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    Internal SATA Blu-ray drive enclosed to USB 2.0? And resolution from PC to HDTV...

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by techNOguy, Jun 30, 2008.

  1. techNOguy

    techNOguy Notebook Consultant

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    I'm thinking about getting an internal 5.25" SATA Blu-Ray drive. Can I enclose it using a SATA 5.25" USB 2.0 enclosure and hook it up that way to my laptop? Would it work properly?

    Also, I don't have an HDTV yet but I plan on getting a 1080p sometime in the future. When I do, could I hook up the HDTV through my laptop's HDMI port (8600m GT, 1280x800) to use the blu-ray drive and would there be full 1080p on my HDTV (or would it be limited to my laptop's resolution)?
     
    techNOguy, Jun 30, 2008
    #1
  2. purplegreendave

    purplegreendave Has a notebook.

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    I'm not sure a USB cable can deliver sufficient bandwidth for full HD signal (ie 1080p/Bl -Ray).
    However, you should have no probs using a higher res. on your tv.
     
    purplegreendave, Jun 30, 2008
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  3. TheRealFireblade

    TheRealFireblade Notebook Consultant

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    Q1: That's exactly what I've done.

    I bought myself a LG GGC-H20L SATA (Blu-Ray + HD-DVD reader + DVD±RW combo), and stuck it in a 5.25" AC Ryan 'AluBox' (model # ACR-HD52810. IDE/SATA. USB 2.0/eSATA).
    I connect it to my XPS M1730 via an AC Ryan 2-port eSATA ExpressCard - which I got with my AC Ryan eSATA + AluBox Kit for Notebooks (model # ACR-HD52995).


    Can you tell I like AC Ryan gear :p
    Needless to say... I also have their 3.5" 'AluBox' (IDE/SATA. USB 2.0/eSATA. Model # ACR-HD50138) :D
    And of course with the 2-port ExpressCard... I can have both my 3.5" and 5.25" enclosures, connected at the same time ;)


    Q2: Buy yourself a HDMI - HDMI cable, of suitable length, and you'll be able to watch DVD's in full HD :cool:
     
    TheRealFireblade, Jul 1, 2008
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  4. Rogamand

    Rogamand Newbie

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    I too would like to know if this can be done with a generic USB 2.0 enclosure, Thanks to TheRealFireblade for your input but e-sata is a whole different kettle of fish to USB 2.0.
    Lacie produce a USB2.0/fire wire external blu-ray drive, see here http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?pid=11054
    The video/graphics card requirements for playback are pretty high so I'm not sure how you would go using it to play movies via your notebook.
    Of course putting a drive into a sata case with USB 2.0 interface to your computer would be much cheaper if it can be done effectively. Even if it couldn't play back blu-ray movies I'd like to do it to archive my own video files on blu-ray disks.
     
    Rogamand, Jul 10, 2008
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  5. anibap

    anibap Newbie

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    Hi

    Can you let me know if you are able to watch Blu ray of HD DVD movies properly using the setup you described?

    I have HP laptop and would like to try something like that but not sue if USB is good for smooth playback for BR movies

    Thanks

    Ani

     
    anibap, Jul 21, 2008
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