What's the most user friendly / plug and play remote for MP? (1 Viewer)

[kiwijunglist]

2. HDCP is copy protection. Doesn't have anything to do with resolutions. My understanding is that if you play HDCP copy protected disc and your TV/Video card don't do HDCP then it wont play. I don't use netflix so don't know much about that.

2. I am saying that if you can't play HDCP protected content then installing anydvd may solve this problem.

2. DVD resolution is less than 720P resolution - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Common_Video_Resolutions_2.svg

NTSC DVD = 720 x 480
PAL DVD = 720 x 576
720P bluray = 1280 x 720
1080P bluray = 1920 x 1080

4. "computer rgb" doesn't really mean anything, they might be refering to VGA port. You should be able to plug that TV into your DVI/HDMI output of your video card. A DVI->HDMI converter plug should only be <$5, and comes free with a lot of video cards. DVI will give slightly better picture cf VGA but they are both good.

4. You don't want to send a 1080i (interlaced) picture from your PC->TV, since your TV and computer both do 1080P (progressive scan)

5. You mention 1080i again, are you talking about 1080i H264 HDTV via a PC TV tuner? If so you need new video card.

5. Going from S-video to VGA or HDMI/DVI will be huge difference

6. For gaming story is different. For gaming I would not choose HD4670. HD4770>HD4670 or something even faster.

7. Mediaportal forum doesn't allow talk of piracy/illegal acts. To backup your own bluray discs you will need bluray drive. It can't be done with a DVD drive.

 

[WTBHelp]

HDCP is copy protection. Doesn't have anything to do with resolutions. My understanding is that if you play HDCP copy protected disc and your TV/Video card don't do HDCP then it wont play. I don't use netflix so don't know much about that.

Here, read this: What is HDCP (high definition copy protocol)?

"It is important to note that HDCP is currently not a standard used in PC monitors, and almost none of these displays have Component inputs. Although PC monitors are HDTV capable, HDCP encryption limits this type of use. If you use an HTPC and want to ensure dual use of your new flat panel display, look for HDCP compatibility".

Basically what this means is that if I legally buy a Blu Ray drive, and legally buy a Blu Ray disk, and legally try to play it on my 1080p monitor, that it WONT output at 1080p because my card isnt HDCP compliant. I will only get 720p. Its ridiculous.

2. I am saying that if you can't play HDCP protected content then installing anydvd may solve this problem.
I've only played DVDs from Netflix in my drive before, watching them on the TV and never had a HDCP problem. I think its only 1080p content thats HDCP encrypted, which means that you will only be able to view a Blu Ray disk at 720p if your card is old (like mine) and not HDCP compliant.


2. DVD resolution is less than 720P resolution - File:Common Video Resolutions 2.svg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

NTSC DVD = 720 x 480
PAL DVD = 720 x 576
720P bluray = 1280 x 720
1080P bluray = 1920 x 1080


Yip I read this after I posted. Thanks.

4. "computer rgb" doesn't really mean anything, they might be refering to VGA port. You should be able to plug that TV into your DVI/HDMI output of your video card. A DVI->HDMI converter plug should only be <$5, and comes free with a lot of video cards. DVI will give slightly better picture cf VGA but they are both good.

Sounds like I should go with HDMI for 5 bucks if I keep my x1900xt.

4. You don't want to send a 1080i (interlaced) picture from your PC->TV, since your TV and computer both do 1080P (progressive scan)

My card can only do 1080i, here check the specs: Radeon™ X1900 XT - Product Specifications
Display Modes
Digital Displays (Connected by DVI)
All Resolutions up to 2560x16003
Analog Displays (Connected by VGA)
All resolutions up to 2048x15363
TV-out
SDTV (analog): 480i | 525i
HDTV (analog or digital): 480p | 720p | 1080i | Any custom resolution1


5. You mention 1080i again, are you talking about 1080i H264 HDTV via a PC TV tuner? If so you need new video card.
Yeah, I think thats what I mean. Check this specs I posted. Will a 1080p TV not take this 1080i signal?

5. Going from S-video to VGA or HDMI/DVI will be huge difference

I know man, woooohoo!

6. For gaming story is different. For gaming I would not choose HD4670. HD4770>HD4670 or something even faster.

Agreed

7. Mediaportal forum doesn't allow talk of piracy/illegal acts. To backup your own bluray discs you will need bluray drive. It can't be done with a DVD drive.

Of course man, I just thought u didnt have a blu ray drive but were watching rips so was highly confused.

Thanks again!!!!

 

[kiwijunglist]

Display Modes
Digital Displays (Connected by DVI)
All Resolutions up to 2560x1600
Analog Displays (Connected by VGA)
All resolutions up to 2048x1536
TV-out
SDTV (analog): 480i | 525i
HDTV (analog or digital): 480p | 720p | 1080i | Any custom resolution1

You probably wont be using the video card's TV-Out with your new tv (you will use DVI/HDMI or VGA), therefore won't be forced to output 1080i from your video card.

 

[WTBHelp]

Display Modes
Digital Displays (Connected by DVI)
All Resolutions up to 2560x1600
Analog Displays (Connected by VGA)
All resolutions up to 2048x1536
TV-out
SDTV (analog): 480i | 525i
HDTV (analog or digital): 480p | 720p | 1080i | Any custom resolution1

You probably wont be using the video card's TV-Out with your new tv (you will use DVI/HDMI or VGA), therefore won't be forced to output 1080i from your video card.

So the x1900xt would be able to output at 1080p via DVI to HDMI? Hells yeah! If I get a Blu Ray drive + AnyDvd, I can then watch Netflix Blu Ray discs on my new TV. Awesomeness.

___________________________

Did you see my post on play back? https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/...layer-does-media-portal-use-72512/#post526849

I guess the player used would need to not require HDCP as well. What player does Media Portal use when I use my MovingPictures menu to start a movie?

 

[kiwijunglist]

not necessarily

1. your cpu might not be fast enough to software encode 1080P bluray (therefore might need dxva compliant video card) you'll have to try and see.
2. might actualy need anydvdhd (rather than anydvd) can't remember

 

[WTBHelp]

I think the bottom line is that it's worth upgrading to a new card for $150. I use my PC for a lot of stuff so its worth it. Would solve the dxva issues, the HCDP stuff. I could use a single HDMI for my sound and picture. All in all its probably worth it. Thanks for your input man.

 

[WTBHelp]

Man I was thinking about 2 things after I went to bed last night:

1) Storage: would you recommend an internal hard drive for playing Blu Ray backups or would something like a NAS work? Wireless is too slow, but what about LAN? Internal is still probably the fastest.

2) The remote control: when using it to select shows, does it take control of the MediaPortal window on display 2, messing with my access to windows on display 1? For example, I'm working in Excel, surfing the net, and the wife decides to start up MediaPortal and start looking for a movie using the remove, will it take away my access to my spreadsheet while she is doing that, and will I need to alt+tab back when she is done?

Thanks man.

 

[kiwijunglist]

1. Western Digital Green HDD seem to get a good reviews. If you have 2x HDD, then 7200rpm for system drive (you don't need much space for system files 50GB is plenty), and media drive can be slower (5400rpm). If you have 1x HDD then get WDD 7200rpm green drive. 1.5TB size seems to be best price per gb data in New Zealand. A bluray rip is about 5gb - 25gb each depending on how you rip/compress it, altho i don't know why you would bother ripping all your movies it could take a long time and it's probably easier to just insert the disc. Downloaded bluray rips typically are 4-8GB each in size. If your movies are stored on the same computer that is playing them you don't need fast network. Wireless G is a bit slow for streaming live TV/bluray rips to other computers in your house, wireless N i'm not sure, maybe fast enough. Ethernet (wired network) cable is safest option.

2. I don't run MP with two displays, it would possible be possible to have the remote interact directly with MP while you are doing excel however i think you are better having the HTPC do one task only and connect to one display only. Setting it up with 2 displays will be more complicated and you may have a lot more issues. You can ask others for advice, they are lots of people who run with two displays, just bare in mind that setting up mediaportal can be tricky and you are adding another layer of potential issues, so be prepared to spend a lot of time getting it setup correctly.

 

[WTBHelp]

Man this looks like a good deal, $70, 1TB: WESTERN DIGITAL Caviar® Green WD10EADS 1TB SATA II 7200 RPM 32MB Buffer Hard Drive Bulk at ZipZoomfly

 

[kiwijunglist]

if u can get 1.5TB for ~x1.5 the price go for bigger size. media computers always run outta space.
when you get above 1.5TB the price/gb goes too high.