3D Rig

Takaharu · Sep 12, 2011, 08:22 AM

I'm going to be building a replacement media centre PC to replace the dead one for my parents. It doesn't need to have any butch components, as long as it can play 3D films without lag.
I'm thinking of basing the system around the FM1 processor, probably the 3850 because it's only a few pounds more than the 3650. My concern, however, is that I've had no experience with AMD's 3D capabilities. Does it have any? Is it easy to set up? Does Nvidia do it better? Is there any third-party software involved?

The Blu-Ray drive from the previous system can easily be salvaged, as can the harddrive and sound card. I don't know what's dead out of the motherboard, processor or CPU (AM2 series), though I'd stake money on it not being the RAM.

I can choose the components well enough; I'm basically after answers regarding AMD's capabilities with 3D Blu-Ray playback.

***Veridian3*** · Sep 12, 2011, 12:55 PM

What display are you going to use or is that still to be decided?

Takaharu · Sep 12, 2011, 01:21 PM

It's an LG LG 32LW450U TV; passive 3D, not active.

Liqourice · Sep 13, 2011, 01:43 AM

After about 9 months of waiting it finally works as it should. I watch 3D movies perfectly now with an AMD system using PowerDVD 10 to play 3D BluRay movies.

I'm using a Samsung LED TV with active shutters though, but I gather it should work as well with passive as well. You should check with both the AMD driver and the 3D playback software if your TV is supported.

I don't know for sure what the minimum hardware configuration you need is. I'm using an Athlon II X2 240e and a HD6850. My gfx card is way overkill though, but that was the first card avaliable with HDMI 1.4a from AMD and I couldn't wait for a cheaper one.

Configuration wise there isn't much you need to do really. Getting 3D to work isn't hard at all, it wasn't for me. Only big problem I had was that the driver caused the screen size to become to small and left an ugly black border until the 11.7 driver was released. Now everything should work just out of the box more or less. I had some smaller issues in the beginning that was due to PowerDVD not fully supporting the hardware and my TV needing a firmware upgrade but that was fixed within a few weeks after I built the system. Finding out the causes were harder.

You need a third party player though. PowerDVD10 works fine, 11 should but I haven't tried it. Don't know about TotalMedia Theatre, it states that it's supposed to work.

So, the only uncertain item here is probably if your TV is fully supported or not.

Judas · Sep 13, 2011, 04:42 PM

Seems to me the it's funny how it's worked out.. but only the ODD versions of PowerDVD seem to be the least problematic..... powerdvd 5... 7 ... 9.... 11 have all been 100% flawless for me (aside from the blu-ray/hd-dvd splitting stupidity of powerDVD 7 which was later updated and resolved 100%)

As for what is needed.... I recently setup a machine that was using the lowest end HD5xxx low profile card, and it spit out 3D blu-ray just fine...

And i've used the most recent ATI intergrated video on a motherboard which also did the 3D blu-ray without a hitch using powerdvd 11 ultra

Takaharu · Sep 13, 2011, 08:00 PM

If integrated works then I'm fine with that.
The TV's already been tested to work perfectly with any 3D input; active passive or (I think it was) interlaced. PowerDVD 11 will be used for playback.

I've picked a 3850, Biostar mATX board (getting good reviews about them), mATX case and G-Skill 1600MHz RAM. That'll probably go with a Corsair 430W if the current power supply (of which I have forgotten the details) is a cheap brand. It'll use on-board graphics.

Judas · Sep 13, 2011, 11:33 PM

just make sure you can stick a x16 pci-ex card in it if need be.....

Sep 12, 2011, 08:22 AM	#1
Takaharu I can fart in 7 languages Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: England, UK Posts: 1,850 Rep Power: 113 System Specs	3D Rig I'm going to be building a replacement media centre PC to replace the dead one for my parents. It doesn't need to have any butch components, as long as it can play 3D films without lag. I'm thinking of basing the system around the FM1 processor, probably the 3850 because it's only a few pounds more than the 3650. My concern, however, is that I've had no experience with AMD's 3D capabilities. Does it have any? Is it easy to set up? Does Nvidia do it better? Is there any third-party software involved? The Blu-Ray drive from the previous system can easily be salvaged, as can the harddrive and sound card. I don't know what's dead out of the motherboard, processor or CPU (AM2 series), though I'd stake money on it not being the RAM. I can choose the components well enough; I'm basically after answers regarding AMD's capabilities with 3D Blu-Ray playback. __________________ I don't get paid to know the answer, therefore I'm far more likely to give you a straight and honest answer. Mods Rig, Box Mods Rig, Folding details

Sep 12, 2011, 12:55 PM	#2
*Veridian3* Administrator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Cloaked Posts: 5,028 Rep Power: 181	Re: 3D Rig What display are you going to use or is that still to be decided?

Sep 12, 2011, 01:21 PM	Thread Starter #3
Takaharu I can fart in 7 languages Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: England, UK Posts: 1,850 Rep Power: 113 System Specs	Re: 3D Rig It's an LG LG 32LW450U TV; passive 3D, not active. __________________ I don't get paid to know the answer, therefore I'm far more likely to give you a straight and honest answer. Mods Rig, Box Mods Rig, Folding details

Sep 13, 2011, 01:43 AM	#4
Liqourice HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Stockholm Posts: 1,702 Rep Power: 98 System Specs	Re: 3D Rig After about 9 months of waiting it finally works as it should. I watch 3D movies perfectly now with an AMD system using PowerDVD 10 to play 3D BluRay movies. I'm using a Samsung LED TV with active shutters though, but I gather it should work as well with passive as well. You should check with both the AMD driver and the 3D playback software if your TV is supported. I don't know for sure what the minimum hardware configuration you need is. I'm using an Athlon II X2 240e and a HD6850. My gfx card is way overkill though, but that was the first card avaliable with HDMI 1.4a from AMD and I couldn't wait for a cheaper one. Configuration wise there isn't much you need to do really. Getting 3D to work isn't hard at all, it wasn't for me. Only big problem I had was that the driver caused the screen size to become to small and left an ugly black border until the 11.7 driver was released. Now everything should work just out of the box more or less. I had some smaller issues in the beginning that was due to PowerDVD not fully supporting the hardware and my TV needing a firmware upgrade but that was fixed within a few weeks after I built the system. Finding out the causes were harder. You need a third party player though. PowerDVD10 works fine, 11 should but I haven't tried it. Don't know about TotalMedia Theatre, it states that it's supposed to work. So, the only uncertain item here is probably if your TV is fully supported or not.

Sep 13, 2011, 08:00 PM	Thread Starter #6
Takaharu I can fart in 7 languages Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: England, UK Posts: 1,850 Rep Power: 113 System Specs	Re: 3D Rig If integrated works then I'm fine with that. The TV's already been tested to work perfectly with any 3D input; active passive or (I think it was) interlaced. PowerDVD 11 will be used for playback. I've picked a 3850, Biostar mATX board (getting good reviews about them), mATX case and G-Skill 1600MHz RAM. That'll probably go with a Corsair 430W if the current power supply (of which I have forgotten the details) is a cheap brand. It'll use on-board graphics. __________________ I don't get paid to know the answer, therefore I'm far more likely to give you a straight and honest answer. Mods Rig, Box Mods Rig, Folding details