HD-DVD playback

[bcowell]

Hi Guys,

I am looking at getting a LG Blu-Ray/HD-DVD combo drive and thought I would test my HTPC with my Xbox 360 HD-DVD add-on drive first to ensure it has enough balls for playback. I am using a trial version of Arcsoft Totalmedia theatre and am getting audio but no video when playing back a HD-DVD. I tried running on my other computer which has vista ultimate and it works very well albeit it is a more powerful machine with a Radeon 4870.

The specs of my HTPC are:

Abit Fatality F 190-HD
E6600
4GB Ram
Arcsoft TotalMedia Theatre (ver 2.1.6.125)
Catalyst 8.9
Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive
Using onboard sound and video (ati radeon Xpress 1200)


I have done some searching on the net and come up empty handed so far, the Arcsoft website says to ensure I have version 2.1.6.110 or higher installed which I do. I installed the latest Catalyst drivers from ATI and still no luck.

Is this something to do with HDCP, not enough video power or something else? I can playback x264 1080p files fine without any problems so I am not sure where to go from here. I guess my Blu-Ray purchases are on hold at the moment.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated
cheers.

[bigdonk]

it's not a HDCP issue ( at least on the HTPC side ), as the ATI x1250 does HDCP 1.2.

I'd be checking if Arcsoft TotalMedia Theatre supports the x1250 gfx for HD-DVD playback.

EDIT:
given the ATI x1250 is not listed as a supported gfx engine, your results will vary, so good luck!

QUOTE http://www.arcsoft.com/products/totalmediatheatre/

NVIDIA GeForce 8400 and above, or AMD(ATI) HD2400 and above.
Notes: AMD(ATI) graphic cards are only supported on Windows Vista 32 SP1 at this time. Please contact AMD for updated drivers.
END QUOTE

Be aware, the ATI x1250 does not have any hardware ( shaders or UVD ), period, to decode h.264 or VC-1, so your CPU will have to burden 100% of the intensive decoding task, you'd be much better off with a dedicated gfx for HD-DVD or blu-ray playback.

[bcowell]

Looking at the spec's in your sig I assume you running Blu-Rays fine with your setup? Is HD-DVD more resource hungry than Blu-Ray or vice versa, or about the same?

What video card would you recommend with HDMI out? Would prefer something without a fan and don't need anything fancy... not sure about free slots on my mobo though I have a happauge 1300 tuner.

EDIT: found something similar to your card http://www.macotechnology.com.au/pro...=HD2400-HD2600 not sure if it is passive though and it mentions onboard soud, I would prefer to continue using the onboard sound I have via spdif out to my amp as it has been running fine. Looks ok though for $55, just need to check and make sure I have a free PCIE slot.

[bigdonk]

Originally Posted by bcowell

Looking at the spec's in your sig I assume you running Blu-Rays fine with your setup? Is HD-DVD more resource hungry than Blu-Ray or vice versa, or about the same?

blu-ray and HD DVD is running fine in my setup ( minus 24 Hz refresh rate > Panel issue not a gfx issue ), but i'm not using the x1250, i'm using the ATI HD 2400 XT.

HD DVD is no more resource hungry than blu-ray, both formats share common disk encryption schemes ( AACS ) , and both share the same audio/video codecs.

Originally Posted by bcowell

What video card would you recommend with HDMI out? Would prefer something without a fan and don't need anything fancy... not sure about free slots on my mobo though I have a happauge 1300 tuner.

As the totalmedia's home page minimum systems specs states: nvidia 8400 or ATI 2400

[bcowell]

thanks for the quick reply is your video card an ATI branded one if not can you tell me the brand please? I assume you use a DVI to HDMI adapter? I also have an Antec fusion case so I want to amke sure it fits in there OK.

cheers

[bigdonk]

Originally Posted by bcowell

thanks for the quick reply is your video card an ATI branded one if not can you tell me the brand please? I assume you use a DVI to HDMI adapter? I also have an Antec fusion case so I want to amke sure it fits in there OK.

cheers

the specific card i'm using is the sapphire 2400 XT utlimate, and yes it does fit nicely into the antec fusion v2 case ( not too high ), yes i'm using the supplied ATI DVI>HDMI donlge, and i've had exactly 0 issues.

URL here http://www.sapphiretech.com/us/produ...gpid=186&grp=3



you might have issues finding the 2400XT now, but another card, similar size is the 3470 XT

URL http://www.sapphiretech.com/us/produ...gpid=228&grp=3



both cards feature GDDR3 video memory....

[bcowell]

I ordered the LG GGC-H20L Blu-Ray/HD DVD drive and a Sapphire HD 3470 256MB DDR3 but am a little concerned now, I have a Samsung P9 50" 1080p Plasma, currently connect via HDMI on the mobo, the video card I ordered is DVI-HDMI and after reading a few forum posts noticed some say that DVI-HDMI will not work on their Samsung TV. Does anyone know if this is an issue with the P9? If so I guess I will need another vidoe card that is direct HDMI.

edit: just found this in the manual so should be ok I guess:

"Connect to the HDMI jack of a device with
HDMI output. These inputs can also be used
as a DVI connection with separate analog
audio inputs."

[bigdonk]

which forum ? which post ? which Samsumg TV model ?

I run a Samsung 40' HD LCD TV, and as i said, zero issues ( minus lack of 24 Hz refresh rate > Panel issue, not ATI HD 2400 XT issue ) with ATI HD2400XT > DVI-HDMI dongle> HDMI cable > Samsung LCD TV HDMI 1.2 input.

[bcowell]

thanks very much for your help I got the video card and drive today and it's all running like a gem.

Just another quick question you may be able to help me with? I'm finding HD-DVD's a little dark, I have modified the contrast, brightness settings in the catalyst drivers but if I turn it up anymore it makes TV etc look too bright.

The colour settings in Total Media Theatre are greyed out, I read on their website that if you enable hardware accelaration these options arn't available. Do you know if there is anything I can do to increase the brigtness just in Totalmedia theatre? Peoples face look too dark and dark scenes get really hard to see.

cheers, thanks again for your help mate.

[bigdonk]

Originally Posted by bcowell

Just another quick question you may be able to help me with? I'm finding HD-DVD's a little dark, I have modified the contrast, brightness settings in the catalyst drivers but if I turn it up anymore it makes TV etc look too bright.

The colour settings in Total Media Theatre are greyed out, I read on their website that if you enable hardware accelaration these options arn't available. Do you know if there is anything I can do to increase the brigtness just in Totalmedia theatre? Peoples face look too dark and dark scenes get really hard to see.

cheers, thanks again for your help mate.

hhmm, i've never found HD-DVD darker in scene detail compared to either standard DVD or blu-ray. I use Cyberlink Power DVD Ultra 7.3.4102, and i've never needed to fiddle with the catalyst contrast or brightness settings. My Samsung LA40F71BX panel however, did require tweaking ( Disabling ) of DNIe, Dynamic CE, Dynamic Dimming and Digital N/R to achieve the best results for dark scene detail.

I’m currently running ATI CCC 8.5. Anything beyond 8.6 has broken EDID, and I’m advised by ATI is targeted to be repaired by 8.11….

I'm not a Total Media Theatre expert, perhaps someone else is ?


What is the HD-DVD title you found dark ?