WinDVD or PowerDVD? Which to get?? Pros and Cons

[CuriousAndy]

WinDVD vs PowerDVD

Get the current version of WinDVD (www.intervideo.com) or PowerDVD (www.cyberlink.com), which happen to be 2.6.4 and 3.0 respectively. The difference between PowerDVD 2.5 and 3.0 is amazing as the same w/ WinDVD 2 and 2.6 ... you will not believe the difference and surely will not regret the $50 spent.

* Generally speaking, 5.1 audio is superior and the video is sharper on WinDVD 2.3, and PowerDVD 3 has better 4 channel downmixing, dolby headphone support and more vibrant colors. Some people have been having audio "stutter" problems w/ the latest release of PowerDVD (3.0) playing certain DTS material so to be on the safe side you might want to go the other route.

(credit to Madcowz from AT)


Okay, I currently have Labtec 3-piece system (2 sats, 1 sub) with Turtle Beach Santa Cruz SC. Also my videocard is Elsa Gladiac.

Madcowz stated that PowerDVD has more vibrant colors, is this noticable compared to WinDVD? Does this mean PowerDVD IS better? (aside from the DTS bug he warned us about)

For my rig, what would be the ideal decoder? If you have experiences with either one, please give me pros and cons please. Thanks

~mOo

 

[iluvdeal]

There is no one clear winner. Just get the trial version of each of them and give both of them a try.

 

[Noriaki]

4 channel downmix is definately NOT better on PowerDVD3...they don't even downmix the LFE channel....

In your case I would save $20 and get the 2 channel version of WinDVD 2000 for $30.

If you ant the multichannel version anyways...it's hard to say there is no clear winner.

Here are a few things to think about though:
WinDVD 2000:
[*]Supports the Radeon's hardware iDCT function, which if you have a Radeon is very useful becuase it performs iDCT as well as a dedicated hardware decoder and takes a fair load off your CPU. But is totally useless if you don't have a Radeon.
[*]I have found that the right click menus are laid out a little easier in WinDVD2000. For example, Rew/FF are sub menus in PowerDVD. And chapter is a submenu under title in PowerDVD. The right click menus are the quickest and easiest way to access the play controls if you are in full screen mode with the play box hidden.
[*]WinDVD also has a slight better sound downmix option because it down mixes the LFE channel. This only applies if you are using your software player with a 4 channel sound card and 4 channel speakers. The LFE (Low Frequency Effects) channel is actually not used that much in most DVDs, most Bass sound comes through the main speakers, but when it is used it's for very heavy effects (for example, the tanks near the beginning of Saving Private Ryan use the LFE channel). This is only useful if you are using 4 channel speaker mode.

PowerDVD:
[*]PowerDVD's play control box is a organized a little better. I usually have the play control box hidden in full screen mode and use the pop up menus, but if you use the play control box, WinDVD's is a bit clunky.
[*]PowerDVD has multiple speed Rew/FF. This can be quite handy, but has the downside that it makes the Rew/FF popup menu options submenus.
[*]PowerDVD has an image capture function, which while I have never personally used, could be handy in certain circumstances.
[*]I've seen greater sucess getting digital output to work under Win2000 with PowerDVD than with WinDVD 2000.


Neither is really better and either is a good choice. Not an easy decision to make.

 

[Gl4di4tor]

I haven't really used winDVD but I can tell you that i haven't had any problems with PowerDVD. PowerDVD actually has a really neat interface, and it's pretty customizable. Sorry can't really help you much there. Peace!

 

[Musicman6425]

I want to know also...[bump up]!!!

Mapidus mentioned on another thread that we can get "OEM PowerDVD for 5 dollars + shipping". If you still out there, where? I can't find that thread!!!

 

[Kinesis]

Noriaki - Great Review. I agree, it is a tough decision indeed. I have used both, and Cinemaster to boot. I found PowerDVD has some extra features and a nicer interface that makes it more appealing. But I now use WinDVD2000 and love it. PowerDVD rocked for some features, and I would have kept using it except that several DVD's were becoming a problem with Region codes. Strangely Region is my DVD drive and all of my DVD's but for those DVD's I have by Jerry Bruckheimer (i.e The Rock, Armaggedon, etc) would always have PowerDVD popup with Region code violation. Oh well, WinDVD has never given me a problem.

One minor note. I found color adjustments (and brightness) to be far better on PowerDVD.

I would have trouble deciding between the two had it not been for my difficulties.

 

[Mapidus]

The 5 dollar OEM PowerDVD is from Mwave.com

PCWebShopper.com has both PowerDVD 3.0 OEM and WinDVD 2000 2.6 OEM for 5 dollars each.

Not sure what the limitations are on the OEM versions are, but they are much cheaper.

You might have to get a DVD drive at the same time from these places, but I'm not sure if this is required.

 

[Steven the Leech]

Here is what i Like

PowerDVD 3.0 for w 98

Win DVD 2.3 for w 2000

IMO that the video looks best for these players in the respective OS. I have SB live Plat..and there is no dolby digital support for w2k.

 

[RayEarth]

windvd 3.0 is the best software dvd decoder, but if it's powerdvd 3.0 vs. windvd 2.3, I would still go for powerdvd 3.0, but the new windvd 3.0 is much better now. It was stated that windvd 3.0 would be released in the end of may, but the only company promoting windvd 3.0 is canopus, a japanese company that also makes videocards, don't know if they bought the licence to windvd, but I'm using windvd 3.0 and it has improved quite well.

 

[whitelight]

fast mhz posted a review of the two in this article. they compare powerdvd 2.5 and windvd2000.

 

[jaggrey]

I'm a PowerDVD person, after I finally got it to work with my THX speakers. If WinDVD 2000 had this option to boot then I'd switch!