DVD Suggestions?

[dwood]

Now that I have a fully working G400 MAX, I'm considering adding a DVD drive (primarily) for DVD-out to TV. My system is ASUS P2B-F, Celeron 300A@464, 128MB, G400MAX, SB-AWE32. I have a few questions, and I'd appreciate any input anyone can offer.

1. Is audio/video quality with DVD TV-OUT comparable to a standalone DVD player?

2. What DVD drive(s) should I consider. If I replace my exisiting CD-ROM drive, will I lose any functionality (read CD-R/W, audio ripping, etc.)

3. My TV is in the next room (approx 20'). What's the best cabling option for audio/video from the PC to the TV?

Thanks in advance,
Dave...

[Maniac]

First off the audio quality will depend mostly on if you have a dolby AC-3 decoder connected to your soundcard (you will need digital-out)and a decent set of speakers. The Pioneer 6X or 10X are sure-fire drives, I suggest this is what you buy. Of coarse the quality will not be as good as an audiophile grade home theatre setup. A regular RCA cable will connect the G400 to your T.V. Good-luck!

------------------
Celeron 300A@464 2.0V, Abit BH6 G400 16meg DH@150/200, Western Digital Expert 18gig, Ricoh mp7040A, Pioneer 6X DVD slot load, Motorola Cable Modem w/DEC ethernet card, Soundblaster Live Value Ver. 2, Viewsonic GT 775

[xortam]

dwood, To answer you're questions ...
1. PC-DVD is superior to standalone DVD. It produces a progress scan image versus interlaced. I just got done watching a demo comparing these two using a data grade projector. The PC version generates richer colors, brighter image, and more detail in the textures. The audio between the two is identical if you're using an S/PDIF connector (or other digital out) from you're PC to an outboard AC-3 decoder.

2. Most DVD drives will read CD-RW. Check the specs to be sure. 6x drives are a good value.

3. A Y/C (SVHS) cable is probably better than an RCA cable for that length. At longer distances its a bad choice. I prefer coax (RG6/QS). See my comments in this thread.

[This message has been edited by xortam (edited 30 November 1999).]

[merchant2112]

correction, pc-dvd with a really good decoder g400 rated as best software assist card for visuals. but a hardware card like dxr2 dose not look better than a standalone player based on second gen decoders. i have all 3 dxr2 card (sucks in comparison to my g400 and software player or my proscan 2nd gen standalone player. one thing to note with dvd playback to tv's if you have an older set you might not see that big of a improvment over vhs older tv's don't display high res. vhs =345 lines vertical older tv's 400lines vertical newer tvs 500+ res (mine is
a 745 lines vertical 32in) it was the bigest one i could get down the stairs)

answer 1 : yes and no it depends on your hard ware.

answer 2 : i have both a 5x cl drive slow spinup times for gameing. and a new 10x pioneer slot drive nice for both movies and gameing noticeably faster than my cl drive. both play any cd i put inthem cdrom cd rw ect...

answer 3: a good s video cable would be the best to use but if you have a low res tv (older set that only has rca or cable inputs use rg6 coax with rca adapter or adapters) or a rca composit cable (shieled) rg6 is coax cable with heaver shielding and bandwith.
------------------
my system has arived. all together and if i new about the usb bug in 98 with this board i would have been fiished a lot sooner.

msi 6167 mobo k7 500 wk41 now at 650.(not overclocked its a real 650 they underclcoked.) 256 meg ram ,addtronics case w 250watt sp power supply, matrox g400, maxtor diammax 2500+ 10gig hd,10x aopen slot dvd, 3com 10/100 nic and 56k ext modem, xitel p storm sound card. lots of controlers joystick throttle rudder raceing wheel, and 19in monitor, usb logitech mouse.

i found the fix for the mouse hang problem.





[This message has been edited by merchant2112 (edited 30 November 1999).]

[DentyCracker]

Toshiba SD-M1212 is an excellent drive that costs only $79.90 at www.mwave.com . I copied the win98 directory of SE (121 MB) in less than 20 secs. It showed pretty well on a G200/K6-III 450 Cybervision C70 system

[dwood]

Thanks for all the info... Looks like the upgrade will definately be a go (sooner or later)....

Just one more bit of advice I'm looking for. My plan is to feed the video into the TV (SVHS cable look like the winner for that), and I want to feed audio into my stereo. Any recommendations for cabling the audio approx 20'? Should I just stick with standard RCA, or is there a better option?

As far as cabling is concerned, I want to maintain the best possible audio/video quality, but would also like 'small packaging' (i.e. fewer thinner cables) to ease the feeding from one room to the other.

Thanks again,
Dave...

[xortam]

dwood, You're going to need to upgrade your audio card if you want the best sound. I understand the SB-AWE32 has no digital audio out capability. That means you're using your sound card to convert the signal to analog and pass it along the RCA audio cable. You're going to have to invest more money in quality, high gauge cables when you're running longer distances for analog audio. Even so, the sound can't compare to using a sound card that supports digital out and piping that into your home theatre AC-3 decoder. The same thing applies when using a standalone DVD. The digital audio cable can be much less expensive (and small gauge) and not effected by long runs.

As far as video, for most TV, you're better off using the Y/C input vs. RCA (composite). The exception to this would be if your TV/projector supports VGA (D-sub or RGB) inputs (some now also support component interconnects). I now hear that you can buy pricey, top-of-the-line Monster Y/C cables that are suitable up to 100 feet. I like to use the RG6/QS for long runs and use a pair with the Y/C-F adapters. As the distance goes up, you'll spend less money with the coax and have less noise. You don't need that for a 20 foot run and you're better off with a good Y/C cable. The quality of your TV may dictate how much you want to spend on quality interconnects. The NTSC signal only delivers up to 450 lines so you won't be gaining anything by purchasing a TV that can handle more lines but only has composite or Y/C inputs. If you can connect your TV/projector through VGA, you will bypass NTSC and be able to run at much higher resolutions (probably only limited by you're display) and this would exploit those extra lines (and deserve the best interconnects).
So merchant2112 is right when he/she said "yes and no it depends on your hard ware". I guess you have to decide on where you're headed and how much you're willing to spend now versus later. I didn't own a standalone DVD and chose the PC route because 1) it gives me a third CD drive in my machine for multi-CD games 2) it enables me to play the inevitable DVD PC games, and 3) I'll be getting an HDTV display over the next year that will love the progressive scan output from my PC-DVD.


[This message has been edited by xortam (edited 01 December 1999).]

[LrngToFly]

I bought TecNet cables from www.markertek.com Good prices... good quality...

I'm using a 30 foot SVHS cable and am happy with the video quality.

My only problem is that sometimes my audio has a buzz (output analog RCA cables to audio receiver)- I think perhaps my receiver/tv is on a different circuit than my computer... 60 Hz buzz perhaps...

[dwood]

Thanks again for the info...

I have bene planning a sound card upgrade, but have been putting it off. Digital AC-3 output isn't really a major concern at the moment, since I'm only running a Dolby Pro Logic receiver at the moment (another 'toy' on my wish list).

Dave...

[SiRiO_KD]

For video quality, use a RGB cable connected directly to secondary out of your G400.

[xortam]

SiRiO_KD, dwood is trying to play DVDs on his TV. He can only use RGB if he's lucky enough to have a high-end TV/projector that supports that connection. Read my earlier comments.

[This message has been edited by xortam (edited 02 December 1999).]