I'm in the process of selecting components for a computer I'm building. (I'm using an Asus P3V4X motherboard and probably an 800 MHz processor.) I had some questions regarding the DVD drive. I'm planning to buy a Pioneer drive, either 10x or 16x.
My first question has to do with the digital sound output. I'm getting a Sound Blaster Live! MP3+ and Cambridge Soundworks Digital Speakers (2 satellite speakers and a subwoofer). My question is this: Will having a digital sound output on the DVD drive affect the quality of the sound for things such as DVD movies? The 16x drive only comes in a tray loading variety which does not have the digital out, but the 10x comes in a slot loading variety, which does have a digital out. Will not having a digital out affect which sound options are available to me, such as a Dolby Digital 5.1 configuration?
Next question, regarding hardware decoding of the DVD drive. I'm planning on purchasing a GeForce2-based graphics card, such as the Elsa Gladiac or the Hercules 3D Prophet II. Both of these cards claim to have DVD hardware decoding. Is the decoding in these cards as good as the decoding from the Sigma Designs RealMagic Hollywood Plus DVD? Do I have anything to gain by purchasing the RealMagic card in addition to the GeForce2 card?
Third question: I am also planning to buy a CD-burner with this system, most likely a Plextor PlexWriter 12/10/32A. I know that a CD drive must be plugged directly into the sound card to listen to music CDs. Is it possible to hook up both the DVD drive and the CD-burner to the sound card so that I can listen to music CDs in either drive, or must I have a music CD in the DVD drive before I can listen to it?
Thanks, in advance, for all your help.
My first question has to do with the digital sound output. I'm getting a Sound Blaster Live! MP3+ and Cambridge Soundworks Digital Speakers (2 satellite speakers and a subwoofer). My question is this: Will having a digital sound output on the DVD drive affect the quality of the sound for things such as DVD movies? The 16x drive only comes in a tray loading variety which does not have the digital out, but the 10x comes in a slot loading variety, which does have a digital out. Will not having a digital out affect which sound options are available to me, such as a Dolby Digital 5.1 configuration?
Next question, regarding hardware decoding of the DVD drive. I'm planning on purchasing a GeForce2-based graphics card, such as the Elsa Gladiac or the Hercules 3D Prophet II. Both of these cards claim to have DVD hardware decoding. Is the decoding in these cards as good as the decoding from the Sigma Designs RealMagic Hollywood Plus DVD? Do I have anything to gain by purchasing the RealMagic card in addition to the GeForce2 card?
Third question: I am also planning to buy a CD-burner with this system, most likely a Plextor PlexWriter 12/10/32A. I know that a CD drive must be plugged directly into the sound card to listen to music CDs. Is it possible to hook up both the DVD drive and the CD-burner to the sound card so that I can listen to music CDs in either drive, or must I have a music CD in the DVD drive before I can listen to it?
Thanks, in advance, for all your help.
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