is hardware dvd decoder card REALLY necessary???

[K6 3]

I'm thinkin about picking up a dvd drive for my computer. heres my question. Is it REALLY necessary to get a hardware decoder card? Is there a noticable difference between a software and hardware in overall quality and framerate? I have a decently fast system, so won't a software decoder do just as good? I'm not looking to do tv out stuff, I would only be watching movies on my pc. Thx for all replies in advance!

 

[aolj]

With your pc config in your sig, I don't think it would be necessary. Your system is powerful enough. All you need to get is just the software to play your movies..

 

[fkloster]

Nope

 

[K6 3]

thanks guys, thats what I thought

this brings up another question. What is the best dvd software decoder available? Are there any good free ones??

 

[Noriaki]

Not with that rig.

My Athlon 550 could play DVDs without a lost frame.

I prefer hardware DVD decoding because the TV-out quality is much better on a Hollywood Plus that most video cards.

But it's not needed, and if you are only playing the DVDs on your monitor I wouldn't bother, software players look just as good on a monitor and with a 950 you have more than enough juice to soft decode.



<< this brings up another question. What is the best dvd software decoder available? Are there any good free ones?? >>

There are tons of threads about this. I prefer WinDVD2000 becuase it has the best 4 channel downmix. And no there are no good free ones.

WinDVD 2000 and PowerDVD 3 are the only really good ones.
WinDVD 2000 is $29 for the stereo and digtial sound output version, or $49 for the stereo, quad, 5.1 or digtal sound output version (2000M)

PowerDVD is $49, and it also has all 4 output modes.

 

[Wingznut]

If you are multitasking, you will notice a dropped frame or quick pause here and there. Also the picture quality is a little bit better with a hardware decoder.

WinDVD is the best software decoder, imho.

But think about this...

If you are multitasking, you will notice a dropped frame or quick pause here and there. Also the picture quality is a little bit better with hardware.

I was considering the same thing... about getting a decoder card. I finally decided that it would be wiser to spend the money on a new video card, that had DVD decoding built in. I ended up with a Radeon. You can pick up a Radeon LE for less than $100. It will be a significant improvement over your current video card, it has hardware DVD, and I'm pretty sure the LE comes with a player.

 

[Oyeve]

Well, let me put it this way:
When I got my first DVD drive, it went in a Celeron 333mhz, 64meg sdram @66mhz, with an ATI Xpert98 PCI (not AGP) and all my movies played just fine in SW, never slowed down (unless I multitasked). So, yes, you system will be fine.

 

[Workin']

A decoder card is TOTALLY unnecessary for what you want to do.

 

[batorok]

I concur that for monitor only viewing, software is at least as good as hardware, windvd actually looks better than my Hollywood card, but the tv out is amazing, and I have the remote control, so my comp can run as a dvd player to my home theater setup. You can find powerdvd for about 15 shipped for an oem version if you look around...

 

[MWink]

I have found that my Geforce 256DDR has a really bad DVD decoder. I had a Creative DXR3 a while ago and the picture was AMAZING! I am so sorry I sold it. Software is nowhere near as good. Yes, software can provide good frame rates but the quality is not as good. If I thought I could cram a DVD decoder in my system I would have one!

BTW, not all hardware decoders are good. I also tried a Creative DXR2 and that was worse than any software.

 

[Deeko]

Your system can handle the speed, but some people say hardware decoders are higher quality, and plus hardware decoders have TV out and some have 5.1 out and all that crap and whatever...I dunno, I use software w/ PowerDVD 2.0, it's just fine and dandy.

 

[nortexoid]

MWink, hell yes...

the DXR2, which i have, doesn't get use...it's not even in my system anymore...it was worse than software decoding....quality wise.

the only good thing it had was tv-out, ac-3

your comp has enough juice, powerdvd 3.0 (2.55 is decent) and windvd are the best...

don't knwo of any free ones...

etc.