CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

LOTREE

This is the 3rd computer I've used now that the projector has been connected to. The first I had to use the Real Magic Hollywood Plus card thanks to Kal, as the computer was so slow, although I do recal using ZoomPlayer and VLC with lock up issues.

Then switching to the Athlon 1.2GHz it could play DVD's fine but again VLC and ZoomPlayer would lock up just starting to play.

Skip ahead to the most recent computer with the following:

MSI 785GM-E65 785G mATX AM3 w/ ATI HD4200 + Realtek ALC889 7.1 sound
AMD Athlon II X2 240 Dual Core
BenQ DVD DW1655 (same drive from last 2 systems)
G.SKILL F3-10600CL8D-2GBHK
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB

I have parts for a dedicated HTPC ready to ship from NCIX but I'm wondering if I'm going to run into the same issues.

I downloaded the latest version of KMPlayer, ZoomPlayer Max and already had VLC on the computer. The problem I'm running into YET AGAIN is that all the players I've used will lock up. KM will just sit there on the main screen with the DVD spinning and nothing playing. I have to end task as it says Not Responding. ZP is hit or miss. I can change the settings for the FFDShow video decoder and I can get ZP to work some of the time flawlessly, other times the screen will be glitchy, artifacts or simply not play. I downloaded the CCCP and VLC did manage to work, again, some of the time.

I tried out TheaterTek which is okay but I couldn't figure how to change scale options and/or colors, I don't recall. Overall I'd prefer ZoomPlayer due to the settings on the video decoder. I haven't tried PowerDVD.

Before I start hulksmashing stuff what gives? I couldn't get much newer on the computer so why shouldn't this be working flawlessly without tweaking the system to death - can't it work out of the box and play a simple DVD like the program is intended?

Any help would be great. All other drivers on the computer are up to date.

**AnalogRocks** · Last edited by AnalogRocks on Sun Jan 03, 2010 7:30 pm; edited 1 time in total

LOTREE · Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 7:06 pm Post subject:

It's been a while, I forgot who it was, just checked my PM's and so it was. Thumbs Up

I haven't been on the board in ages until recently. The card worked perfectly though, certainly appreciate it!

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 7:10 pm Post subject:

Why aren't you still using it? I have the VLC, KMedia, PowerDVD players and the real magic card still looks better than all of them.

LOTREE · Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 7:28 pm Post subject:

It's just I needed a way to edit colors, sharpening, resolution and FFDShow is great for that. The card, from what I remember, is just that. You have to use the software included to play it and it didn't give much in the way of tweaking. When I was using it it worked flawless with regard to actual playback but I had to use the projector brightness/contrast controls.

Spanky Ham · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 5643 Location: Comedy Central

What OS are you running? I am running VLC and Totem with Ubuntu 9.04 on my desktop. It is an Athlon XP 2600 mobile. I had no problems with either my old Geforce 2 or current Geforce 6600GT. I have no problem running VLC on either of laptops. One is running XP with a Pentium M and the other is Vista with Pentium dual core.

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 1:42 am Post subject:

LOTREE · Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 3:41 am Post subject:

Running XP and the drive is IDE. I tried opening the VTS_01_0 for Star Trek - First Contact and it will not load, I need to end task as the program is non-responsive. Now if I open ZoomPlayer Max from the Start Menu it will automatically play the movie in the drive without issue. If this continues to work I'll just do that. VLC will playback as if I'm looking at the die of a processor scattered across the image.

From a ease of use perspective is there a way I can simply play a DVD from a list on the computer skipping the main play menu. Any recommended software? I need to start ripping my DVD's first.