PC DVD players = progressive scan? (for home theater)

[paperfist]

Just curious if anyone knows if a PC DVD player would produce progressive scan type output or not?

I am thinking about building a PC as a A/V center for a new TV I am in the market for instead of going with one of those home theater in a box setups. That is why I am wondering about PC DVD players. Thanks for any info 🙂

 

[bozo1]

I would think that would be a function of the video card or other add-in card, not the player itself.

 

[Goosemaster]

yep.


All you have to worry about is the output and the program.
Capable pcs can output both interlace and progressive.

Look into DSCALER




To be a little more specific, the DVD drive will pull any data off the disc, especially progressive, as your monitors signal is that. To make use of progressive output you will need a vga or component connection of course, so your component-out options might be limited(for simplicity in buying) to ATI's offerings since they offer a VGA-component convertor. Convertors from other manufactures are avilable for any vga-component output and will cost around $120.

 

[Stealth1024]

I have thought about building a "hjome theater PC" and using the DVI output for perhaps an ATI AIW 9700 Pro to power a projector. The ATI card would have a built in tuner, but what about an HDTV tuner? I found several cards but they all use pass through cables, non of them DVI! Passtrhough would mean timeshifting and recording would be out of the range of possibilities as well...

On the bright side you could not purchase an external receiver if you used your SB Audigy II Plat. to decode dolby digital and output 6 channels (or 7 if you want 6.1) of sound...

 

[Dug]

Just curious if anyone knows if a PC DVD player would produce progressive scan type output or not?
I am thinking about building a PC as a A/V center for a new TV I am in the market for instead of going with one of those home theater in a box setups. That is why I am wondering about PC DVD players. Thanks for any info

PC DVD is far superior to any stand alone DVD player out there.
People with $50,000+ setups are using HTPC's (home theater pc) because they can't buy anything else to compete.

Not only can you output a progressive signal, you can surpass the output of a stand alone player (480p) to 540por 720p.
It all really depends on what kind of tv you get and what its capable of doing.

I recommend getting something that can display 720p as that is also a HD signal that two major networks will be broadcasting in.

Facts for resolutions for htpc's

 

[Dug]

have thought about building a "hjome theater PC" and using the DVI output for perhaps an ATI AIW 9700 Pro to power a projector. The ATI card would have a built in tuner, but what about an HDTV tuner? I found several cards but they all use pass through cables, non of them DVI! Passtrhough would mean timeshifting and recording would be out of the range of possibilities as well...

The built in tuner of the ATI card is not recommended for HT use. Go to Dscaler and I think they have a list of recommended tuners.

What pass through cables are on the HDTV tuner? I would think you would want component cables anyway because I don't think you can copy any pure digital signal.

I would also check to see if the projector you are looking at can handle a htpc ok with DVI. The reason I mention this is, some projectors will default to a certain resolution no matter what you set your pc to when you use DVI. So you could only get 480p for instance instead of 720p.

A lot of people have put an add on card that outputs the Radeon's output to a true component output. It's expensive though, about $350 just for the addon. But then you can run at any resolution you want.

 

[paperfist]

Thanks for the feedback and those links are pretty educational. I forgot about HDTV having it's own box, guess that's another part to figure in the equation.

Going OT here, but how about sound cards, will an off the shelf Audigy provide good enough sound quailty to power 5.1 speakers? Or should I look into a pro card?

So far I was thinking of going with an nForce board/XP 1600+ or faster/256MB DDR2100/ATI AIW 8500DV/Audigy2/Klipsch 5.1s/WD SE Harddrive & LiteOn DVD. Hopefully I will when done be able to record TV shows/Video editing/Catalog all my CDs to MP3s/Play CDs-DVD, etc and still be under the cost of a full blown componet setup that can do this. What do you guys think?

 

[Stealth1024]

The midrange in the Klipsch 5.1's is too small! Thus leading to a high crossover frequency between the sub and this leads to localization. They are nice speakers but perhaps you need to look at some home theater speakers and a 5 channel amp (not receiver).

 

[Dug]

The nforce board has the best audio output of anything.

Don't spend your money on Klipsch if you want real HT experience. The cost of those speakers + the decoder you will have to buy is too expensive for what you get. A Yamaha HTIB set will blow them away and be cheaper. Or you could get by with quiet a few DIY speaker kits that will amaze you if you don't mind a little leg work.

What TV do you plan to use?

 

[Stealth1024]

you won't need an external decoder for the Klipsch speakers if you purchase the Audigy II.. that's the entire point: it decodes and offers 6 discrete analog outputs (+1 if in using a 6.1 setup)

but I still wouldn't reccomend them...

 

[paperfist]

Thanks for the tip on the Klipsch's, I was going with these because I have their 4.1s on my computer and they blow me away, but they are a little bass heavy. BTW, when you guys say decoder are you talking about something to process the sound signal for surround sound? I thought any 5/6/7.1 sound cards did that already...

TVs, still doing research on them but most likely a 42" plasma setup within the next couple of months. I actually am considering the Gateway plasma, Cnet gave it a good review, but I wouldn?t be caught dead in my house with a Gateway PC so not sure about a TV 🙂

Stealth1024, would this help you? http://www.ati.com/products/pc/hdtvadapter/index.html