Which HTPC Software for Blu-Ray/HD-DVD Drives [Archive]

Bolch

03-04-2007, 7:55 PM

I've managed to free up a PC at home (Dell 5000, P4 3.0ghz, 2gb ram, 660GT) which I want to setup as a HTPC. In the future I'd like to add a Blu-Ray drive to the machine, at the moment I have the 360 HD-DVD drive but not yet plugged it in a PC.

Question is what software would you recommend for running the HTPC. Looking ideally at being able to record SD television to the hard disc, browse the network for playback (avi, ts & DVDs ripped to a nas server) and playback of HD-DVD/Blu-Ray and all done via the remote control.

Was considering Vista Home Premium, but heard that MS weren't supporting Blu-Ray in Vista? The machine's got XP home on it at the moment, but will consider getting Windows Media Center if that's the best option.

Thanks in advance

Stiggy

03-04-2007, 8:13 PM

How about CyberLink PowerDVD Ultra (http://www.cyberlink.com/multi/products/main_112_ENU.html). It supports HD DVD and Blu-ray, so either is no problem on Vista.

I'm not sure if it works with the MS remote though.

mmace

04-04-2007, 7:29 AM

as above, I use Power DVD Ultra 7.3 for playback of both formats.

Make sure your graphics card has HDCP, I don't think your CPU will be able to handle a lot of the HD-DVD's and the newer Blu-ray ones that are h.264 and high bitrate. Something like Casino Royale will look awful on your system and stutter badly

Stiggy

04-04-2007, 8:02 AM

Make sure your graphics card has HDCP, I don't think your CPU will be able to handle a lot of the HD-DVD's and the newer Blu-ray ones that are h.264 and high bitrate.
What really happens if you don't have HDCP?

Also, can anyone recommend a sample H264 file to download and test?

mmace

04-04-2007, 8:49 AM

What really happens if you don't have HDCP?

Also, can anyone recommend a sample H264 file to download and test?PowerDVD will only play the movie at half resolution (960x540) or not at all.
I was watching Casino Royale the other night, no idea what happened but I tried to go to the menu and I got an error message saying there was no HDCP and it stopped playing it!

Oh, and I use the Vista remote in PowerDVD, works great, except for one thing, HD-DVD and Blu-ray have "pop-up" menus that can appear while the film is playing, in powerDVD you have to press CTRL+P, I currently cannot find a remote that can do this

as for the h.264 to test, playing a file from your HDD isn't the same as playing a BD or HD-DVD, for example just playing an evo file from an HD-DVD can take up 60% CPU where as the same evo file as part of an HD-DVD structure can bump it up to 100%

Philljp

04-04-2007, 11:40 AM

If you dont have HDCP hardware, try AnyDVD: links (http://www.projecthtpc.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12). For all your other videos, you could try MediaPortal, just get the right codecs installed.

I'd be insterested in hearing if your able to play HD-DVD's via the 360 drive on your PC ok.

mmace

04-04-2007, 12:05 PM

AML

05-04-2007, 2:12 PM

Im using my xbox 360 drive on XP sp2 and Any DVD. However, Power DVD doesnt seem to be able to play the discs. It can read the discs and it plays the disc up to the menu but when I try to play the movie itself it just crashes.

It did however manage to play Last Samurai no problem. Last samurai doesnt seem to have a menu and just goes straight to the movie so it works.

Any other disc ive tried doesnt play and just crashes.

Any ideas why?

Should I use the latest version of power DVD? (7.3)

At the moment it seems as though Any DVD is conflicting with Power DVD.
When I dont use Any DVD, P-DVD starts up and starts to play the movie but then stops because of the AACS. (my pc isnt quite HDCP yet...)

When I use Any DVD, the disk starts up and i can go into the menu but if I try to play the movie it crashes. Sometimes it doesnt even make it to the menu and just crashes when i try to play the disk at all with Power DVD.

Im gonna try the latest version of P-DVD see if that helps.

AML

06-04-2007, 6:17 AM

I got Power DVD 7.3 and all my discs play properly now! :)

It must have been that the older version (6.5) wouldnt work with nwer discs.

Havent tried any Blu Rays, but then again, i dont have a blu ray drive!

Just wanted to add that the xbox 360 HD DVD drive is a bargain compared to any other HD DVD drive and it works perfect on the PC with win XP. U just need to download a driver for it and instal it. You can get it free from the web.

All sorted for me. Dont need a stupid HDCP compliant card or monitor thanks to Any DVD HD! :thumbsup:

pjclark1

06-04-2007, 7:40 AM

PowerDVD v 6.5 hardly works with any hd-dvds unless you rip them to hard drive first.
PowerDVD ultra seems to work with everything except those with u-control, U-control disks have problems with the menu and subtitles are always on unless you edit the .XML files

charris cy

15-04-2007, 6:17 PM

I am using the lastest Power DVD Ultra 7.3 with the upgrade patch from Cyberlink and always the latest anydvd HD. I use the xbox 360 drive. I have tried 4 HDDVD discs and they all work excellent when playing them directly from the drive or ripped from the hard disk. The cpu utilisation is about 50% when playing them from the hard disk. I use an AMD X2 4200. Also the 7.3 does not downscale.

deltafx

18-04-2007, 9:32 AM

charris cy

18-04-2007, 9:21 PM

I am not sure if 7.2 downscales. Somebody should explain how we can check. I think the difference is that 7.3 can handle both HD-DVD drives and BD drives at the same. I am buying a BD drive to check this out.

MrHyde1969

29-04-2007, 1:19 PM

Hi,
I also am using powerdvd ultra and anyDVD to rip and play back my films that I have ripped using my 360 HD DVD drive. Everything works great, but before I integrate this into my HTPC I am wondering if there are any 'Front-ends' out there that will let you browes HD DVD's and play from a display of the cover? I have been using MEEDIO for my standard DVD's for years now and this works great, but alas it is no longer supported so there is no chance of adding the ability to play HD DVD's with this. Hopefully the Nstant front end that comes with the pure-video codac may add HD DVD support in the near futre. This doesnt look as good as MEEDIO. but needs must I guess !!

charris cy

29-04-2007, 1:49 PM

Yes you have to use Windows MCE and the mymovies (www.mymovies.name) add-on. The version for HD-DVDs and BDs is currently a pre realease but you can still download it.

MrHyde1969

29-04-2007, 7:07 PM

Hi,

Yeah I have had a dabble with My Movies, but it just doesnt seem user friendly. I think that when I last tried it, I could not conffigue it to sellect the drive and folder that all my dvd files are stored...

damo_in_sale

19-06-2007, 8:19 PM

PowerDVD will only play the movie at half resolution (960x540) or not at all.

Does this restriction apply to VGA output as well?

Azzin

20-06-2007, 6:32 AM

Yes you have to use Windows MCE and the mymovies (www.mymovies.name) add-on. The version for HD-DVDs and BDs is currently a pre realease but you can still download it.

I'd agree with that, My Movies is absolutely superb. :thumbsup:

pRot3us

20-06-2007, 3:09 PM

Does this restriction apply to VGA output as well?
VGA works fine :smashin:

Download the Cyberlink HD advisor program to test your system.

Oh and PowerDVD does not downscale ever, if your system is not compliant the movie won't play.

You may also get round any system compliance problems by using Slysoft's AnyDVD HD in conjunction with PowerDVD Ultra.

Canary_Jules

01-07-2007, 11:59 AM

I am contemplating a BD drive in my PC in order to complement my HD-A1. I have an HDCP compliant card but the Tosh is hooked up to my Mitsubishi HC3100 pj via HDMI. My graphics card has DVI out but the Mits doesn't. So of I were to get the BD drive and hook it up via VGA how will it compare PQ wise to DVI or HDMI?

charris cy

01-07-2007, 5:17 PM

The HDMI is just marginally better than VGA. VGA is one of the highest analogue video connections available. If you want to use digital (DVI or HDMI) you can by a remote controlled HDMI switcher.

Canary_Jules

01-07-2007, 5:20 PM

Thanks, I suppose I could also use a DVI cable (which I also have) and get an HDMI/DVI converter and just switch the HDMI cables when using the respective machines? Can you get such a thing? Alternatively how much is a switcher?

charris cy

01-07-2007, 5:21 PM

Yes it is just an adapter. You can find it everywhere.

For a 2 source HDMI switcher have a look at this:
http://www.qed.co.uk/i313c191/Accessories/HDMI_Switching_Boxes.htm

I do not know how much it sells for in the UK though.

tinners

16-07-2007, 2:09 PM

I'd agree with that, My Movies is absolutely superb. :thumbsup:

What does the actual playback then - MCE like a normal DVD ?

e.g. I install FFDShow codec for XVid etc. playback, plus Purevideo codec for DVD playback. But what do I install in MCE for Bluray playback ?

Cheers

pjclark1

16-07-2007, 6:51 PM

I'd agree with that, My Movies is absolutely superb. :thumbsup:

Shame it doesn't work for HD-DVDs on mapped drives ...... oops yes it does after a reboot .....

http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/2931/mediacentreci6.jpg

It's a bit flaky but after some effort this works very nicely.

tinners

17-07-2007, 5:19 PM

What does the actual playback then - MCE like a normal DVD ?

e.g. I install FFDShow codec for XVid etc. playback, plus Purevideo codec for DVD playback. But what do I install in MCE for Bluray playback ?

Cheers

Anyone ? Thanks

pjclark1

17-07-2007, 8:25 PM

Anyone ? Thanks

PowerDVD v7.3 + My Movies

If you look at my screen grab, you click on the movie label, it shows a new screen with the movie label much bigger, you click on the "Watch" button, then it opens up PowerDVD and plays the BluRay/HD-DVD

Azzin

17-07-2007, 9:14 PM

PowerDVD v7.3 + My Movies

Yep. :thumbsup:

If you look at my screen grab, you click on the movie label, it shows a new screen with the movie label much bigger, you click on the "Watch" button, then it opens up PowerDVD and plays the BluRay/HD-DVD

It sure does. :smashin:

tinners

17-07-2007, 9:24 PM

PowerDVD v7.3 + My Movies

If you look at my screen grab, you click on the movie label, it shows a new screen with the movie label much bigger, you click on the "Watch" button, then it opens up PowerDVD and plays the BluRay/HD-DVD

great thanks, Ive only tried My Movies using the internal player so will have to give this a go.

Where's the best place to buy PowerDVD from ? Can I buy the OEM one (http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=529712) with my drive ?

pjclark1

18-07-2007, 8:06 AM

Where's the best place to buy PowerDVD from ? Can I buy the OEM one (http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=529712) with my drive ?

You need the "Ultra" edition and that OEM is not the right version.

According to Cyberlink the upgrade costs $80
http://www.cyberlink.com/multi/cyberstore/order_112_ENU.html

tinners

18-07-2007, 8:20 AM

You need the "Ultra" edition and that OEM is not the right version.

According to Cyberlink the upgrade costs $80
http://www.cyberlink.com/multi/cyberstore/order_112_ENU.html

Thanks (I think!) that's £40 + the original license cost or £50 to buy it new? Ouch.