I have a 42" Samsung HDTV with HDMI. I bought a dvi to hdmi cable on ebay and I was able to connect the pc to the tv, no problems. However, you can't use it for anything other than movies because the true resolution of the TV is 1024x768 (even though in theory it supports 1920x1080). Movie quality is great though, the only problem I had was when I tried to set the resolution to 1920x1080 on the video card -> then the output was stuttering on fast paced scenes. If I set the res to 1024x768 the quality is identical and there is no more stuttering. I think it has something to do with the ability of cable to carry so much information. Since the TV scales the input anyway quality seems to be unaffected. However, I only watched div x movies with low resolution (compared with HDTV).

Hi there cgrecu,

This is very interesting. I say meaning, it's both interesting, and disappointing, if this is indeed a fact.

I have yet to see anyone ( any of my friends ) who have a PLASMA hooked
up to a media center PC.

*However* - about 2 years a go I was in a Staples store ( like Office MAX ) and they had a computer there, that was running, and it was hooked up to a Plasma TV. You could do computer work on it if you wanted, the screen was that clear.

Now, I have my media center running on a Toshiba 50" DLP. Even when I first got it running on there, the screen was crystal clear for text ( in Windows XP ! )

I only have the screen set at a low res, I will check this later today, when I turn it on and check it to and report back what it was. Now, I do know that I use an "under-scan" or "over-scan" mode ( the computer asked me if I wanted to do this, and what it does is makes the whole Windows XP screen
visable on the TV screen ( in wide format )

However, even without using this "under-scan" mode, you can still see windows XP very clearly on the 50" screen. It's so crisp that I often write email, and surf the web on it, you would sit here with me, and say it's like looking at a large computer screen. I know that others on another large TV group, do this all the time also, many in fact use their TV all day long to do their web work.

This is rather distressing, as I was looking forward to buying an "inexpensive" plasma Samsung TV ( about $1500 now for a 42" )

Also, I bought a good quality HDMI-2-DVI cable, not a $150 MonsterCable one, but one at Walmart made by Phillips ( about $45 ) and it, I find gives super super quality.

Anyway, I'm really going to want to hear back from other plasma users, perhaps it's something on your video card that is creating the problem you are describing.

Well, I put this post on hold and decided to check my media center's
screen res.... it's set to:
1177 x 662, but from what I understand this will change with every TV.

For example - when I first ever hooked my TV to my media center computer, the computer actually knew exactly what model of TV I had hooked up... so I'm assuming it would do so with a plasma tv....

this is rather an interesting topic for sure.

...the true resolution of the TV is 1024x768...
...when I tried to set the resolution to 1920x1080 on the video card -> then the output was stuttering on fast paced scenes.
...I think it has something to do with the ability of cable to carry so much information...The HDMI/DVI cable can carry much more than that.
In your case too much manupilation is done to the stream. First, you convert the DivX (that is not more than SD in most cases) to 1080i in you computer.
Second, the TV deinterlaces the stream and converts it to the set native format with non-square pixel.

DLPs have always square pixels and therefore don't have this problem.

Diogen.

I am wanting to hook up my PC to my tv. My pc currently has a dvi. vga and s-video output, the dvi to hdmi connection to my toshiba tv would be the best if it weren't for the handshake problem that my tv has with dvi. I am wondering if there is a vga or dvi to component cable that might work for me better?

We need to know the exact model of video card you are using to help you better.

I am using an 128mb sapphire radeon 9200se, I have been looking at some new video cards that show hdtv out but the connector just looks like a s-video ?
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=17582&vpn=87-2C85-01-SA&manufacture=SAPPHIRE
If anyone can recomend a video card (has to be agp)that would allow me to hook-up to my hdtv and play some of the new games out that my 9200 won't (ie company of heroes)and of course not break the bank, I would be most happy.The reason I wanted to do the tv hookup is to watch shows that have been recorded with BTV4 also that have been downloaded.I have the dsm-320 but it is to limited and would rather have a direct hookup and use with my firefly remote.

I am assuming you have an HDTV with at least component video in...

My personal favourite is the Sapphire X1600 Pro AGP 256 MB. It is reasonably priced, has full HD hardware accelleration and is reasonably good at recent games. As for that s-video looking connector on it, that is a multi-function DIN connector. There s a rat tail breakout that plugs into that and becomes 3 x RCA type connectors. Each is colored the appropriate R, G or B.

I use an X1600 Pro in one of my MCE PCs and an X1300 Pro in the other. There is a wonderful tweaking applet in the Catalyst drivers that allows for a reasonably good fine tuning of the display resolution so that it matches the Component in of the TV you are using.

As for NVidia solutions, the best low cost options in AGP are the 6600GT and 7600GT. The 7600GT is hard to gfind but provides all of the features that the X1000 series cards have and is faster in games than an X1600 Pro.

Hi Guys,

I've been connecting my PC to HDTV since 2001. Its reasuring to see the card makers devote tweaking capabilities for PQ as well as frame rates.

I've also been using a PCI card video scaler since late 02 and a gentleman from digitalconnection.com did some scoped settings in the overlay section that you may want to try. These settings are strictly for trabsferring video from or through a PC to HD capable tv and not necessarily for desktop.

Brightness -35
Contrast +145
Gamma +1.2
default for all other settings

These settings can be uses as a base for ATI cards then tweaked in something like D'SCALER.

Peter M.

Peter M.

Were those starting settings set in the Catalyst drivers?

Hi,
AVIVO video adjustments. as far as the rest of Catalyst always choose quality over performance,

Peter M.

I tried those settings on my x1300 on my ACER 32" and they were extremely harsh. I even set the TV back to factory and it was still too much.

Thanks for reminding me about those controls! (Minutes after I asked the question of where, I realized that I have stared at them for years but have had no use for them)

I plug my computer into my Prima 32" LCD TV via VGA. The TV is 1368x768, but I usually set it 1360x960 or 1360x1024 to get more on the screen (particularly for games). The TV appears to accept pretty much any resolution up to 1920x1080, although that last one looks really bad.

I have the component dongle, but don't have any spare component cables at the moment. As well, using VGA leaves the component connector free for the DVD player to use (cable box hooked to HDMI).

I have a rogers 8300HD PVR with a hdmi output to dvi cable with a new monitor from Dell - its the new 20 incher widescreen with hdcp and a dvi port.. resolution 1600 x 1050.

I tried testing the dell monitor out using the rogers pvr as the tv tuner and all I get is a blank screen. The dell monitor checks out using the vga port and my laptop as a video source, but the signal can't seem to make it through to my monitor using the rogers box. What confuses me is the signal works as it should under the same config using my westinghouse 32 inch lcd tv monitor, which doesn't have an atsc tuner so its basically the same thing if you know what i mean..

rogers said to adjust using the pass-through command in the setup menu, but if you have the hdmi cable plugged in, you can't choose this, and the menu defaults to fixed/upconvert 1/upconvert 2/auto hdmi/dvi.

See what the output signal is on the front of the STB. Some TVs/monitors won't accept certain signal types such as 480i/P via HDMI, only 720P, 1080i.

You can "force" the output of 1080i by selecting "fixed" in the setup menu and/or 1080i in the advanced setup wizard.

See the Digital Home FAQ (under help) "Tips for SA STBs". Sometimes you may need to do the setup using component video, deleting the formats that HDMI cannot handle and then going back to HDMI.

Or if the Monitor accepts component video, simply use it.

I called their support after buying a new TV with HDMI input and they just tell me it doesnt work! They say it is because the older tv's dont support copy protection so they wont support HDMI.
This is a huge pain in the ass as they are deliberatly settling for only delivering component video and no optical or digital outputs.
I will search for someone other than Rogers as a service provider. They continue to have the absolute WORST customer approach in the world!! GGGRrrrrrrrr -- ROGERS SUCKS!!

A few comments:

1. Rogers doesn't officially support HDMI due to a huge number of problems that can arise. They support Component Video only, as do most service providers (Videotron is the only exception I know that will troubleshoot HDMI). So, unless you plan to move to Videotron territory, good luck in finding technical support for HDMI.

2. Most people do get HDMI to work. It is active. I have installed HDMI from the SA8300HD for several of my clients without issue (after appropriate setup using Component Video if the TV doesn't accept all signal formats via HDMI). I have not heard of a non-HDCP HDMI connection. DVI can be without HDCP, however, I believe that all HDMI connections on HDTVs are HDCP compliant.

3. I have no idea what you're talking about with regard to optical/digital outputs. All Rogers HD STBs have optical and/or coaxial audio outputs.

Hi,
I remember reading here on DHC last year that you should not use your TV as a monitor as it might damage it. I can't seem to find that thread now.

I know plasmas would suffer from burn in... but I have an LCD Rear projection TV ( Hitachi 50V500A ). Is this still a bad idea to do ?

Thanks,
CamG

LCD technology is not subject to burn-in so you you'll be fine. The whole point of using a big-screen TV with a PC is why Home Theatre Personal Computers are becoming so popular, i.e.: Windows XP Media Centre PCs and the like.
Of course, try to use the best possible connection to get the best possible resolution. If your TV has a VGA input, use it and then match your PCs videocard output to match your TVs native resolution.

Thanks 57, excellent information. Tried pretty much everything and no success. I did however get info from a tech person at audiotronic and they mentioned that there is a dvi cable config for lcd monitors (desktop monitor) and a different pin config standard for lcd tv's - hence the reason why I am not getting reception. I knew there were different dvi formats, but the pin config seems the same, so I am back to ground zero. Not sure if his explanation makes sense.

The only thing I can think of is to get a hd rogers 3250 with an actual dvi output on the back of the box and try using the dvi to dvi cable that came with the monitor..

kemontgo:

It's strange that you are having this problem with your DVI input with your Rogers STB. I have the 2407WFP and have it connected to my 8300HDPVR once in awhile using an HDMI/DVI cable and never have any problems.
Try turning the monitor on first and make sure you've selected the DVI input. Then turn on the STB to make sure they are "shaking hands".