Blu Ray vs Standard DVD

[Frostmourne]

It will either work with the CPU that I have, or I won't get it. My primary rig already has 4GB of RAM, but I will need to add a couple of sticks on my secondary rig...then again, maybe not. It's CPU is weaker than my primary rig.

Why upgrade to 9? What does it do that 8 won't?

9 should be better optimized for 7, I wouldn't try Blu-Ray on a processor slower than 2.6GHz.

 

[seekermeister]

I wouldn't try Blu-Ray on a processor slower than 2.6GHz.

Well, that blows that idea out of the water. I guess that I will go the cheaper route and forget about Blu Ray.

 

[seekermeister]

9 should be better optimized for 7, I wouldn't try Blu-Ray on a processor slower than 2.6GHz.

After checking the minimum requirements here:

What are the recommended CPU requirements to play Blu-ray Disc titles on my computer?-Search resource for your product

Which said:

AMD (Minimum):

Athlon 64 X2 3800+ 2.0 GHz or 4000+ 2.0 GHz, Turion 64 X2 TL-50 1.6 GHz, TL-52 1.6 GHz or TL-56 1.8 GHz

AMD (Recommended):

Athlon 64 FX FX-60 2.6 GHz or FX-62 2.8 GHz, Athlon 64 X2 4200+ 2.2 GHz, 4400+ 2.2 GHz, 4600+ 2.4 GHz, 4800+ 2.4 GHz or 5000+ 2.6 GHz, Turion 64 X2 TL-60 2.0 GHz

I'm wondering about the basis of your statement...is it founded on actual experience with similar hardware?

 

[Zepher]

It will either work with the CPU that I have, or I won't get it. My primary rig already has 4GB of RAM, but I will need to add a couple of sticks on my secondary rig...then again, maybe not. It's CPU is weaker than my primary rig.

Why upgrade to 9? What does it do that 8 won't?

9 should be better optimized for 7, I wouldn't try Blu-Ray on a processor slower than 2.6GHz.

I have the LG Bluray/HD-DVD on my HTPC machine and it is a Pentium Dual core 2.5ghz and onboard video and plays perfect.

I also installed a Lite On BD Drive on my friends Core2Duo 2.16Ghz machine and it works great as well.
His machine has 9600GT and is using a DVI to VGA adapter since his Sony FW900 only has analog inputs.

Both machines run Power DVD 8 Ultra 2Ch, which came with the drives.

 

[bobkn]

I wouldn't try Blu-Ray on a processor slower than 2.6GHz.

Well, that blows that idea out of the water. I guess that I will go the cheaper route and forget about Blu Ray.

I can't speak from personal experience, but you may be letting a hardware enthusiast discourage you a little too easily. (No offense meant, Frostmourne.)

Hardware requirements for BluRay under Cyberlink PowerDVD9:

PowerDVD 9 DVD Player Software ? Watch DVDs and Blu-ray Discs on your PC | CyberLink

And for WinDVD 2010:

DVD Player Software ? Corel WinDVD 2010

It appears that an Athlon 64 X2 3800+ ought to be adequate, if not excessive.

On the other hand, after owning a BluRay combo drive for a few months, I ask: who wants to watch BluRay movies on a desktop PC? Not me.

 

[seekermeister]

On the other hand, after owning a BluRay combo drive for a few months, I ask: who wants to watch BluRay movies on a desktop PC? Not me.

Some of us must do with what we have. To get a HDTV of any size and quality, cost more than I can afford. I'm doing good to have two PCs, one of which will end up in the bedroom, when I finish getting it setup.

 

[bobkn]

Some of us must do with what we have. To get a HDTV of any size and quality, cost more than I can afford. I'm doing good to have two PCs, one of which will end up in the bedroom, when I finish getting it setup.

That's reasonable. I doubt that you could get a mediocre 32" LCD TV for less than about $300, and the BluRay player would add another $200. $500 altogether, in the US. A BluRay combo drive costs about $100. (And you can burn DVDs with it.)

You may want to look for more testimonials about BDs on CPUs comparable to your own, but I have the impression that you'd be satified with what you have.

BluRay disks are still more expensive than DVDs, on average, but their prices seem to be coming down.

(Considering what I paid for audio CDs in 1984, adjusted for inflation, both DVDs and BDs are relative bargains.)

 

[seekermeister]

Actually, there are a couple of Blu Ray Combo players less than $100, but I don't know how good that they are. I've been shopping for a player for a while now, but have postponed making a decision, because I thought that they might get cheaper after the holidays, but that hasn't turned out to be the case. There are fewer choices in the cheap category now than a few months back.

 

[Frostmourne]

9 should be better optimized for 7, I wouldn't try Blu-Ray on a processor slower than 2.6GHz.

After checking the minimum requirements here:

What are the recommended CPU requirements to play Blu-ray Disc titles on my computer?-Search resource for your product

Which said:

AMD (Minimum):

Athlon 64 X2 3800+ 2.0 GHz or 4000+ 2.0 GHz, Turion 64 X2 TL-50 1.6 GHz, TL-52 1.6 GHz or TL-56 1.8 GHz

AMD (Recommended):

Athlon 64 FX FX-60 2.6 GHz or FX-62 2.8 GHz, Athlon 64 X2 4200+ 2.2 GHz, 4400+ 2.2 GHz, 4600+ 2.4 GHz, 4800+ 2.4 GHz or 5000+ 2.6 GHz, Turion 64 X2 TL-60 2.0 GHz

I'm wondering about the basis of your statement...is it founded on actual experience with similar hardware?

As I said, 2.6GHz at a minimum.

 

[seekermeister]

2.6GHz is not given as a minimum. The lowest in the minimums set is 1.6GHz. My CPUs are the Athlon 64 X2 4400+ @2.2GHz (Recommended set) & the Athlon X2 3800+ @2.0GHz (minimum set). The ones that you highlighted are not the only ones listed.

 

[Frostmourne]

2.6GHz is not given as a minimum. The lowest in the minimums set is 1.6GHz. My CPUs are the Athlon 64 X2 4400+ @2.2GHz (Recommended set) & the Athlon X2 3800+ @2.0GHz (minimum set). The ones that you highlighted are not the only ones listed.

Minimums should be ignored - recommended are much more likely to work and those are at the top.

 

[seekermeister]

If a person has deep pockets, then none of those specs would be sufficient, but that is not me. My question is if Blu Ray would perform on my machines. I'm quite sure that it could perform better on higher end equipment, but I think that I was clear in my interest on running it within my existing specs. Both rigs are within the official minimums, and my primary rig falls within the recommended specs.

I appreciate your perspective, but you need to appreciate the perspective of a person asking a question, for your's to be of the greatest value.

 

[Frostmourne]

If a person has deep pockets, then none of those specs would be sufficient, but that is not me. My question is if Blu Ray would perform on my machine. I'm quite sure that it could perform better on higher end equipment, but I think that I was clear in my interest on running it within my existing specs. Both rigs are within the official minimums, and my primary rig falls within the recommended specs.

I appreciate your perspective, but you need to appreciate the perspective of a person asking a question, for your's to be of the greatest value.

Agreed, it will most likely work - try it on the system with the recommended specs.

 

[seekermeister]

Digging this out of the bone yard, because I finally got a LG CH10LS20 and I received my one and only Blu Ray movie today. When I tried to play the movie, PowerDVD gave me a series of errors that I don't understand, except the fact that the movie didn't play. I then downloaded a trial of WinDVD and tried again, but when I attempt to run it, an error appears saying that I don't have a proper HDCP environment.

I have been going through my specs trying to figure what the problem is, but so far, I'm at a dead end. Is there some kind of advisor software that would pinpoint the problem?

 

[bobkn]

Digging this out of the bone yard, because I finally got a LG CH10LS20 and I received my one and only Blu Ray movie today. When I tried to play the movie, PowerDVD gave me a series of errors that I don't understand, except the fact that the movie didn't play. I then downloaded a trial of WinDVD and tried again, but when I attempt to run it, an error appears saying that I don't have a proper HDCP environment.

I have been going through my specs trying to figure what the problem is, but so far, I'm at a dead end. Is there some kind of advisor software that would pinpoint the problem?

Recent versions of the nVidia control panel include an HDCP status check. Does that tell you anything interesting?

 

[seekermeister]

I guess that I don't know what to look for, because I have the most recent driver (258.96), but I found nothing in the control panel that appeared to be for that purpose. Would you give me a pointer?

 

[sygnus21]

Hi seekermeister, long time no see

Anyways I don't currently have an HDCP system myself so I may be out of my league asking this question, but looking at your specs are your monitors HDCP capable? If not, that might be an issue?

This is an old article but... Is Your PC High Definition DVD Ready? - Page 2 of 3 | Articles - Digital Digest

You might want to give this a try as well - CyberLink BD & 3D Advisor | Software - Digital Digest