Sony XBR4 or XBR5 LCD
12-17-2007, 09:54 AM
#11
Contributors
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Runcorn, NW-UK
Posts: 1,290
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Superb - I've been waiting for a combined PC drive to come out so I could upgrade my media centre PC. Here is a link in the UK for anybody on the expensive side of the pond! http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/-/667/874/-/359...earchtype=genre Release date is 24th December. Happy Christmas me !!
12-17-2007, 11:09 AM
#12
Contributors
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: NY
Posts: 14,646
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2008 Silverstone II E60 M5 2012 E70 AW X5 50i Sport w/ LCI Aero Kit and Rocker Panels
Originally Posted by UUronL' post='507735' date='Dec 17 2007, 01:27 PM
Parts list for a killer HTPC that will play both formats, and output video and audio via HDMI:
GGC-H20L LightScribe Blu-ray/HD DVD Combo Drive $290 eWiz.com
ASUS M2A-VM HDMI AM2 AMD 690G HDMI uATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $74.99 + $6.33 Newegg.com
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+ Windsor 2.8GHz Socket AM2 Proc - Retail $139.99 Newegg.com
Patriot 2GB DDR2 800 $76.99 + $4.99 - $40MIR Newegg.com
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $119.99
Antec Fusion Black 430 Media Center Case uATX Desktop 430W VFD - Black $141.51 + $15.95 Provantage.com
$830.74
GGC-H20L LightScribe Blu-ray/HD DVD Combo Drive $290 eWiz.com
ASUS M2A-VM HDMI AM2 AMD 690G HDMI uATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $74.99 + $6.33 Newegg.com
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+ Windsor 2.8GHz Socket AM2 Proc - Retail $139.99 Newegg.com
Patriot 2GB DDR2 800 $76.99 + $4.99 - $40MIR Newegg.com
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $119.99
Antec Fusion Black 430 Media Center Case uATX Desktop 430W VFD - Black $141.51 + $15.95 Provantage.com
$830.74
I'm really happy with the LG BH200 Dual Player. It does everything I want and then some. However, I'm still trying to get over the $1000 price tag.
12-17-2007, 12:37 PM
#13
Contributors
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Runcorn, NW-UK
Posts: 1,290
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It will play in whatever you want it to because it's a PC. The bluray/HDDVD player will read the _data_, and then the PC running whatever OS/Software you choose to use will convert that to picture.
It should be noted that Vista, out of the box, does not support BluRay/HDDVD so you will need something like PowerDVD.
I would recommend not to go down this route unless you are experienced in putting together PCs from components. If not, wait 6 months or so until you can buy off the shelf PCs with such a drive preinstalled with all appropriate software.
It should be noted that Vista, out of the box, does not support BluRay/HDDVD so you will need something like PowerDVD.
I would recommend not to go down this route unless you are experienced in putting together PCs from components. If not, wait 6 months or so until you can buy off the shelf PCs with such a drive preinstalled with all appropriate software.
12-17-2007, 02:04 PM
#14
Contributors
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 2,114
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2005 BMW 545i, Silver Grey, Sport Package, R. Shades, Cold Pkg, Sat. Rad., Prem. Sound.
Originally Posted by UUronL' post='507735' date='Dec 17 2007, 12:27 PM
Parts list for a killer HTPC that will play both formats, and output video and audio via HDMI:
GGC-H20L LightScribe Blu-ray/HD DVD Combo Drive $290 eWiz.com
ASUS M2A-VM HDMI AM2 AMD 690G HDMI uATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $74.99 + $6.33 Newegg.com
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+ Windsor 2.8GHz Socket AM2 Proc - Retail $139.99 Newegg.com
Patriot 2GB DDR2 800 $76.99 + $4.99 - $40MIR Newegg.com
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $119.99
Antec Fusion Black 430 Media Center Case uATX Desktop 430W VFD - Black $141.51 + $15.95 Provantage.com
$830.74
GGC-H20L LightScribe Blu-ray/HD DVD Combo Drive $290 eWiz.com
ASUS M2A-VM HDMI AM2 AMD 690G HDMI uATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $74.99 + $6.33 Newegg.com
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+ Windsor 2.8GHz Socket AM2 Proc - Retail $139.99 Newegg.com
Patriot 2GB DDR2 800 $76.99 + $4.99 - $40MIR Newegg.com
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $119.99
Antec Fusion Black 430 Media Center Case uATX Desktop 430W VFD - Black $141.51 + $15.95 Provantage.com
$830.74
12-17-2007, 02:12 PM
#15
Contributors
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Runcorn, NW-UK
Posts: 1,290
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Bimmer32' post='507845' date='Dec 17 2007, 05:04 PM
Is there a pci card or agp video card cheap with hdmi outputs?
12-17-2007, 02:35 PM
#16
Contributors
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,573
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2006 530i Sport
Silver Gray - Black Leather - Anthracite Maple
Manual Transmission
Premium Audio
Cold Weather Package
Rear sunshade
Sirius Radio
Autobahnd Roadblock (3M) film kit
Originally Posted by Bimmer32' post='507845' date='Dec 17 2007, 06:04 PM
Is there a pci card or agp video card cheap with hdmi outputs?
I mentioned this, but it probably bears repeating...
The motherboard specified has a DVI-HDCP and an HDMI-HDCP link. It uses onboard graphics.
The big deal is that the HDMI will output video -and- audio. I have not done extensive research to see which software is best to use with it, but I know that this board has received a lot of attention.
Unless you're running Vista, you won't be getting any acceleration or hardware decoding of the HD video. Most modern processors can handle 1080p H.264 with no issues. I wouldn't game on it, but for media playback, it's probably fine.
12-20-2007, 06:03 AM
#18
Contributors
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: NY
Posts: 14,646
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2008 Silverstone II E60 M5 2012 E70 AW X5 50i Sport w/ LCI Aero Kit and Rocker Panels
Originally Posted by ImolaRedM' post='508776' date='Dec 20 2007, 09:41 AM
The retail price for the Sony BDP-S300 just dropped recently to $299. Another reason to pickup a 1080p Blu-Ray player. 
12-20-2007, 06:33 AM
#19
Members
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: South East UK
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Russ1974' post='507742' date='Dec 17 2007, 06:54 PM
Superb - I've been waiting for a combined PC drive to come out so I could upgrade my media centre PC. Here is a link in the UK for anybody on the expensive side of the pond! http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/-/667/874/-/359...earchtype=genre Release date is 24th December. Happy Christmas me !!
BTW, Scan are showing stock arrival tomorrow (Friday 21st), so if they get it out of the door it may even arrive in time for xmas day.
Just hoping my aging media PC will cope now, it's a dual core 3.0ghz (830) with a GeForce 6600GT, bit old hat now, but hopefully it will be ok. Problem is I don't think my media PC case will take a graphics card that's any bigger, the 8800GTX I have in my desktop is HUGE...
Barry
12-20-2007, 09:34 AM
#20
Senior Members
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Seattle, WA Metro Area
Posts: 1,794
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by C's Bimmer' post='508787' date='Dec 20 2007, 10:03 AM
Yep. I just bought 2 of them for family members. It doesn't do 24fps or Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD, but if you have a basic system with a 1080p TV, this is a great deal! The picture quality is outstanding.