HDTV PC playback

[DigVideo]

OK, here's another project I'm thinking of doing:

How about using the PC as an HDTV player? The idea is to rip a DVD, re-encode and resize using TMPGenc at HDTV resolution (say, 1080i) and save it on the hard disk. Since I'm planning on keeping the PC in my home theater, I'd hook it up to the TV and use the PC to playback the HDTV movie. The hardware I'd use would probably be an ATI Radeon 8500 with the HDTV dongle (converts to component video out up to 1080i)

Has anyone tried this? I've got everything else except the ATI video card/dongle. Just wanted to see if it'll work before I buy the extra hardware (~$300)

I'm guessing that the whole movie will be about 3 times the size of a DVD which I can either delete or save it on multiple DVD+/-R/W for future viewing (as data: mpg)

I don't really play games but I guess it can also be used as a gaming machine too.

Has anybody tried this?

[yg1968]

The resolution of a DVD is 720x480. Re-encoding it will not increase the quality of the video.

Here is an interesting thread on HDTV:

http://www.vcdhelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=120814

[BJ_M]

http://www.vcdhelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=135612&highlight=

[BJ_M]

i should point out to you also that every 4 minutes of hdtv at 1080i requires over 2 gigs storage (becuase of the higher bit rate you should use - hdtv bitrate at 1080 should be min. 19meg /s which is the standard, myself and most others use a lot higher bit rate for hdtv , around 50meg/s - 100meg/s ) and often you will not get smooth playback of audio video @ 1080 on many pc's unless you have a real good hard drive system and system overall ..

dedicated pc's made for playing back only hdtv @ 720p and 1080i/p start about $8000 - these use real good hdtv decoders and embeded OS ..
i use the alcorn mcbride HDVDM for this purpose ..

[dmcgirt]

What decoder card are you using on your PC to get 4mins=2GB? Using a AccessDTV or HiPix card, you should see ~ 250MB per Minute, or ~ 8GB per hour of recorded content. That is what I get in actual recordings.. just my 2 cents.