What is better?

[igorland]

Hi all! I am trying to set up a new DVD/Home theater system now. My old one was based on a Sony desktop DVD player but it does not play all DVD+R DL discs, and I want to create a new one based on a PC. I was wondering what would produce a better quality: video played through DVI on my MSI 6600GT card or video played through S-VHS on my Hollywood Plus decoder card? I plan to connect it to a projector one day. So depending on the output quality I will be choosing a TV or a projector accordingly.

Thanks a lot!

[redwudz]

Component or DVI will be better than S-Video. If what you have in mind is to replace the DVD player with the PC, the DVD player is a lot more convenient.

I use my entertainment PC for DIVX, HDTV and other formats. It uses a ATI Radeon 9550 out through the DVI socket and then through a DVI to component adapter and to my video projector. My projector doesn't have a DVI input, but that would be my preference.

I still have a regular DVD player for DVDs. I have a component video selector switch so I can use either input.

When I used S-Video the computer fonts were blurry, almost unreadable, but component improved them considerably.

[Megahurts]

igorland,

I use a LinkPlayer2 DVD player. IT has component outputs and will output 480i thru 1080i. It connects to a PC via a home network and also has a USB port.

It will accept TS, Mpeg1-2, Divx, Xvid and Jpeg files with resolutions up to 1920x1080 from a DVD or USB flash disk or PC. You can also receive radio stations over the internet.

The only drawback is that it doesn't support WiFi... but still a nice toy.



redwudz,

What are you using for a 'component video selector switch'?


Regards,

Chas

[edDV]

I agree with both of the above:

1. Use a DVD player as the primary playback device (progressive DVI or analog component connections favored).

2. Use computer to play individual files or formats not supported by your DVD player. My HDTV (like many projectors) supports 1080i, 540p and 480p over VGA using Powerstrip software. My ATI AIW card will feed DVI or analog component out at 1080i, 720p or 480p.

Don't bother using the computer S-Video out for quality video playback. A DVD player will look far better. Use S-video only if your TV lacks component inputs.

Megahurts, I saw a $45 "4x1 poor man's component switcher" in a Walmart in Texas a couple of weeks ago. Philips I think.

[edDV]

...

It will accept TS, Mpeg1-2, Divx, Xvid and Jpeg files with resolutions up to 1920x1080 from a DVD or USB flash disk or PC. You can also receive radio stations over the internet.

Megahurts,

Have you been able to play a raw TS file (19-25Mbps) from the computer through that network connection to the LinkPlayer for output? That would rock!

HDTV TS files are just too huge for DVD (28min) and it takes too long to convert them.

[igorland]

Thanks, guys! So, I guess I'd better stick to a desktop player then. I will need to replace my old one for something that plays all DVD+R DL discs. Interesting, my old one plays some and does not play the others, saying that the disc is dirty. But this is a topic of another forum...

Cheers!

[Megahurts]

edDV,

Yes, it will playback a raw TS file through the network with true HDTV resolution without a glitch. I capture a HDTV TS file with a 'MyHD' card and play it back through the network.

If there is a long program (1/2hr+) I can't live without, I'll convert it to Xvid and save it to DVD ISO mode at full HD resolution.

I understant it will playback a WMV9 video file but haven't tried it yet.

At this point in time and space.... It's a nice toy.

Chas

[edDV]

edDV,

Yes, it will playback a raw TS file through the network with true HDTV resolution without a glitch. I capture a HDTV TS file with a 'MyHD' card and play it back through the network.

If there is a long program (1/2hr+) I can't live without, I'll convert it to Xvid and save it to DVD ISO mode at full HD resolution.

I understant it will playback a WMV9 video file but haven't tried it yet.

At this point in time and space.... It's a nice toy.

Chas

Good news. It's a great way to play back to a remote HDTV.

[igorland]

Guys. How about playing DVD from my 6600GT through DVI using PureVideo? This should be better than normal DVD desktop player. Correct? Anyone tried that? Thanks!

[edDV]

Guys. How about playing DVD from my 6600GT through DVI using PureVideo? This should be better than normal DVD desktop player. Correct? Anyone tried that? Thanks!

You can try it but I doubt it will be as good as a decent standalone DVD player. Expect skips and audio glitches if you use your computer while it plays. Maintaining setups on the 2nd HD Monitor DVI port can also be a problem. All in all, I wouldn't use it as your main playback solution but feel free to try.

[MoovyGuy]

edDV,

Yes, it will playback a raw TS file through the network with true HDTV resolution without a glitch. I capture a HDTV TS file with a 'MyHD' card and play it back through the network.
Chas

Hey Megahurts & edTV,

I also have a linkplayer. & I like the raw .TS playback as well. I also did some tests regarding .TS playback & wifi and you can feel good about having the version of the linkplayer that uses a wired network.

802.11g simply does not have the bandwidth needed to support a 19 megabit mpeg2 stream. Remember that it's only 54 megabit, meaning that under ideal circumstances, in one direction you only have access 27 megabit. Keep in mind that 10 to 15% of that is for error correction and the closer you get to max throughput the larger the amount of error correction is going on.

Keep in mind also that the bandwidth is shared, so if another device wants bandwidth, there goes your movie. Hell if someone walks in front of the unit you can have enough of a bandwidth drop to kill a stream.

So although wired is a bit of a pain, at least it's 100 megabit.

Full spead ahead Scotty !!!!

[redwudz]

Megahurts, I'm a cheap SOB with some things. I needed a switch fast and I found a RadioShack Audio-Video selector switch. Four input, one output, pushbutton. I take the three component signals and use the inputs, R and L stereo and video. It switches them all at the same time, works great.

The audio is separate anyway and is an optical hookup to the surround receiver from the DVD and RCA audio from the PC. The receiver does the audio switching when I change from computer to DVD player inputs.

Never had any interference or signal loss and the video drives a 5X8 foot projection screen. I get the same quality picture whether hooked straight through or with the switch.

[edDV]

RE: MoovyGuy

I have difficulty even reaching consistant SDTV rates over WiFi, especially walking around with a laptop. 320x240 wmv* is my workable limit for a reliable connection. A fixed location with good antennas may or may not get better results. 802.11G rates depend on using multiple channels that might not be practical if you have close neighbors also using WiFi.

On the other hand, remoting a HDTV TS stream to a remote location with wired Ethernet is highly useful.


* Using Windows Media Encoder 9 for broadcast.

[MoovyGuy]

RE: MoovyGuy
On the other hand, remoting a HDTV TS stream to a remote location with wired Ethernet is highly useful.

Hey edTV,

You betcha,

I stream .TS content all the time, it's fandamtastic !!!

Another favorite is the HRHD Xvid stuff that floats around @ 960x528 it beats out DVD for quality and clarity and the Linkplayer2 plays this stuff just fine.

Cheers