Whats needed to watch Blue-Ray films using a projector?

armatage · 6 Jul 2008 at 17:22

I have just bought a PS3 as i was after a Blue-Ray player and the price differance between PS3 and Blue-Ray player was small. I must say I'm amazed with blue-ray even though my 40" TV is only 720p.

I have used a projector with my PC for 3 years now (NEC VT650) and I could not go back to using a monitor. Lying on your bed and playing on your PC with a bluetooth wireless mouse and keyboard is just amazing.

anyway enough waffle......

I want to play blue-ray films using my PC over the projector but I don't know what I need.

I have a Nvidia 8800GTS graphics card (2x DVI outputs), 2.4GHz core 2 duo, 4GB of RAM and vista ultimate 64bit. I know i will have to buy a blue-ray drive but what else do I need?

What does a projector need to be able to watch 1080 high def?

The projector will project onto a white wall about 4m away. wall can be painted if needed.

I did do a search for but only found suggestion for projectors but nothing on whats needed to be able to watch blue-ray films.

Energize · 6 Jul 2008 at 19:37

I'm not sure what your asking. You just connect the pc to the projector like you've always done, you don't need anything.

That projectors resolution is 1024x768 though, so 1080p is out of the question you can't even get full 720p.

craptakular · 6 Jul 2008 at 19:51

Of course you can get 720p at 1024x768, he has 768 lines so 720 will work!

Is your projector HDCP? Does it have a dvi port/HDMI?

Energize · 6 Jul 2008 at 19:55

Oxy said:
Of course you can get 720p at 1024x768, he has 768 lines so 720 will work!

I said he can't get full 720p. He'll get 1024x720, not 1280x720, which is a considerably lower resolution.

His projector doesn't have any digital inputs, it's an old model.

http://www.aboutprojectors.com/pdf/nec-vt650-specs.pdf

armatage · 6 Jul 2008 at 20:03

The projector will do 1600x1200
It has VGA input but not HDMI or DVI

Energize · 6 Jul 2008 at 20:04

armatage said:
The projector will do 1600x1200
It has VGA input but not HDMI or DVI

The projector supports 1600x1200, but it's lcd screen is only 1024x768 unfortunatley. An lcd projectors output resolution is limited to it's screens native resolution.

craptakular · 6 Jul 2008 at 21:10

Energize said:
I said he can't get full 720p. He'll get 1024x720, not 1280x720, which is a considerably lower resolution.

His projector doesn't have any digital inputs, it's an old model.

http://www.aboutprojectors.com/pdf/nec-vt650-specs.pdf

I understood the qualifying factor for each output ie 720p or 1080p was the vertical lines? i.e. the 1024 or 1920 can be whatever. Hence 1024x768 can display 720p fully, like my new plasma. Thats why its certified "Hd Ready"

armatage · 6 Jul 2008 at 21:19

ok i need a new projector but what do I need to look for?

Energize · 6 Jul 2008 at 21:21

Oxy said:
I understood the qualifying factor for each output ie 720p or 1080p was the vertical lines?

Yes but the output signal is 1280x720 so if your tv is only 1024x768 your not getting the full resolution avalible, 25% less in fact.

ok i need a new projector but what do I need to look for?

It must have a native resolution of 1920x1080 to get the maximum avalible detail, you graphics card must support hdcp and so must the projector, this will allow you to connect it to the pc using dvi/hdmi for the highest quality picture. Though (obviously) your looking at more than £1k for a projector like that.

PC's may be able to output blu-rays at 1080p through vga though without requiring hdcp.

Personally I would just try using your current projector and see if you are happy with it first.

I'd reccomend checking a chart to see whether 1080p will benefit you at that distance and screen size.

craptakular · 6 Jul 2008 at 21:25

Energize said:
Yes but the output signal is 1280x720 so if your tv is only 1024x768 your not getting the full resolution avalible, 25% less in fact.

well maybe, but its still 720p. Black levels and contrasts are more important factors anyway. <3

Hedge · 6 Jul 2008 at 21:27

just spend 400ish on an Optoma HD65 projector and sit in awe

or blow a grand for 1080p

armatage · 6 Jul 2008 at 21:41

Hedge said:
just spend 400ish on an Optoma HD65 projector and sit in awe

or blow a grand for 1080p

I'm liking the Optoma HD65. Will a DVI to HDMI converter do the job connection wise on the GFX card (8800GTS)?

I need a new bulb for the NEC anyway, I like the price for the Optoma HD65.

craptakular · 6 Jul 2008 at 21:50

armatage said:
I'm liking the Optoma HD65. Will a DVI to HDMI converter do the job connection wise on the GFX card (8800GTS)?

I need a new bulb for the NEC anyway, I like the price for the Optoma HD65.

I use a DVI-HDMI lead on mine, with a SPDIF cable to my AV Receiver

Dazza_Random · 7 Jul 2008 at 17:19

Another vote for the Optoma HD65 had mine since March and still love watchin movies, i also use a DVI to HDMI converter with a 7meter HDMI cable to my HD65.

james.miller · 8 Jul 2008 at 23:48

apparently the planar 7010 is a fair bit better than the optima for the same money. im currently in two minds over this myself

V1N · 9 Jul 2008 at 13:37

I know it's a bit more expensive, but I have a Panasonic AE2000E 1080p projector here, and was gobsmacked by the results.
So much better than my old NEC projector (of course)

Well worth the money!

Playing blurays from a PS3 at 1080/24p, it also displays games at 720p well, and I was also totally surprised how good it is at upscaling. I have a PVR connected to it via a 10m S-Video cable, hardly the best solution, but thought it would do the job for the very rare occasion I want to watch TV on it. The upscaling is great, and looks like it does a better job even than my Sony 40W2000!

Vin.

daz · 9 Jul 2008 at 13:58

Also remember that a 1024 x 768 projector, even thought it has enough resolution vertically, because most films are 16:9, the actual image will be downscaled to something like 1024 x 576...

armatage · 24 Aug 2008 at 13:15

Just like to say thanks for the suggestions. Bought my Optoma HD65 yesterday and I'm well chuffed

Only connected via standard video cable atm but my 10m HDMI cable and DVI-HDMI converter is on order.

My old projector I used 1152x864 but was a little small for reading webpages and 1280x1024 was way to small but with the new projector 1280x720 is perfect.
The old projector was also very dim, mainly becuse of an old bulb which would be £350 to replace. I have the curtains fully open and the Optima HD65 is perfectly clear.

Cheers all