How to make S-Video out to TV more clear

[PCBliss]

I put together a cheap computer to hook up to my tv. My TV is an HD ready 32" CRT. Since its a CRT type TV, the only option I have for hooking a computer to it is S-video. I can use DVI, but it doesnt support nearly high enough resolution to use windows that way. With S-video, I can get a more pleasing looking resolution, but the problem is that text and menus and everything are very un-clear. I know this is a limitation of trying to view windows through S-video, but is there any way or any other solution I can use to get a clearer windows picture on my CRT type HD TV?

 

[JRW]

DVI should allow 1080i or 720p resolution with PC?? ,at least it does on my CRT HDTV and DVI looks 20 times better than Svideo. There really is no other way to get a better picture ..Svideo is very blurry compared.

 

[PCBliss]

Hmm im confused.... my tv i think supports 1080i in widescreen mode, but I guess i dont understand how to do that with a PC. Because my TV only supports a resolution of like 500 x 300 or something so how can i get it to display a decent resolution from a PC? I think I am missing something....

 

[DAPUNISHER]

"Since its a CRT type TV, the only option I have for hooking a computer to it is S-video. I can use DVI, but it doesnt support nearly high enough resolution to use windows that way."

While I have overscan issues with my 57" RP CRT HDTV using nvidia cards *the nV cards work much better with fixed pixel display HDTVs IME* that results in my using the underscan feature, it is still capable of exceeding 720P res using a DVI-to-HDMI cable. I just moderately increased the size of the icons and fonts to better suit me. I can read the forums on it just fine, for instance. So I'm not certain what you are saying about not supporting high enough res via DVI if the TV can do 720P and 1080i?

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: PCBliss
Hmm im confused.... my tv i think supports 1080i in widescreen mode, but I guess i dont understand how to do that with a PC. Because my TV only supports a resolution of like 500 x 300 or something so how can i get it to display a decent resolution from a PC? I think I am missing something....

Exactly which TV do you have?

 

[PCBliss]

I can get the exact model when I get home.... I guess I know less about this then i thought.... All I did was hook my HD-ready TV up to my computer using a regular DVI cable. But If i try setting the resolution in windows to anything decent at all, the tv just gets all wierd looking.... Is there something else I am supposed to do differently? Maybe a setting or something somewhere, I really Dont know. I know I can use my TV in 1080i using Component cables with my Xbox 360 and it works great....

 

[PCBliss]

Ok i found out my model # for my TV..... http://www.dealtime.com/xPF-RCA-D32F750T

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I'd suggest searching the AVS forums Sounds like your problems may be related to the 4:3 aspect ratio, powerstrip might do the trick, but I don't know what actual resolution that set can run for PC use.

 

[PCBliss]

Yeah i just posted there as well. I tried using powerstrip, but that program told me the max resolution was like 466x350 or something like that, if i tried any higher it would mess up.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I think it should be able to do 640x480p at least, but it is good you posted over there, someone will likely have experience with similar hardware and TV.

 

[PCBliss]

Is 640x480 the same as 640x480P ?

 

[DAPUNISHER]

The p is just for progressive, which is 1 pass v. interlaced which is 2 pass. As a PC display, I just don't know why that set wouldn't be capable of it. Heck, I'm confused about the specs saying it can handle 1080i broadcast but no mention of 720p. I need to do some reading myself

 

[PCBliss]

here is some more info i found

http://www0.epinions.com/content_182103019140

http://archive.avsforum.com/avs-vb/history/topic/482850-1.html

http://tv.rca.com/NR/rdonlyres/2BCEFD33...B/0/D32F750T.pdf#search=%22D32F750T%22

Do I need a different video card? Im using the DVI out on a radeon 7000

 

[Peter]

Through an SVideo cable, all you'll ever get is 480i, with a horizontal bandwidth that lets you tell about 360 pixels apart.

 

[PCBliss]

yes well now im trying to figure out how to get a decent resolution through the DVI

 

[Peter]

Ah. In DVI mode, the monitor should report its capabilities back to the system via plug&play. The video driver should then let you select the resolutions it supports.

The Radeon 7000 might not be capable of 1600x1200 and above, but given your monitor is actually a TV, this is not to worry. Installing the latest Catalyst drivers that do support the 7000 (6.5 if I remember correctly) is definitely in order though - else you possibly won't have the recently introduced widescreen HDTV resolutions.