DVD Questions!

[Dr. Matrox]

Hello Guys...
I have few question concern with dvd playback
the first one is what's the best resolution for dvd play back? 400X600/640X480/800X600/1024X768/1152X864/1280X960/1280X1024/1600X1200.... or what ever?
what's give the best quality? and why?
Secondly, not exacly conect to matrox but still...
I'm using Power DVD 2.56 and sound blaster live x-gamer and i wanted to know what audio output interface to use...
WaveOut- Dolby Surround/Stereo
Or
DirectSound- A3D/DirectSound 3D/Dolby Surround/Stereo
Or
4 Speakers OutPut

What will give me the best quality...

here is my sys config.. 9Including all you'll need i think...
--------------
System Specs:

Operation System: Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Final Release)

Case (chassis): Moded Antec Gemstone Case

CPU: Intel P3 800e@922 (Slot) (cb0)

Memory: 256Mb Sd-Ram PC133

Motherboard: Asus P3V4X (bios 1005)

Video card: Matrox Millenium G400 Max (Drivers 6.11)

Sound card: Sound Blaster Live! X-Gamer (LiveWare3, Updated)

Hard drive: IBM Deskstar 75GXP (15gb)

DVD-ROM drive: Aopen DVD-1640-PRO (Slot version)

Mouse: Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer (With EverGlide GIGANTA)

Keyboard: Compact Generic

Monitor: Samsung SyncMaster 700IFT

Speakers: Encore XP200 (For the front)
Sony Sound System (For the back)

Soft: DirectX 7.1 & PowerDVD 2.56

[fds]

1024x768 as it lets you view anamorphic movies without losing any pixels. 800x600 is just a little bit smaller than would be required to play an NTSC anamorhically enhanced movie, PAL is even worse. Both fit on 1024x768 though.

Above that quality should be the same. Of couse increasing the resolution could make it worse depending on your system and your monitor's capability to handle high resolutions.

On your speakers you should probably go with 4 speakers option. My advice would be to try each and go with the one which sounds best.
Then when you have some cash to waste get DD51\DTS decoding equipment with a 5.1 speaker set and go for SPDIF pass-through. I have the Creative's DTT2500 which works with the Live's nicely but you will definitely want to get a better subwoofer than the one supplied. It also doesn't support DTS.