are dvd decoder cards for slower comps only?

[TheWart]

would i need/notice a card such as the hollywod plus if i have the system specs in my sig (Tbird 1.4, 512 RAM, gf3)? i have heard differeing opinions from friends, want to know what AT ppl think.

 

[Menacer]

I wouldn't use one if your computer is that powerful. The only thing they do is take the strain off of your processor for decoding DVD movies, and when you're watching a movie, I'm pretty sure you won't NEED a whole lot of processing power in the background (besides that, it only takes like a 400-500MHz to smoothly run a DVD. Your system will have power to spare)

Besides not really helping you any, it can actually HURT your monitor's quality. When you run one of these cards, you go from your video card into it, then from it out to your monitor. That's one more conversion (analog-digital-analog) before it reaches your monitor, which can reduce your quality significantly. It would be best to get a DVD-ROM that doesn't come with one of those cards. I say the whole drive because in my experience, the drives that come with those cards require that they be isntalled so you can use their included software.

Find a drive that comes with a copy of PowerDVD or WinDVD and doesn't have a card. You'll be happier.

 

[AndyHui]

I would say that with your system, you would not need, nor notice the difference a DVD Decoder makes to your system.

 

[Kingofcomputer]

not really.
if you want standalone dvd player like quality when output to tv, you want a dvd decoder card.
if you can, try one first, then decide.

those cheapy china made standalone dvd player is actually a pc dvd-rom drive and the same dvd decoder chip found on pc's dvd decoder card.

 

[Egrimm]

I use one (Dxr3) on my main rig (XP 1600+, 1Gb ram), but that's mainly because I've gotten used to having one. I have had dvd-drives since my old K6 233Mhz, and that machine needed a decoder to have power enough to play dvd's.
Picture quality is pretty much the same in software and hardware, software being a little sharper but hardware having a smoother picture. The only reason I use it though is that it has a dedicated 5.1 output to my 5.1 setup.

 

[TheWart]

thx. looks like i won't get one then.