Should i persevere with my system?

[daula]

Recently installed the LG GGW-H20L on my somewhat aging system along with the (updated) cyberlink software included. After the adviser gave me the bad news i found AnyDVD-HD and downloaded the latest trial version. The results:
-I am getting occasional system freezes and have to cold reboot
-I can rip an HD DVD
-Power DVD will not play either BD or HD giving the message that the graphics driver is not up to it (but have installed the latest). The result is the same trying to play from disk or iso file.

I am aware that my system is underspec but also that other users on the forum seem to be able to get by similarly. My question is - should i continue to look for a problem/workaround or is it likely that my system will not cope?

Thanks in advance

Specs are:

Processor : Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.20GHz
System Memory : 1024 MB
Operating System : Windows XP Service Pack 3
Graphics Card : RADEON 9800 XT Unknown
__dwItemID=1301__ : Adapter Compatibility: ATI Technologies Inc.
__dwItemID=1302__ : VideoProcessor: ATI Radeon Graphics Processor AGP (0x4E4A)
Graphics card video memory : 256 MB
Graphics Card Driver : 8.561.0.0 No
__dwItemID=1501__ : 2D Driver=6.14.10.6891
Blu-ray Disc Drive : [G:] HL-DT-ST BD-RE GGW-H20L Yes
Software Player : PowerDVD 7.3.4617.0 Yes
Video Connection Type : Analog Yes
Program version : 1.0.1801.0

[Adbear]

Your graphics card is way to old, try updating it, you can buy ATI 3650's that are AGP, I've used one on an old P4 and it played back pretty much every Blu-ray I threw at it

[DrinkLyeAndDie]

Your CPU is the bare minimum to even qualify for playing back high def content for PowerDVD. Your memory does pass but IMHO 1 GB is too low these days. Your videocard is below the minimum specs which means it will offload everything involved in decoding onto your CPU which, as already noted, is the bare minimum. PowerDVD is saying no because your videocard is too old. Your experience with playback is not going to be a pretty one if if PowerDVD did let you use it.

As Adbear noted, upgrade your videocard to a 3xxx series of the ATI Radeon HD cards. You will then be able to have the card handle decoding the content rather than dumping it all on your older CPU. Personally, I'd also increase the amount of RAM, as well, if possible.

[daula]

Thanks DLAD and Adbear - just what i needed to confirm. Great stuff.

[mike_r]

You can also see some more info here

Upgrading an older Home Theater PC to Blu-ray (http://forum.slysoft.com/showthread.php?t=20406&highlight=older)