What CPU for DvD software?

[sradicator]

I have k6 350 + Voodoo3000 but I can't see well DvD with Cinemaster's software decoder.
With a faster cpu I could have good results or I must really pass to Intel ???
I have also read that many software decoders are not optimized for Amd cpu (SoftDvD is an example). Is there a software for Amd users?
Thanks!!

[gnslngr]

I don't know about AMD supported software, but I can tell you that the machines I support will not have a DVD unless the CPU is at least 450 Mhz. Not to mention at least 96MB of ram.

[rusabus]

Even the fastest CPU cant make DVD playback look as good as a good decoder card. Rather than switching CPU's, try getting one.

[drizzle]

On one of my workstations I have a Creative DVD 5x, & hardware decoder. The machine has 32mb ram & is only a Pentium 200 (non-MMX). And the video is 100% perfect.

[wirehead]

I had a 333 AMD with a Voodoo3 2000 PCI w 48 MB pc100 ram. Crummy quality. Basically it's because 3dfx doesn't make a real optimized player for the card. Others have had better luck with ATI cards because they have an optimized DVD player written specifically for that type card BY ATI. I upgraded to a 450...still no dice. So I disabled the voodoo and went back to the built-in ATI Rage Pro 4mb AGP and used the ATI DVD player...and got absolutely perfect quality. NO slowdown, ever. I can't run it any higher than 800x600 because it's only a 4 mb card, but that's fine with me so far. Eventually, according to 3dfx, they will release an optimized player for the voodoo family of cards, but until then I'm stuck switching video cards every time I want to watch a DVD.
(Note to Intel guy posting in wrong forum: You almost certainly have a hardware MPEG-2 decoder card...which means it doesn't matter WHAT kind of CPU you have. A P200 just isn't fast enough to do DVD using software decoding.)

(Another note: If you have an open PCI slot or AGP slot you could use a hardware decoder card, but per 3dfx and Hollywood Interactive, and also the vendor for the WinDVD software, hardware decoding produces faster but lower quality picture. Therefore, if you have a sufficiently hot system you should go with software decoding if at all possible)

[sradicator]

I have read that PowerDvd 1.5 and XingDvd Player 2.0 are optimized for 3dnow!.
I will try soon. (They say that work well on k6 300+...)