Worth updating to PDVD8? or some other solution? [Archive]

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TM2-Megatron

29th September 2008, 20:50

Finally purchased a BD-ROM drive for my computer this week (LG's GGC-H20L BD/HD-DVD combo), and it came with PowerDVD (Standard, I think) 7.3. It's limited to 2-channel, anyway; though I don't care so much about that right now because I only have 2 speakers connected to my computer and I'm not planning to feed anything through to my TV system in the immediate future.

What I'm wondering is whether or not you guys feel it's worth the upgrade cost ($84.95, apparently) to move to PowerDVD 8? Or is there other playback software that's a better option than PowerDVD?

Though I haven't ever spent that much time in the HD part of the forum (though I did purchase AnyDVD HD quite a while ago, about a week before the pricing switched to Euros), I've gotten the impression that playback of HD material is still a bit of a disaster... which I find odd, given its now been around quite a while.

Mostly I'm looking forward to playing around with some of the ripped footage in my editors, though, just to see what how easy it is to do. I am looking forward to watching Iron Man tomorrow, though, so hopefully I don't have any issues with it like those described in the Iron Man BD thread on this board.

Any opinions are appreciated, thanks.

SamuriHL

29th September 2008, 21:05

danielhu

29th September 2008, 23:18

TM2-Megatron

11th October 2008, 02:09

No, IMO, it's not worth upgrading to 8. PowerDVD Ultra 7 is the best release. Not the one that comes with drives (the OEM version) but the full retail version. Although, if you don't care about sound then I guess the OEM version is ok. In any case, I own 8 and have removed it and put 7 back on. That should tell you a lot.

Hmm... just out of curiousity, is there any way to purchase an upgraded serial # from Cyberlink at this point to go from the 2CH that came with my drive to the full 6CH version? The only option I get within PDVD itself is upgrading to version 8. But the activation section tells me I can purchase upgraded serial numbers to add features to my version... but it doesn't say where.

And will the 2CH version allow you to use SPDIF output to decode externally?

Webslinger

11th October 2008, 02:10

PowerDVD Ultra 7 is the best release.

Can people actually buy Powerdvd 7 Ultra on Cyberlink's website?

Bigrick

11th October 2008, 07:27

I installed both PowerDVD 7.3 3319a and latest PowerDVD 8.0, Because 7.3 doesn't work on some new titles from Universal, Paramount, Lionsgate, Warner, Fox, DreamWorks. You will need both version to watch every Blu-Ray titles.

that is completly untrue you do not need both version. I am using 7.3 with the latest update and i play any movie bluray or HDDVD i also have 8 but i uninstalled it for now the version your using for 7.3 is almost a year old and also the latest version that will play from a folder. if you rip your movies to ISO format you wont need to worry about which plays and which doesnt

Bigrick

11th October 2008, 07:28

Can people actually buy Powerdvd 7 Ultra on Cyberlink's website?

not on the cyberlink website but i did see somewhere on another that the selling it for like $30 but that was a few weeks ago and i cant find it now

Adbear

11th October 2008, 08:17

that is completly untrue you do not need both version. I am using 7.3 with the latest update and i play any movie bluray or HDDVD i also have 8 but i uninstalled it for now the version your using for 7.3 is almost a year old and also the latest version that will play from a folder. if you rip your movies to ISO format you wont need to worry about which plays and which doesnt
I do find that with some that I have to switch between versions of 7.3 to get them to work. My ISO's of Heroes season 1 won't work in 4407, but will in 3319a and don't want to play in 8 at all from 1830 onwards

SamuriHL

11th October 2008, 08:49

Hmm... just out of curiousity, is there any way to purchase an upgraded serial # from Cyberlink at this point to go from the 2CH that came with my drive to the full 6CH version? The only option I get within PDVD itself is upgrading to version 8. But the activation section tells me I can purchase upgraded serial numbers to add features to my version... but it doesn't say where.

And will the 2CH version allow you to use SPDIF output to decode externally?

I've always had the retail version so I couldn't answer your questions on 2ch. As for buying an upgrade, I don't think Cyberlink is selling it anymore which is a shame. They really should be. It's a far better product than 8.

SamuriHL

11th October 2008, 08:50

Can people actually buy Powerdvd 7 Ultra on Cyberlink's website?

Not that I'm aware of, no.

SamuriHL

11th October 2008, 08:51

I do find that with some that I have to switch between versions of 7.3 to get them to work. My ISO's of Heroes season 1 won't work in 4407, but will in 3319a and don't want to play in 8 at all from 1830 onwards

My Heroes season 1 plays in all versions of 7. Oh, right, cause they're HD DVD. Imagine that. :D

Bigrick

11th October 2008, 09:46

I do find that with some that I have to switch between versions of 7.3 to get them to work. My ISO's of Heroes season 1 won't work in 4407, but will in 3319a and don't want to play in 8 at all from 1830 onwards

really i also have heros season 1 HDDVD i was watching it over again before the new season started and it played fine in the newest 7.3 for me

SamuriHL

11th October 2008, 10:19

really i also have heros season 1 HDDVD i was watching it over again before the new season started and it played fine in the newest 7.3 for me

He was referring to the BD version, obviously.

Bigrick

11th October 2008, 10:29

He was referring to the BD version, obviously.

wow i didnt even realize they released it on bluray ill have to check into it since im trying to replace all my HDDVDs next step is the ultimate Matrix due out on tuesday 7 disc set , i cant wait and then i just have happy gilmore and billy madison

SamuriHL

11th October 2008, 10:35

It came out in August when season 2 was released. I didn't bother buying season 2 as I didn't like it. Season 3 so far has been pretty good. In any case, I'm not replacing my HD DVD's. I see no need.

Bigrick

11th October 2008, 10:46

It came out in August when season 2 was released. I didn't bother buying season 2 as I didn't like it. Season 3 so far has been pretty good. In any case, I'm not replacing my HD DVD's. I see no need.

season 2 i bought on regular dvd because it wasnt worth the buy on bluray especially since its so short cause of the strike back then and i agree the 3rd season has been great especially the last episode lets just hopes theres not another strike

BDMinus

11th October 2008, 12:38

The latest patch for the oem powerdvd 7 that comes with the LG drives brings it up to 4407 and 6 channel audio so its just as good as 7.3 retail unless you really want those extra 2 channels for 8 channel audio.

http://www.cyberlink.com/multi/download/patches_112_ENU.html

Seems Samsung PC owners are getting 6 channel audio too. maybe these companies are getting complaints from customers about the 2 channel audio or something.

TM2-Megatron

11th October 2008, 13:10

The latest patch for the oem powerdvd 7 that comes with the LG drives brings it up to 4407 and 6 channel audio so its just as good as 7.3 retail unless you really want those extra 2 channels for 8 channel audio.

http://www.cyberlink.com/multi/download/patches_112_ENU.html

That's great; thanks a lot for pointing that out. It's weird that PowerDVD didn't tell me that update was there, considering it did notify me about an update to build 4102 when I installed it last week. Although it does looks like that update came out just at the end of last month.