what is this HDCP fuss all about?

[windie]

Hi. Just been reading up about HDCP support for graphics cards and LCD monitors. Well yeah you would need if you plan on watching HD Dvd content or blue ray films. HDMI has sound, DVI doesnt. HDCP is some content protection protocol or something. And I also read that all this HD stuff only applies to higher screen resolutions of 1920x1080 and above. Cause LCD monitors may come with HDCP support, but dont have a HDMI connector (though i think u can get a converter)

How does all this effect a gamer? I mean HDCP, would they incorporate it into games, thus you need a HDCP capable GPU and LCD monitor? How does windows vista come into this discussion? thanks

 

[skittle]

How does all this effect a gamer? I mean HDCP, would they incorporate it into games, thus you need a HDCP capable GPU and LCD monitor? How does windows vista come into this discussion? thanks

it doesnt affect gamers. basically it comes down to Hollywood forcing DRM down our throats (read AACS)

 

[windie]

I see, so its just them screaming about copy right standards and all. I guess its not an issue for me then .

 

[skittle]

unless you wanted to watch bluray (eww) on your pc

 

[windie]

lol nah. Normal dvd's are just fine. Besides, will be a long while before I get a blue ray drive (too costly, if i get that is). And by that time, they might be shouting about some other new hdcp or something

 

[pchoi04]

Yeah... And also it seems like these days almost any midrange to highend video card/monitors support HDCP.

 

[kbits]

True.

BTW while DVD are fun to watch on computer, a HD DVD or Bluray movie on a 24" 1920 X 1200, 1:1 pixel monitor is really outstanding. There is a PS3 here and the CGI feature Ratatouille is absolutely stunning on the BenQ hdmi fp241w.

 

[yipsl]

unless you wanted to watch bluray (eww) on your pc

What's wrong with that? Both of our ASUS 690G boards are ready for Bluray and only need compliant LCD monitors (getting them this spring). When bluray drives drop in price, we'll get them too. We not only watch anime fansubs, but we watch movies on one of our PC's together instead of bothering with the old 19" Magnavox that's mostly used for the PS, Dreamcast, N64, PS2 and Gamecube. We find it a nuisance to actually unplug the game switch box component cables out for the DVD player.

Maybe we'll go back to watching movies on the TV when we get an LCD HDTV, and build that dedicated HTPC, but until then, it's better for retro gaming. We even record TV shows on the PC and then burn them into data DVD's later on.

The only thing I regret is that we had to get an HD 600 TV card because AMD killed the great All in Wonder series. If I'd known that was going to happen, I'd have gotten an AIW X1900 even though I didn't have PCIe boards at the time. Our AGP board died and thus we can't use our old AIW Radeon 9800 Pro for recording TV anymore.

 

[yipsl]

True.

BTW while DVD are fun to watch on computer, a HD DVD or Bluray movie on a 24" 1920 X 1200, 1:1 pixel monitor is really outstanding. There is a PS3 here and the CGI feature Ratatouille is absolutely stunning on the BenQ hdmi fp241w.

Can't wait to get two LCD monitors when the income tax arrives, plus a couple of 3870's for each PC. I'm thinking of one of the following, but am leaning towards the second Viewsonic:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824116099

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824116091

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824176078

 

[windie]

Thanks for replying guys. Well yes watching HD dvd or blue ray, can be really good. But as KBITS pointed out, and from what I have read online also, its best at 1920x1200 resolutions.

YIPSL, the screens you are interested in have 1680x1050 resolutions, so watching HD DVD or blue ray movies doesnt really make a difference at these resolutions?

 

[cardio]

Actually it's best at 1920x1080, since that is it's native resolution and can be displayed at 1:1 with no scaling.

 

[saravis4]

I have a 22" monitor at 1680x1050 and I will say that 1080p has a very significant difference even at that resolution. I've watched 480, 720, 1080i and 1080p. Each one looks better than the other, but by far 1080p looks the best, with absolutely no jaggies or blockies.

 

[yipsl]

Thanks for replying guys. Well yes watching HD dvd or blue ray, can be really good. But as KBITS pointed out, and from what I have read online also, its best at 1920x1200 resolutions.

YIPSL, the screens you are interested in have 1680x1050 resolutions, so watching HD DVD or blue ray movies doesnt really make a difference at these resolutions?

Well, it will probably scale down, but since we won't have Bluray before spring 2009, then maybe 24" monitor prices will drop and we can get one of those too. I just don't want to put up with another year with 17" Viewsonic CRTs. That's why I'm getting two LCD's this February.

When will they come up with an LCD panel that switches resolutions as easily as a CRT?

 

[skittle]

bluray sucks, thats why. Its exactly the opposite of what consumers want in a format.