV.

Can you kindly help me with my question?

[Brian81]

So unlike regular BD, there are motherboard requirements?

[Kunjer]

Originally Posted by Brian81

So unlike regular BD, there are motherboard requirements?

Hi,

I think there is some confusion here.

I'm buying a new PC and I'd like to buy an optical drive too.

I'm looking for an optical drive that can read or play, 4K/3D Blu Ray/Blu-Ray. I have many 3D Blu-Ray movies.

It seems most external and internal UHD optical drives only include 4K/Blu-Ray.

Is there is no external or internal optical drive that can do all 3?

My rig will have the basic hardware to play UHD or 4k movies.

[HDTV1080P]

100% of all BD-ROM drives since the year 2006 can play Blu-ray 3D (Blu-ray 3D format came out in 2010) and standard 1080P Blu-ray discs. PowerDVD 19 Ultra is the best software to use and the only brand of software that plays 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs as long as one owns a computer that has the special SGX hardware security requirement (Power DVD Ultra 18 and 17 also support 4K Blu-ray). Also to play Blu-ray 3D discs that are locked by the studio you need to own a 3D projector or a old 3D flat panel display.


Any computer today can play standard Blu-ray 2D discs if they have a BD-ROM drive installed, however good luck finding a computer that will actually play 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs because of the strict SGX security hardware requirements.

[HDTV1080P]

In the United States only LG offers 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray drives, Pioneer currently no longer offers a 4K BD-ROM drive in the United States because most consumers were not able to use it because of the strict BDA rule that requires the Intel cpu and motherboard to use SGX security technology.


The last Pioneer 4K Ultra HD BD-ROM for the USA market was the BDR-211UBK that is offered at prices of around $160 which is $30 above official list price. It is now out of production. Pioneer most likely will not release another 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray drive for the USA market and its 3 current BD-ROM drives are for 1080P Blu-ray only.


https://www.pioneerelectronics.com/P...ves/BDR-211UBK


Looks like B and H Photo got some Pioneer 4K drives back in stock for $129.95 which is 4 cents cheaper then the list price https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...9cf6885df8cbd1

All current in production Pioneer BD-ROM drives in the united States only support 1080P Blu-ray 2D and 3D and not 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs.

[Kunjer]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

In the United States only LG offers 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray drives, Pioneer currently no longer offers a 4K BD-ROM drive in the United States because most consumers were not able to use it because of the strict BDA rule that requires the Intel cpu and motherboard to use SGX security technology.


The last Pioneer 4K Ultra HD BD-ROM for the USA market was the BDR-211UBK that is offered at prices of around $160 which is $30 above official list price. It is now out of production. Pioneer most likely will not release another 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray drive for the USA market and its 3 current BD-ROM drives are for 1080P Blu-ray only.


https://www.pioneerelectronics.com/P...ves/BDR-211UBK


Looks like B and H Photo got some Pioneer 4K drives back in stock for $129.95 which is 4 cents cheaper then the list price https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...9cf6885df8cbd1

All current in production Pioneer BD-ROM drives in the united States only support 1080P Blu-ray 2D and 3D and not 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs.

Hi,

Thanks for taking the time to respond to my thread. Very insightful post. Gives me much to think about.

I was thinking of going for this external optical drive.

BDR-XD07UHD - apparently this should do all 3?

[Kunjer]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

100% of all BD-ROM drives since the year 2006 can play Blu-ray 3D (Blu-ray 3D format came out in 2010) and standard 1080P Blu-ray discs. PowerDVD 19 Ultra is the best software to use and the only brand of software that plays 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs as long as one owns a computer that has the special SGX hardware security requirement (Power DVD Ultra 18 and 17 also support 4K Blu-ray). Also to play Blu-ray 3D discs that are locked by the studio you need to own a 3D projector or a old 3D flat panel display.


Any computer today can play standard Blu-ray 2D discs if they have a BD-ROM drive installed, however good luck finding a computer that will actually play 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs because of the strict SGX security hardware requirements.

Okay, so any optical drive that supports Blu-Ray will support 3D Blu-Ray by default. Have I got that right?

https://videoconverter.wondershare.c...-with-vlc.html

According to this guide a 3D enabled monitor is not required? Just a 3D movie, the right app and red/blu glasses to make it work. I thought that's only for 3D Vision 2, who want to game in 3D.

The system I will be purchasing will come with a 9900K CPU and ASUS® ROG RAMPAGE VI OMEGA motherboard. Apparently this will support 4K Blu-Ray play back?

I've got PowerDVD 19 already.

[HDTV1080P]

Originally Posted by Kunjer

Hi,

Thanks for taking the time to respond to my thread. Very insightful post. Gives me much to think about.

I was thinking of going for this external optical drive.

BDR-XD07UHD - apparently this should do all 3?

Yes that will do all 3 Blu-ray formats (4K playback requires special computer with SGX technology) and is for the Japan market that is sometimes offered in the USA. Not sure what country you are from but it looks like EBAY dealers imported that drive into the USA market from Japan. It is too bad the drive is not popular enough to offer a USA version. Buying this drive will most likely have the instruction manual in Japanese and buying it from a EBAY dealer might not have any warranty. Amazon Japan would have a warranty but I am not sure if warranty is valid if they ship to Europe or North America.

[Kunjer]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

Yes that will do all 3 Blu-ray formats (4K playback requires special computer with SGX technology) and is for the Japan market that is sometimes offered in the USA. Not sure what country you are from but it looks like EBAY dealers imported that drive into the USA market from Japan. It is too bad the drive is not popular enough to offer a USA version. Buying this drive will most likely have the instruction manual in Japanese and buying it from a EBAY dealer might not have any warranty. Amazon Japan would have a warranty but I am not sure if warranty is valid if they ship to Europe or North America.

England.

Not sure, I'll really need the manual. Then again you're right about the warranty. If it breaks down, I'll have to contact Pioneer Japan.

[HDTV1080P]

Originally Posted by Kunjer

England.

Not sure, I'll really need the manual. Then again you're right about the warranty. If it breaks down, I'll have to contact Pioneer Japan.

I have never had a Pioneer BD-ROM drive break so I personally am not worried about the warranty. Also the drives are easy to hook up and most people do not read the instruction manual even when they are in English.


But if those are issues for you then LG offers 4K Ultra HD models for USA market and most likely also Europe.

[Kunjer]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

I have never had a Pioneer BD-ROM drive break so I personally am not worried about the warranty. Also the drives are easy to hook up and most people do not read the instruction manual even when they are in English.


But if those are issues for you then LG offers 4K Ultra HD models for USA market and most likely also Europe.

Cheers mate.

Can you give me your thoughts on post 9.

[Kunjer]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

I have never had a Pioneer BD-ROM drive break so I personally am not worried about the warranty. Also the drives are easy to hook up and most people do not read the instruction manual even when they are in English.


But if those are issues for you then LG offers 4K Ultra HD models for USA market and most likely also Europe.

That do all 3?

[HDTV1080P]

Originally Posted by Kunjer

Cheers mate.

Can you give me your thoughts on post 9.

There was some older versions of PowerDVD Ultra that would convert Blu-ray 3D movies including locked ones to standard 2D. Some old software allowed red and blue glasses by converting to a lower quality 3D that does not need active or passive glasses. However all current versions of Power DVD Ultra require a 3D display like a 3D DLP projector or 3D flat panel or the Blu-ray 3D disc will not play.


While all BD-ROM drives since 2006 support Blu-ray 3D, most consumers do not use that feature because of the special requirement to have a actual 3D display.

[Kunjer]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

There was some older versions of PowerDVD Ultra that would convert Blu-ray 3D movies including locked ones to standard 2D. Some old software allowed red and blue glasses by converting to a lower quality 3D that does not need active or passive glasses. However all current versions of Power DVD Ultra require a 3D display like a 3D DLP projector or 3D flat panel or the Blu-ray 3D disc will not play.


While all BD-ROM drives since 2006 support Blu-ray 3D, most consumers do not use that feature because of the special requirement to have a actual 3D display.

Thanks, so the guide I made reference to in that post will not work?

Will that CPU and motherboard support 4k play back? I will be getting an old 3D enabled monitor.

[HDTV1080P]

Originally Posted by Kunjer

Thanks, so the guide I made reference to in that post will not work?

Will that CPU and motherboard support 4k play back? I will be getting an old 3D enabled monitor.

If the 3D monitor uses active or passive glasses and will accept a frame packed 1080P 3D signal then in theory it should work as long as the graphics card in the computer supports 3D output.


If the CPU and motherboard list the SGX feature then if one uses the built in graphics card on the motherboard with the correct driver, then in theory it should under ideal conditions support 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray playback.

[Kunjer]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

If the 3D monitor uses active or passive glasses and will accept a frame packed 1080P 3D signal then in theory it should work as long as the graphics card in the computer supports 3D output.


If the CPU and motherboard list the SGX feature then if one uses the built in graphics card on the motherboard with the correct driver, then in theory it should under ideal conditions support 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray playback.

I'll refer back to that list to check if these motherboard have been researched.

I don't think there will be a gaming monitor that supports 4k play back and gaming + 3D enabled.