DVI-HDMI driving 720p TV - uh.. overscan?

[destrekor]

I am trying to connect my PC to my tv and surround. I have a Sharp Aquos LC32D41U (32" LCD, 720p).

Currently I am just in the trial phase, to see if I can even get this to work. Will likely upgrade cables, chiefly longer ones, so make this more of a proper set up. It's all nearby but can't possibly get closer to each other, so my computer is going straight to the tv and a coax digital audio cable from the pc to the receiver for surround.

I am using a Nvidia GTX 285, and it was bundled with a DVI-HDMI, so out of that is straight HDMI to the tv.

I think there is some massive overscan or something, the pixel fidelity is definitely not there (not 1:1?). I know pixel pitch is going to be way different, but not worried about that.

I can't force the card to send out 1366x768, which is the native res. On the TV, there is no overscan correction capability, and can't seem to force the nvidia driver package to recognize the TV is forcing overscan. Probably losing about 50 pixels on each side - will be a hindrance to some things, as I want to try playing with my wireless mouse and keyboard that I haven't used in ages.

The reason I am forcing the issue with HDMI instead of using native DVI (TV has DVI input), is I want everything to go out to my receiver first.

And I played a TV episode to see what video looked like, and to test the audio connection, and it looked fairly good (minus the fact I am obviously missing some pixels)... but I couldn't get my receiver to recognize it was getting straight DTS 5.1. The audio track was definitely that (per VLC), and my audio card (X-Fi with IO drive) was set to shoot Dolby/DTS bitstream to my receiver over coax.

edit:
This has been resolved.

 

[ArchAngel777]

IIRC that particular model did not offer the dot for dot mode (1:1 pixel mapping). However, the best advice I can give on that particular model is to go to the avsforum, register an account (free) and do an advanced search. You will most likely find a thread dedicated to that specific model and in there you will find information on how to deal with this particular model, if possible.

 

[LoneNinja]

Nvidia controll panel doesn't have overscan options for an HDTV? If that's true just another reason I'm glad I'm using ATI as CCC is great for getting an image to look good on an HDTV.

 

[destrekor]

Well, figured out a fix:

when forcing 1366x768 (or 1360x768), I had to go into my TV's menu and under Setup, and there was a setting option that wasn't blurred out line usual (Fine Tune or something).

The TV was showing 1024x768 (what the TV was displaying, when forced the full resolution), and under the menu it gave be a choice between that and the full resolution. I was like.. wait, hmm.

It works. No overscan, nothing wrong.
That was over DVI - I'll have to hook the HDMI cable back up to see if that works, because ultimately I want to send the cable to my receiver.

 

[Wag]

In the Nvidia control panel go to:

Adjust desktop size and position

You will find a setting to bring the picture onto the screen. You are effectively reducing your resolution but it works.

 

[destrekor]

In the Nvidia control panel go to:

Adjust desktop size and position

You will find a setting to bring the picture onto the screen. You are effectively reducing your resolution but it works.

I actively avoided that - I was too stubborn to accept I would have to lose resolution, when straight 720p is already a step down from 1:1 with most 720p LCDs (as many are 1366x768).

It works perfectly, as soon as I can get my 5.1 through the receiver working, I'll be all set. Previously there was no PC gaming from the bed, and video watching required quite a bit of shuffling around - getting my portable HDD and moving files across and then turning the PS3 on and whatnot. Ultimately, this is a venture in mild predetermined laziness.

Also, for the right games, playing PC games just works fine a few feet away.

 

[postmortemIA]

Does it have VGA input? I have sharp 32" and in VGA mode it allows me to set input as 1366x768... works wonderfully

 

[Wag]

My HDTV has a VGA input but over VGA it is less than 1080p, so I use a HDMI port and Nvidia's overscan adjustments to bring the picture into the frame.