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Would DVD-Video work on Pentium 75 mhz if I put in a mpeg2 video card
- Thread starter mkvcf1985
- Start date
Chuck(G)
25k Member
I wouldn't try it without a hardware decoder card.
krebizfan
Veteran Member
I don't know about all decoder cards but the ones I had only worked with a specific software package that came with the card. They also were unable to handle DVDs made around 2000 and later. Even with early DVDs, the results were often choppy. You will need an absolutely clean boot to have a chance.
You might have the most success with whichever was the last video card to work with Pentium-I but had its own decoder on the video card.
You might have the most success with whichever was the last video card to work with Pentium-I but had its own decoder on the video card.
Rick Ethridge
Veteran Member
It's very unlikely your plans will succeed. I have a 233MMX system with a DXR-3 decoder that barely plays fluid video.
I'm not quite sure I understand any concern but no I don't believe it will be fast enough to decode DVDs with just the CPU alone. As mentioned, a lot of early dvd drives needed a decoder card to offload the decryption to it's own processor. Just like a video accelerator card/GPU vs the 1/2fps the CPU can handle doing 3d graphics.
Anonymous Coward
Veteran Member
I've heard of people using video stand alone PCI MPEG2 decoders on 486 systems to play DVDs. As long as your decoder is 100% hardware (not just providing a minor assist) I don't see why it shouldn't work.
From what I understand the "MPEG2 decoders" built into many video cards in the 90s were pretty much rubbish.
I have never personally tried any of this (no reason to), so of course I provide no guarantees it will work.
From what I understand the "MPEG2 decoders" built into many video cards in the 90s were pretty much rubbish.
I have never personally tried any of this (no reason to), so of course I provide no guarantees it will work.
krebizfan
Veteran Member
I checked the manual for my 1997 DVD and related Mpact! decoder card. The only restriction I see is that it requires the 13MB DMA mode (and PIO Mode 3) for the DVD. The card only hooked up to a limited range of video cards (S3 Virge and ATI Rage II). Other decoder cards only worked with certain video cards. Make sure to have decoder card, video card, and the specific cable for joining them.
I uninstalled it because later DVDs would not work with the card and included player software. But if you can track down a first pressing of Eraser (which was commonly shipped with these setups as a demonstration DVD), you will have the best chance of seeing it work.
I think the Rage 128 DVD had a similar decoder chip. Other than the convenience of not needing a second card and special cable, the ATI card worked the same as the combined cards and won't handle DVDs made to changed later standards.
I uninstalled it because later DVDs would not work with the card and included player software. But if you can track down a first pressing of Eraser (which was commonly shipped with these setups as a demonstration DVD), you will have the best chance of seeing it work.
I think the Rage 128 DVD had a similar decoder chip. Other than the convenience of not needing a second card and special cable, the ATI card worked the same as the combined cards and won't handle DVDs made to changed later standards.
RWallmow
Veteran Member
As long as the IDE bus can transfer data fast enough, I would think you should be able to use one of the Creative labs DXR2 or DXR3 Decoders or one of the Sigma RealMagic Decoders with a P75.
Those decoder cards do ALL the Audio/Video decoding, the PC is just really responsible for getting the data off the DVD drive, which a P75 SHOULD be able to do, assuming a PCI connected IDE controller (onboard from P75 era MAY or MAY NOT be up to the task, but there's lots of Win9x supported PCI ATA66-133 cards on the market).
Those decoder cards do ALL the Audio/Video decoding, the PC is just really responsible for getting the data off the DVD drive, which a P75 SHOULD be able to do, assuming a PCI connected IDE controller (onboard from P75 era MAY or MAY NOT be up to the task, but there's lots of Win9x supported PCI ATA66-133 cards on the market).
Trixter
Veteran Member
There is no software player that will work as a P75 is simply not fast enough. The ATI 128 is not a full MPEG-2 decoder either so that also won't work. You need a full MPEG-2 decoder (which WILL work) like the Sigma RealMagic card. And hey, someone is selling theirs here: http://www.vintage-computer.com/vcf...igns-Hollywood-RealMagic-DVD-Decoder-PCI-card
angel_grig
Experienced Member
The creative dxr2 card worked fine into my Cyrix 133 pc when I used it some years ago.The good thing about the dxr2 card is that you need only a typical vga cable (to connect the dxr2 card with your vga card).The dxr3 card needs a special cable which usually is not provided with these cards on ebay.
RWallmow
Veteran Member
Yeah, that's me selling that, I was going to post a link over here too, got side tracked ;-)