Better DVD video on Computer.....

[Autolycus]

I've got a Packard Bell Cel 400 64 megs of RAM and a (crappy) integrated 3d video card (its an SiS620). I just recently installed the Pioneer 16x DVD drive. Using Intervideo WinDVD for software decoding, i can play movies, but its pretty choppy unless i put it down to 640 x 480. I don't mind this to much, but i'd like a better resolution for the movies and not choppy. So......

Would a dvd decoder card help my problem? If so what's the best out there or at least a good deal of one? Or is my system doomed for good DVD playback?

 

[Workin']

You can get a Hollywood+ DVD decoder card for about $50 that will work just fine for you. That's probably your least expensive option.

 

[SleepyTim]

Yep, get a Hollywod+ decoder card. Like "Workin" said, you can get then for about $50, and they have excellent DVD playback.

 

[SleepyTim]

If you go looking around for one, the full name is "Sigma Designs REALmagic Hollywood Plus".

But it's usually listed with some shorter version/combination of those words.

 

[Autolycus]

k...that's probably what i'll try....just wondering though: are there any decoder cards that could also act as video input cards(for hooking up cable, or more importantly a vcr)?

Thanx again for the help

 

[Workin']

Sure. Well, there's no card that is ONLY a DVD decoder and a video capture board. But there are several options that will get you there. It mostly depends on how much money you want to spend. Tell us your budget and we'll see what you can do.

 

[Autolycus]

Well if i could find a card for both doing hardware decoding for the dvd drive and i could 'video in' a vcr so i could playback vhs tapes on the computer, i'd be possibly willing to spend $50-$200.

At the same time would it be cheaper to buy the Hollywood Magic+ for about 50 and then get a seperate card for as a tv tuner or video in?

 

[Teatowel]

One more vote for the Hollywood Plus..will cut out all your choppy problems!

 

[Workin']

You could get a Hollywood+ for about $50 and a TV-tuner card for about $50-$100 depending how fancy you wanted it to be.

Or you could get an ATi All-in-Wonder 128 32MB PCI for about $190 or All-in-Wonder 128 PRO 32MB AGP for about $190, depending what kind of slot you have available. These cards have built-in DVD acceleration, built-in TV tuners, built-in video capture, TV-out, excellent 2D graphics, and fair to moderate 3D graphics performance. If you have an AGP slot the 128 PRO model is about 2x faster than the non-PRO model. Either way, be sure to get the 32MB version (the TV capabilities of the 16MB versions is not as good because they use a different TV decoder chip).

Other companies make similar cards but the ATi is the best all-around choice, in my opinion.

 

[Comp10]

Before you go out and buy a Hardware decoder, make sure the DMA on your hardrive is enabled, because that can cause DVDs to play very choppy.

 

[DirkBelig]

I've got a Hollywood Plus card just lying around here (needed to free a slot and system p1mp3d enuf to do the SoftDVD thing) that I'll sell ya. LMK.

 

[rodney174]

I had the same problem as you, I bought a creative dvd decoder and it worked for my toshiba dvd player and it worked great. You can get a dvd decoder card at a computer fair for about $20. It comes with software and it has TV out so you can watch DVDs on your big screen.

 

[Hawk]

I am guessing you don't have AGP. If you can get the AIW Rage 128 PCI it might work well for you, has TV in (I am pretty sure) for your cable/vcr, and it has almost as good DVD as the hollywood. And also, go to the for sale forum, there should be hollywood cards selling for like 30 bucks.

 

[Autolycus]

How do i determine if the DMA is enabled on the hard drive? I recall PowerDVD software decoder getting angry at me about that, the SiS board i have wasn't being very nice about me checking it too.

And i would consider getting a new video card for the computer which would generally help the problem, but all i have is PCI slots open, and i plan to slowly build a new system once i get enough money, so i want to wait and get a GeForce 2 or voodoo 5500 AGP card for max. frame rates...sigh...but until then i get this integrated thing that's "suppose" to be 3d. Oh well, i got it for $50 at a staples tent sale.