Getting true HD when hardware is not an issue - HTPC

[pvong]

I'm a newbie and this is my first post. I have a pretty powerful machine (2x Xeon Quads running Win 7 64bit with 8GB RAM and a butt load of available storage).

What I want. I just want my media center to play the closest thing to a real BR. Remember, storage and bandwidth is not an issue.

I've read many post and these are all the things I've tried.

The movie is IRON MAN in BR.

-I ripped it with the newest version of AnyDVD HD.
-I'm using Ripbot264 to do the rest.
-I've tried MKV and MP4 and I think MP4 gives me a better quality. I've also read all about the arguments regarding MKV is a better format for compatibility issues, but I'm only playing things from my Media Center.

What setting on Ripbot264 should I use if I just want the highest quality? I'm about to try 2-pass with 8192 KBPS. It was defaulted to 1024. I already tried CQ with the lowest CRF (18) and I was still not satisfied with it's quality.

The original movie is 32GB.

I tried 2-pass MKV set to 1024 KBPS and I only got 10GB and there were parts that were choppy. My MP4 got better results so that's why I think MP4 is a little better but it's still not clear enough for me.

My question is, will setting it to 8192 KBPS MP4 leaving the properties to NO cropping NO resizing NO subtitles give me the closest thing to BR quality? I don't care if the file is huge, I just want the closes thing possible.

I just wanted to ask before trying because I just don't know if I'm missing something else. Audio - don't care because I care more about how it looks that how it affects my ear drums.

Thanks!
Newbie Phil

[lowellriggsiam]

Before you get set in your ways try making an MKV from a BD using makemkv and see what you think. I have nothing but praise what I play on my Seagate media player.

[pvong]

That's awesome!!! This got me a 25GB file and the quality is really good.

[edDV]

What I want. I just want my media center to play the closest thing to a real BR. Remember, storage and bandwidth is not an issue.
...
The original movie is 32GB.

For best quality you keep the 32GB file. Identical to Blu-Ray.

[pvong]

For best quality you keep the 32GB file. Identical to Blu-Ray.

The 32GB file is in the .mts2 or something like that format. My Win7 Media center player can not play that format. Is there a codec out there that I don't know about that you can add to your MC so it will play these files?

[greymalkin]

I know the splash media player will play it..not sure how to integrate it with your HTPC Interface if you're trying to have it all play through the same one.

[Soopafresh]

For best quality you keep the 32GB file. Identical to Blu-Ray.

Makemkv is only rewrapping the file. No format conversion with that app. It's possible that it is stripping out unused/unplayable audio tracks, hence the file size difference.

[fritzi93]

The OP must have de-selected some titlesets and/or streams. MakeMKV will extract all titlesets with all streams to separate MKVs.

[pvong]

Thank you all!!! I'll stick with my MKV file. I did tell it to strip some of the audio / CC / language..etc. I'm very happy with my 25GB file.