Z1/Z2 3D Support Questions and Ramblings

I started down the road of getting custom drivers on the Z1 because I wanted to use my computer to watch 3D Blu-ray with a cheap DLP projector. I was quite successful, at first I used some of the community hybrid drivers and downloaded the nVidia 3D Vision emitter drivers, now I have the BIOS hack and I use whatever the latest nVidia drivers are plus my simple INF mod to get 3D Vision support. In theory I should also be able to use nVidia 3DTV play with the unsupported display hack to get my computer to drive any new 3DTV.

On a side note, I don't use the big commercial software to play the 3D movies, I am using AnyDVD HD and StereoScopic player. SS player is great because it not only supports playback of SSIF files but it will play on pretty much any display technology, I dream of setting up a dual passive polarized projection system. With SS player it is possible.

I currently have the Acer h5360 720P DLP projector, it is good but I am looking to upgrade to an Optima HD33 so I can watch 3D in 1080P. Since I have two 3D Vision emitters I won't need to buy the 3DTV play software, I will need some new glasses. I am also interested in getting one of the new Sony 3D HMDs. I really don't need an HMD but it is just so cool. Like I said before I should be able to get both of these working using the EDID hack for nVidia 3DTV Play.

So that is all cool, and I'm pretty psyched about it. Now about the Z2, I still kind of want one, and I've heard that the Intel HD3000 supports HDMI 1.4a 3D frame packed output. It is also an advertised feature of the ATI graphics in the PMD... but does this work? Has anyone used ATI's 3DTV out, does anyone know if I can just do it with the HD3000 and skip the PMD all together. I still may end up getting my Z2 from conics.net and if I end up doing that I probably won't be buying the PMD.

I am interested in hearing success or failure stories about HDMI 3D frame packed output from the Intel HD3000 (on any computer) and the PMD on the Z2. Any links or further info about playing 3D with Intel HD3000, I can't remember where I read it but I am sure that I did.

Granted if I get a Z2 I don't really need both my Z1 and Z2 to support 3D out over HDMI, but I think that they both should, I'd also like to NOT get the PMD or I want sell the PMD if I get a US model. I basically just want to know about 3D and the HD3000.

Note: this is NOT about games, only 3D Blu-ray and my own 3D content shot with my 3D cameras.


EDIT: @ 55 seconds into this video they say you just plug it into a 3DTV and you are good to go

 

CC: if you're not getting postings, don't take it personally; I think you are so far ahead of most people that they get intimidated after the first 2 sentences! You might want to bump yourself, or even start a new thread and title it: has anyone gotten 3D output to an external 3D monitor from the Intel HD 3000?

Let me save you the trouble of bumping yourself:

Folks: we must help Computer Cowboy's latest "should-I or shouldn't I?" as to buying a Z2. He wants to know has anyone gotten 3D output to an external 3D monitor from the Intel HD 3000, either on the Z2 or any machine with the HD3000?

(He needs to know this, because he has re-written and hacked all kinds of software and hooked up all kinds of machines to his Z1 and gets all the blu ray 3D viewing his heart contents. He doesn't want to need the PMD to do this with a Z2, so it is yet another road block for him to reach Z-nirvana with a Z2. I'm beginning to think we should all chip in and get him a Z2, just for all the cool things he will figure out to do with them )

 

CC..

I will let you know when my preordered Sony 3D personal headset preorder comes in.

 

LOL, I thought I kept it short simple and to the point, but you did ask my question much better than I did.

Nice, I'd like you know how you like the HMD also, it just looks so damn cool.

Watch and drool
http://computercowboy.com/Downloads/Sony_HD_OLED_HMD.mp4

 

me, short and simple? wrong guy.

Ok, if I find out the answer to your HD3000 question, will you send me $800 so I can get one of those HMDs? I've really been wondering when those things would become consumer products, not just fancy R&D show-offs. Man, I gotta at least get my hands on one to try.

 

^ Um... probably not, but nice try

I wonder when they will release 1080P HMDs, that is the holy grail right there. I am sure the 720P looks amazing though.

I can't find any clear info on the HD3000 question, you'd think that Corel or Cyberlink would support it.

from Corel's page about 3D support

When they say Intel H5x or newer are they talking about on chip graphics?


I sent an email to the author of StereoScopic player about support for the HD3000, I expect that if he doesn't already support it he will in time. He has support for just about every 3D display and 3D technology know to man.
I would be truly surprised if PowerDVD and WinDVD did not support the InTru3D tech from Intel, it would open their market up a lot. How many Sandy laptops with HD3000 are on the market? Lots.

 

^HM5X and 6X are the chipsets, yes - when intel starting using on-chip graphics. Z2 uses HM67 chipset. Based on the requirements above, it looks like a definite "yes it will work" to me.

I'd be happy to test it for you, but I don't have any 3D sets.

 

^ Then that makes me think that it won't work, because 3D HDMI output is NOT supposed to work on < HD3000 according to Intel. If what you are saying is correct then it would work on the current Z with the 330M switched off. (this obviously would fail... because the HDMI doesn't work with the 330M switched off but you know what I mean, SB and HD3K are supposed to be the first chips to support 3D)

Rather it makes me think that while the HD3000 supposedly supports 3D HDMI 1.4a frame packed output... there doesn't seem to be any player support for this yet from the big guys, Cyberlink and Corel. I'd rather avoid using either of them anyway. I haven't gotten anything back from Peter Wimmer, author of StereoScopic player, about support for the HD3000.

 

HDMI as old as 1.2 supports Side by Side 3D. Only question:
which TVs support it. Answer? Not a lot.

 

Well I don't want a TV anyway, I want a new HDMI 1.4a device or devices (projector & HMD), I don't want SBS, I want frame packed output, FullHD. FWIW TV is too small for 3D, my projector throws a huge 9' wide image, awesome.

Interesting info here for those who are interested. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1301544

 

Unfortunately, I have a 3D setup on my home theater. I threw in the bluray that came with the 3D kit for my KDL-60NX720 (2x glasses and IR transmitter). The Z2 played it just fine. I was using the ATI GPU, BTW

I say unfortunately because 3D is gimmick and I really, really hate it. Like CC said, TV's are just too small for 3D to have an impact.

 

That's where the HMD comes in.

 

can you try it with out the PMD?

Projector is where it's at. With your TV you should try sitting like three or four feet away from it, I know that is ridiculous, but that is about the right FOV for 3D on a 60" set.

 

^ Sure, but using the PMD without the ATI isn't a normal configuration. I think Sony expects people to use this GPU for BR movies, but I understand what you are trying to do.

I have stadium seats in my theater room. They aren't going anywhere.

Well, I live in a loft. I have a theater "area"

 

lol... 3-4 feet away from a 60"... I think that would give me headaches, much less eye problems!

But I'll take the projector under consideration...

 

Now that is true but I don't think it's related to screen size. I can't stand 3D in theaters any more than on TV.

 

3D Movies, I think are a gimmick. Most is done in post processing, anyways. Not only that, the lack of control in the 3D FOV, makes it hard to really believe any of it is 3D.

But for gaming... I can really feel like it's 3D and almost tangible. Why? Because I control the vision. When I tilt left... it tilts left. Move forward... the view moves forward. Without control, you might as well be watching the world through another person's eyes - one with depth perception issues.

Just IMO.

 

I'll say that the 3d in Avatar was very well done. I also had fun watching Piranha 3d because it was all so over the top.

 

^
I am waiting for the 3D sheet add on.

 

Piranha? I'll take that into advisement. As for movies to avoid, I'll drop "Green Hornet" as one to avoid in 3D (maybe in 2D, too).

 

Yeah, Piranha was fun. Completely ridiculous and gory, loved it

The movie I referenced in my first post was Alice in Wonderland. It was part of the 3d kit. I feel stupider for having watched it. I want the 2hrs of my life back.

Green Hornet was really very awful. It is in the same useless category as Catwoman and Daredevel.

 

^
Yeah the 3d in Alice in Wonderland was horrible...I remember falling asleep in the cinema watching it.

 

House of Wax was OK.

 

Most 3D is crap, but then again most of what comes out of hollywood is crap. I also have two waterproof 1080P stereoscopic cameras... so I enjoy watching myself do stuff I already did.

Piranha was fun, I really like the IMAX movies, those are amazing. I just got six of them in the mail today.