Confused about 3d hardware requirements

[rob.sparrow]

OK. I currently have a PC with an Asus HDMI 1.3 soundcard and arcsoft tmt3 which is capable of 3d blu ray playback. My GFX card is routed through the soundcard and the souncard is hdmi to my amp.

My intention is to upgrade my amp to a new Onkyo amp which can handle HDMI 1.4 and therefore a 3d signal.

Early next year i then intend to have a look around for a 3dTV when I have saved up a bit of cash.

My questions are these:

• How do I get a 3d blu ray and its HD sound from my PC to the amp? Will my current card work?
• Do I buy a new graphics card with HDMI 1.4 out and route my soundcard through that?
• Or is it just easier ( and cheaper ) to leave my PC as it is and buy a standalone player for 3d blu ray?

Can anyone help unravel this? It seems that home 3D is turning out to be quite a nightmare for me in terms of the amount i seem to have to spend

[MyBlu-rayBrotherEd]

If it were me, I'd just go buy a PS3 and keep the computer out of it. Added bonus, you'll be able to enjoy 3D games as well.

[rob.sparrow]

Cheers but im not really a gamer to be honest and I have a load of Windows Media centre plugins that give me access to all my TV episodes with pics, synopsis, character/actor links and masses of other stuff for my bought and then ripped dvds/tv episodes, stand up comedy, cartoons and youtube clips that I dont want to lose.

I am tied into Microsoft as this is the path I have chosen. Any ideas from anyone on how I can keep the great functionality I have without junking my PC?

Either adding a standalone player or modding my PC are my preferred options.

BTW, Bought an onkyo amp and very happy with the sound and pass through pic quality so far.
TV is a few months away yet tho as my modest salary cant quite jump to getting the money in one go, I will have to save ( that old fashioned concept I forgot about for so many years )

[laie_techie]

I saw one of Sony's 3D BD players at Walmart for about $200. Computer graphics cards with HDMI 1.4 output will be at least that much. My advice is to buy a stand-alone 3D BD player unless your computer is truly a HTPC (eg. you use it to play codecs not supported by a stand-alone player).

[double dee]

No such thing as HDMI 1.4, I its called HDMI high-speed, basically any cable manufactured in the past year or so will be this and will work or 3D, so don't buy an expensive cable at your local brick and mortar.

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by double dee

No such thing as HDMI 1.4, I its called HDMI high-speed, basically any cable manufactured in the past year or so will be this and will work or 3D, so don't buy an expensive cable at your local brick and mortar.

actualy 1.4 introduced three new specs.

With 1.3 you got standard (not for 1080p or 3D) and high speed (as you mentioned - which is all you need for 1080p and 3D).

but with 1.4 you now also have

- standard with Ethernet
- high speed with Ethernet
- automotive

Automotive is build for cars so no need to be discussed here, For Ethernet, it now has 2channels so that 100mbps network can run through the HDMI. You don't need it for 3D, but as more devices become network dependent (google TV, movies over the net, live, guides, surfing....) you won't need to connect them all to the network and one device will work as a hub for the rest of them since the HDMI cable will work as a network cable, so it could benefit you in the future (and if you are buying a cable now why not be proactive.