8800GT DVD playback

Heya,

For a long time, I used the realmagic hollywood player plus for DVD playback on my PC, then switched to a laptop and lost that, now I'm back in a desktop machine again and using an 8800GT. I'm just using the latest detonator drivers from nVidia's site.

I run my 22" LCD at 1680x1050. I use WinDVD7 for playback. I have my Auzentech X-Plosion cinema outputting the 5.1 dolby to my speakers which is great, but the video playback in WinDVD7 is very unimpressive. The screen is grainy, sometimes blocky. I played the DVD in VLC and it didn't look much different, so now I'm wondering if the DVD playback through the 8800GT is just not that great?

Anyone else using a gaming videocard for DVD playback on the PC as well, and having a problem with the video quality? I'm wondering if my resolution is too high for the playback, or if there's something I can do to make this better or if I'm missing something? I read reviews that WinDVD7 was simply the best for playback (better than 8 and 9 even), so I'm disappointed to say the least so far.

Looking for suggestions if the 8800GT is to blame.

Very best,

Heya,

I'll have to try out other DVDs. I was testing with Saving Private Ryan because it has great audio and action scenes. The image quality just did not look like what I remembered it looking like, and there was a grainy quality to it and somtimes kind of blocky as mentioned. I don't have any issues in games or anything. Everything else is perfect. But specifically in that DVD playback (I selected hardware decode and tried without it), it just wasn't where I want it to be for DVD quality. I may give PowerDVD a try.

Very best,

Heya,

Thanks. I'll give it a shot when I get off work. I wonder if it will translate over with screen shots. I'll try that too when I get home. And of course, I'll try other DVDs to make sure. Thinking back, I did try Chronicles of Riddick and I recall the image quality being fantastic, no funny grain, etc. Maybe it was just Saving Private Ryan. I know it had a different filmography to make it gritty during the war parts, so maybe I'm in alarm for nothing. I'll try it with something simple like the Matrix and see how it works out.

Thanks all.

Very best,

Heya,

Anyone have any idea why Saving Private Ryan looks grainy like that?

Very best,