jpadua, thanks for the info...so it is take the powerstrip presets and then tweak to the refreash rate of the tv..

If I read it right , you said that you are not using the pixel plus setting w/ your HTPC setup.  if yes I can save a lot of money if I just by the HDTV model and hopefully get the same quality output..

also another question does the pixel plus dramaticaly improve on the normal cable broadcast....

I have a RPTV toshiba HDTV w/c looks great w/ DvD but  not too good picture w/ cable reception. This one needs the dongle as it only accepts RGB thru the components input connector...

P.S. The biggest expense for the HTPC is getting a proper case so I got this one..
 
http://www.lian-li.com/product.php?action=viewPD&prdid=778&PHPSESSID=7247ff951778cc5b635aed52185b720c  

P.S. The biggest expense for the HTPC is getting a proper case so I got this one..
 
http://www.lian-li.com/product.php?action=viewPD&prdid=778&PHPSESSID=7247ff951778cc5b635aed52185b720c  

This is quite nice and how much did you get this for???

-jackryan

jack....

cost is 8K ..but it matches the pixel plus stand perfectly

Jambam,

where did you get the casing? do you have any contact info?

thanks,

-jackryan

Hi Dongkhoi, isnt the Pixelplus just great!!! anyways it depends on how far you want to go.. but I'll tell you that in a bit, for you to be able to play stutterfree DVD and use FDshow (the post processor software I use to upscale regular DVD 720x480 to 960x720) you need a fairly strong computer.  Start off with at least an Athlon XP 2000 or P4 Equivalent.  The more ram the better 256 could probably do but I'd go for 512.  For a video card, Nvidia is pretty good, but it doesnt support interlaced resolutions, so I'd go for a Radeon 9500 it about 8k I think, but you can do full 1080i with this one.  For your sound card, as long as it has a digital spdif output.  so you can use an SB Audigy.  Standard DVDrom drive, and a Decent Software DVD player.

Recommended setup:
Hardware
Athlon XP 2600 or higher (the higher the better)
Nforce2 Motherboard with Spdif output (built in Audio processor)
512mb Ram
Radeon 9500 (good for games too)
Decent DVDrom Drive(I use a liteon)
Standard Hard Drive
VGA Cable Male to Male (a little bit hard to find, but keep looking you'll find one... got mine from PC Bodega)

Software
Windows XP
Theatretek Software DVD Player
FDshow post processor (free download on the web)
Powerstrip (free)
DVD Region Killer (to enable multi region)

Your all Set! Have fun!

Jpadua,

Thanks for the info

PIXEL PLUS ROCKS Up to now, no hang ups yet.

Actually this was my alternate case but  there as one Lian li  locally available .PC Trends, Inc.
Tel.(632)727-6449,727-6142; 727-6172;
Fax.No. (632)727-6241
#7 Francisco Court
1st Street, New Manila,
Quezon City, Philippines
Website:www.pctrends.com.ph

Pc trends is the local distro for Lian-li , they only had one pc , in fact it was used as a demo , so I had to ask for a discount..

by the way, I was looking at the pic of that Lian Li Desktop case, and couldnt see any ventialtion, are there any heat issues? I'm using an Athlon XP and they are known to well heat up quicker than Intel Processors.  How many case fans are allowed? is it spaceous?

Actually the case is still w/ my dealer, just have not picked it up yet

It has 2  fans included . I am using a micro atx board and it fits just right.

My other rig is using an athlon 1600 , it gets hot but no issues so far. this is another micro atx case w/ only the psu fan as an exhuast.

I wonder if it would fit my mobo, K7vta3 ata hmm... 8k?? sana bumaba presyo.. I really want an HTPC case

If your mobo is micro atx it will fit, size . 9.6 x 9.6" square.. normally  3 pci slots lang..

Check out this case if you need.

http://www.directron.com/enlight7180.html

I was doing a lot of research on what could be avail. and this was another alternate choice. w/ cost about 2.5K ..

I think we are off topic , better we take this w/ Pm's if you want to continue further.

Yup I think this thread should continue here.
http://www.pinoydvd.com/yabbse/index.php?board=17;action=display;threadid=11574

Sorry Mr. Moderators!

jpadua,

PLEASE HELP I assembled my PC but the bad thing is I didn't follow your advice on the spec of an HTPC. My setup are as follows:

AMD Athlon 2.4 XP Copper Cool
Asus A7V8X 8X gp kt400 DDR
INNO3D GF4 MX440SE 64MB DDR TV
VOLCANO 6 CU+ FAN
VGA EXTENSION CABLE 6 FT.
SEAGATE 40 GIG 5400RPM
SAMSUNG COMBO 48/24/48CDRW/16X
256MB PC333 DDR

Now, the installation of the windows XP worked fine with some visible wavy lines, then when the windows was loading after the installation, it went blank.

Hindi ba kaya ng set-up ko yung resolution na kailangan ng pixelplus? the screen prompted that the pc set up resolution is set to low and asked whether to adjust the resolution to fit the current monitor (pixelplus). When we clicked yes it went blank.

Will increasing the RAM from 256 to 512 or more will do the trick? Masyado na kasing mahal kung bibili pa ako ng Raedeon na video card worth P8k right? Hindi ba enough yung videocard ko or yung setup ko What should I do to make it work without incurring additional cost aside from increasing the RAM

I hope you can help me and also the other guru out there.

Thanks

Hi, I've read a couple of threads regarding the Pixel Plus, and I'd like to share my thoughts.  I own a 29" Pixelplus. Got it about a month ago.  I don't have any problems with it so far and I should say the picture quality is really great. There are a lot of connections and the great thing about it is that there are 3 component Video Inputs, 1 which has regular component video and 2 others for progressive scan input.  2 svideo connectors (one at the back and one on the side) and the greatest connector of all the RGB/VGA connector.

I have tried all the connections, and the HD connectors (progressive scan) is the best.  

Pixel Plus has a built in feature called Natural Digital Motion, which makes any video signal (assuming its a clean one) well... true to life! but like I said it depends on the signal.  One draw back is that  you may only use this with the regular component, s-video, and composite inputs, but I should say that this is a great way to watch your over DVD's again to experience it in a different way. To give an example, my sister freaked out when she saw me watching Attack of the Clones on DNM (Digital Natural Motion) hairs standing on end... becuase the movement on the screen looked so real especially digitally animated characters like yoda. It's like movie is live and actually happening and you are looking through a glass window (drool).

The HD inputs (progressive scan) is another story.  I have never seen anything so sharp. I have set up my HTPC with a direct connection to the Pixelplus Via VGA connector and its pixel perfect. Since I have the ability to totally tweek my DVD player (software and filters) I am able to achieve the best possible picture quality I could possibly imagine. I did a direct comparison, using 2 players with the same DVD.  Looking at the regular DVD is already pretty good, but it suddenly looks blurred once you compare it to an HTPC using the VGA connector. All the little details, lines, facial marks, wrinkles on skin are very visible.  Down to the grains of sand in Gladiator.  This absolutely the best way to watch DVDs.  

Final thoughts.
DNM is a great way to watch your DVD's over again.  It makes everything life like, pretty freaky the first time you see it, but you'll actually enjoy it! imagine watching saving private ryan, pearlharbor, enemy at the gates... oooh.  For film purists, this might not be for them, cause it takes out the film effect.  Everything looks like DV, but hey  I think it's cool.  By the way DNM only works when pixelplus is selected on the setup menu.  Pixelplus is great but I have to admit you do see some stairstepping on edges, shimmer where there is disctinct contrast, but its not as irritating as you'd think.  Watching using the HD/VGA connection is still the best if you want to see DVD's in all its glory especially Superbit titles (namely 5Th element!!!) Its the sharpest you'd ever see. (this also depends on your player, I'm using an HTPC so that may also attribute to the excellent picture quality)

Oh and one more thing, when you select widescreen mode on the TV, you will see a white line stretching across from left to right.  This is not a defect and according to philips that there is no way to remove this.
(this is the only thing I dont like about it) Other than that, I think my purchase was an excellent choice and I have no regrets.

I just wanted to share what I think, being a Pixelplus User, I'd want others to know what its like.

Thanks! post any questions if you want to know more about my experiences with this TV.

Hi Im planning to buy Pixel Plus instead of the HDTV 29" Philips, can you please clarify something for me.  I would really appreciate it.  

If I wanted to take advantage of the Digital Natural Motion does it mean the I have to plug in my input connector to a specific A/V connection you mentioned, which is the regular component, s-video, and composite inputs.  Does it also means that if I do that I would not be able to use the pixel plus feature and progressive scan feature and vice versa?

Am I correct in assuming that you can only choose one from these features.  Its either you go for DNM or Pixel Plus or Progressive Scan?  Is that accurate?

Will I be able to connect my DVD unit to all three A/V inputs so I can conviniently switch to a specific input to take advantage of their respective features?

Finally which feature do you recommend I used, thanks!  

by the way, I was looking at the pic of that Lian Li Desktop case, and couldnt see any ventialtion, are there any heat issues? I'm using an Athlon XP and they are known to well heat up quicker than Intel Processors.  How many case fans are allowed? is it spaceous?

Have you seen the Thermaltake full tower case?  I'd choose that over the Lian Li if looks and ventilation are my main concerns.  Saw it at PC Express. Around 7T.

'just got my new 29" pixel plus and all i can say is i am very happy with it. baka matagalan bago magpalit ulit ng tv.

jpadua, can you please pm me the service codes, thank you.

JPadua thank you very much for the help.  It's now clearer to me.  So if  I used the progressive scan input for my progressive scan DVD player I would not be able to take advantage of DNM and vice versa.  

The DNM demo is what convinced me to get Pixel plus in the first place and also the progressive scan feature of the DVD player which comes with the TV for free helps in convincing me too, unfortunately you can't use both of them at the same time pala.  I saw Charlie's Angels being played with the DNM turned on and the picture was indeed awesome. It's really like watching it live but it does take away that movie quality away from the film.  

One final question, if I would choose to use my progressive scan feature on my DVD player instead of DNM is it worth it to get this TV at all instead of the cheaper one which also is HDTV and progressive scan capable?  Will it make a difference at all in term os clarity?

Actually, I also had that in mind before, why get the pixel plus over the cheaper HD only Philips, well, the older HDs  had problems, and some even had bad reviews for the TV consistently having problems, but in anycase, I wanted to be sure, so I got the more expensive pixelplus.. most of the old issues with their previous HDTVS are fixed, plus it has Awsome Reviews... If you really didnt need DNM and just went for HD, if you could find a cheaper HD only TV dont go for Philips.  But then again, most HD tvs na hindi philips I know of are all projection, LCD and Plasma na and no CRT.

Its nice to have the option of DNM just to impress people visitors sa bahay or to simply enjoy DVDs a whole new different way... Imagine watching Saving Private ryan... its almost like watching CNN live! hehehe anyway this TV is definately cool.

I only have a few complaints.. minor lang and sana lang Philips addressed them before releasing the Pixel Plus

1. separate Progrogressive and non Progressive inputs.
it would be nice if all the component inputs, can detect wether its standard or progressive signal so you dont need to plug your progressive scan DVD to two inputs when switching from progressive to non progressive.
(I have this problem when playing PS2 games that switch to progressive, I have to interchange inputs pa at the back, so I had to get a video switcher pa)

2. Vertical Squeeze- when you do a vertical squeeze there is a white line on the top of the sqeezed picture.
Even the old HDTVs of philips had these, it says in the manual that the TV is really like that and not a defect.  But I do find it irritating, I Dont use vertical squeeze.

I think thats it! the rest.. champion TV na talaga toh.
DNM is really awsome and no other TV can do it.

I have 2 players.. HTPC and PS2
HTPC uses the HD input (no DNM) super sharp picture
PS2 uses standard component.  DVD quality is good tapos naka DNM ako.

So depending on my mood, I can choose HD or DNM besides... DNM brings standard DVD resolution close to HD too so its also pretty sharp!  

Hi!  I have noticed in my friend's Pixel Plus that when we watch cable TV the edges of pictures aren't as sharp and refined.  Is this because Pixel Plus was made for HD Broadcasts and not compatible with our present analog cable signals here?  

jpadua,

   Im looking for a new TV. Im looking at the 34" Akira or TCL but if I go for Philips most probably I will be getting a 29" only. Based from your explanation do I have to get a Pixel Plus model if it is only for HDTV? How do you explain about the DRC of Sony compared to Philips and when and how do you use these features? Thanks

Levi