LordOfLA
Godlike!
- Joined
- 2 Feb 2004
- Messages
- 7,026
As some of you may know I've recently been investing in hardware and software to make my PC play back Blu-Ray and HD-DVD films.
So far I've spent ~£80 less than a PS3 costs in the UK.
Costs comprise of the following:
Quadcore upgrade to Q6600 + HSF(Core 2 Duo E6600 could not play back Blu-Ray or HD-DVD completely stutter free, even with an 8800GT hardware assist)
LG Blu-Ray/HD-DVD reader/DVD/CD re-writer
License for AnyDVD HD so that I don't need to worry about the fact that my neither my TV or LCD monitor are HDCP compliant according to various applications that test for it.
License for PowerDVD 8 (Blu-Ray edition, doesn't do HD-DVD issues with some Blu-ray features, patches can sometimes remove features unannounced)
License for WinDVD 9 - plays both blu-ray and HD-DVD, scaling/aspect ratio issues on hd-dvd.
Shortly license for Arcsoft Total Media Extreme, plays Blu-Ray, HD-DVD, no issues so far.
Given that any films on HD-DVD that are not yet on blu-ray (Paramount stuff mostly) will be on blu-ray soon, and the hassles I've had. I would at this point recommend that those of you looking into Blu-Ray HiDef save the extra few pennies and get a playstation 3.
You will then have a fully upgradeable and future compatible blu-ray player that happens to play the odd game now and then when you want.
The drawback to that is that your TV may not support the HDCP copyprotection stuff to play back HiDef over HDMI/DVI and may result in degraded quality playback over Component.
I leave it to each of yoou to decide for yourselves which is the better investment for you.
So far I've spent ~£80 less than a PS3 costs in the UK.
Costs comprise of the following:
Quadcore upgrade to Q6600 + HSF(Core 2 Duo E6600 could not play back Blu-Ray or HD-DVD completely stutter free, even with an 8800GT hardware assist)
LG Blu-Ray/HD-DVD reader/DVD/CD re-writer
License for AnyDVD HD so that I don't need to worry about the fact that my neither my TV or LCD monitor are HDCP compliant according to various applications that test for it.
License for PowerDVD 8 (Blu-Ray edition, doesn't do HD-DVD issues with some Blu-ray features, patches can sometimes remove features unannounced)
License for WinDVD 9 - plays both blu-ray and HD-DVD, scaling/aspect ratio issues on hd-dvd.
Shortly license for Arcsoft Total Media Extreme, plays Blu-Ray, HD-DVD, no issues so far.
Given that any films on HD-DVD that are not yet on blu-ray (Paramount stuff mostly) will be on blu-ray soon, and the hassles I've had. I would at this point recommend that those of you looking into Blu-Ray HiDef save the extra few pennies and get a playstation 3.
You will then have a fully upgradeable and future compatible blu-ray player that happens to play the odd game now and then when you want.
The drawback to that is that your TV may not support the HDCP copyprotection stuff to play back HiDef over HDMI/DVI and may result in degraded quality playback over Component.
I leave it to each of yoou to decide for yourselves which is the better investment for you.