BluRay Drives for HTPC

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › BluRay Drives for HTPC

turb

881 posts

Ultimate Geek

#115276 20-Mar-2013 08:50

I'm going to sell my PS3 and put a BD drive in my (as yet unbuilt) HTPC. I want everything in one box.

I'm not planning to rip anything, burn anything, play games, use 3D. It's just going to be a boring old DVD/BD player. Should I just get the cheapest drive I can find?

The cheapest ones in my chosen store are:

"Lite-On IHES212 SATA Blu-ray Combo Drive 12x Blu-ray Reader 16x DVDRW Retail Black"

And

"LG CH12LS28 12X Blu-Ray COMBO Drive"

Are all drives region-free? Do they stay region- free?

My current DVD drive made me choose my region after a certain number of plays. I think I was able to reset the firmware but it was a pain.

I'm planning to use WMC. I'm guessing I'll need separate software to play BD? Do all drives come with software? What is the preferred player software that works nicely with Win7 WMC?

Interests: HTPC, Web App authoring.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#784214 20-Mar-2013 09:04

Why not get a Blu Ray player instead?
There are several models available cheaper than those drives.

turb

881 posts

Ultimate Geek

#784224 20-Mar-2013 09:09

It's a good thought but I'm hoping to achieve one-boxness and region-freeness.

Interests: HTPC, Web App authoring.

garvani

1873 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#784245 20-Mar-2013 09:39

I cant speculate on the drives mentioned but can answer a couple of other questions. The drives won't be region free by defualt, you will need something like Anydvd HD to achieve that.
I use Powerdvd to play dvds and blurays, there are alternatives but this does everything i need. (you may get free software with your player)

CYaBro

4590 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#784272 20-Mar-2013 10:04

I use this:
http://www.dvdfab.com/passkey-lite.htm
to make region free.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

Blanch

254 posts

Ultimate Geek

#784300 20-Mar-2013 10:45

I've got the LG, make sure you get the software with it. For BluRay to work your PC needs to connect to your TV with HDMI not VGA.

Check http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=84&topicid=112495

Deev8

481 posts

Ultimate Geek

#784354 20-Mar-2013 11:54

Do all drives come with software?

I belive that most drives have bundled player software, but beware. Bundled software is usually a cut-down version of the software with various restrictions. In particular bundled player software usually does not support multi-channel audio - If you only want stereo sound that's not an issue, if you want surround sound you will need to buy fully featured player software.

It certainly can be an expensive way to play Blu-ray discs - the Blu-ray drive has a similar cost to a modestly-priced stand alone Blu-ray player, and full-featured software can double that cost.

Blanch

254 posts

Ultimate Geek

#784387 20-Mar-2013 12:45

'Bundled software is usually a cut-down version of the software with various restrictions.'

This is to encourage you to learn how to RIP your BluRay collection

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

Deev8

481 posts

Ultimate Geek

#784633 20-Mar-2013 17:57

Blanch: 'Bundled software is usually a cut-down version of the software with various restrictions.'

This is to encourage you to learn how to RIP your BluRay collection

That's the usual way around the issue, but the OP doesn't want to do that:

I'm not planning to rip anything, ... It's just going to be a boring old DVD/BD player.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#784676 20-Mar-2013 19:21

turb: It's a good thought but I'm hoping to achieve one-boxness and region-freeness.

Well Panasonic will Region Free the DVD side for free. I believe Sony comes already Region Free for DVD (the two I've had over the years did). As for Blu Ray - Amazon UK is a cheaper than NZ source of new Blu Ray discs and UK is the same Zone as NZ (Zone B) They also have a lot of discs that are Zone free. Just steer clear of US Blu Rays.