3D BluRay/TV Content and HTPCs

[Orbs]

Hi. I'm building an HTPC and am trying to be somewhat future-proof (I know, I know...)

If I want to be prepared for 3D BluRay support, are there any current BluRay drives that currently support 3D media?

Do the Radeon 5570 graphics cards handle 3D support (or is the graphics card not an issue so long as the refresh rate is sufficiently high)?

Finally, will CableCard tuners support 3D content when 3D broadcast is enabled or will new tuners be required?

Thanks,
Jared

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

I think 3D requires alot of bandwidth and the infrastructure lines here in the USA are not ready for 3D yet. I may be wrong though.

 

[ViRGE]

Ohh, good question. I know AMD has mentioned they'll support 3D BluRay on the 5000 series, but I don't think they've said what if any models will not work. I would think a 5570 would work since UVD is more than powerful enough (it can do 2 1080P streams already), but I don't believe anyone has made any promises yet.

As for BluRay drives, there has been very little chatter. 3D BluRay requires a higher bitrate, but all current PC BluRay drives are already multispeed, so it shouldn't be an issue.

 

[Modelworks]

I don't know of any pc drives that support 3d yet. Cablecard could technically support 3d, it is just a higher bitrate stream, but its up to the cable companies if it will and how it will be implemented.

I can say the USA is a bit behind in 3D tv broadcast. Other countries already have 3d channels being broadcast on satellites.

http://www.lyngsat.com/3d/index.html

http://www.hd-1.tv/

 

[dev0lution]

2x Blu-ray drives are all you need for 3D media along with a 3D capable sw player like Cyberlink PowerDVD 10 Ultra, so you're probably good with a decent drive that's out now.