TheLexMachine wrote:
rallew wrote:
I want to install a blu ray, would my pc handle a blu ray internal drive? my pc specs are:
Brand: eMachines Model: ET1161-07 Processor: AMD Athlon X2 4050e(2.1GHz) Processor Main Features: 64 bit Dual Core Processor Cache Per Processor 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Memory: 3GB DDR2 Hard Drive: 320GB SATA II 7200RPM Optical Drive 1 18x DVD +/- RW Super Multi-Format Dual Layer Drive featuring Labelflash Technology Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 6150SE Integrated Graphics, Up to 128MB of Shared Video Memory Audio: 8-Channel (7.1) High Definition Audio Ethernet: 10/100 Mbps Ethernet LAN Power Supply: 250W Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium Thank you
You need a better machine. A desktop like that will not do well with Blu-Ray playback because your hardware is too old, you have a small amount of system memory, and your GPU does not support the hardware decoding required by current Blu-Ray software. You can install a Blu-Ray drive and play Blu-Ray discs, but it will eat up too much of your system resources. For you to install the appropriate hardware and software, you would have to spend several hundred dollars to get a Blu-Ray drive, more memory, an appropriate GPU with the required level of hardware video decoding, a 64-bit OS, and Blu-Ray playback software. The Blu-Ray software is around $100, a Blu-Ray drive will run you $50-$100, more memory would probably cost you around $100-$200 depending on the capacity and current prices, and a graphics card for Blu-Ray playback that would work in your system would run you around $70. Add in a 64-bit OS and that's another $100. It's definitely not a good idea.
I shouldn't have missed the GPU, you're right about that, but the rest is fine. There's a 16X PCI-E though in that box though, add in a fanless Radeon 5450 for $30-$40, a $60.00 BR-D that should come with basic playback software and he's done. If it doesn't come with software, WinDVD pro is $60.00, and PowerDVD standard is $50.00. Some smart shopping and it's around $150.00.
CPU, RAM, and OS are fine. There's simply no need to upgrade to a 64bit OS with 3GB of RAM.
For comparison, my current HTPC runs on the following:
Core unlocked Sempron 140
4GB RAM
W7 64bit (even though I have run 32bit W7 before with no issues)
Radeon 6570 (the 5450 will be fine, I run my HTPC to a 60" plasma and 7.1 surround so I wanted better video and audio output)
Ceton Quad Tuner w/cablecard
A LOT of storage
For playback I use a combination of Windows Media Center 7, the Mediabrowser plugin with VLC for local file playback, and PowerDVD for BR-D. Everything works with no issues at all. I can record multiple shows at the same time as watching BR-D through PowerDVD.
