Newbie : BD playback upgrade

[paddy01]

Hi all,

I was just wondering whether (as a newbie to media centers and AV in general) someone would be kind enough to cast their eye over this plan and confirm my logic is sound? I'll try and keep it simple and direct..

Current setup :

Display : Sony KDL40-T3500 (1080p LCD)
Receiver : Random old Pioneer 5.1
Media Center : Antec Fusion silver case, Asus P5E-VM HDMI, E6600, 2GB RAM. Vista Home Premium. Connected using onboard HDMI direct to display and coax to Receiver for DD/DTS

Requirements : BD playback from discs, not rips. I'd prefer if at all possible not to have to deal with workarounds such as AnyDVD HD. I don't need high-def sound, 5.1 DD/DTS over coax is fine for my purposes. No gaming.

Based on the kit I already have I think I have 2 options :

1. Add a BD ROM drive and upgrade cpu to something like a Q6600 (with the G0 stepping) and play BD discs using onboard HDMI with coax to receiver for DD/DTS 5.1

2. Add a BD ROM drive and stick with the E6600 but add a passively cooled Radeon HD 3450 or 3470 for display purposes again with coax to receiver for DD/DTS 5.1


I plan on using Arcsoft TMT for playback of BD from discs with the VMC plugin.

Would someone venture an opinion that (in theory at least) either of the 2 proposals would allow a reasonably decent smooth playback of BD from the discs with 5.1 DD/DTS over coax to a receiver without running into issues requiring works arounds such as AnyDVD HD?

Many thanks in advance, this looks to be a cracking place and looking forward to getting stuck in

Cheers

Paddy

 

[devo]

According to the PowerDVD requirements page:

Processor
Intel Minimum:

Pentium 4 541 (3.2 GHz),
Pentium D 840 (3.2 GHz),
Pentium D 930 (3.0 GHz), 935 3.2GHz or 940 (3.2 GHz),
Core Duo T2400 (1.83 GHz),
Pentium M 755 (2.0 GHz),
Core 2 Duo E4300 1.8 GHz or T5600 1.83 GHz

Recommended:

Pentium EE 840 (3.2 GHz) or 955 (3.4 GHz) or 965 (3.73 GHz),
Pentium D 945 (3.4 GHz), 950 (3.4 GHz) or 960 (3.6 GHz),
Core Duo T2500 (2 GHz), T2600 (2.16 GHz) or T2700 (2.33 GHz),
Core 2 Duo E6300 (1.8 GHz), E6400 (2.13 GHz), E6600 (2.4 GHz), E6700 (2.66 GHz) or X6800 (2.93 GHz), T7200 (2.00 GHz), T7400 (2.16 GHz), T7600 (2.33GHz) Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4 GHz, Core 2 Extreme QX6700 2.66 GHz, or X6800 2.93 GHz

Graphics Card
Intel: 965G, G33, G35 graphics software decoding (with Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 (2.66 GHz) processor or above recommended) Recommended driver version: 15.8 or later Video RAM: 256 MB or above.

so it might be worth trying with what you've got first.

 

[paddy01]

According to the PowerDVD requirements page:



so it might be worth trying with what you've got first.

Nice one, I'll certainly give it a go.

In terms of dealing with AACS, am I right in thinking that by using TMT and playing direct from the BD disc then I'd not need to use AnyDVD HD, particularly as (for the time being at least ) i'm only concerned with 5.1 DD/DTS over coax?

Cheers

Paddy