Optical Drive – LG GGC-H20L
Not all that long ago, PCs were sold with two optical drives – one for DVD playback and one for burning CDs. Back then, while there was a definite will on the manufacturers’ side to combine both functions into a single drive, they still lacked the technology. Today this situation is reversed. Any company theoretically has the technology at its disposal to create a combined HD DVD and Blu-ray drive, but most pick one side to protect company interests and investments while the HD format war drags on. Their rationale seems to be that they will be able to gain some sort of advantage by supporting only one of the technologies. This fails to take the buyers’ wishes into consideration, though, who just want access to the full range of HD video content.
- Scenario 1 – The buyer installs two optical drives into a computer, one for HD DVD and one for Blu-ray discs, dissolving into a fit of rage after the third bottle of beer because he keeps putting the discs in the wrong drive and had to pay through the nose for those two drives in the first place.
- Scenario 2 – The buyer initially has “faith” in the superiority of one of the two technologies, dissolving into a fit of rage when he can’t watch his favourite movie in HD because it is only being offered in the other format.
- Scenario 3 – The buyer can lean back and relax, smiling because he can play back both HD DVD and Blu-ray discs with a single drive. (Feel free to guess which one we prefer.)
LG offers not only one but several optical drives that can handle Blu-ray and HD DVDs. We chose the GGC-H20L which is already selling for less than €300. This drive can also burn standard DVDs of practically any type, but neither of the HD formats. If this is also on your wish list, you will have to spend a little more. The LG GCC-H20L uses the SATA interface and does not require a separate driver. It ships with the Cyberlink PowerDVD software player for playback of HD DVDs and Blu-ray discs.
A good article but:
1. While you concentrated on the IR functionality of the case, you didn't mention the noise the supplied fans create. Given you've gone to all that trouble (and expense) of finding a fanless power supply why do you not consider case fan noise. Is it because the case is supplied with low noise fans? Have you measured the noise? What is the noise?
2. If you are so concerned about noise why not suggest that video data is stored on a server somewhere else and the OS be put on Compact Flash.
€30 to eliminate "data" noise completely for the life of you system seems positively cheap. Hard drive quietening solutions are not as effective or as cheap.
3. Is it me or does the case look like it would take up half your lounge(unless your lounge is the size of London)? Not exactly small it is? I can't think of anyone's living room that it wouldn't look intrusive in.
1. i would ideally go for something like HFX's mini htpc case. fans are the enemy of a comfortable living room environment. even the hard disk whine of my Sky+ box irritates the heck out of me.
2.Agreed, i'm definatly going to go the compact flash option, and have a networked media server somewhere where it won't be as obtrusive.
3.Agreed again, what is it with these so called HTpc boxes that are big enough to hold a swimming pool? we have mATX mainboards, and half height cards, why not use them?
my inital idea is to get an HP DC7700 small form factor machine, still on the big side for a media centre machine, but a third the size of that offering. still fit a normal size 5.25" optical drive, and 3.5" hard disk. still got pciE x1, pciE x16, and 2x normal pci slots for half height cards. got a pciE NV8500 with HDMI, 4Gb ram (don't want paging on a compact flash drive)...
anyway, my only question is, how are you able to get dual satallite tuners to work with one CAM smart card module?
Good article, but a little late in the day!
I did a similar thread over at avforums.co.uk a long while a go...
http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=348233
My media machine had to be low profile, and comes with a true low profile HDMI VGA card. (Sapphire 1600 HDMI etc)
The case has a has a IR port (and display) built in, and comes from standby with a normal MCE remote.
It is currently only running HD-DVDs, but i do intend to change to a multi HD drive.
I didn't bother with tuner cards as we don't get HD broadcasts via terrestial TV. (YET!)
It is near silent when running, and didn't cost the earth!
Bye Bye...
Good article, but a little late in the day!
I did a similar thread over at avforums.co.uk a long while a go...
http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=348233
My media machine had to be low profile, and comes with a true low profile HDMI VGA card. (Sapphire 1600 HDMI etc)
The case has a has a IR port (and display) built in, and comes from standby with a normal MCE remote.
It is currently only running HD-DVDs, but i do intend to change to a multi HD drive.
I didn't bother with tuner cards as we don't get HD broadcasts via terrestial TV. (YET!)
It is near silent when running, and didn't cost the earth!
Bye Bye...
You tell there no Intel alternativ to the AMD which support HDPC and HDMI, then what about G35?
as use on Asus P5E V(M)HDMI!
Why do this when soon you can do most of this for a fraction of the price and hassle?
Although I have been using a HTPC with Windows MCE(XP and Vista) for the last 2 and half years, im afraid early next year I will be dropping it. I have come to realise that to run, and keep up to date my Media Center is a constant and expensive hassle, with worries about heat, silence, power consumption, speed, drivers, cpu consumption, codecs, configuration etc.
I will admit that a well spec'd HTPC is very flexible, should be less hassle and can look good too, but it is still not perfect for something the Mrs can use! Even though she does see its uses and has been sold on the idea I cringe evertime i have to tell her to restart the TV! They are still not perfect as a living room entertainment device for the average user.
Early next year Sony releases the PlayTV twin tuner for the PS3. This is where my money is going next. It can do Photos, Music, Videos, uPnp network streaming, internet browsing, HD and Blu-Ray and now a full twin tuner PVR but is also quiet, user friendly and hassle free. Thats without even mentioning the gaming, all for £300!
Yes, i understand the HTPC is more flexible and upgradeable but I hope you all see my point?