The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    XPS M1530 Grainy Blu Ray Playback

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by mattrose85, Oct 29, 2008.

  1. mattrose85

    mattrose85 Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Hi,
    I just received my XPS M1530 from the outlet here in the UK. So far I'm pretty happy with it, although I have had the AC adapter issue once or twice. Anyway, as I was setting the laptop up I tried playing a blu ray through Dell's media direct software. I was surprised to find that the playback was very grainy and noisy. Thinking it was the software, I installed Powerdvd 8 ultra and this also has the same problem. I've also downloaded the latest drivers for the 8600M GT and installed them but this doesn't seem to have helped at all.
    Does anyone have any ideas?

    Many thanks
     
    mattrose85, Oct 29, 2008
    #1
  2. kkl1014

    kkl1014 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    23
    Messages:
    267
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    What Blu-Ray video was it? Some movies like 300 have film grain put in by the studios.
     
    kkl1014, Oct 29, 2008
    #2
  3. mattrose85

    mattrose85 Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    The film was 21, released here not long ago. I was surprised because I'd just watched it on my PS3 and hadn't noticed the same problem at all. I can try posting a screenshot if it helps.
     
    mattrose85, Oct 29, 2008
    #3
  4. somms

    somms Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    219
    Messages:
    482
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Actually have watched that blu-ray and it looked very sharp (no grain...can't say the same about the movie ;))using WinDVD9 on my Studio17...

    Got rid of PowerDVD which failed to play either IronMan or The Happening at all. Known issue with the last couple of PowerDVD patches I found out after reading CyberMedia forums. WinDVD9 works the best w/latest blu-ray discs and haven't had any issues...
     
    somms, Oct 29, 2008
    #4
  5. yontboy

    yontboy Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    20
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    blu ray cant wait
     
    yontboy, Oct 29, 2008
    #5
  6. mattrose85

    mattrose85 Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    It's weird, like blue/green noise. I'll give windvd a try tonight and see if that's the problem. I did try my Appleseed bluray and couldn't see anything on that, but that's anime so could be hiding it.
    One thing I did find out though is that Dell's media direct software is based on powerdvd anyway so would have the same problem.
    I still think it could be a driver issue though.
     
    mattrose85, Oct 30, 2008
    #6
  7. somekevinguy

    somekevinguy Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    24
    Messages:
    351
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I put MediaDirect 4 on mine without even trying MediaDirect 3.5 and I haven't noticed any grain and it plays all the latest disks so far like IronMan etc.
     
    somekevinguy, Oct 30, 2008
    #7
  8. mattrose85

    mattrose85 Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Hmm, I hadn't checked the version of media direct that came pre-installed. Is media direct 4 available from the Dell support website?
     
    mattrose85, Oct 30, 2008
    #8
  9. somekevinguy

    somekevinguy Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    24
    Messages:
    351
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    No but it is on the web if you look hard enough.
     
    somekevinguy, Oct 31, 2008
    #9