Technical Information
page 25
LaCie DVD Dual Drive
User’s Manual
5.5. User Advice on MPEG-II Decoders
All DVD-Video material is compressed using MPEG-II compression. DVD-Video, with full-motion video and multi-channel
sound (multi-lingual soundtracks, surround sound, etc.), is a data-hungry application. Without compression, you would only
be able to fit a 5-minute movie onto a 4.5GB disc. MPEG-II compression allows you to fit a full-length feature film, plus bonus
material, on just one disc.
In order to play DVD-Video discs using your LaCie DVD Dual Drive, you need to have an appropriate MPEG-II decoder. You
have two options:
1) Install the MPEG-II decoder software if your PC is equipped with a processor that is 400MHz or faster. The decoder
software will give you smoother images when playing DVD-Video discs using your drive (as with any application, the more
RAM you have, the better playback performance will be).
2) Purchase and install a PCI MPEG-II decoder card if your PC is equipped with a processor that is 400MHz or slower. The
decoder card should help you obtain better performance during playback with your LaCie drive.
