Hi all
Seriously considering an HTPC build, but had a few questions before I embark on quite a bit of money and time.
Here's what I want to achieve:
- Very HQ playback of Blu-ray, SD DVDs, and other media such as Divx
- Ability to play/upscale fullscreen on HDTVs with 720p and 1080p max resolution
- A certain level of 'future-proofing'
- Possibility in the future (if not available now!) of using PC to 'archive' Sky/Sky HD shows and free up room on Sky hard-disk
It seems I have three options:
1. Build a good HTPC
2. Set-top Blu-ray player for BD and DVD, and use my laptop for Divx
3. Sony PS3, which theoretically does all the above (apart from programme archiving, although allegedly this could be on the way)...
Before I get into asking about the best components, etc. for an HTPC build, I did wonder if anyone has experience of the potential quality (vs. convenience/inconvenience) of HTPC vs. Set-top vs. PS3?
I'm sure all three probably look pretty decent with a Blu-ray source(?) but will a PC with a good graphics card/HDMI out, etc. top a set-top player/PS3 for UPSCALING DVDs and playing Divx, or is this a fallacy? This would be quite an important feature for me, as I have a big DVD collection that look more or less awful on my HDTV!
My only experience with using a PC source on an HDTV is using my Dell laptop (VGA output) to drive a Sony Bravia (720p) TV. I have found it irritating to setup, but it sometimes delivers better results than my DVD player. However, I'm unsure as to when the laptop or TV is upscaling because the video card doesn't seem to output at the TVs max resolution? Perhaps I am doing something wrong, but it won't 'force 720p' mode to the monitor and the max reported monitor resolution of 1280x768 does not fill the screen, so the TV usually 'switches' and down-reses video to 800x600, or sometimes 640x480, leaving me to 'stretch' the picture with the TV format button - which seems to defeat the point... Will I get the same issues with a better graphics card on a properly specced HTPC (this one is just onboard graphics (ATI Radeon Xpress 1150), or is this what I can expect from an HTPC?
Any input appreciated at this stage, before I jump down the HTPC route!
Cheers,
James
Seriously considering an HTPC build, but had a few questions before I embark on quite a bit of money and time.
Here's what I want to achieve:
- Very HQ playback of Blu-ray, SD DVDs, and other media such as Divx
- Ability to play/upscale fullscreen on HDTVs with 720p and 1080p max resolution
- A certain level of 'future-proofing'
- Possibility in the future (if not available now!) of using PC to 'archive' Sky/Sky HD shows and free up room on Sky hard-disk
It seems I have three options:
1. Build a good HTPC
2. Set-top Blu-ray player for BD and DVD, and use my laptop for Divx
3. Sony PS3, which theoretically does all the above (apart from programme archiving, although allegedly this could be on the way)...
Before I get into asking about the best components, etc. for an HTPC build, I did wonder if anyone has experience of the potential quality (vs. convenience/inconvenience) of HTPC vs. Set-top vs. PS3?
I'm sure all three probably look pretty decent with a Blu-ray source(?) but will a PC with a good graphics card/HDMI out, etc. top a set-top player/PS3 for UPSCALING DVDs and playing Divx, or is this a fallacy? This would be quite an important feature for me, as I have a big DVD collection that look more or less awful on my HDTV!
My only experience with using a PC source on an HDTV is using my Dell laptop (VGA output) to drive a Sony Bravia (720p) TV. I have found it irritating to setup, but it sometimes delivers better results than my DVD player. However, I'm unsure as to when the laptop or TV is upscaling because the video card doesn't seem to output at the TVs max resolution? Perhaps I am doing something wrong, but it won't 'force 720p' mode to the monitor and the max reported monitor resolution of 1280x768 does not fill the screen, so the TV usually 'switches' and down-reses video to 800x600, or sometimes 640x480, leaving me to 'stretch' the picture with the TV format button - which seems to defeat the point... Will I get the same issues with a better graphics card on a properly specced HTPC (this one is just onboard graphics (ATI Radeon Xpress 1150), or is this what I can expect from an HTPC?
Any input appreciated at this stage, before I jump down the HTPC route!
Cheers,
James