Best BR dvd rom?

[bacon12]

I have read some reviews, but am wondering from your experience which would be the best model to get?

[-=Gib-McFragger=-]

If you are talking about a PC drive, then any of the LG models are excellent (I own one). If you are talking about a stand alone for your HT, then the PS3 is still the best bang for the buck, IMO.

[mullet]

I love my LG pretty slick.

[bacon12]

Was I am looking for something for my HTPC I am finally building. Only component I have to buy is the br drive, and a motherboard.

I am gonna build the case myself using the same cherry (http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=1654302&postcount=26)I made my desk with.

So which model are you guys talking about?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&SubCategory=600&N=2010100600&SpeTabStoreType=1

[nekrosoft13]

doesn't matter which LG, they are almost the same. Same board/chip. laser is slightly different to enable burning. or different ummm... i think is called pick-up to enable hd-dvd.

I have the GGW-WH20L (BD burner/hd-dvd reader) in my main system, simply amazing drive.

[bacon12]

Thanks nekro, what software you using. I assume it's vista, and I am not sure what I am gonna go with yet.

I am trying to keep the cost low as possible, but I imagine I will use vista for the os.

[nekrosoft13]

yes i use vista, on all my rigs except one that is running server 2008 trail

for playback i use PowerDVD Ultra 8 with HD-DVD support modded/hacked in

[J-Mag]

for playback i use PowerDVD Ultra 8 with HD-DVD support modded/hacked in

Are there any good HD-DVD's left that haven't been pressed on Blu-ray or at least announced?

[mullet]

PowerDVD 7.3 in XP with no hacks and it plays HD-DVD/Blu-Ray great.

[Revs]

I'm using the Pioneer BDC-202BK Blu-Ray Drive (internal) here. Great drive. Fast read and write speeds. Pioneer's are generally very reliable, too.

http://www.cclonline.com/product-info.asp?product_id=15008&category_id=351&manufacturer_id=0&tid=bdc-202bk

I'm quite supprised it costs $150 on Newegg, though. Things are generally cheaper in the US than here. Still well worth the money.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827129015

[nekrosoft13]

Are there any good HD-DVD's left that haven't been pressed on Blu-ray or at least announced?

even if the same movie is on BD, why would i buy it on BD? I can pick up HD-DVD movies at Fry's for $5.

Or when i rent movies from Netflix, with BD there is waiting list, if i grab the same movie on HD-DVD i don't have to wait most of the time.

[Monolyth]

<3 my GGC-H20L. :)

[J-Mag]

even if the same movie is on BD, why would i buy it on BD? I can pick up HD-DVD movies at Fry's for $5.


Hey, I wasn't thinking of you. :P

I moved, so Fry's is no longer a consistent option unless I want to spend $10 in gas. Do they sell all the HD-DVD titles at $5 or is it just the selection of older ****ty ones? Most online sites still carry them at around $7-12, right?


Or when i rent movies from Netflix, with BD there is waiting list, if i grab the same movie on HD-DVD i don't have to wait most of the time.

Good point, but have you ever found Blu-ray titles that are better in quality or vice versa?

[nekrosoft13]

I had never found BD that looked better then HD-DVD so far, but i did find HD-DVDs that looked better then BD.

When a movie was released on HD-DVD first then they release BD later, right now they are re-using the same VC1 video stream. Also I noticed more and more BD movies are single layer with VC1 stream. Probably lower cost then Dual Layer.

In past when new movies where released on BD and HD-DVD at the same time. For some stupid reason they would use MPEG2 stream on BD and VC1 on HD-DVD.

MPEG2 steams require a lot higher bitrate and take up a lot more space, smaller VC1 files often either look about the same, or better.

[J-Mag]

I had never found BD that looked better then HD-DVD so far, but i did find HD-DVDs that looked better then BD.


Which ones?


In past when new movies where released on BD and HD-DVD at the same time. For some stupid reason they would use MPEG2 stream on BD and VC1 on HD-DVD.

MPEG2 steams require a lot higher bitrate and take up a lot more space, smaller VC1 files often either look about the same, or better.

What do you think of Mpeg4 vs VC-1?

[Monolyth]

I had never found BD that looked better then HD-DVD so far, but i did find HD-DVDs that looked better then BD.

When a movie was released on HD-DVD first then they release BD later, right now they are re-using the same VC1 video stream. Also I noticed more and more BD movies are single layer with VC1 stream. Probably lower cost then Dual Layer.

In past when new movies where released on BD and HD-DVD at the same time. For some stupid reason they would use MPEG2 stream on BD and VC1 on HD-DVD.

MPEG2 steams require a lot higher bitrate and take up a lot more space, smaller VC1 files often either look about the same, or better.

While this is true one of the best BD's (quality-wise) I've seen to date is Black Hawk Down and it was done w/MPEG-2. At the end of the day it's all about good mastering regardless of what codec is used, however having an actual codec standard in BD would make life 20x easier, IMHO. But no such luck hehe. One thing I hate are the seamless BD's, backing up my BD copy of Waiting was such a pain thankgod for apps like BDEdit & eac3to-and-more-GUI, seamless BD backup would be so hard without them. :)

[crainger]

Both pretty much the same really. VC-1 was more popular due to the fact it could be used on both HD-DVD and BD.

[saturnotaku]

You can get the LG GGC-H20L (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136154&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL090508&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL090508-_-HardDrives-_-L0B-_-27136154) Blu-ray/HD DVD combo drive for $139.99 with free shipping at Newegg. Enter promo code EMCAKAFAE for an additional $15 off.

[bacon12]

Thanks mate. :)

[nekrosoft13]

Both pretty much the same really. VC-1 was more popular due to the fact it could be used on both HD-DVD and BD.

all 3 codecs could have been used on both formats.

MPEG2 is the worst because it requires the highest bitrate.