How do you force 1080i output w/ 4850?

[Pariah]

I just picked up a couple of Gigabyte Radeon 4850's and can't seem to get them to output anything higher than 720x480 to my TV in Windows 7 using the latest Catalyst 10.5 drivers. At first I couldn't get anything to output until I checked force component video detection in the display options. I'm using a 7 pin S-Video cable for component out that I used with the previous Radeon card I had in my system. I know the cable is working properly with these cards because it outputs 480i fine.

The problem is that when I try to configure the display in the desktops and displays control panel where it allows you to select supported formats, whenever I do this and apply the changes, when I go back everything is unchecked, and I still can't choose any resolutions higher than 720x480. So, how do I force the system into thinking it can support 1080i (or even 480p), which it should support?

 

[Pariah]

No one knows?

 

[Winterpool]

Those quasi-S-Video to Component outputs theoretically do 1080i, but I'm not sure how dependable they are, or that they work across all cards. I've got something similar for the pater's home theatre (his projector is analogue), and sometimes I can get 1080i through it, and sometimes not. I use the Component adapter that came with the card.

I think drivers may make a difference here... Haven't tried the Catalyst 10.5 myself. Are you using ATi's CCC to make your adjustments?

I presume the TV isn't the only display connected?

 

[Winterpool]

As it's Memorial Day / Spring Bank Holiday weekend, you may have to wait a little while before most punters return to the forums...

 

[Pariah]

Bump for the back from holiday people.

Yes, I'm using CCC to try and make the adjustments. TV is an extended display. Primary monitor is working fine. Manual for the card says the cable should work as Gigabyte sells one themselves for it. I've been using some variation of component out and ATi video card since the Radeon 8500 and never had a problem until now.

What I don't understand is why the applied settings don't stick. If it can't detect the display properly in the first place, how can it know the TV doesn't support the settings I'm telling it it does?

 

[Genx87]

I had issues getting my 4850 setup on my DLP. I did get it to do 1080i but for some unknown reason it would randomly change the refresh rate outside what the TV could do. I was using both an HDMI and VGA connection. Eventually I just put my Dell Precision laptop with a Quadro equivalent of a 9800 on that TV and havent looked back.

 

[ViRGE]

When I rebuilt my HTPC, I had to fiddle with my 4670 to get it to behave with component cables. IIRC I had to define a custom resolution to get something to stick.

 

[KIAman]

What TV are you connecting to? I believe 1080i is pretty much 720p (720x480) which is the option you are getting.

Pull out your TV documentation and check all compatible resolutions it can support.

 

[Pariah]

What TV are you connecting to? I believe 1080i is pretty much 720p (720x480) which is the option you are getting.

Pull out your TV documentation and check all compatible resolutions it can support.

My TV doesn't support 720p, only 480p and 1080i. Despite the 720x480 setting, it isn't 720p because it is running at 30Hz, so it is basically a slightly wider 480i setting. 640x480 was slightly squooshed horizontally and not filling the screen properly, so I switched to 720x480 which is the highest res I can select.

I don't know what it is doing. I'll try some older drivers and keep fiddling with it.

 

[KIAman]

My TV doesn't support 720p, only 480p and 1080i. Despite the 720x480 setting, it isn't 720p because it is running at 30Hz, so it is basically a slightly wider 480i setting. 640x480 was slightly squooshed horizontally and not filling the screen properly, so I switched to 720x480 which is the highest res I can select.

I don't know what it is doing. I'll try some older drivers and keep fiddling with it.

It's been a while since I've fiddled with my TV and radeon, but I remember you can add custom resolutions to your display driver specific to TV output. Maybe you can add a custom resolution then it should show up as an option.