Needs the lowdown

[BootlegUsher]

So I will be building a new PC and one of the things I would like to do with it is send one end of an HDMI cable from my 5850 and the other to my 52" HDTV for blue ray movies. I have two questions:

1. As far as HDMI cables go, I understand that there are different data rates and whatnot, and if you cheap out you will lose quality. However, I don't want to just go and buy the best cable in the store because it might be more then I actually need, and is seriously expensive. So, to play blue ray movies in all their glory, what kind of HDMI cable should I get? What specifications do I need?

2. This drive seems like the cheapest way to watch blueray ever: LiteOn 4x Internal Blu-ray Disc Reader, SATA, Black at Memory Express Computers

Now it says 4X but I have no idea what X speed I need for modern blue rays. Will this drive do the job? What about software?

[johnnyblazzwa]

from what i've read cheaper hdmi cables pretty much perform like expensive ones, just make sure its hdmi 1.3

i have read that length can effect performance though

expert's feel free to correct me if i'm wrong

[SugarJ]

johnny is correct. You need a minimum of HDMI 1.3 to pass 1080p signals. As for playing your bluerays, be aware that there are only a couple of programs that will do it, but it looks like that drive has PowerDVD packaged with it.

As for the cable, here's one I've bought before and will vouch that it passes 1080p. A whole 12.99. NCIX.com - Buy ION Cables HDMI 10FT V1.3 Digital Video Cable - HDMI1.3-MM-10 In Canada.

If you need longer ones, check out monoprice. HDMI Cable

[BootlegUsher]

So I need 1.3, out of curiosity what version is the most up to date?

[Arinoth]

1.3 is the latest version as 1.4 has not yet hit the markets and has some extra features more devices wont have for at least half a year or a year to come too.

Also when you hook up your pc to your tv make sure to either set your tv to just scan (so it will adjust the picture so it wont lose anything since tvs have less pixels in then monitors) or just manually change it in the graphics settings with nvidia or ati otherwise you will wonder why you're losing some of your picture (like part of the taskbar or the top of your maximized window)

[BootlegUsher]

Is it safe to say that Monster cables for 90 bucks are a rip off?

[Spikemaul]

Originally Posted by BootlegUsher

Is it safe to say that Monster cables for 90 bucks are a rip off?

Yes Indeed!!! Monster Ripoff

[Arinoth]

They are a giant rip off and hell they are marked up about at least 150-175% at most electronics store too, its where they make a lot of their profit as core units such as tvs they dont make as much as they used to.

[jokers_greg]

any 1.3HDMI cable will do, you won't tell the difference. How long of a cable are you looking at?

[BootlegUsher]

8-10 feet.

[myleftnut]

At 8-10 feet, most decent hdmi 1.3 cables at 28 AWG will do. If you go longer runs, you might want to get slightly thicker cables.