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AMD plus DVD
I was wondering if other AMD users had any problems with using UDMA with their drives. I have found that normal DMA isn't a problem and gives almost as fast results with my Pioneer 10X drive. This is using the 4.14 4 in 1 update from Via. Doesn't matter what player I use or what DVD, about 15 mins into a movie it will lock up with UDMA, but will play movies for hours with normal DMA. Doesn't really make a lot of sense unless it's a driver bug or a drive firmware issue. Any AMD users have UDMA working with this or older drivers?
Player review:
Cinemaster (G400 version) is the fastest on my K6-3 448, sound sucks though, I need 4 speaker output (MX300), there is just no other way to go.
Less than 50% cpu usage. Misc problems with inflexible screen modes and lack of control. Messing around with Region Selection 2.57 is a drag and I'm never sure it the newer engines really work properly with it's several different registry sections. If it ever gets updated, I'll try it again but for now it's on the top of my junk pile.
WinDVD is the overal champ, sound is best with LFE and 4 channel hack, picture quality is best. Around 95% cpu usage full quality mode, no appreciable difference by turning off image quality settings.
PowerDVD has neat features for making movies full screen and does quad sound nicely (crappy prefs), but lacks speed. 100% cpu usage 2.0906 version. 2.0915 is faster (75%) and there is a 2.5 coming along but it's a Euro deal which means a hardware decoder would cost as much to buy if you could haggle and scratch enough at them to send it to you.
Overall, I don't think my cpu is a problem for playing back DVDs (most I tried were widescreen format), but the players in general could use some work. Misc thought about a DVD card is that I'd be stuck using the bundled player.
Player review:
Cinemaster (G400 version) is the fastest on my K6-3 448, sound sucks though, I need 4 speaker output (MX300), there is just no other way to go.
Less than 50% cpu usage. Misc problems with inflexible screen modes and lack of control. Messing around with Region Selection 2.57 is a drag and I'm never sure it the newer engines really work properly with it's several different registry sections. If it ever gets updated, I'll try it again but for now it's on the top of my junk pile.WinDVD is the overal champ, sound is best with LFE and 4 channel hack, picture quality is best. Around 95% cpu usage full quality mode, no appreciable difference by turning off image quality settings.
PowerDVD has neat features for making movies full screen and does quad sound nicely (crappy prefs), but lacks speed. 100% cpu usage 2.0906 version. 2.0915 is faster (75%) and there is a 2.5 coming along but it's a Euro deal which means a hardware decoder would cost as much to buy if you could haggle and scratch enough at them to send it to you.
Overall, I don't think my cpu is a problem for playing back DVDs (most I tried were widescreen format), but the players in general could use some work. Misc thought about a DVD card is that I'd be stuck using the bundled player.
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