Hollywood + = $30 from CompGeeks

[ScAndal]

bigjohn,
I was wondering the same thing. Someone know?

ScAndal

 

[randomlinh]

Hollywood += $30
rewritten as
Hollywood = Hollywood + $30

Too much compsci

 

[moolman]

No,
You cannot send the signal through the card to display games, only DVD signal, at least I could only send the DVD signal. And the DVD signal has to go through the video card, my monitor has 2 inputs so I tried that because of the fuzziness but no go.

ALex

 

[knowlwk1]

I just got my card, so I might be wrong, but I'm about 99% sure it will only pass decoded video to your tv.. and only mpeg 1 or 2 at that. My understanding is that the card overlays the DVD playback on an area of you VGA monitor when you watch movies on you computer, or just sends the video output to your tv. It doesn't send anything from your computer to the tv (besides the decoded mpeg output from the card's chips). I was hoping that the card would let me watch DIVX mpeg4 rips on my TV, but no dice.

So far, I like the quality of the output... I'm running it through a vcr to my TV (no RCA or s-video inputs). The only things I've noticed so far are slightly noticable slanted bars running from the lower left to upper right and scrolling up the screen during DVD playback on the TV (hows that for a description). I'm using Zone Selector to kill the macrovision so my VCR won't freak, but I haven't had a chance to play with anything yet, so I'm not worried about it. Beyond that, the picture is as good as my normal DirecTV output, and the sound is sweet as well... much better than my VCR.

As far as pass-through quality, I have an inexpensive 17" monitor, and only run at 1024 anyway... so no problem. If I had it all to do over again, I'd probably skip the card and get one of the twin-view Geforce 2 MX cards. I bought one without twin-view when they first came out and love it... now twin-view is available... the price of the geforce I bought plus the hollywood plus is close to the twin-view price... but 20/20 hindsight is always much clearer than reality.

 

[pjs]

S/P dif: Sony Philips Digital InterFace

Paul

 

[bigjon]

I have the CT1760 (Creative DVD decoder board - earlier than H+). It does NOT have a monitor output, but it does have the 26-pin ribbon cable connection that connects the decoder to the video card. So it appears to me that the decoder passes the signal to the video card, which seems much cleaner than sending the video card signal through the decoder board.

So, if you can't send games to your TV anyway, why did they put a monitor output on the decoder?!

Still confused,
Jon
;-)

 

[knowlwk1]

Most likely for compatibility. The ribbon cable means that your video card HAS to have the same ribbon cable connection. The current method lets the decoder slap the video on top of an outgoing signal, in a blank box created by the drivers. From what I hear, the Hollywood Plus is compatible with almost any current card.

 

[ghouldini]

Hi guys, I was wondering if you know if it is better to use the software decoder if one has a Voodoo 3/3000 AGP with TV out instead of this Hollywood card? I just ordered the Toshiba DVD with the wrong description saying it has the card with it, but it doesn't come that way shipped. I got it cheaper yet since they now have a $20 off $100 returning user coupon. So I get it at $80 + shipping. But after reading this thread, I am wondering if I really need the card. I only have (currently) a 15" monitor but my 32" TV monitor has svhs jacks in it.

 

[gplracer]

I do not have a dvd player in my computer. Could I use this to put mpeg movies on vcr tape? I have a voodoo 5 so I do not have tv out. thanks

 

[Bob/NYC]

gplracer:
Yes you can-just tested to VCR in. Mine has S-Video and an S-video to composite converter and I broadcast DVD, mpeg and any audio with X-10's DVD now called Entertainment Anywhere. Add MP3 Anywhere for an extra audio only receiver.