Pentium 4 and Blu-ray - any chance?

[finienth]

I have a three year old Dell system. Configured as follows:

Intel Pentium 4 3.2 Ghz 800FSB 2MB Cache

1GB RAM, 160 GB HDD

ATI Fire GL V3100

SoundBlaster Audigy 2

My question is whether I have any hope of upgrading this system for Blu-Ray playback. Specifically, if I upgrade to a top of the line HD video card would that be enough to make up for the single core processor, or would I need to upgrade the processor as well?

My goal is to be able to play Blu-Ray movies in HD in our study/guest bedroom, and I'm trying to do it as inexpensively as possible. This plan includes purchasing a 20-24 inch widescreen monitor. If I can keep the current system and just upgrade the video card, it seems worth it to do so. However, if I have to swap processor & mother board as well, its probably cost efficient to just get a new system that includes the monitor.

Thanks.

[dadkins]

Cyberlink's system requirements page.
*NOT* etched in granite so use as a reference only!

http://www.cyberlink.com/multi/suppo...d=-1&nCateId=5

[bganga]

finienth,

I had a computer that met the minimum requirements. The 3.0 Ghz version of your processor. And after installing an internal bd-rom drive, an ati 2400hd video board and upgrading to 2gb of ram, the best that I could get was choppy video and unpredictable playback.

I eventually had to upgrade to a new motherboard/processor. Intel 9450 quad core.

[ADRiiAN`]

You'll need a new processor&mobo, new video card, and more ram.

[RazorFromHRSnet]

no one has suggested he just buy a PS3 yet?

Is anyone else just amazed at the sheer horsepower needed to run a BluRay? And to think, film started with acetate and a candle

[prerich]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813186142 add this to it http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103211 and if you need memory (if your current memory is 240 pin, you will not need it - but I think you are using 184 pin) this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820134488 and finally this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814133238 you are ready to go regardless of what software you use. Total price comes out to $202.00 that's including shipping...about 198.00 less than buying a PS3.

To run BD you must have at the least a Pentium 4 EE (theres a difference - just don't look at clock speeds). Your PC and video card can only produce a choppy BD experience on its best day - but if you get the setup above - throw it in your rig (do a clean windows install - so back your stuff up first) - you should have no problem showing smooth BD ! Take it from a long time HTPC builder

[dadkins]

Originally Posted by RazorFromHRSnet

no one has suggested he just buy a PS3 yet?

Is anyone else just amazed at the sheer horsepower needed to run a BluRay? And to think, film started with acetate and a candle

OP is asking about PC playback, a PS3 would help... how?

Yes, there is quite a bit more power needed for crunching the data that is coming off a BD and displaying on a screen/panel in HD as opposed to a flickering candle and an image on the wall.

[arush5268d]

Originally Posted by dadkins

OP is asking about PC playback, a PS3 would help... how?

Yes, there is quite a bit more power needed for crunching the data that is coming off a BD and displaying on a screen/panel in HD as opposed to a flickering candle and an image on the wall.

but.....but....but.....surely a ps3 will solve all this problems! I mean...everyone needs one...right?

/intense sarcasm directed at ps3 fanboys

[RazorFromHRSnet]

Originally Posted by dadkins

OP is asking about PC playback, a PS3 would help... how?

Yes, there is quite a bit more power needed for crunching the data that is coming off a BD and displaying on a screen/panel in HD as opposed to a flickering candle and an image on the wall.

I know, I was joking. PS3 seems to be the default answer Don't bother upgrading your MOBO, a PS3 is cheaper, etc... it was just a joke

Originally Posted by arush5268d

but.....but....but.....surely a ps3 will solve all this problems! I mean...everyone needs one...right?

/intense sarcasm directed at ps3 fanboys

Arush is GetsTheBitGuy

[dadkins]

My bad, I just see it so often by people that apparently mean it I just thought...

[finienth]

Originally Posted by prerich

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813186142 add this to it http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103211 and if you need memory (if your current memory is 240 pin, you will not need it - but I think you are using 184 pin) this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820134488 and finally this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814133238 you are ready to go regardless of what software you use. Total price comes out to $202.00 that's including shipping...about 198.00 less than buying a PS3.

To run BD you must have at the least a Pentium 4 EE (theres a difference - just don't look at clock speeds). Your PC and video card can only produce a choppy BD experience on its best day - but if you get the setup above - throw it in your rig (do a clean windows install - so back your stuff up first) - you should have no problem showing smooth BD ! Take it from a long time HTPC builder

Thanks for all who replied. Its kinda staggering how much power Blu Ray requires. This was a pretty good machine three years ago.

Prerich, I will definitely take your suggestions under consideration. However, if I buy all that stuff ($200) plus a blu ray drive ($200) plus a monitor ($300) I am out at least $700. Seems like I may as well buy a new machine including a monitor, Vista and warranty for that price. (Not that I'm thrilled about Vista, but I was probablly going to upgrade eventually anyway.)

Also, as much as I'd get a kick out of tinkering with this machine, I'm not sure if that motherboard would work with a Dell power supply. I have heard Dell uses a proprietary connector.

Thank you again for the suggestions and links, though. It looks like my pipe dream will have to remain that way for a few more months.

[blu-dave]

A dual core is not needed to play blu-ray.

Check out this article.
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/AMD-78...iew-30420.html
They have gotten perfectly good playback on a sempron 3200, so im sure your 3 Ghz pentium 4 could hack it.

[glogrono]

If you absolutely can't do a full upgrade, get an ATI HD-3450. It only costs about $50. This WILL allow you to play most blu-rays. Here is my setup:
P4 3.0ghz, 1gb ram, ATI HD-3450, Vista Ultimate. My computer has been able to play almost any blu ray I throw at it without stuttering and with perfect 1080p picutre. Now, don't get me wrong, there ARE a few movies that stutter enough to make them unwatchable. These are movies that have either very high bitrate video or audio such as dolby true HD or both. Some examples of movies my system can't handle are, Cloverfield and Nightmare before christmas. The video plays fine, but the audio stutters. My $50 investment has been well worth it since these have been the only 2 movies I haven't been able to play smoothly. I am upgrading though and it'll cost me less than $300 to make my system pretty damn nice.

[trshaw]

I am currently running a P4 3.0 ocd to about 3.2 or so and 3 gigs of mem with a Nvidia 8500GT

I can play many BD and even HDHD (combo drive) however, there are a few movies you will have issues with. Mainly anything in AC-3 (mpeg4). I find that these movies are usually the most cpu intensive (even with hardware acceleration).

I might make a couple of suggestions that may or may not affect the playability. 1) dedicated sound card. I run onboard sound (surround sound) but a dedicated card could free up CPU cycles and help with playback
2) higher end vid card and make sure it has hw acceleration.
3) wipe everything clean and install only what is necessary.

hope this helps

[blu-dave]

Originally Posted by glogrono

If you absolutely can't do a full upgrade, get an ATI HD-3450. It only costs about $50. This WILL allow you to play most blu-rays. Here is my setup:
P4 3.0ghz, 1gb ram, ATI HD-3450, Vista Ultimate. My computer has been able to play almost any blu ray I throw at it without stuttering and with perfect 1080p picutre. Now, don't get me wrong, there ARE a few movies that stutter enough to make them unwatchable. These are movies that have either very high bitrate video or audio such as dolby true HD or both. Some examples of movies my system can't handle are, Cloverfield and Nightmare before christmas. The video plays fine, but the audio stutters. My $50 investment has been well worth it since these have been the only 2 movies I haven't been able to play smoothly. I am upgrading though and it'll cost me less than $300 to make my system pretty damn nice.

You should look into getting another 1Gb of ram

[glogrono]

Originally Posted by blu-dave

You should look into getting another 1Gb of ram

I thought about just getting another gig of ram, but I'm gonna do it right. This is what I'm getting:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128090
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103289
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231122

The total for this is only $231.98
The on board graphics on this MoBo can play bluray just fine, even better, this MoBo supports Hybrid Crossfire which means it will combine the power of my ATI HD-3450 together with the onboard graphics, kind of like using 2 vid cards in a crossfire setup. I think this is gonna be a great setup.

[Junkmale]

If you don't care about playing a blu-ray on your computer can you at least burn a blu-ray with a Pentium 4 3.2ghz with 1 gig ram? If so, what blu-ray burners will burn with this type of setup? I'm specifically looking at the LG BH08LS20 right now, but other suggestions are welcome.

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by finienth

Also, as much as I'd get a kick out of tinkering with this machine, I'm not sure if that motherboard would work with a Dell power supply. I have heard Dell uses a proprietary connector.

Which Dell computer do you have? Some were designed to use proprietary motherboards (shape/size) and the case won't accept an after-market mobo.

[tlmaclennan]

Originally Posted by Junkmale

If you don't care about playing a blu-ray on your computer can you at least burn a blu-ray with a Pentium 4 3.2ghz with 1 gig ram? If so, what blu-ray burners will burn with this type of setup? I'm specifically looking at the LG BH08LS20 right now, but other suggestions are welcome.

The reason that you need a powerful computer for Blu-ray is the rather high bit-rate that both the video and audio can attain. It's much more demanding than lower bit-rate movies on DVD.

When burning though you don't have to worry about the bit-rate problem since you won't be playing the movie, just transferring it from hard drive to Blu-ray disc. I see no reason why you need a powerful computer for Blu-ray burning. If your computer can handle a DVD burner, which most can, then it should definitely be able to handle a Blu-ray burner. It's just transferring to a bigger disc.

[ronjones]

Originally Posted by finienth

Thanks for all who replied. Its kinda staggering how much power Blu Ray requires. This was a pretty good machine three years ago.

Prerich, I will definitely take your suggestions under consideration. However, if I buy all that stuff ($200) plus a blu ray drive ($200) plus a monitor ($300) I am out at least $700. Seems like I may as well buy a new machine including a monitor, Vista and warranty for that price. (Not that I'm thrilled about Vista, but I was probablly going to upgrade eventually anyway.)

Also, as much as I'd get a kick out of tinkering with this machine, I'm not sure if that motherboard would work with a Dell power supply. I have heard Dell uses a proprietary connector.

Thank you again for the suggestions and links, though. It looks like my pipe dream will have to remain that way for a few more months.

You really don't need to spend that kind of $$$. Since you only said youi want to play BDs (no mention of burning), you can now find BD-ROM drives (internal starting at $60 - LINK) and you can find a 22" monitor for $150 or less and a 24" for under $200 (both cases with a HDMI or DVI/HDCP input) from e'tailers such as eCost, newegg and CompUSA.