DVD decoder recommendations

[Descend492]

I have an AMD K6-2 550, Visiontek GF2 MX, SCSI capability, and a pioneer 304-s DVD drive. Does anybody have a good recommendation for a DVD hardware decoder, and the approximate price? Thanks

 

[Comp10]

With your system is quite possible that you will get better decoding by using a software decoder such as PowerDVD or WinDVD. I would reccomend that you download the free trial versions, and see if they work smoothly on your system. Generaly speaking you should stay away from hardware decoders becuase the video pass-through will degrade image quality when compared to a software decoder.

 

[Descend492]

I've actually used PowerDVD (the newest version, build 620), and have had nothing but trouble. It hangs, and the video's real choppy adn doesn't have great quality. I thought hardware decoders were supposed to have better quality. This isn't true?

 

[pamchenko]

supposedly everyone sez that the hollywood plus by realmagic is the best...I have one too and I do not notice signal degradation but I haven't tried any of the other cards

 

[Sid]

I used WinDVD (software) with a ADM K6 2 300. It was a little choppy but watchable. I had been using a HW Plus decoder, which worked well, but I was upgrading to a Duran 600/MSI K7T Pro, so I'm sticking with the software. But the video pass through, with the decoder, didn't cause any problems with me.

 

[(Chanse)]

the problem may be with the mobo. I've had trouble with Via mobos and dvd playback. Your system should be powerful enough for smooth playback. but if you do get a decoder card, the Hollywood plus is great, been using one for a while now, and just recently pulled it after buying an AIW Radeon.

 

[IamDavid]

I have the Creative DXR 3 board and have it running to my 35" TV and it works perfect. The DTS out put is awsome to rn to my home system. The board was only $99 too.

 

[Descend492]

I found the realmagic Hollywood + at egghead.com for $56. I this a reasonable price? would it be a good option? Unfortunately I can't change my mobo/CPU because I"m on a college budget. That's another reason why I can't go out and get a $150 decoder, so I"m hoping this $56 Realmagic is a good one. Thanks for the help

 

[Comp10]

Before you buy a decoder I would reccomend that you try out WinDVD also (I used to have trouble with PowerDVD on my old system, but WinDVD worked), it is possible that for some reason software decoders dont like the AMD K6 processors, so you might be better of with the hollywood+. But I would make sure that you can't get software players to work good on your system first, because they always provide better picture quality than a hardware decoder (and they are cheaper too).

 

[Gatsby]

David-

The real magic Hollywood + is regarded as the best hardware decoder on the marktet currently. The only problem that you might see with it is that its does not fully wok with win2k. I belive they are still on beta drivers but they do work on a win98 system. PLays wonderfully even on a P200MMX.

Gatsby

 

[Descend492]

I actually have used WinDVD as well, but that was even worse than PowerDVD. I think it's just that my system sucks (which I came to accept a while ago). You'd think the hardware decoders would have better picture quality because they're devoted to that process, but I guess this isnt' the case. Thanks for the help, I think I"ll be looking into the Hollywood +, hopefully the $55 one will be the right one (probably just OEM - I don't remember the details)

 

[pamchenko]

compgeeks.com has the hollywood + for 29.99

 

[sandorski]

Descend: Do you have DMA enabled for your DVD drive? Even though the k6-2 is weak, DVD players should work.

If you have DVDs with PCFriendly software, try installing that and use the player included. I have a liberated version of WinDVD, but have been using the PCFriendly player and have found it to work just as well. 2 DVDs that have this software are The Matrix and T2 UE.