DVD-ROM and Video Card

[Brocken]

Can anyone recommend me a DVD-ROM and a video card for my computer so i can hook up the DVD player to my TV?

I also need to know what the TV needs. I'm getting a new TV soon aswell and I need to know which hole things it needs in the back :)

Also, are there any leads etc i will need?

And I want to be able to play games on my PC using the TV as a monitor.

thanks

[Edited by Brocken on 23-11-2000 at 06:47 PM]

[Norphy]

DVD-ROM: Doesn't really matter all that much as all will play movies at an acceptable rate. I myself use Pioneer but that cos it was the fastest available when I bought it..

As for the Graphics card, ATi have the best DVD decoding on the market atm so go for a radeon if that is of paramount importance for go for a gf2 if raw 3d speed is more importance. The Hercules range of cards are the only GF2s that I know of that have tv-out

[Norphy]

As for leads, if your tv has an S-VHS input all you need is a double ended S-VHS cable. Otherwise you will probably want an S-VHS cable and an S-VHS to SCART adapter. Both are available from Maplins

Thinking about it, you also need a cable to connect the sound card to the TV as well. The aformentioned adapter has inputs to take sound cables as well

hope this helps :)

[Brocken]

I don't need a 3D card as I already have one, just need a TV or video card thingy :)

cheers for all the help

any recommendations as where to get the goods from?

looking at dabs.com now

[-[Raven]-]

You could get a dedicated DVD decoder. Around £40, takes all the strain off your processor (as in it'll never stutter or suffer), some good proggies with it, and TV out.

Hollywood REALmagic something? I dunno.

I've got one though. Of course, I ain't got any DVDs yet :rolleyes:

[Brocken]

I've found a Pioneer 16 speed DVD-ROM for £94 but i still need a DVD card thingy m' bob

[Briggerz]

in issue #97 of pczone they reveiwed the creative labs DVD 12x drive, and they gave it 4/5.
it comes with the card so you can link it to the tv and a decoder for surround sound, and it also comes with a remote :)
all for £169.
i was thinking of getting it myself.

[Edited by ol_dirty_briggers on 24-11-2000 at 08:54 PM]

[Brocken]

Is this any good?

http://www.dabs.com/products/prod-search.asp?action=search&lp=0&fb=Type&drt=1&tid=700&mid=450&ob=manufacturer&unpaged=true

and then the top one on the list

[Boycee]

funny u come up with this.....my setup if i say myself is pretty nice......

i got a dvd-rom drive with powerdvd.....i mean when do u do other things when playing a dvd....i don't so it is still smooth...most of the jerks on dvds r layer changing by the lazer....

then i just got a sparkle geforce 2 mx...which one of its multiple outputs (it has 4 out puts.....1X vga....1x tv 1x dvi convertable to 2nd vga) is a tv s-vhs....

now i don't have a big tele in my room with s-vhs so i went to maplins and got the bits to make a s-vhs to composite (skart is too thick cable to run round room + see other post to make it....qualitly is pretty good)

then i have a sound blaster 1024 player....which has 2 sets of stereo outputs for front and back.....which i linked into 2 amps.....and speakers....

so i can either sit at the comp with digitaly connected speakers or watch the tele with true 4 speaker surround - note thats why i use powerdvd coz it has so many audio options....plus good for nvidia cards......

so i say a geforce mx with tv out....get a tv with s-vhs imput the best quality(mind u the output chip brand on the card has an effect on quality - check out the reviews at tom's hardware....i took a gamble....) with power dvd and a sb live 1024 player (*maybe a sb live player 5.1 now dunno).

Ati's do have the best dvd decoding....but it don't really show on a tv and also the geforce are better for games......

i say stay away from dedicated cards...herd they r just probs....and software isn't as customizable....

Ok ....i'll shut up now....

[Brocken]

I've already got a graphics card and i can't really afford to get another one. the DVD decoder cards are around £50 so I'll probably get one of those... heres my setup:

Duron 650 OCed to 800
128mb RAM
Matrox G400 Millenium
SB Live! 1024 sound card

I need someone to tell me some good DVD-ROM drives and DVD encoder cards please, and where to get them from + how much

[Edited by Brocken on 25-11-2000 at 02:59 PM]

[werewolf_bite]

pioneer 10x and 16x dvd drives aregood (and can be made region free)
and a hollywood plus based decoder card is the best type, and they can be made region free using Zone Selector.

the pioneer DVD drives are about 80-100
and the card is about 40+

[Brocken]

I think thats the combo i'll go for.

pioneer 16x DVD-ROM and the REALmagic Hollywood Plud decoder card

I'm off to get a telly from Costco now :)

I'll order the DVD-ROM and card tonight maybe...

[Edited by Brocken on 25-11-2000 at 04:28 PM]

[Brocken]

the REALmagic Hollywood Plus card is £110 at dabs.com

this can't be right can it?

where can i get it from?

[-[Raven]-]

http://www.overclockers.co.uk have it £40-ish I think.

[werewolf_bite]

*faints*

£110 crikey that is overpriced.

I've seen them at computer fairs for £35 ish

as mentioned ocuk sell them for about £40 + postage

I got my current region free Pioneer 10x DVD drive, and realmagic hollywood plus card from them a while back.

[Desmo]

Why do so many people want to turn their computers into DVD players?

Don't spend the money on the DVD Drive and Hardware Decoder, just go and buy a stand alone DVD player.

It'll be far better.

I've played DVD's on my computer and there's no contest between that and my DVD player.

[-[Raven]-]

Because peeps want the DVD for games, as eventually they will take over from CDs.

And seeing as they can turn into a DVD player for around £40, they may as well :)

Hell, that ain't even nesscessary either.

[Desmo]

Maybe you're right on the games front but if it's films you're after then there's no contest, unless of course you don't appreciate the quality a proper DVD player will give you.

And if you don't appreciate the quality then why get DVD in the first place?

p.s. I'm not trying to be an awkward git here, just my opinion.

[Calzor Suzay]

I wasn't going to interject on this one but I used to have a Creative DXr2 with the DVD-rom and on a pc it looked awesome with some slight red bleed but when I ran it through my then 32" widescreen tv on a shvs connector it looked crap, it was tizzy at the edges, colours where blurred and it seemed to suffer from digital artifacts a lot. I then went about importing a Sony player from the states (DVD was pretty much unheard of then) which absolutely blew it away. It was quite a while ago so I suppose technology has moved on since then but if your serious about watching it for movies on the tv then save up and buy a dedicated player, besides what is out on DVD ? magazine covers and eh.... magazine covers. When DVD for games and applications is more mainstream I'm going to buy a DVD-rom and they'll probably be a 50speed by then :E

[Brocken]

bah, now you've got me confused!

how much can i get a decent DVD player for then?