LCD TV question: HDMI or HD15?

[RedBeard]

Okay here is my question:

I have a normal PC with a dual DVI video card.

I have a LCD HDTV. It has HDMI and HD15 (VGA).

It does NOT have a plain DVI port.

My question:

Which is better? Hookup using HD15 or get a DVI -> HDMI adapter?

The LCD is 32". It has a native res of 1366x768.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

The consensus seems to be that VGA is the best for connecting your PC to a HDTV, when the option is available.

 

[mooncancook]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
The consensus seems to be that VGA is the best for connecting your PC to a HDTV, when the option is available.

Yeah on my 37 Vizio I get beautiful 1366x768 native resolution using VGA, while using DVI-HDMI I get max 1280x720 with overscan. On the otherhand, I can only get 1024x768 on a 32" Vizio using VGA from my laptop, though not sure if that's a limit of my laptop or the tv.

 

[mrzed]

I'd have to strongly disagree with the consensus. It all depends on the TV. HDMI is essentially just DVI + Sound, so there should be no possible disadvantage IF your TV can accept the input correctly.

For example, my LG TV will accept 1360*768 through HDMI or VGA, but looks noticably clearer through HDMI. Sadly, it has problems accepting 1366*768 through either, and I suspect it is scaling the extra 6 pixels rather than dropping htem.

To sum up: HDMI/DVI is technically superior, but the usable settings on your TV will determine which connector works best for you. If HDMI can be configured properly, it may look better.

But be aware that DVI/HDMI cables can be costly, avoid buying monster cable at your local retailer.

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: mrzed
I'd have to strongly disagree with the consensus. It all depends on the TV. HDMI is essentially just DVI + Sound, so there should be no possible disadvantage IF your TV can accept the input correctly.

For example, my LG TV will accept 1360*768 through HDMI or VGA, but looks noticably clearer through HDMI. Sadly, it has problems accepting 1366*768 through either, and I suspect it is scaling the extra 6 pixels rather than dropping htem.

To sum up: HDMI/DVI is technically superior, but the usable settings on your TV will determine which connector works best for you. If HDMI can be configured properly, it may look better.

But be aware that DVI/HDMI cables can be costly, avoid buying monster cable at your local retailer.

What he said.

DVI/HDMI should be used if your LCD/DLP/plasma TV will accept them at its native resolution (and doesn't have over/underscan problems, etc.) If you can only use native resolution through VGA/HD component, that may be better -- but you still might want to try it both ways.

For info on a particular model, try searching AVSForum. Someone has probably tried it already if it is an even remotely popular TV, and can tell you what settings to use.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: mrzed
I'd have to strongly disagree with the consensus. It all depends on the TV. HDMI is essentially just DVI + Sound, so there should be no possible disadvantage IF your TV can accept the input correctly.

For example, my LG TV will accept 1360*768 through HDMI or VGA, but looks noticably clearer through HDMI. Sadly, it has problems accepting 1366*768 through either, and I suspect it is scaling the extra 6 pixels rather than dropping htem.

To sum up: HDMI/DVI is technically superior, but the usable settings on your TV will determine which connector works best for you. If HDMI can be configured properly, it may look better.

But be aware that DVI/HDMI cables can be costly, avoid buying monster cable at your local retailer.

Good place to buy cables:
http://www.monoprice.com/home/index.asp

 

[cubby1223]

When the parts arrive this week I'll be playing around with connecting a pc to my new hdtv. The tv's manual repeatedly states I cannot connect a pc to the tv through the hdmi inputs. So who knows. It does have a vga input.

In other words, just use which input port works.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

A lot of sets say that

It might imply that you wouldn't be able to feed it native res through the HDMI input. If you send is a standard HD res like 720p though, that should work fine.

If native res doesn't work with HDMI but does work with VGA, then that would be a reason to do VGA.

But yeah, using whatever input works is a good plan :thumbsup:

 

[cubby1223]

Now that I have screwed around with my new htpc hardware - I'm actually going to have both the vga & dvi > hdmi connected. For some silly reason, the vga input accepts 1920x1200, a 16:10 aspect ratio, so everything on-screen is squished by 10%. The hdmi connection has significant over-scan, and almost no video adjustment options. So I have it set in the drivers to display overlays full screen on the dvi port.

With ffdshow I can easily make the adjustments not to fit a black border around the picture to fit the video to the screen. Doesn't look like any mpeg2 decoders will do that. Heck, I could set ffdshow to stretch the video so a 16:10 picture on a 16:9 screen will look in the correct aspect - but again, mpeg2 decoders don't have those options.

Ah well. Now it's off to research remotes. This htpc stuff has way too many learning curves.