Connecting DVI to HDTV

RSawdey

It's been suggested elsewhere this may be only over the DVI connection, and VGA or Component don't do it...

eVGA makes a 6600 GT which has built-in component output... wonder how well that would work...

andyng111

I bought a DVI->HDMI cable for connecting my R9550 to 37" LCDTV. I connect a monitor to the VGA connector and the LCDTV to the DVI connecter(through the DVI->HDMI cable). Everything works when I power on the machine. I can see the startup screen, the bios screen without any problem. However, nothing shown up when it enters the windows. I spent a lot of time on the settings and still it didn't work. Eventually I reinstalled Windows XP and this time I get into the windows succesfully, everything looks fine with the resolution 640x480, both monitor and the LCDTV works. The only thing is that XP is using generic driver for the display card. Then, I installed CATALYST 5.2 and restart. The same thing happened, I again can't display anything on the LCDTV when the computer enters windows. Checking the settings in CATALYST control panel, I found that in the "Display" Tab, there is a red cross on the cable under the DFP section. I can't turn the LCDTV on as the secondary display. Looks like CATALYST cannot detect my LCDTV. Why is that? Everything works fine before install the ATI display driver. Is that anything related to the HDCP? Does anyone have the same problem? Thank you

rbinck

Most likely your primary monitor has the video driver set to a refresh rate other than 60hz. I'd check that out.

Here are the timings for HDTV all at 60hz refresh rate:

480p and 960i is 31.5 Khz horizontal scanrate
540p and 1080i is 33.75 Khz horizontal scanrate
720p and 1440i is 45 Khz horizontal scanrate

If your monitor driver sets the refresh to 75hz, for example, the monitor would need to respond to these timings:

480p and 960i would be 39.375 Khz horizontal scanrate
540p and 1080i would be 42.187 Khz horizontal scanrate
720p and 1440i is 56.25 Khz horizontal scanrate

Since most HDTVs will only operate in a horizontal scan rate range of 31-34 Khz, (fixed pixel type TVs can go to 46Khz) the 75hz refresh causes this range to be exceeded. Computer monitors will operate in much, much wider ranges than HDTVs. Consult your manual for acceptable signal. You should be able to force your video to 60hz refresh rate.

andyng111

Another strange thing is I download the program Moninfo you recommend. This program can only detect my monitor which is on the VGA connector. After that, I uninstalled the ATI CATALYST driver and try Moninfo again. This time Moninfo can detect both my monitor and LCDTV. However, for the LCDTV, the hardware information is "n/a", at least it can be detected. This is something I really don't understand. Looks like ATI's driver want to get rid of my LCDTV. Any idea?

Thank you very much

rbinck

Something funny is going on there. moninfo only detects monitors connected to a DVI port. It will not detect a monitor on the VGA port, so no I don't have a clue. You might try just hooking up your LCDTV and rebooting the computer. Then plug in your computer monitor to the VGA port after the computer has booted. It may be the driver will detect the LCDTV and set up correctly.

Jephph

Hi. I've got a Sapphire Radeon 9600xt video card with VGA, S-Video, and DVI. I'm planning on getting the RCA 52" Widescreen HDTV (D52W19). Here are some specs of the TV according to Walmart.com:
Its Intellifocus feature guarantees the sharpest picture possible, and its analog 1080-interlaced mode can be upgraded to the even sharper progressive scan mode for ultimate movie-watching.

16:9 widescreen ratio.

Intellifocus digital audio convergence for the sharpest picture possible.

Progressive-scan up-conversion removes interlacing from analog video signals for a smoother, more film-like picture.

3-line digital comb filter eliminates dot and edge crawl.

DVI input.

Syncroscan component video inputs automatically adjust the scan rate for regular and progressive-scan DVD players or HDTV set-top boxes.

S-video inputs.

I'm hoping to play pc games on the tv and was wondering what would be the best cable for connecting them? I know that Monster has some of the best cables, and I think that the DVI connection would be the best, so I checked out the cables on Monster's website and found a couple of DVI cables:
M500DVI Super-High Performance DVI-D Video Cable for HDTV
and
DVI400 Super-High Performance DVI-D Video Cable for HDTV

The M500DVI costs more, so I'm assuming it would produce better video quality. I've also heard about the DVI to component adapter that I could get from ATI. But I've read that DVI is better than component. So would the M500DVI cable from Monster be the best to get the best quality, or would something else be better? Thank you.

RSawdey

This RCA is a CRT based RPTV, interlaced & burnable. Neither good for PC use. Their talk of 'progressive' is only for 480p or 540p, it can't produce a 720p HDTV image. TVs that produce 720p or 1080p as their native resolution are far better for PC & gamebox use.

Monster cables are uselessly overspec'd, and ridiculously overpriced. You can get good cables for a third their price.

All HD capable connections are very similar in quality. The big deal about DVI & HDMI is that they can handle copy protected signals. PCs & Gameboxes are not copy protected signals.

Jephph

So basically, don't get this tv if I want to play games, and even if I do, don't get a dvi cable, get component instead and don't get expensive Monster cables? Well, can you suggest another tv about the same size that would produce 720p or 1080p resolutions (preferably under $1500)? Would the Philips 55" (55PP9363H) perhaps be capable of that? Or maybe the HYUNDAI 42" Widescreen Plasma ED TV (HPT-4250)?
Would this RCA be any different:
RCA 52" Widescreen HD-Ready Rear-Projection TV with Syncroscan Component Input
Model: D52W25

or

Toshiba 57 in. TheaterWide® Projection TV/HDTV Monitor
model #57H84

Any suggestions would be very helpful. Thank you.

RSawdey

You've got that first sentence right...

Plasma IS progressive scan, but it uses phosphors so it's burnable. An EDTV is only 848 x 480 res, can only downsample HDTV formats...

Your other sets are also CRT based RPTVs, so they are also interlaced & burnable. The least expensive sets are all CRT based...

The most affordable progressive & burn proof sets are RPTVs based on DLP or LCD. There are several just under $2000... with a more restricted budget, you can look for floor models, returns, and refurbs... lotsa good deals if you shop hard... Cheapest new DLP model shown at $1650 on the web... or here's a great refurb...
http://www.niceelectronics.com/Elect...source=mysimon

cesar_espasa

I'm trying to connect my laptop (with a Radeon 7500) to my Sony KF-50WE610 HDTV. The docking station has a DVI connector. So far I have only been able to achieve the 720x480 resolution with the following settings:

"720x480" 27.000 720 736 798 858 480 489 495 525 -hsync -vsync

Other settings like:

1152x648=1152,136,40,320,648,41,5,56,74160,2304

or

"1920x1080" 74.250 1920 2008 2052 2200 1080 1084 1094 1124 interlace +hsync +vsync

do not work. Has anybody tried that before?
The docking station also has a VGA connector. Will it help to plug an external monitor instead of using the laptop screen?

Thanks.

RSawdey

You should be feeding that TV ATSC standard 720p, 1280 x 720 @ 60 Hz refresh. Make sure the refresh is no higher than 60 Hz, since higher can do damage.

VGA would work as well as DVI for connecting your HDTV as an external monitor... but the display doesn't have a VGA input.

cesar_espasa

Do you have the timing settings for that resolution?

Regarding the VGA connector, my explanation wasn't clear enough. I meant connecting an external multiscan monitor to the VGA and use it to keep control of the situation when the TV goes out of synch. It seems to me that the laptop screen does not accept many configurations. Usually if the TV goes out of synch, so does the laptop screen.

I tried yesterday connecting the laptop to the TV through an S-video cable and it worked for 720x480 and 1024x768. The former one is sharper ( I guess it's a native resolution for the TV) but far away from good. Can I get an interlaced mode like 1920x1080i with the S-video cable?

RSawdey

Don't run the TV in an out of sync condition, it can damage the electronics! 60 Hz refresh (vscan) ONLY!

The one & only NATIVE res of your TV is 1366 x 768p/60. You need to supply it with a standard ATSC 720p signal.

SVideo is limited to carrying 480i NTSC... it's a horrible interface for a PC. You can NOT carry any HD formats on it. Your TV is a PROGRESSIVE SCAN set, so you should feed it 720p, not interlaced modes like 1080i.

surfarch

I have read several of postings on this and I have to admit that some of the verbage is beyond my experience. I am also trying to connect my laptop to my HDTV. Here is what I have:

Dell Inspiron 9300 with S-Video out, DVI connector & Analog RGB ports.

Mitsubishi WD-62725 HDTV with a PC input that says PCVGA/SVGA/XGA/720p60Hz. The users guide says it is a Mini-D Sub, 15 pinVGA (640 x 480), 60HzSome WVGA (848 x 480), 60 Hz might be compatible, but not guaranteed SVGA (800 x 600), 60HzXGA (1024 x 768), 60 Hz720 x 1280, 60 Hz (EIA standards).

I cut and pasted this text so I don't really know what all that mumbo-jumbo means. I tried plugging in directly with an S-Video cable, only to get a picture with such poor image quality that I was not able to read the text. There is a toggle on my laptop to switch from LCD, VGA or LCD&VGA. I used LCD&VGA to get an image to appear. I then used a DVI to HDMI cable only to find out that the HDMI was not meant for computer displays. I am tired of buying and returning cables. Can someone, in laymens words, tell me what I should be doing to get the best image quality? I am looking to get a good, clear image on my HDTV that will facilitate AutoCAD work where precision is a must. Maybe I have already gotten the best image I can get but I sure hope not.

Thanks for your response ahead of time.

RSawdey

SVideo can only carry 480i, it is horrible for a desktop.

You need to connect a VGA cable from your laptop to the TV, with a graphics resolution of 1280 x 720 with a refresh of 60 Hz. You can NOT use 'optimum' but must lock it at 60 Hz. A standard PC VGA cable is a D sub 15 pin which carries RGBHV signals.

I don't know that a laptop will make a good AutoCad station... and you'll probably find the res of the HDTV similar to your notebook except for size...