Tom's Hardware > Forum > Graphic & Displays > Graphics Cards > Which video cards can play DVD movies?
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Homer1357   12-07-2005 at 07:01:57 PM

Hi,
I have an older computer with an ATI Radeon All-In-Wonder and would like to upgrade to an inexpensive AGP 4x card that will allow my computer's DVD drive to play DVD movies. Since I am not interested in viewing TV programs on the computer I was hoping there are other choices than ATI's All-In-Wonder cards.

Any suggestions?

Homer1357

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Cleeve   12-07-2005 at 08:04:32 PM
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*any* new videocard can play DVD movies. The oldest Radeon or the oldest Geforce you can find.

You just need some software like PowerDVD and you're off to the races.

Alot of DVD's even come with free software that installs when you insert the DVD, like the Interactual Player.

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mpjesse   12-07-2005 at 08:05:14 PM
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Uhhh.... all video cards can play DVD's. Specifically, playing DVD's has almost nothing to do w/ the video card. Video cards made after say... 2000 have features which make DVD playback look better, but it's not noticable IMO.

Back in the olden days before software DVD decoding, card manufacturers made hardware decoding cards. But eventually software decoding caught up w/ hardware decoding (in terms of quality) and took over. DVD decoder cards are no longer made.

You need to buy DVD software decoding like WinDVD or PowerDVD. No need for new video card.

-mjesse

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Homer1357   12-07-2005 at 08:34:52 PM
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My current card has a cable running from it to the DVD drive. I assume with a software DVD decoder that is not needed. How much of a hit do these software DVD decoders place on a computer?

I have a 1Ghz Anthlon Socket A CPU with 1.5Gb of PC133 memory.

Thanks,
Homer1357

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mpjesse   12-07-2005 at 08:46:59 PM
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Hmmm... are you sure that cable isn't connected to the sound card?

Doesn't matter, all software decoders decode video and audio through the IDE connection so an audio cable is not necessary. Both solutions have free trials. I would suggest you download the free 30 day trial and see which one works best for you.

WinDVD is $39.99. You can buy it/download it from http://www.intervideo.com/jsp/WinDVD_Profile.jsp

Power DVD is also $39.99. You can buy it/download it from http://www.cyberlink.com/multi/pro [...] 1_ENU.html

-mpjesse

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Homer1357   12-07-2005 at 09:09:12 PM
- 0 +

Quote :

Hmmm... are you sure that cable isn't connected to the sound card?


Now that I think about it you are right.

Quote :

Doesn't matter, all software decoders decode video and audio through the IDE connection so an audio cable is not necessary. Both solutions have free trials. I would suggest you download the free 30 day trial and see which one works best for you.

WinDVD is $39.99. You can buy it/download it from http://www.intervideo.com/jsp/WinDVD_Profile.jsp

Power DVD is also $39.99. You can buy it/download it from http://www.cyberlink.com/multi/pro [...] 1_ENU.html

-mpjesse


I will try them out. Thanks for your and everybody elses help.

Homer1357

Reply to Homer1357
dorion   12-08-2005 at 07:00:29 PM
- 0 +

You can also try out Nvidias Windows Media Player Plugin $30(free trial :)), or you can get Divx Creator and a DVD decoder for $30

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danizaken   12-08-2005 at 07:02:21 PM
- 0 +

I really like Sonic CinePlayer too. Best IMO.

Reply to danizaken
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