hdtv, tv-out, component

[ZippyDan]

as i understand it, an HDTV is only capable of display a computer resolution of about 1280 x1024 (slightly lower), so any video card should meet this task

however, i am under the impression that a component cable signal will provide a much better picture

which video cards allow me to output a component signal to my HDTV?

im sure the ATI Radeon 9700 AIW does so

does the 8500 AIW? 8500DV AIW?

are there cheaper ATI cards that do so?

i noticed ATI sells a DVI-I to component cable converter for 29.99, will this work with any ATI card with DVI and give me just as good of a picture? will it work with any DVI output on any card at all? hm

thx

~Zippy!

 

[Sxotty]

almost every video card nowadays has s-video, you dont need to get a AIW and spend $100 more unless it makes you feel extra special.

 

[ZippyDan]

>however, i am under the impression that a component cable signal will provide a much better picture

 

[Apex]

HDTV displays vary quite a bit. Your typical high end direct view HDTV set (ie. Sony 40" WEGA, Toshiba HF or HD series, Panasonic Tau) will not be able to RESOLVE more than about 800x600 or so, eventhough they can take a higher resolution input. A good 7" CRT based RPTV will be able to resolve upwards of 1200x700 or so, maybe a tiny bit more if you get a really high end one, and calibrate it near perfectly (ie. Pioneer Elite Pro-730HD). A great 9" CRT based RPTV can do upwards of 1600 or so, and a 9" CRT based FP like the Sony G90 can do probably closer to 1800. Digital HDTV capable displays, of course, can do whatever their native resolution is, with the high end ones doing 2048x1536 (JVC DLA-QX1).

You can either get one of the ATI cards (yes the 8500 series do work) to output component or get a converter for $90-180. The disadvantage of the ATI way is you're limited to 480p (720x480) if you're trying to output something that is macrovision protected. You cannot scale macrovision equipped DVD's up to your display's native resolution with an ATI card and the $29.99 component cable.

If you get a converter (Audio Authority, Key Digital, or RCA), you can scale everything just fine and use whatever video card you want.

Unless you're using a low end HDTV, there is absolutely no way you want to use S-Video. Well, I guess if you don't really care about video quality, it should be fine.

 

[ZippyDan]

i have Hitachi 53inch RPTV

what about that ATI DVI -> Component converter?

and im not really sure what macrovision is or if i should care about it. im only really interested in using my HDTV as a bigger monitor for PC related task (presentations, gaming, etc)

~Zippy!

 

[Apex]

Originally posted by: ZippyDan
i have Hitachi 53inch RPTV

what about that ATI DVI -> Component converter?

and im not really sure what macrovision is or if i should care about it. im only really interested in using my HDTV as a bigger monitor for PC related task (presentations, gaming, etc)

~Zippy!

Macrovision is a protection scheme on the vast majority of DVD movies. For presentations and Gaming, don't worry about it. The ATI DVI/Component adaptor should be fine.

 

[SemperFi]

I bought a 32" Sony WEGA a couple of weeks ago with the intention of hooking up my spare box up to it. Sony has DVI and so does my AIW Radeon. After looking through the manual I found the dvi port is not intended to hook up to computer. I have read others say they have hooked up to the sony dvi without problems. The problem is in most instances that an hdtv max resolution is 1024x768 @60hz interlaced. To my knowledge no one makes a driver that will run interlaced. I guess there is a way around this that I am just looking into called Powerstrip.

I have been getting some good info from avsforum. Someone there posted he got better results converting vga to componet as opposed to using the dvi to dvi on the set. I have been looking around for the converter and have found many of the RCA models. I just hate to spend the money on a spare system.

Right now I have it hooked up s-video and it is fantastic over the composite connection that I had on my old set. The text is somewhat blurry but definately readable. It was totally unreadable using composite. Also 1024x768 would be a nice improvement. I am currently running 800x600 and some of the message boxes won't fit onscreen. Funny I don't remember having that problem when I was actually using that resolution not so many years ago.

If you do buy a vga to composite converter please post your results back here. I am interested if it is worth the cost and your opinion of it.

Semper Fi

 

[rbV5]

which video cards allow me to output a component signal to my HDTV?

AIW 9700 has native component output, radeon 8xxx cards and 9xxx cards support an adaptor, 7xxx cards don't support the adaptor.

I use and HDTV card (which also restricts macrovision material output to 480p btw) connected to my RPTV via VGA, it supports up to 1080i, and my AIW is connected via component (480p for DVD's looks great btw) which also supports up to 1080i. DVD's only carry 480p of pixel information anyway, but there are methods to bypass the restriction and the radeon makes a good scaler.

 

[Boogak]

Originally posted by: Sxotty
almost every video card nowadays has s-video, you dont need to get a AIW and spend $100 more unless it makes you feel extra special.

I just received and installed the ATI VGA to Component HDTV dongle yesterday on my 8500LE and Toshiba 43" HD compatible TV. Wow, what an incredible difference over s-video out. Everything is much sharper and clearer, text is actually readable. And this was just with 480p, I haven't had a chance to play around with custom resolutions yet. Definitely highly recommended over s-video if you're serious about using your PC on a TV and you have a compatible ATI video card and HD ready TV.

 

[SemperFi]

boogak I wish that would work for me. I have the original radeon aiw. :frown

I guess I am going to have to get serious about finding one of those converters if there is that much difference.

 

[rbV5]

Also, take a lookee Here, there may be another alternative. Thats a pretty interesting thread that maybe promising.

 

[kmmatney]

Component video doesn't look any better than s-video on my HDTV (Panasonic 53"). My opinion is that you'll be fine with S-Video.

Also, my HDTV has 800 x 600 as the practical limit for usability - I beleive this is pretty common for projection style HDTV's.

 

[Apex]

Originally posted by: kmmatney
Component video doesn't look any better than s-video on my HDTV (Panasonic 53"). My opinion is that you'll be fine with S-Video.

Also, my HDTV has 800 x 600 as the practical limit for usability - I beleive this is pretty common for projection style HDTV's.

Common for most mid-quality un-calibrated rear projection HDTV's, and high quality tube type HDTV's. Properly calibrated, RPTV's tend to be able to support higher resolution than tube type.

 

[rbV5]

Also, my HDTV has 800 x 600 as the practical limit for usability

I think I'd cry if I had to watch HD material at 800X600 (on my RPTV or monitor that is.

 

[lchen66666]

My ATI Radeon 9000 Pro currently is connected to TOSHIBA 36AF42 via composite cable. The text
is not readable at all. The TV set is not HDTV but has Component Video input.

Question.

Will image quality get improved if I use SVideo cable ?
Does ATI HDTV work with my TV set ?

Thanks

 

[SemperFi]

lchen66666
S-video is far from the cats meow, but it is 100x better than composite. I just bought a new tv that has s-video jacks that is how I have it hooked up now. The text is readable but kind of blury. Like I said 100x better than composite.

 

[rbV5]

I agree with SemperFi, the s-video is better than the composite. The ATI component out supports 480i, so I would say that it likely would work with Low and Hiigh bandwidth component inputs, but I'm not positive.