• Some users have recently had their accounts hijacked. It seems that the now defunct EVGA forums might have compromised your password there and seems many are using the same PW here. We would suggest you UPDATE YOUR PASSWORD and TURN ON 2FA for your account here to further secure it. None of the compromised accounts had 2FA turned on.
    Once you have enabled 2FA, your account will be updated soon to show a badge, letting other members know that you use 2FA to protect your account. This should be beneficial for everyone that uses FSFT.

Best BluRay Player for PC.

B

Brashen

Gawd
Joined
Jul 25, 2008
Messages
695
So what is it guys?

I'm planning a Nehalem build and I'd like to know what would be a great BluRay PLayer and should I opt for stand alone or one that plays multiple formats?
 
I'm assuming he means hardware. I still feel it's too early to have a go-to Blu-ray ROM drive or burner. Plus they're still coming down in price. Since you're planning a Nehalem build, you still have time to wait. Do you plan on getting movies in other formats? Do you want to be able to burn HD media?
 
Ahh sorry folks I am in fact talking about the hardware thank you for asking ( I assumed it was obvious since I talked about a Nehalem build). I wouldn't mind the burning capabilities, I was wondering if I should get one exclusively for BluRay and another one for DVD/CD.

What be your suggestions?
 
Well, by the time good solid units come out, they'll probably play all medias well enough. I don't think a separate optical drive just for DVDs and CDs would be necessary. Plus the Blu-ray burner would likely upscale DVDs anyway, assuming your monitor will be HD-capable to take advantage of it. ;)
 
GJSNeptune said:
Well, by the time good solid units come out, they'll probably play all medias well enough. I don't think a separate optical drive just for DVDs and CDs would be necessary. Plus the Blu-ray burner would likely upscale DVDs anyway, assuming your monitor will be HD-capable to take advantage of it. ;)
Click to expand...

No, software would do that.
 
Any of the ones newegg has should work fine:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...0100598&bop=And&SpeTabStoreType=1&Order=PRICE

I've had the LG H20L (4th one down) since January and it's great; only problems I've had have been with the PowerDVD software. The version that comes with the drive (7) only supports 2 audio channels and you actually need version 8 to play new movies like Iron Man (unless they release an update for 7, which they haven't for 10 months). So yeah, you'll just have to "acquire" PowerDVD 8 ;)
 
GJSNeptune said:
Software that would come with the Blu-ray player.
Click to expand...

You mean the outdated crap that he's going to have to spend money on anyways to upgrade? Dude, seriously? Anyways, that software is for Blu ray playback only so he's going to have to go with software for DVD playback regardless.

Also, if he fullscreens a DVD video and his moniter is using a resolution higher then 720x480 then he's officially upscaling a DVD, Yeah, it's that easy.

Back on track; Blu ray on the PC is kind of crappy. What I mean by that is that with all of the hoops one has to jump through and all of the software limitations for playback in place coupled with the incredibly lackluster software support for watching said blu rays Your left with a very clumsy experience.

I'd highly suggest buying a PS3 instead and wait another year for the software support to mature some more; that's what I did.
 
j3ff86 said:
The version that comes with the drive (7) only supports 2 audio channels and you actually need version 8 to play new movies like Iron Man (unless they release an update for 7, which they haven't for 10 months). So yeah, you'll just have to "acquire" PowerDVD 8 ;)
Click to expand...


I have version 7 and Iron Man works fine

I read about people saying that bluray on PC sucks but I have had very few problems with it. I read on AVS forums that PowerDVD Ultra version 7.3.3319a was the last one to playback from the hard drive so I got that and AnyDVD HD and its been pretty smooth. AnyDVD needs updates occasionally but thats about it.
 
CrimandEvil said:
Back on track; Blu ray on the PC is kind of crappy. What I mean by that is that with all of the hoops one has to jump through and all of the software limitations for playback in place coupled with the incredibly lackluster software support for watching said blu rays Your left with a very clumsy experience.
Click to expand...

I dont fully agree, my recent build for Blu Ray was easy to get working. My only issue was a driver problem that would have happend if that build had been for gaming or anything else. Once I got the proper driver installe it was pop in Blu Ray and enjoy. I currently am running the free upgrade to PowerDVD 7.3 from the provided version with the drive.

Upconverting is easy enough, there are plenty of good players out there you can get. I personally have enjoyed Zoom Player. Adding some tweaks to FFDSHOW you can increase your upconverting quality.

I have been satisfied with my upgrade and enjoy my new system quite a lot.

As Crimand said though you can wait for the experience to progress, but you could wait 2 years and have no real progress. Take a good look at the current offerings and decide if you want to upgrade now or later. If you like consoles you can get a PS3 and enjoy the Blu Ray functions out of that if you would like.
 
Well for the PS3 part....I don't play consoles!! So that's out of the equation plus I would never spend money on outdated equipment.
As for screen size I'll be using it on a 30incher.
I had no idea Blu Ray had so many issues with drivers and what not...thought I'd just popin the disc and enjoy...I guess not.
Well as far as waiting goes I wont start building until Nehalem arrives so hopefully something pops up.

Thanks guys!!
 
Better be careful with that 30" monitor. HDCP does not work with dual dvi. My dell 3007 will not play hdcp movies.

And the ps3 is not outdated equipment. It is one of the few blue-ray players that has a hard drive and a internet connection.

My Batman Begins blue-ray movie will not play on powerdvd 7 or 8.
 
looks like you don't care about pricing but internal bluray drives can be had for less than $100 (Newegg has a 2X Sony right now for $95 w free shipping). Don't really know what PS3s start at but I know they are a lot more.

Those 2X drives will work for whatever you need but won't be as quick when you rip movies (if you want to do that).


Dual said:
My Batman Begins blue-ray movie will not play on powerdvd 7 or 8.
Click to expand...

Did a quick check over at avsforum and didn't see anyone mention they had problem with that combination. Haven't tried it myself as Batman Begins is still "Very Long Wait" after being in my queue for a few weeks
 
Ripskin said:
I dont fully agree, my recent build for Blu Ray was easy to get working. My only issue was a driver problem that would have happend if that build had been for gaming or anything else. Once I got the proper driver installe it was pop in Blu Ray and enjoy. I currently am running the free upgrade to PowerDVD 7.3 from the provided version with the drive.
Click to expand...
For me any many with HTPCs Blu ray will be officially ready for prime time the day I can drop in a Blu ray into my HTPCs and have VMC play it right away like it does with regular DVDs. Right now it's a pain in the ass cause you have to do additional setup; using a script to launch PowerDVD and maybe skinning PDVD so that it actually looks like a part of VMC or at least something user friendly (TMT has the option to do this too, for PDVD the script is needed cause it doesn't do it it's self) and then you have to remap powerDVD's buttons to actually work with the MCE remote. For more:http://www.missingremote.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2560&Itemid=232

Now, if you're setup is a simple desktop PC then you don't have to deal with any of this cause you've got a mouse/keyboard right there in front of you. I don't want that. Many who build HTPCs don't want that. The whole point of an HTPC is to make your media very accessable from the coach for non-technical people as well.
 
Wrong Dual! My 30” Dell and almost every other 30” is HDCP. Your problem is some were else and not the monitor. Most likely cause is the cable and/or the vid card.
 
Dual: Make a post in the display forum and tell them what models of monitor and vid card you have. Also list the type of cable you are using. They will help you to get your system up and running.
 
Bluray playback on the pc is fine, except for 2 biggies -

1. HDMI + HDCP - there are many issues with receiver/hdtv support. Most of these issues go away with Anydvd hd, but thats another $100

2. HD Audiio - this is the real killer. There is NO pc support for bistreaming the hd audio formats so the best that can be done is LPCM 7.1, even that requires special hardware, magical incantations, and lots of faith :)

And its a pc, so you will tinker with it and things will break. Try and imagine doing a simple sw update, new driver etc and your shiny new htpc stops working.

A ~$250 standalone, or PS3 can be setup in 5min, will work all the time with all your other HT gear and be rock solid. Less power and noise too.

The only reason to play HD media using HTPC is if you really want it for the other reasons - like tv timehsifting, a media library, internet browsing etc.
 
In my opinion a ps3 would be the most logical option since you can still browse the web and play blu-ray on it.
68d30a9594728bc39aa24be94b319d21.gif
 
Whe did this become about HTPCs? LOL

I think this thread to a wrong turn somewhere. It went from PS3 to bad drivers to worse HTPCs and now back onto PS3 again.

Guys I'm just looking for a Blu Ray drive for my WORKSTATION.........

Domo Arigato!!
 
j3ff86 said:
Any of the ones newegg has should work fine:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...0100598&bop=And&SpeTabStoreType=1&Order=PRICE

I've had the LG H20L (4th one down) since January and it's great; only problems I've had have been with the PowerDVD software. The version that comes with the drive (7) only supports 2 audio channels and you actually need version 8 to play new movies like Iron Man (unless they release an update for 7, which they haven't for 10 months). So yeah, you'll just have to "acquire" PowerDVD 8 ;)
Click to expand...

You do not need version 8 to play Iron Man. I have the version that came with my LG combo last week and I just did the firmware updates to the player and the software updates to the Power DVD and my unit plays it just fine. I am also able to play transformers as well. My Transformers copy is the HD version.

Jason
 
CrimandEvil said:
You mean the outdated crap that he's going to have to spend money on anyways to upgrade? Dude, seriously? Anyways, that software is for Blu ray playback only so he's going to have to go with software for DVD playback regardless.

Also, if he fullscreens a DVD video and his moniter is using a resolution higher then 720x480 then he's officially upscaling a DVD, Yeah, it's that easy.

Back on track; Blu ray on the PC is kind of crappy. What I mean by that is that with all of the hoops one has to jump through and all of the software limitations for playback in place coupled with the incredibly lackluster software support for watching said blu rays Your left with a very clumsy experience.

I'd highly suggest buying a PS3 instead and wait another year for the software support to mature some more; that's what I did.
Click to expand...

Your's in an interesting comment. I just got my Samsung LN32A450 and the playback with the LG combo drive and PowerDVD is outstanding.

Jason
 
Go with the LG GGC-H20L, It plays both Blu Rays and HD DVD (HDDVDs are cheap!) Paired it with PowerDVD8 and couldnt be happier, Only paid 140 for it after shipping as well!
 
edifyingkarma said:
Go with the LG GGC-H20L, It plays both Blu Rays and HD DVD (HDDVDs are cheap!) Paired it with PowerDVD8 and couldnt be happier, Only paid 140 for it after shipping as well!
Click to expand...
Ya, good drive. I got lucky and picked up a new looking refurb for around $90, but if you use the 30% Live/Paypal cashback promo there are still some great deals to be had on ebay.

Using it with both powerdvd 7.3 and 8 Ultra. Also nice being able to take advantage of all the HD DVD movie deals available.
 
j3ff86 said:
The version that comes with the drive (7) only supports 2 audio channels and you actually need version 8 to play new movies like Iron Man (unless they release an update for 7, which they haven't for 10 months). So yeah, you'll just have to "acquire" PowerDVD 8 ;)
Click to expand...

Still running PDVD 7 on both my LG drives and I watched Iron Man just fine. In fact, the first time I put it in it asked if I wanted to download BD Live updates for the movie (not PDVD related).

Also, you can still get multi-channel sound from the OEM version... SPDIF will allow you to get DD and DTS if you have a receiver to decode it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top