How do BD drives work on PCs?

JC86

Senior member
Jan 18, 2007
694
0
0
Well, now that the format war is settled, I'm exploring the options of adding a BD drive to my PC. Does it just work like a DVD-Rom Drive or do you need special updates or upgrades? How do the Profiles factor in?
 

Chosonman

Golden Member
Jan 24, 2005
1,136
0
0
I think you need a HDCP complaint monitor in order for you to watch secure digital blu-ray content. And you'll need to use a digital connection between your PC and monitor/TV. Analog won't work. I'm not sure about what software you can use to view movies. You probably need to install that as well.

edit* forgot to mention the video card needs to be HDCP also.
 

Chosonman

Golden Member
Jan 24, 2005
1,136
0
0
FYI - HDCP is a copy protection standard. Both source and output devices must use this standard in order to play back digitally protected media content. That's why you need an HDCP complaint monitor and that's why the signal feed must be digital also.
 

Slick5150

Diamond Member
Nov 10, 2001
8,760
3
81
Originally posted by: Chosonman
I think you need a HDCP complaint monitor in order for you to watch secure digital blu-ray content. And you'll need to use a digital connection between your PC and monitor/TV. Analog won't work. I'm not sure about what software you can use to view movies. You probably need to install that as well.

AnyDVD HD eliminates those requirements if need be.
 

MrChad

Lifer
Aug 22, 2001
13,507
3
81
My understanding of Profile compatibility is that it's more a function of the software you use to view the BD rather than the drive/firmware.
 

abaez

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2000
7,155
1
81
Right. I asked this a week or two ago and the software controls profile compatibility.

Also, if you don't have an HDCP compliant vidcard or monitor, you basically have to get AnyDVD - it's quite expensive though ($110). Had to buy it last night to watch Run Lola Run, but good thing is now I can watch on my monitor or projector.
 

JC86

Senior member
Jan 18, 2007
694
0
0
Will any of these requirements loosen once BD gets more established? The way it sounds, I'd rather keep my DVD drive for now and use my PS3.
 

cubby1223

Lifer
May 24, 2004
13,518
42
86
Originally posted by: JC86
Will any of these requirements loosen once BD gets more established? The way it sounds, I'd rather keep my DVD drive for now and use my PS3.

No. The requirements are supposed to block making copies of the copyrighted movies. That will never change no matter how established Blu-ray becomes. Studios still use CSS on their DVD releases.

And, the PS3 has the same hdcp requirements as does PC software.
 

Auric

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
9,591
2
71
They will become more restrictive as per plans to lower the video resolution for analog output. In the meantime, discs published to date and for the near future can output full resolution via analog and of course are not restricted by HDCP so that remains another option to the digital requirements (either HDCP else bypassing via software).

Disc formats are really annoying these days anyway so in many ways it is preferable to rip them. You shouldn't have time to make a sandwich between putting the disc in and actually getting to the beginning of the movie what with all the warnings and advertisements.
 

Shawn

Lifer
Apr 20, 2003
32,236
53
91
It's a huge pain in the ass to play BD on your computer. I had the xbox360 hd dvd addon hooked up to my PC and even though my video card was HDCP compliant it still didn't work properly. I had to use AnyDVD HD to bypass the DRM and get it working. BD has an extra layer of DRM called BD+ which makes it even more of a pain in the ass. Just get a standalone player.
 

spacejamz

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
10,970
1,679
126
Originally posted by: Shawn
It's a huge pain in the ass to play BD on your computer. I had the xbox360 hd dvd addon hooked up to my PC and even though my video card was HDCP compliant it still didn't work properly. I had to use AnyDVD HD to bypass the DRM and get it working. BD has an extra layer of DRM called BD+ which makes it even more of a pain in the ass. Just get a standalone player.

How is using AnyDVD to watch a blu ray movie w/ BD+ more of a PITA than watching an HD DVD flick? you put the movie in and hit PLAY...
 

cubby1223

Lifer
May 24, 2004
13,518
42
86
Originally posted by: Shawn
It's a huge pain in the ass to play BD on your computer. I had the xbox360 hd dvd addon hooked up to my PC and even though my video card was HDCP compliant it still didn't work properly. I had to use AnyDVD HD to bypass the DRM and get it working. BD has an extra layer of DRM called BD+ which makes it even more of a pain in the ass. Just get a standalone player.

Many video cards were advertised with HDCP, but never actually implemented it. Does your monitor support HDCP?
 

Shawn

Lifer
Apr 20, 2003
32,236
53
91
Originally posted by: cubby1223
Originally posted by: Shawn
It's a huge pain in the ass to play BD on your computer. I had the xbox360 hd dvd addon hooked up to my PC and even though my video card was HDCP compliant it still didn't work properly. I had to use AnyDVD HD to bypass the DRM and get it working. BD has an extra layer of DRM called BD+ which makes it even more of a pain in the ass. Just get a standalone player.

Many video cards were advertised with HDCP, but never actually implemented it. Does your monitor support HDCP?

Of course. It's an HDTV. My video card is a Radeon X1650.
 

Shawn

Lifer
Apr 20, 2003
32,236
53
91
Originally posted by: spacejamz
Originally posted by: Shawn
It's a huge pain in the ass to play BD on your computer. I had the xbox360 hd dvd addon hooked up to my PC and even though my video card was HDCP compliant it still didn't work properly. I had to use AnyDVD HD to bypass the DRM and get it working. BD has an extra layer of DRM called BD+ which makes it even more of a pain in the ass. Just get a standalone player.

How is using AnyDVD to watch a blu ray movie w/ BD+ more of a PITA than watching an HD DVD flick? you put the movie in and hit PLAY...

Because AnyDVD has to crack each BD+ title individually. Which means you have to wait for an update each time a new BD+ title is released.
 

abaez

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2000
7,155
1
81
Originally posted by: Shawn
Originally posted by: spacejamz
Originally posted by: Shawn
It's a huge pain in the ass to play BD on your computer. I had the xbox360 hd dvd addon hooked up to my PC and even though my video card was HDCP compliant it still didn't work properly. I had to use AnyDVD HD to bypass the DRM and get it working. BD has an extra layer of DRM called BD+ which makes it even more of a pain in the ass. Just get a standalone player.

How is using AnyDVD to watch a blu ray movie w/ BD+ more of a PITA than watching an HD DVD flick? you put the movie in and hit PLAY...

Because AnyDVD has to crack each BD+ title individually. Which means you have to wait for an update each time a new BD+ title is released.

There was an update for Run Lola Run available Wednesday, which came out on Tuesday. So if you have to wait, it's not more than a day. I'm sure less for bigger titles. Not to say it's not annoying, but it's nothing big for the convenience.