XBox 360 HD-DVD drive question

Quddy

Quddy

Quddy

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28 May 2004
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Hi,

Considering buying one of these when they become available again but just wondering about the HDCP thing?

Do any of the HD-DVDs currently available use HDCP? If so, how do they work over component or vga? I thought the whole chain had to be digital for that to work?

Also, would the HD-DVDs be playable on my PC if I bought the latest PowerDVD which is supposed to support the new formats? I don't think my graphics card (7900GTX) or monitor (NEC Multisync 2070NX via DVI) are HDCP compatible.

Thanks.
 
None of the currently released HD-DVD (or Bluray) movies use HDCP, so you are free to use composite or VGA to utilise the intended resolution. Apparently, this will last until about 2009 where the studios will be enabling the HDCP flag on their discs, forcing analog connections down to 576p

I dunno though, would they really lock millions of users into upgrading their perfectly working TV's that can already view 720p (and some TV's 1080p) content just fine, just to decode HDCP. I know most of you will say 'of course they will!'

Who knows though, but I've never been a fan of hardware (or software) lock-in, especially when its the customers that are putting the cash down on the table, and getting screwed over in return.

While at the same time, the pirates get their own high resolution copies elsewhere, from the internet and what not, for free.

Anyway, the HD-DVD drive hooked up to your current PC should play HD content fine, but it doesn't support HDCP, so the above applies.
 
Don't worry about HDCP at the moment, no one is choosing to implement its use just yet.
If it does start to be used, then MS will introduce an HDMI cable, but by all accounts this won't be for years to come.
 
Quddy said:
Hi,

Considering buying one of these when they become available again...
Click to expand...

Me too, anyone have any idea when that will be? I've tried afew stores but no one seems to have any idea about them.

They are still fetching upto ~£200 on certain auction sites :eek:
 
e36Adz said:
They are still fetching upto ~£200 on certain auction sites :eek:
Click to expand...

Yep, rare as rocking horse, er.. poo, at the moment!
Brother in law managed to get one week before Christmas though from local well known DVD rental store. Was the last one in stock and it died on him the next day so he's had to send it back to MS. Apparently when he phoned MS to explain what was wrong they didn't even know what the HD-DVD drive was!? Weird! :confused:
 
Ye I am desperate to get one of these been round all the shops in town a few times to no avail. One shop had had a single unit in twice but I had missed it both times :( Unless you are prepared to pay silly money then you might as well forget about it for now :(
 
Quddy said:
Also, would the HD-DVDs be playable on my PC if I bought the latest PowerDVD which is supposed to support the new formats? I don't think my graphics card (7900GTX) or monitor (NEC Multisync 2070NX via DVI) are HDCP compatible.

Thanks.
Click to expand...


Vista in the 64Bit editions will play HD DVDs via Media Player 11 or Vista Media Centre and with no drivers required.

Playback is not suported on the 32Bit editions though. Additional 3rd party software required.
I have played 1080p WMVs (HD DVD trailers) using Vista MP11 and PDVD 7 for comparison and WMP11 uses less CPU resources, picture quality looked the same...

Vista kicks ass too though with CPU performance only at approx 35% on my sig system playing back those 1080p videos.
 
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That's really good news. Didn't realise it wasn't being implemented, just assumed it was.

Hopefully it should become more available in the next few weeks after the holiday period. Still can't believe how cheap it is.

Doubt I will be upgrading to Vista immediately, probably towards the end of 2007. So I will probably just get the latest Power DVD which is supposed to have a driver for HD-DVD drive.

Thanks for all the replies.
 
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