I have just set up my first HTPC and last night watched Fifth Element in all it's glory (and in DD 5.1). I must say that I am captivated with the picture quality. Even my girlfriend was amazed. I have found that the picture looks best at 1024 x 768 @ 72 Hz. First I'd like to thank all the people on the forum for their expert knowledge to get me going. Here is my set-up (pics to follow)
Soyo 6BA+IV MOBO
PIII 550E
196 PC100 RAM
Hitachi 2X DVD ROM
Sound Blaster Live! Platinum
Windows 2000
Western Digital Caviar 10GB
Win-TV go
Matrox G400 dual head
Outlaw 550 receiver
Klipsch Synergy Quintet speakers
NEC XG-75 front projector (72" wide screen)
I have a couple of observations that I'd like to point out.
1) when I boot up the PC. The NEC does not recognize the BIOS bootup sequence and there is no image until Windows starts up... not really a problem but I was curious as to why this is?
2) my display properties under powerstrip shows that my display device is unknown (default) is there any way to get drivers for my NEC? I looked on NECs website and the only driverts that I found were for monitors. I don't know if this matters but I am a little afraid to go pushing my projector out of limits and damaging it.
3) I'd like to use the custom timings that I found on Mark Fosters post from a ways back but will they work ? From the thread it sounded like they were for HDTVs only, I know that the NEC is more than capable of displaying HD material but is it considered a HDTV in the eyes of Powerstrip and Matrox powerdesk?
4) When I start POWERDVD and look at my receiver, the PCM(Pro-Logic) light comes on during the initial setup and FBI screen then when the movie actually starts it switches to DD 5.1. Does that happen for anybody else? I am using drivers that I got from the Forum here a ways back (can't remember the thread exactly), they weren't from creative labs as I don't think that they have released AC3 passthru capable drivers for Sound Blaster Live in W2000. They appear to work without any problems.
5) Would it be possible to simplify the process that I go through to start a movie? i.e 1) go to Powerstrip change to 1024X768 @ 72 Hz 2) start PowerDVD 3) start YXY. I'm thinking that I could use VBASIC to create a simple App that would go through that cycle for me. I have a pronto remote but a RF keyboard so I need to get an IR keyboard. Im thinking for my girlfriend who wants to push as few buttons as possible to watch a movie. I have heard about Girder but don't know much about it. Can it do complex Macro operations like this with one or two button clicks??
Any response would be greatly appreciated... Thanks again!
Soyo 6BA+IV MOBO
PIII 550E
196 PC100 RAM
Hitachi 2X DVD ROM
Sound Blaster Live! Platinum
Windows 2000
Western Digital Caviar 10GB
Win-TV go
Matrox G400 dual head
Outlaw 550 receiver
Klipsch Synergy Quintet speakers
NEC XG-75 front projector (72" wide screen)
I have a couple of observations that I'd like to point out.
1) when I boot up the PC. The NEC does not recognize the BIOS bootup sequence and there is no image until Windows starts up... not really a problem but I was curious as to why this is?
2) my display properties under powerstrip shows that my display device is unknown (default) is there any way to get drivers for my NEC? I looked on NECs website and the only driverts that I found were for monitors. I don't know if this matters but I am a little afraid to go pushing my projector out of limits and damaging it.
3) I'd like to use the custom timings that I found on Mark Fosters post from a ways back but will they work ? From the thread it sounded like they were for HDTVs only, I know that the NEC is more than capable of displaying HD material but is it considered a HDTV in the eyes of Powerstrip and Matrox powerdesk?
4) When I start POWERDVD and look at my receiver, the PCM(Pro-Logic) light comes on during the initial setup and FBI screen then when the movie actually starts it switches to DD 5.1. Does that happen for anybody else? I am using drivers that I got from the Forum here a ways back (can't remember the thread exactly), they weren't from creative labs as I don't think that they have released AC3 passthru capable drivers for Sound Blaster Live in W2000. They appear to work without any problems.
5) Would it be possible to simplify the process that I go through to start a movie? i.e 1) go to Powerstrip change to 1024X768 @ 72 Hz 2) start PowerDVD 3) start YXY. I'm thinking that I could use VBASIC to create a simple App that would go through that cycle for me. I have a pronto remote but a RF keyboard so I need to get an IR keyboard. Im thinking for my girlfriend who wants to push as few buttons as possible to watch a movie. I have heard about Girder but don't know much about it. Can it do complex Macro operations like this with one or two button clicks??
Any response would be greatly appreciated... Thanks again!
