UpConverting from your Laptop

Aceblade · 08-04-2007, 09:17 PM

Okay I know this is my first post but I'm going nuts just scouring all the info on the net to find just one simple answer to this question. I bought a new 1080p 42"LCD and I own a progressive scan dvd player. I know this will not produce the best picture for the LCD so I started snooping around the net for an answer. It dawned on me that I could probably use my new laptop to upconvert the dvd's to play on my new LCD tv. Man that has to be the hardest question on the planet right now. Anyway I own a Dell E1705 dual core, 2 gigs high speed ram, nvidia 7800 256mb card and it has both a vga and DVI output. I have a DVI to HDMI converter for the pc so I figure that was the best hookup for the tv. Now is there a "free" simple approach to upconverting my dvd's to play on my laptop by means of software or do I have to pay for some sort of software? Is this so much of a hassle that I should just buy an upconverting 1080p dvd player? or just wait till HD players get cheaper. You be the judge and Man O' Man do I look forward to all your help out here in Webland!

InitialDMP5 · 08-04-2007, 10:01 PM

just buy an upconverting DVD player. They are less than 100 dollars now. For the time, trouble, and conclusion that there is nothing for a laptop right now (or free or less than 100 dollars) that would upconvert its a cheap solution.

Also you do know that an upconverting DVD player doesn't magically make DVDs full HD, right? it merely creates new pixels to get the video to play nice with the HD tv resolution.

You only true 1080p source is HD DVD, Blu Ray, or downloaded content.

Aceblade · 08-04-2007, 10:10 PM

Yes I am aware of that. But I need something while I pine for an HD or Blue Ray. I like the price of HD players but I'm not comfortable with it staying around. If I download HD movies will they play through the DVI at 1080p when downloaded in that form?

InitialDMP5 · 08-04-2007, 10:59 PM

they should. You can try something like WMV HD. I think the site has sample videos you can download. Also apple has trailers in 1080p you can check out. They have some compression, but should look fine on a TV.

you are smart to be weary of this whole format war.

aljar8 · 08-05-2007, 12:58 AM

the output from the laptop would have to be HDCP compliant, which is doubtful.

Aceblade · 08-05-2007, 09:14 AM

I know I can view the 1080p WMV-HD videos. I also know my card can support HD but I don't have a HD drive obviously. How could I check if the laptop is HDCP compliant?

**rbinck** · 08-05-2007, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aceblade

I know I can view the 1080p WMV-HD videos. I also know my card can support HD but I don't have a HD drive obviously. How could I check if the laptop is HDCP compliant?

I would not worry about the HDCP compliant too much. You have the TV and you have the laptop, so whether it is or not is not going to matter at this point. Playing standard DVDs will probably not get HDCP involved anyway. If they will play on your laptop screen, they should play on your TV.

You told us about your laptop, but no brand model of your TV. Assuming it has a HDMI port, you can get a DVI to HDMI cable for the video. There should be an audio input for the port as well. If your TV has a VGA port that will accept 1080p, then you can use a VGA cable.

Once you get the video and audio connected and working, there are any number of media players players that will up-convert standard DVD to the desktop resolution. I would recommend Power DVD, VLC Media Player, or Windows Media Player. Google search will provide you with download sites.

cbo · 08-05-2007, 06:11 PM

I found with my particular tv that even if I hook up my pc with dvi to hdmi the tv will still accept only a 720p signal something to do with syncing or timing or something. Check your graphics card and your tv just because your cards resolution may surpass your tv dose not mean that it will display on your tv at 1080p. your card's manufacturer my have a patch or an app.

Lee Stewart · 08-05-2007, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbo

I found with my particular tv that even if I hook up my pc with dvi to hdmi the tv will still accept only a 720p signal something to do with syncing or timing or something. Check your graphics card and your tv just because your cards resolution may surpass your tv dose not mean that it will display on your tv at 1080p. your card's manufacturer my have a patch or an app.

To my knowledge, FPD's are not true multisync displays. All the manufacturers list the formats they will accept which are part of the ATSC specs. They usually list what PC resolutions they will accept IF they have a VGA input port. ALL resolutions have to be at 60Hz to match the sync of the display if using HDMI or DVI or Component.

Aceblade · 08-05-2007, 11:58 PM

This helps alot. By the way its a Hyundai e425 1080p lcd and it should arrive on Monday. I just bought a samsung 1080p upconverting dvd player with hdmi output so as not to have the family try and do it through my laptop everytime. I just thought there might be a way to do it more easily and less costly. But I got the player as an open box and half off as well so it only cost me 50 bucks so I'll wait and see. I also can't wait to see the WMV-HD I downloaded on the big screen. It plays great on my laptop. Wish all movies could be purchased this way then you wouldn't need a new dvd player every couple of years and we could kiss the HD/Bluray battle good bye!

**rbinck** · 08-06-2007, 05:37 PM

Problem with downloading HD is the time required to download the movie.

JC.Cob · 08-07-2007, 07:50 AM

When you use DVI-HDMI the graphics card program finds the correct timings for your HDTV,but if you use VGA with or with out the DVI adapter you will need to add the timings yourself.I can get 1080i when using the DVI-HDMI,but not with the VGA.If you dont add your own custom timings the screen will flicker after you change the resolution.

PenGun · 08-07-2007, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbinck

Problem with downloading HD is the time required to download the movie.

Ummm you do it with a shovel? I just fire up a torrent and just let it happen.

The computer does the work and I don't have to. I'm not sure why time would be a problem.

**rbinck** · 08-07-2007, 11:55 AM

I have use a torrent on a couple of occasions and yes after a couple of days I got a movie. While that may not be long for you, for many people in this gotta have it now world it is too long. What is your time like per hour of 1080p?

Aceblade · 08-07-2007, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PenGun

Ummm you do it with a shovel? I just fire up a torrent and just let it happen.

The computer does the work and I don't have to. I'm not sure why time would be a problem.

I found the BBC Planet Earth on a torrent but what exactly is a torrent and how do you use it. I've seen Planet Earth on limewire are they 2 in the same?

BTW Got the LCD up and running today and all I can say is "She's a real Beaut Clark". The samsung upconverting DVD player does a fine job with the 1080p but the laptop doesn't quite filter it as well. The WMV-HD videos I downloaded are sublime. I may try to download Nvidia purevideo and see if there is much of a difference when viewing DVD's.

08-04-2007, 09:17 PM	#1
Aceblade My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 6	UpConverting from your Laptop Okay I know this is my first post but I'm going nuts just scouring all the info on the net to find just one simple answer to this question. I bought a new 1080p 42"LCD and I own a progressive scan dvd player. I know this will not produce the best picture for the LCD so I started snooping around the net for an answer. It dawned on me that I could probably use my new laptop to upconvert the dvd's to play on my new LCD tv. Man that has to be the hardest question on the planet right now. Anyway I own a Dell E1705 dual core, 2 gigs high speed ram, nvidia 7800 256mb card and it has both a vga and DVI output. I have a DVI to HDMI converter for the pc so I figure that was the best hookup for the tv. Now is there a "free" simple approach to upconverting my dvd's to play on my laptop by means of software or do I have to pay for some sort of software? Is this so much of a hassle that I should just buy an upconverting 1080p dvd player? or just wait till HD players get cheaper. You be the judge and Man O' Man do I look forward to all your help out here in Webland!

08-04-2007, 10:10 PM	#3
Aceblade My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 6	Yes I am aware of that. But I need something while I pine for an HD or Blue Ray. I like the price of HD players but I'm not comfortable with it staying around. If I download HD movies will they play through the DVI at 1080p when downloaded in that form? Last edited by Aceblade; 08-04-2007 at 10:13 PM.

08-05-2007, 09:14 AM	#6
Aceblade My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 6	I know I can view the 1080p WMV-HD videos. I also know my card can support HD but I don't have a HD drive obviously. How could I check if the laptop is HDCP compliant? Last edited by Aceblade; 08-05-2007 at 09:17 AM.

08-05-2007, 06:11 PM	#8
cbo High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 30	I found with my particular tv that even if I hook up my pc with dvi to hdmi the tv will still accept only a 720p signal something to do with syncing or timing or something. Check your graphics card and your tv just because your cards resolution may surpass your tv dose not mean that it will display on your tv at 1080p. your card's manufacturer my have a patch or an app. __________________ Living Room Panasonic TH-42PX600U Plasma Directv (BOO!) H20 Samsung HT-TQ85 Xbox 360 Harmony 880 Back Room Closet Media Server Vista Home Premium AMD 3800+ (939) 1 GB RAM All In Wonder X600 Pro Win TV 150 Cat's Eye 150 HDTV Beyond TV 4.6

08-05-2007, 11:58 PM	#10
Aceblade My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 6	This helps alot. By the way its a Hyundai e425 1080p lcd and it should arrive on Monday. I just bought a samsung 1080p upconverting dvd player with hdmi output so as not to have the family try and do it through my laptop everytime. I just thought there might be a way to do it more easily and less costly. But I got the player as an open box and half off as well so it only cost me 50 bucks so I'll wait and see. I also can't wait to see the WMV-HD I downloaded on the big screen. It plays great on my laptop. Wish all movies could be purchased this way then you wouldn't need a new dvd player every couple of years and we could kiss the HD/Bluray battle good bye! Last edited by Aceblade; 08-06-2007 at 12:00 AM.

08-04-2007, 10:01 PM	#2
InitialDMP5 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Francisco Age: 28 Posts: 336	just buy an upconverting DVD player. They are less than 100 dollars now. For the time, trouble, and conclusion that there is nothing for a laptop right now (or free or less than 100 dollars) that would upconvert its a cheap solution. Also you do know that an upconverting DVD player doesn't magically make DVDs full HD, right? it merely creates new pixels to get the video to play nice with the HD tv resolution. You only true 1080p source is HD DVD, Blu Ray, or downloaded content.

08-04-2007, 10:59 PM	#4
InitialDMP5 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Francisco Age: 28 Posts: 336	they should. You can try something like WMV HD. I think the site has sample videos you can download. Also apple has trailers in 1080p you can check out. They have some compression, but should look fine on a TV. you are smart to be weary of this whole format war.

08-05-2007, 12:58 AM	#5
aljar8 My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 8	the output from the laptop would have to be HDCP compliant, which is doubtful.

08-06-2007, 05:37 PM	#11
rbinck Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Katy, Texas Posts: 12,301	Problem with downloading HD is the time required to download the movie. __________________ www.highdefinitionblog.com www.BlogOfHawaii.com

08-07-2007, 07:50 AM	#12
JC.Cob Nascar 101 Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 92	When you use DVI-HDMI the graphics card program finds the correct timings for your HDTV,but if you use VGA with or with out the DVI adapter you will need to add the timings yourself.I can get 1080i when using the DVI-HDMI,but not with the VGA.If you dont add your own custom timings the screen will flicker after you change the resolution.

08-07-2007, 11:55 AM	#14
rbinck Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Katy, Texas Posts: 12,301	I have use a torrent on a couple of occasions and yes after a couple of days I got a movie. While that may not be long for you, for many people in this gotta have it now world it is too long. What is your time like per hour of 1080p? __________________ www.highdefinitionblog.com www.BlogOfHawaii.com

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