Playing 3D Blu-rays on a HTPC

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Satch

1985 posts

Uber Geek

#114101 8-Feb-2013 12:52

Hi,

I have a HTPC running Windows Media Centre 7. The PC has a standard blu-ray read only drive in it. From what I have found on Google, I can use this drive to also watch 3D blu-ray discs with the appropriate software on my 3D capable TV (if someone could confirm this with actual experience, that would be good).

Assuming the above is correct, what is the best software (outside of Windows Media Centre) to use to play 3D blu-rays?

Cheers.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#757291 8-Feb-2013 13:05

I believe all Blu Ray drives handle 3D but your video card also has to be 3D capable to feed to Monitor or TV. Not all of them are, particularly the cheaper ones.
Don't know about software. Haven't got myself a Blu Ray drive yet for the PC as I have a 3D capable Blu Ray recorder.
My A C Ryan media player plays downloaded side by side 3D to the TV OK but doesn't do normal 3D.

Satch

1985 posts

Uber Geek

#757293 8-Feb-2013 13:07

Graphics card is a good thought. I bought a new one a couple of months ago but cannot remember what it is at the minute. Will check it out this weekend. Cheers.

sidefx

3712 posts

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#757300 8-Feb-2013 13:21

Look at TMT or PowerDVD, I think they're pretty much the only options, though they're not cheap.

IMO it's just better to look at MakeMKV and use it to rip your Blurays... technically i think this may not be strictly legal but since I own and keep the originals I don't see much issue with it. Use the money you save on bluray playback software to by a new HDD for storing them on. And playback from HDD is less demanding on HTPC as it doesn't need to do MVC, etc I believe.

"I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there." | Octopus Energy | Sharesies
- Richard Feynman

Satch

1985 posts

Uber Geek

#757313 8-Feb-2013 13:33

Thanks. I do have TMT installed on my HTPC so I will see if it plays the only 3D blu-ray I own at this stage.

To be honest, I can't see myself buying too many 3D blu-rays, but I'd like the option to be there if I ever need it.

Nety

2584 posts

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Retired Mod

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Lifetime subscriber

#757358 8-Feb-2013 15:08

I think that only the current version of TMT that supports 3D. Might have been that the last version supported it but only with an addon.

Media centre PC - Case Silverstone LC16M with 2 X 80mm AcoustiFan DustPROOF, MOBO Gigabyte MA785GT-UD3H, CPU AMD X2 240 under volted, RAM 4 Gig DDR3 1033, HDD 120Gig System/512Gig data, Tuners 2 X Hauppauge HVR-3000, 1 X HVR-2200, Video Palit GT 220, Sound Realtek 886A HD (onboard), Optical LiteOn DH-401S Blue-ray using TotalMedia Theatre Power Corsair VX Series, 450W ATX PSU OS Windows 7 x64

WaffleMakerMan

138 posts

Master Geek

#763992 18-Feb-2013 09:55

I do it with powerdvd works fine. I remember I needed to upgrade my graphics card at the time to one that supports HDMI 1.4 but that was it, my 5 year old 4x bd-rom drive is fine with it.