HD - how?

[ChrisD.]

Right, spec in sig. I'm a bit of a noob to this. Can I, currently watch a HD clip or film on my PC? GFX card is connected via a DVI cable.

Is there a clip I can download, eg a film trailer so I can experience HD on my PC? Do I need any other software installed? Currently have VLC and WMP11. Might be a stupid thread, but I really don't know what I'm doing!

 

[paradigm]

I assume you are using your Dell as in sig (monitor)?

Just get a video source that is of HD resolution

Try some of these http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/musicandvideo/hdvideo/contentshowcase.aspx

 

[ChrisD.]

Yes mate, I've got the Dell.

I did that a while ago, and TBH I couldn't really see much difference. I'll give it another shot now.

 

[Raikiri]

Apple, they do 1080p trailers at a decent bitrate.

 

[PinkPig]

HD video isn't anything in particular - it just refers to a fairly high resolution, usually 720p (1280x720) or 1080p (1920x1080). There are some more decent clips at http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/animals/planetearth/hd/.

Obviously for real HD content the most obvious option is to get a Blu-Ray / HD-DVD drive, but of course then you need software, have to meet HDCP requirements, etc etc, and of course buy the (expensive) disks!

 

[BillytheImpaler]

Apple, they do 1080p trailers at a decent bitrate.

I concur. Apple's trailers are usually very high quality, encoded with H.264 and AAC, so they serve as a decent test of HD video capability. Obviously the OP's machine will do just fine since it's a top-end system by all accounts.