Blu-ray requirements (1 Viewer)

[dk_akj]

Hi,

I have a HTPC with
- 82945G chipset
- P4 3ghz cpu
- 1gb RAM

I'd like to change the DVD player to a Blu-ray player, but is my machine powerfull enough to show blu-ray via the onboard graphiccard ?
If yes, what drive would you recomend ? I guess i need a drive with SW bundled to get the right codecs ?

I'm going for a full HD screen (LG PG7000), I'm planning to connect it via a DVI-HDMI adapter, is this the right way to go ?

Thanks in advance
Anders

PS: For the team behind MP: for a great SW

 

[TheGuy]

My gut reaction to onboard graphics is ... not A Chance...

but

The first question to ask... does the graphics chipset support HDCP? If it doesn't the power of the graphics becomes a non-issue...

A couple of the software companies that have bluray compatible software also offer bluray compatibility testers. Corel is one and theres another... the name slips my mind. Find one of those they should give you an idea of what you're missing.

http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Content/1193332030582

http://docs.cyberlink.com/multi/support/bdhd_support/diagnosis.jsp


A DVI to HDMI cable is how my system is connected and it works for me!

 

[revs]

You will definitely need a newer graphics card. One that supports Blu-Ray decoding/acceleration in hardware. One of the ATI 3450's or better, or a NVidia 8500 or higher.

 

[dk_akj]

Hi,

Thanks for your fast answers, I'll start searching for a new graphis card.

Is there any difference in the amount of heat produced by the different cards ? I'm already fighting to keep my HTPC cold = quit...

Thanks
Anders

 

[revs]

I have a fanless ati 3450. Works great. It's warm, but operates fine with no fan!

 

[polarie]

i am using (can be seen also in my SIG):

- GF 8200 (on board) in my mini-htpc
- ATI HD3200 (onBoard) in my experimental HTPC
- ATI HD2600Pro in my second experimental HTPC
- ATI HD3450 fanless in my big-htpc (PCIe) (DUAL-VIEW)
- HIS ATI HD3850 IceCube (AGP) in my workstation/office-htpc

all work fine with BlueRay and the PowerDVD version
which comes with the LG-BlueRay (that HGL20 combo HDDVD/BR-thing )... no problems
all are using DXGA ...

 

[dk_akj]

I have a fanless ati 3450. Works great. It's warm, but operates fine with no fan!

Thanks for that input.

i am using (can be seen also in my SIG):

- GF 8200 (on board) in my mini-htpc
- ATI HD3200 (onBoard) in my experimental HTPC
- ATI HD2600Pro in my second experimental HTPC
- ATI HD3450 fanless in my big-htpc (PCIe) (DUAL-VIEW)
- HIS ATI HD3850 IceCube (AGP) in my workstation/office-htpc

all work fine with BlueRay and the PowerDVD version
which comes with the LG-BlueRay (that HGL20 combo HDDVD/BR-thing )... no problems
all are using DXGA ...

Ok, I'll see if it works with the onboard, if not, then I'll byuy a ATI3450
Thanks for the info about the bundle.

Anders

 

[polarie]

if u will use the config from your first post here (INTEL 945G)

it will not work - could be that 720p will go -
but for full HD (1080i/p) a "clear 90% no go" without a DXAG (directX-Grafic-Acceleration) ...
thats what i can say ...
(althought the 3ghz P4)

couse i also have an intel ATOM 1.6Ghz with the better 950G chipset (mini-ITX)
- only 720p is working smooth ... FullHD is not working ...

 

[revs]

Although the 3450 works fine (I own it), I read after buying that the 3650 is a lot better - so if its not much more expensive, maybe its a better option. I forget now why it was better (some technical reason).