Hi def dual-format drive users who have achieved perfect playback please post here

Thanks for starting this topic. I'd be very interested in what people have to say, for when my drive arrives.


Sorry, Herve, I guess you weren't being clear enough! As a joke, I almost replied to this thread with "can someone look over the specs for my new HTPC". I guess I was too late:



PM me if you want me to delete this (my) message to keep the thread clean.

Here is my setup. I have only tested with Transformers HD DVD and Spiderman 3 BluRay because that is all I have but they both worked no problem with my setup:

Intel E6600 2.4ghz C2D
Asus P5B Deluxe MB
Gskill 2GB DDR800 RAM
Gigabyte 8600GTS passive cooled (Latest drivers from Nvidia)
Windows XP SP2 (All latest updates)
PowerDVD Ultra 7.3 3319f build
Philips 42" Plasma PF7320A 720p/1080i (Latest firmware)
Monoprice DVI to HDMI cable
Pioneer tx1015 A/V Receiver
Monoprice Digital Coaxial audio cable

I am using SPDIF from the MB (Realtek Audio). I am running at 1920x1080i 60hz. I have also tried 1280x720p 60hz with no problems.

I have no problem playing back either HDDVD or BD. Here's my setup:

Intel E4400 C2D OC to 3.0Ghz
GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3R
2G OCZ Reaper DDR2 PC6400 OC to 935Mhz
GeForce 8600GTS 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 passive cooled
Mitsubishi WD57831 1080p DLP rear projector TV
Vista Ultimate
PDVD Ultra 7.3 3319f
LG dual format drive

HTPC is connected directly to my TV via DVI to HDMI cable while the sound is connected to my Sony STR-DG810 via the SPDIF out on the MB. PDVD video is set to hardware accelerated and under load, I only see about 15-20% CPU usage across the 2 cores. I also tried Arcsoft Digital Theater trial edition and achieved flawless playback with it after some tweaking (it has better PQ than PDVD but my 15 days trial period ran out). Can't wait for this program to be available in English.

+AMD 62FX (dual core 2.8GHz)--typically less than 20% utilized
+evga 8600gts 256MB/163.69 driver/got a fan /HA enabled
+4GB RAM--typically less than 40% utilized
+LG dual format drive
+PowerDVD 7.3.3401a.1
+AnyDVD HD 6.1.9.7
+ASUS M2N32 SLI Deluxe MoBo
+Onboard HD Audio/5.1 optical SPDIF to Denon AVR-5800 driving 7.1 speakers
+1080p/50 to Optoma HD81-LV Front Projector to 80" wide Stewart electic trapdoor screen (8600gts only offers 25Hz, not 24Hz, but haven't tried 25HZ as 50Hz works just fine, very little judder)
+DVI Detective between HTPC and DVI cable (with HDMI adapter) to Projector to maintain EDID so I can leave HTPC on 24/7 but turn off PJ (screws up otherwise HDCP compliant setup; therefore AnyDVD)
+Vista Ultimate
+Currently own 35 HD-DVD and 5 BluRay DVDs and all play just fine from the LG drive and HDD (since I converted the 5 BR to ISO, mostly because of MyMovies shortcomings). Rarely do I get a hiccup. I use TheaterTek 2.6 for appx 175 SD DVDs.
+My HTPC is exclusively for movie and music playback and the occasional TV recording-no everyday computing/surfing on this machine--keep it simple, keep it clean, and keep it going. I use Remote Desktop Connection for maintaining the HTPC, backing up DVDs, software installation...rather than fire up the front PJ.

I can't say 100% since I'm putting together a separate HTPC right now, but I hooked up my x2 6000/2gb ram/8800gts PC to my TV and put the LG combo drive in, and everything worked just fine. Used PowerDVDUltra for HD-DVD/Blu and didn't have issues with what I tested. Everything ran fine, looked fine, sounded fine.

I do have a question though, and maybe I should make a separate topic on it but I'll try to get an answer here.

Is TheaterTek plus FFShow the way to go for watching SD-DVD's? It seems like by using the tweaks, you can get it to look awful good. But if that is the case, and I also want to use PowerDVD Ultra for HD movies, how do I configure the HTPC to start up one program or another depending on the format I put into the drive?

First results:
I built a new computer for HTPC use. ASUS M2N-SLI Deluxe, AMD 5600 64X2 AMD, 4 gig Cosair TWIN2XP2048-6400C4 ram running at 4-4-4-12, Sapphire / ATI HD2600XT 512 meg ram, WD Raptor 74 gig 10,000 rpm HD for O/S and programs, LG GGC-H20L combo drive, Vista 32 Ultimate and PDVD OEM.
I have had it up and running for 2 weeks. So far I have been able to play Tomb Raiders 1 and Sky Captain (HDDVD) and 300 (Blu-ray) with no problems. (no others tried yet) I have used both optical and coax out and am getting Dolby 5.1, decoded by the amp.
I am using an older Mitsubishi RPTV and component inputs @ 1080i and 30Hz. with no HDMI or HDCP support. (I don't see much of a difference between 30Hz and 29Hz) The HDVD movie image is awesome, but Windows desktop is poor. Playing DVDs I get a drop out or freeze that is only a frame or two but can be seen. I have gotten rid of most, if not all, of the drop out / freeze by turning off all de-interlace functions. PDVD will not play a DVD at "the current screen resolution" ATI media center plays the DVD without complaint and appears to be upconverted. I have not looked at cpu usage yet.
I also have an ATI DVI to component dongle and will give that a try. This TV can also take RGB-HV (SVGA I think). I may make up an adapter and try this input.
A note on the motherboard and ram: memory may have more than one setting in the SPD. My motherboard defaulted to the most conservative settings. I manually set to the Enhanced Performance Profiles (EPP) settings. This is the timings that Corsair tests their memory.
Ken

AMD X2 4400+ @ Stock
Asus A8N-E MB
Corsair 2GB DDR 400 RAM
Gigabyte 8500GT (Latest Drivers)
Vista Home Premium
PowerDVD Ultra 7.3 3319f w/ AnyDVD HD 6.3.0.3
Vizio VX37L 37" 720P
Firefold 3' VGA Cable
Sony STR-840P Receiver
Phillips Coax SPDIF cable
LG GGC-H20L

It works amazingly well. Watched SpiderMan 3 and Transformers tonight. After the massive PowerDVD thread I was highly nervous, but everything worked exactly the way I expected it to.