HDCP protected content on a PC

[nvening]

Hi,

I have a media center (MCE 2005) connected to my Samsung LE32R73BD currently via VGA which is obviously called PC input on the TV.

However this would mean that HDCP protected content would not play or would be in reduced quality correct??

Therefore would it be best to connect the tv to the computer via HDMI (lets assume i have a HDCP compliant graphics card)

However i take it that the TV would not accept this signal for some reason?

Therefore i would need to use powerstrip to correctly setup the signal right??

Would that then enable me to watch HDCP protected content on my TV??

Also what is the status of HDCP because last i heard it wasnt being included on hi def disks??

And, assuming its legal where i live, is there a way to use software to bipass the HDCP and allow me to use my VGA lead??

If anyone can explain any of this to me it would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks!!

[Funkstar]

I believe that at the moment, HD-DVD and Bluray titles do not come with a flag demanding that the qualty be reduced for non secure path systems. So that would mean you can get away with playing HD content over a VGA cable.

I may be wrong in this, but i think they have kinda sorts un-officially agreed to do this because of the number of US consumers that have non HDCP HD TVs

[nvening]

Ok, i dont have a HDCP GPU anyway so VGA it is

Need to get a nice one tho as the last one i had mucked up the signal (£5 TCR job )

EDIT:

Has anyone got an recommendations on good makes/ shops and how much i should spend, i need at least 7m so probably a 10m one if thats the standard??

[Funkstar]

I usually go to Maplin for cables and get their midle priced ones.

[Skinleech]

Personally, I'd avoid Maplin as they're overpriced bastards. Though I can't reccomend you a good alternative...

However, what Funkstar says regarding HDCP is correct to my knowledge. The flag has not been enforced for VGA connections - think of the 360 and it's HD-DVD drive. You can only get analogue connections for it for the time being & it works fine @ 1080p.

However.... I'm unsure what the PC software situation is like. PowerDVD 7.x is a buggy P.O.S. but it's far better than the other option, which is WinDVD. I know PowerDVD 7.x enforces HDCP over a digital connection, but I don't know the status for an analogue connection. I'm using DVI-HDMI and it wouldn't play ball with my old 7300LE card. It does do the HDCP handshake with my current 8600GTS though.

However.... (yet again) PowerDVD 6.5 will work over digital & analogue without HDCP, but it's also buggy and has a tendency to display the subs for any given title, even if you've not turned them on, and manually turn them off.... Also, it only has HD-DVD support where as new versions of 7 support both BD and HD-DVD.

Finally, even though I have a full HDCP compliant chain, I still have issues with black screens on playing HD content. I say still - I now use AnyDVD HD which works perfectly. So if you have issues with PDVD 7.x give that a whirl & it should sort you out.

[Funkstar]

Personally, I'd avoid Maplin as they're overpriced bastards. Though I can't reccomend you a good alternative...

Agreed, but that have a decent selection and they are (reasonably) local for me. I hate doing mail order for a simple cable.

And at least they don't stock over prices Belkin cables like Currys and PC World or overprices Monsters like Comet.