HDTV & Computer Questions...

[sbatson]

I have a new quad core system with LCD monitor. I also have a TV Card for it that I can watch my Cable TV on by feeding SVIDEO into the computer from the cable box or other device. I'm assuming I can watch anything on the computer that can be fed with SVIDEO.

The questions are:

1) If I get a Bluray Drive for the computer, I'm I getting true HD if I play it on my computer's LCD Screen? If not, am I'm really going to notice?

2) If I get a nice LCD HD TV, can I use it as my computer monitor? It sounds like there are adapters, so I'm guessing I can.

I have very limited space and would like to use the TV for entertainment as well as computing/web surfing. And I want to use the computer as home meda center with software that came with my TV Card that can record to the hard disk like a DVR.

Other than the TV, which I don't want to go broke on either, I'm not looking to spend a fortune.

[LarryFlowers]

I have a new quad core system with LCD monitor. I also have a TV Card for it that I can watch my Cable TV on by feeding SVIDEO into the computer from the cable box or other device. I'm assuming I can watch anything on the computer that can be fed with SVIDEO.

The questions are:

1) If I get a Bluray Drive for the computer, I'm I getting true HD if I play it on my computer's LCD Screen? If not, am I'm really going to notice?

2) If I get a nice LCD HD TV, can I use it as my computer monitor? It sounds like there are adapters, so I'm guessing I can.

I have very limited space and would like to use the TV for entertainment as well as computing/web surfing. And I want to use the computer as home meda center with software that came with my TV Card that can record to the hard disk like a DVR.

Other than the TV, which I don't want to go broke on either, I'm not looking to spend a fortune.


Assuming your LCD TV has HDMI Connectors, you can purchase a DVI to HDMI cable that will deliver the computer screen to your LCD TV. You will have to run a separate audio cable from your pc to the tv as DVI ports dont carry audio.

[sbatson]

Assuming your LCD TV has HDMI Connectors, you can purchase a DVI to HDMI cable that will deliver the computer screen to your LCD TV. You will have to run a separate audio cable from your pc to the tv as DVI ports dont carry audio.

Thanks for the response...

So it sounds like the answer to both my questions is basically yes assuming my HD TV has an HDMI connector on it. That true?

[Cholly]

Steve: if your video card has a DVI output, as Larry says, it may be able to provide an HD quality signal to your LCD HDTV, using a DVI to HDMI cable . The video card driver would have to support either 720p or 1080i output at 60 Hz. Of course, you'd need an HD signal source as well -- either a Blu-ray Disk drive or an HD tuner card.
Most new computers support 7 channel audio.

[schneid]

Just because you have an HDMI HDTV and a Blu-ray drive doesn't mean Blu-ray, or HD-DVD, will play.

Your video card has to be HDCP ready. Just because it has DVI or HDMI out doesn't make it so.

You need S/PDIF optical or coaxial out on your sound card or MoBo to pass Dolby Digital to your audio receiver. Some cards also down convert it to 2 channel. I don't think the HDMI video cards pass audio and I'm pretty sure DVI is video only.

You have to buy HD player software for $50-100. The software enclosed with the players is crippleware.

Cyberlink has a BD Ready test program here:

http://www.cyberlink.com/english/support/blu-ray_support/index.jsp

They also have a list of PC requirements posted on their site.

Basically DRM has screwed the consumer again.

[tomacro]

I do think right now the blu-ray is too expensive for me.

[koji68]

I don't think the HDMI video cards pass audio and I'm pretty sure DVI is video only.


HDMI video cards will pass audio. You have to connect the S/PDIF sound to a connector built-in on the card.

[koji68]

2) If I get a nice LCD HD TV, can I use it as my computer monitor? It sounds like there are adapters, so I'm guessing I can.


Since you are getting a new TV, why not get one that has a computer input?

I'm partial to Toshiba's:

http://shopper.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/toshiba-regza-42rv530u/4014-6482_9-32815260.html?tag=srch_1_1

[IcedOmega13]

if you going all out on your pc then I always would suggest this (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130338) card. It has an hdmi adapter built in, and you could spend your time not playing blurays by playing crysis instead.
If you want a good deal on a blu ray drive this (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106225) one its great and its under $140 bucks. Just remember if you plan on actually playing blu ray vista doesn't do it out of the box. Your going to need a program like power dvd . Hope that helps

[the_dudeman]

if you going all out on your pc then I always would suggest this (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130338) card. It has an hdmi adapter built in, and you could spend your time not playing blurays by playing crysis instead.
If you want a good deal on a blu ray drive this (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106225) one its great and its under $140 bucks. Just remember if you plan on actually playing blu ray vista doesn't do it out of the box. Your going to need a program like power dvd . Hope that helps

Wow, your reccommending a $700 video card? There are much , much cheaper cards that pass hdmi video and audio.

Try the ATI HD 4850 or HD 4870. 4850 under $200, 4870 under $300

dudeman