Metered Connections SSD Solutions Buffering Bother
Ultra HD Blu-Rays
Dear Doctor, I’ve been trying to get Ultra HD Blu-ray discs to play on my system for some time, and finally realized I need a hand from a professional.
CyberLink’s UHD Blu-Ray Advisor says I don’t have an HDCP 2.2-compatible GPU/ display, but Nvidia says otherwise. Perhaps it’s the monitor? The utility reports no Advanced Protected Audio/ Video Path (GPU). Again, though, Nvidia’s specs say my graphics card has this. The CyberLink website claims I need to have my display connected to onboard Intel graphics. Again, if Nvidia already supports the protected path, why would this be necessary?
My hardware includes an Intel Core i7-8700K, an EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, a Pioneer PIO-BDR211UBK MAIN-16374 optical drive with Ultra HD Bluray support, an Asus ROG Maximus X Hero mobo, and Acer’s Predator Z35P 35inch 21:9 monitor hooked up via DisplayPort. Jim Pierce
THE DOCTOR RESPONDS:
The requirements for Ultra HD Blu-ray playback on a PC are very specific, and mostly intended to keep the path from optical drive to display secure.
Your Pioneer BDR-211UBK disc drive is on CyberLink’s list of supported devices. So far, so good. From there, you need a motherboard that exposes Intel’s Software Guard Extensions (SGX) in its BIOS, an HDCP 2.2-capable display output, a seventh-gen (or newer) Intel Core CPU with HD Graphics 630 or Iris 640/650, and Windows 10. Not all LGA 1151-equipped motherboards qualify, so consult CyberLink’s FAQ ( https://goo.gl/ YuDtX1).
The idea is to keep data protected when traveling from the optical drive, over the SATA interface, across your chipset, into the CPU for decoding, and out to a display. And by protected, the Doc means that movie studios want to stop their content being ripped. Neither AMD nor Nvidia currently offer this through an add-in graphics card attached to the PCIe bus. Unfortunately, Draconian requirements make Ultra HD Blu-ray playback on the PC more trouble than it’s worth, particularly for enthusiasts with high-end desktop CPUs and gaming GPUs.
Cabin Fever
Hi Doc, I have a cabin that I visit every few months, where the only Internet access is a cellular hotspot. My computer there performs a Windows update when I arrive, using up most of my bandwidth allotment. How can I get all the updates ahead of time, put them on a flash drive, and run the cabin PC’s update from there, rather than my cellular hotspot? Jim Henriques
THE DOCTOR RESPONDS:
It sounds like you need to do two things: prevent Windows 10 from downloading updates over your cellular hotspot, and get Windows updates installed manually.
First, check that Windows knows not to download automatically over a metered connection. Open Windows Settings, click “Devices,” scroll down and verify that “Download over metered connections” is unchecked. Next, set the connection between your PC and hotspot
to metered mode. Click the Wi-Fi icon in your system tray, and select the wireless network you use for Internet access. “Set as metered connection” is deactivated by default. Turn the option on and, if you wish, set a data limit to ensure you stay under your plan’s bandwidth cap.
Of course, you’ll want to be sure that your PC stays up to date. Microsoft maintains an Update Catalog ( www.catalog. update.microsoft.com) with all of its single and cumulative downloads for Windows 10. Press Windows key-R, type “winver,” and click “OK” to get the version of Windows installed on your PC. Search Windows support ( https:// support.microsoft.com/en-us/ help/4099479) for a list of newer builds, and download the latest one from the Update Catalog. Be sure to grab the update corresponding to your architecture—32 or 64-bit. Save the file to a thumb drive, then tote it with you on the next trip to the cabin.
The latest definition files for Windows Defender Antivirus can also be downloaded and updated offline. Visit www. microsoft.com/en-us/wdsi/ definitions and scroll down to “Manually download and install the definitions.”
3D Blu-Ray Backups
Hi Doctor, I have collected a few 3D movies over the years, and have ripped most of my Blu-ray and DVD library to MKV files, loading them on to a Plex server. I own a second computer that is connected to a 3D projector via HDMI, and I watch the movies either on the projector or a TV connected via Roku.
I’m looking for a piece of software able to convert Blu-ray 3D to 3D MKV files, allowing me to watch 2D or 3D movies on the projector. Ideally, I’d like to load the files on to my Plex server, but that isn’t a requirement. I already have an application on the second computer able to play 3D MKV files.
David Morton
THE DOCTOR RESPONDS: Depending on where you live, the software needed to rip Blu-ray 3D media to your hard drive may not be legal to purchase. That said, it does exist. Research your local laws regarding personal backups and plug the relevant terms into a search engine.
Moving to SSD
Hi Doc, I have a 1TB SSD and two hard drives. The SSD is used for my OS and program files. Hard drive one is loaded with data and downloads that I want to save. I keep these separate for easy backup, and because I don’t want to fill the SSD. My second mechanical disk serves as backup for the first. I run a program called Second Copy to perform saves when needed. I also back up to a portable USB-attached hard drive for long-term storage.
Does it make sense, as solid-state storage is fairly low-cost, to add a second SSD for big data files? I’m talking mostly 50MB files, with larger ones in the 4GB range. The purpose would be reading and writing big files faster, rather than waiting on a slower hard drive.
I don’t think I have a slot for another M.2 PCle SSD, but I’m pretty sure there is room in my case, along with a motherboard port and cable, to accommodate a SATA SSD. I want to be sure I’ll notice enough of an improvement to make it worthwhile. Or is there an even better solution, such as RAID? Doug Schafer
THE DOCTOR RESPONDS: The idea behind tiered storage is to balance performance, availability, and cost. Keeping a library of movies or documents on hard drives makes sense because mechanical disks cost less per gigabyte than solid-state storage. Moreover, you don’t worry about transfer rates once those files are open.
That said, if you consistently find yourself waiting on large files to open or game levels to load, it makes sense to add another SSD. Even over SATA, near-instantaneous response means you aren’t waiting on a hard drive’s read heads to seek. The difference is absolutely palpable.
Threadripper Speed
Hi Doctor, I have a question about the memory to use with a Threadripper 2950X. According to AMD’s product page, it supports a maximum data rate of 2,933MT/s. If I want to overclock, do I need modules capable of 3,000MT/s or higher? This is for a new video editing PC I’m building. Marvin Malasky
THE DOCTOR RESPONDS: AMD’s Ryzen Threadripper CPUs respond well to fast DDR4 memory. A 3,200 or even 3,466MT/s configuration should yield quantifiable gains in bandwidth-limited workloads. Overclocking the power-hungry 2950X requires more than just a capable quad-channel kit, though.
First, make sure your mobo is up to the task. A lot of the early Socket AM4-based platforms support second-gen Threadripper models at their stock settings, but struggle to deliver the power needed for aggressive tuning. An enthusiast-oriented PSU with a pair of native EPS connectors is mandatory, too.
Video editing tends to fully utilize host processing resources and the 180W 2950X is already a warm chip. Overclocking exacerbates its thermal output, so consider liquid cooling with a fullcoverage block. You might also want to use AMD’s Precision Boost Overdrive in the Ryzen Master software. Rather than overclocking manually, PBO takes the reins and increases clock rates as much as possible inside certain power, current, and temperature limits. When you’re not using your PC, it lowers clock rates and voltages to minimize power consumption.
YouTube Buffering
Hi Doc, I like to watch videos on YouTube, but I always seem to get that buffering circle spinning on the screen. I pay for AT&T’s 1Gb/s Fiber package. Any tips or suggestions? Dennis Cossa
THE DOCTOR RESPONDS: There are many variables in between your high-end PC and YouTube’s servers that might affect streaming performance, including your router, your ISP, and other content delivery networks hosting data.
Common suggestions include clearing the browser’s cache, restarting your router, and blocking YouTube’s CDNs either from Windows’ built-in firewall or your router’s. You can also check the health of your connection to YouTube: Open a video, right-click it, and select “Stats for nerds.”
Google’s own suggestions include restarting your browser, rebooting your PC, closing all other browser tabs, making sure you’re using the latest version of your browser, and, of course, using its own Chrome browser.