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Wanting to make PC HD capable
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Rocks911
Junior Member
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26. February 2008 @ 10:07 |
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Could someone please tell me how to update a PC to make it compatible with HD, specifically Blu Ray?
Instead of purchasing a Blu Ray player I want to install a Blu Ray drive in my PC and run the signals out to my HD LCD.
My computer is a couple of years old and the video card is not HD, so what do I need to install to be able to shoot an HD signal through the appropriate cabling to my HD T.V.? Assuming of course that I have installed an HD Blu Ray drive in my PC.
As you might have guessed I'm not the IT guy so if there are guides out there that would be great.
Thanks in advance for any help.
OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Manufacturer HP Pavilion 061
System Model PX770AA-ABA A1132N
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 47 Stepping 0 AuthenticAMD ~2188 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Phoenix Technologies, LTD 3.47, 3/3/2006
SMBIOS Version 2.4
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158)"
User Name ROCKWELL-281134\Darryl
Time Zone Central Standard Time
Total Physical Memory 3,072.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 2.36 GB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 4.34 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys
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Senior Member
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26. February 2008 @ 10:23 |
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GAMING COMPUTER - Intel q9550 @ 3.4ghz | EVGA GTX 260 core 216 | Gigabyte ds3l | 6gb Gskill DDR2 800 ram | Silverstone 700 watt psu | WD 640gb hdd | Seagate 300gb hdd | LG dvd burner | Samsung dvd burner | Antec p182 case | logitech 2.1 speakers | logitech g11 keyboard | Samsung 25.5in 1900x1200 monitor | 19in 1440x900 secondary monitor | Windows 7 64bit | SERVER - Gigabyte 785g motherboard | AMD Phenom 9650 | 6gb ram | three 1.5tb hdd | Seagate 1tb hdd | WD 750gb hdd | two 300gb hdd | Maxtor 200gb hdd | Ark rackmount case | CentOS 5.5
Steam name = "krj15489" alias = Jordan-k
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Rocks911
Junior Member
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26. February 2008 @ 11:16 |
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Um...
HP's web site indicates that I have 1 PCI Express slot, is that x16 whatever that is, I dont know.
SATA ?
As far as how far away, the computer is just across the room I figure running a cable through the walls and in the attic.
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ddp
Moderator
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26. February 2008 @ 14:27 |
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Pavilion what as there is no Pavilion 061.
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Senior Member
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26. February 2008 @ 17:17 |
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GAMING COMPUTER - Intel q9550 @ 3.4ghz | EVGA GTX 260 core 216 | Gigabyte ds3l | 6gb Gskill DDR2 800 ram | Silverstone 700 watt psu | WD 640gb hdd | Seagate 300gb hdd | LG dvd burner | Samsung dvd burner | Antec p182 case | logitech 2.1 speakers | logitech g11 keyboard | Samsung 25.5in 1900x1200 monitor | 19in 1440x900 secondary monitor | Windows 7 64bit | SERVER - Gigabyte 785g motherboard | AMD Phenom 9650 | 6gb ram | three 1.5tb hdd | Seagate 1tb hdd | WD 750gb hdd | two 300gb hdd | Maxtor 200gb hdd | Ark rackmount case | CentOS 5.5
Steam name = "krj15489" alias = Jordan-k
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 26. February 2008 @ 17:21
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Rocks911
Junior Member
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27. February 2008 @ 08:13 |
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I'll try to get to that later today, I have a terminally ill mother that I have to look after today. Thanks for the help and walking me through it like the total novice I am, honestly, thank you.
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Rocks911
Junior Member
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28. February 2008 @ 12:17 |
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I still haven't had a minute to look at my computer but I did talk with HP and they recommended a Radeon X1600 video card. They said it would cost $100 plus they said it would need it's own power supply which they said they'd sell me for $50.
A couple of questions come to mind, first does this recommended video card replace my current video card, and what is the supplemental power supply about?
krj15489, the card you indicated seems like a better deal for sure. Is the card you recommend in addition to my existing video card or a replacement? The thing I dont understand is the concept of the PCI Expansion slot, the name inplies that the capabilities of the PC are "expanded" by adding various cards and if that is the case how does the PC work with both the original resident video card and an additional video card added to the PCI expansion slot?
I hope the above makes sense. I'm trying to undersatnd this thoroughly before purchasing the required harware.
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ddp
Moderator
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28. February 2008 @ 14:43 |
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Rocks911, what is the Pavilion's model number? don't buy the parts from hp as can get them cheaper online or local computer store.
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Rocks911
Junior Member
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28. February 2008 @ 15:28 |
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Model# a1132n
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Senior Member
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28. February 2008 @ 16:12 |
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the video card i suggested will work fine unless you want to play games. the video card will replace the onboard graphics that you are using. all you have to do is open the computer, put the card in the right slot. then hook your monitor to the card. boot windows and use the provided disc to install graphics drivers.
GAMING COMPUTER - Intel q9550 @ 3.4ghz | EVGA GTX 260 core 216 | Gigabyte ds3l | 6gb Gskill DDR2 800 ram | Silverstone 700 watt psu | WD 640gb hdd | Seagate 300gb hdd | LG dvd burner | Samsung dvd burner | Antec p182 case | logitech 2.1 speakers | logitech g11 keyboard | Samsung 25.5in 1900x1200 monitor | 19in 1440x900 secondary monitor | Windows 7 64bit | SERVER - Gigabyte 785g motherboard | AMD Phenom 9650 | 6gb ram | three 1.5tb hdd | Seagate 1tb hdd | WD 750gb hdd | two 300gb hdd | Maxtor 200gb hdd | Ark rackmount case | CentOS 5.5
Steam name = "krj15489" alias = Jordan-k
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ddp
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28. February 2008 @ 18:59 |
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Rocks911
Junior Member
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8. March 2008 @ 13:41 |
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krj15489,
It's been a while since I've had any free time, so here's where I'm at with this project. I don't have SATA but I do have a PCI E slot.
I've included a picture of my computer if it helps. I guess what I need to do is just replace my existing video card because it seems to be failing anyways. My computer just froze, and the report indicated that the video card was responsible. There was no fix indicated from Microsoft other than the usual download the latest frimware, and that hasn't gone well in the past.
My computer
http://base.google.com/base/a/1077479/D7899267370542558308
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Senior Member
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8. March 2008 @ 14:28 |
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you do have sata. look in the bottom right corner of the picture you posted. that red cable is sata. so you will need to get a video card with a hd decoder
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102724
i have read about ati's new cards and i believe that they have a better video decoder than nvidia. also what cpu do you have? is it a dual core? you will also need to the blu ray drive.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106225
you will also need software. the dvd drive comes with some playback software but from the reviews i hear that its ot the best. just read the reviews for the drive to find out what you need. also anydvd will also be a good thing to have. it will bypass copy protection and get around non hdcp hardware so you can play movies at full resolution.
GAMING COMPUTER - Intel q9550 @ 3.4ghz | EVGA GTX 260 core 216 | Gigabyte ds3l | 6gb Gskill DDR2 800 ram | Silverstone 700 watt psu | WD 640gb hdd | Seagate 300gb hdd | LG dvd burner | Samsung dvd burner | Antec p182 case | logitech 2.1 speakers | logitech g11 keyboard | Samsung 25.5in 1900x1200 monitor | 19in 1440x900 secondary monitor | Windows 7 64bit | SERVER - Gigabyte 785g motherboard | AMD Phenom 9650 | 6gb ram | three 1.5tb hdd | Seagate 1tb hdd | WD 750gb hdd | two 300gb hdd | Maxtor 200gb hdd | Ark rackmount case | CentOS 5.5
Steam name = "krj15489" alias = Jordan-k
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Rocks911
Junior Member
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8. March 2008 @ 14:34 |
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actually after looking at ddp's links it appears that according to the information provided by HP there are 4 SATA connectors. If that's so they don't appear too obviously to me, at least not as they appear in the pictures that the link provided by krj shows.
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Rocks911
Junior Member
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8. March 2008 @ 14:43 |
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Oops, I replied before I saw your posting.
As far as the processor, I dont think it's dual core. This from HP's site about my a1132n: Athlon 64 3500+ 2.2 GHz, 2000 MT/s (Mega Transfers/second), Socket 939
Whatever that means.
Also to answer ddp's question about the PSu rating (I had to google what a PSU even is) anyway heres some info from the tag on the PSU:
Delta Electronics model DPS 300SB A
Max output 300 Watts
*At +5V & +12V Total output power cannot exceed 268 Watts (Again, whatever that means)
I'm starting to think that maybe I need a newer PC, but I really cant afford that.
Anybody know of someone in the Dallas area that could make a housecall and get me set up? I'm beginning to wonder if I have the time or skills needed to update this thing.
Anyway, just asking.
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Rocks911
Junior Member
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8. March 2008 @ 14:45 |
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Oh yea I see the SATA now. Im old and couldn't get low enough, or good enough eyes to see the connectors, at least until I got my head way in there. Sheeeeeeeesh I'm no techie!
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Rocks911
Junior Member
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16. April 2008 @ 12:17 |
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Trying to restart this thread.
So if I install a GeForce 8400GS where would the audio come from? The 8400 has one DVI port which provides just video, obviously, so how do I get the audio signal sent to my T.V.? I suppose through my sound card, again obviously, except I also have an outdated sound card with just the 8mm port, so any sound card recommendations?
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