New HTPC Build With Graphic/TV Problems

[rsg003]

Well I just built my 1st HTPC Computer and it all went pretty smooth to a degree. I have 3-questions that I need help with and let me start with what I built:
Components:

1.)Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced Mini-ITX Case
2.)AMD A10-6800K Richland 4.1GHz(4.4GHz Turbo) Socket FM2 100W Quad-Core Processor-Black Edition AMD Radeon HD 8670D APU
3.)Gigabyte GA-F2A85XN-WIFI FM2 AMD A85X Motherboard Mini-ITX
4.)Team Vulcan 8GB(2x4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 Memory
5.)Western Digital WD Blue 1TB 7200RPM 64MB Sata 6.0GB Internal Hard Drive
6.)Corsair CX750M 750W ATX12V v2.3 SLI/Crossfire Modular PSU
7.)LG 24X DVD Burner SATA GH24NS95
8.)Microsoft Wireless Desktop 800 Business Keyboard/Mouse
9.)HDMI High-Speed HDMI Cable: Ethernet,3D, and Audio Return
10.)Rosewill RHRC-11002 Windows 7 Certified Media-Center IR Remote
11.)Radeon HD 6850 2GB 256Bit Graphics Card

Television: 50" Plasma HDTV Sanyo DP50740 720P(HDMI)

Software:

1.) Windows 7 Ultimate 64Bit
2.)PowerDVD Deluxe(HD/DVD Only:Not Blu-Ray)

I have the Whole thing up and running, except I have not installed the separate Graphics Card(HD6850) yet. I would like to know if I am suppose to connect my TV to the HDMI on the Motherboard which is tied to the APU Graphics or am I suppose to connect the TV to the HDMI on the standalone Graphics Card(HD6850)??? I tried connecting the HDMI from TV to The Motherboard HDMI(APU) but could not even get a signal to the TV that way.
When I connected The TV HDMI to the Graphics Card(HD6850) HDMI I got the signal but I was unsure if I was suppose to download the drivers for the separate card???? as It needed drivers as everything was big and blocky. I just wasn't sure and am sure this is a no-brainer for most of you...lol

The third issue is that just using the APU for graphics/resolution for my 50" TV I could barely read the TEXT on the screen and pictures were a little grainy. I tried the pixel Format option and the Adjust Clear Type Text Option, Set Custom Text DPI to no avail. It just wasn't very sharp and Clear like it was when I had the system hooked up to my LG 32" 1080P.
TV.....Now I tried 720P and 1080P on the Sanyo 50" and both options Grainy and Text not very legible. Any idea's??? Is this because the APU is just not enough for a 50" TV??? Or because it's an older HD Plasma TV???

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!!

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Both the APU or GPU both have far more than enough power to run the proper resolution on your TV. The problem is the TV. It is limited to 720P res and I can't seem to find how to set it to a 1:1 pixel format.

Set the resolution on your HTPC to 720 and make sure that the refresh rate is 60Hz. For your TV, check the user manual to see if there is a way to set the pixel format at a 16:9 aspect ratio to 1:1 pixel mapping (iow, no overscan).

Edit: btw, definitely install the latest graphics drivers for both the dedicated card and the APU.

 

[rsg003]

Thanks "Tastelikechicken" I know what you mean now...but let me ask you something? When I add the the separate Graphics Card to the 16x Slot I can only get a picture to the TV by connecting the HDMI to the Graphics Card...meaning if I insert the Graphics Card and leave the HDMI connected to the Motherboard(APU) I don't get a picture at all...so the proper way to do it is when I connect a separate card the HDMI needs to connect to the card correct?

 

[rsg003]

I only ask because I am just use to connecting to a graphics card when you install one and just wasn't sure with the whole APU thing on how it works as the motherboard manual was not very clear at all...kind of like they just assumed alot

 

[Alan G]

@rsg003 - correct; if you are going to use a separate GPU you have to connect your TV to the GPU. I'm not familiar with AMD CPUs as I only run Intel and it's my experience with two HTPC builds that you don't need anything more than the on chip graphics for TV (gaming is another case altogether). If your TV doesn't support 1:1 pixel mapping you need to address this through the controls on the computer. I'm hooked up to a 32" Sony Bravia and had to control the overscan through the Intel control panel as my TV model cannot control it.

EDIT: I have the Intel equivalent of your MoBo and do all my Internet streaming (e.g., Netflix) through the WiFi and it works just great.

 

[Claudius-07]

Can you get any video? I mean without the added video card? Some mobo's and I have a few that are wonky, if you add a discrete card, it disables the video from the onboard. I am not 100% but at least that is how it works on one that I have. In the BIOS there are options to set which video to boot from FIRST? Discrete or built in, or they may call it "built in" and PCIX etc. If you were to remove the discrete card the 6850, and you plug in the HDMI into the mobo's slot, it SHOULD boot and give you video from that.

However, the whole point of a decent built in graphics system is so that you don't need to add a discrete card and then have more power, more heat and mostly, more noise from the fans.

 

[rsg003]

yes I get video without the discrete card plugged in just using the APU...i just wasn't getting video when I added the discrete card and left the HDMI plugged into the APU. I just wanted to make sure that I was doing it right by connecting the HDMI to the discrete card instead of leaving it in the APU HDMI on the motherboard. I got it though...just installed drivers for the Card and am now going to work on the TV part its self....Thanks Much.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

I only ask because I am just use to connecting to a graphics card when you install one and just wasn't sure with the whole APU thing on how it works as the motherboard manual was not very clear at all...kind of like they just assumed alot

Yes, as the others have already said, you would use the HDMI port on the GPU. It is possible to use the APU graphics by going into the BIOS and setting your graphics priority to "onboard" (or something similar, I don't know the specifics of your BIOS) but you wouldn't want to do that since your discrete card is the more powerful of the two. For watching TV and running apps that power doesn't come into play at all. For gaming, which is the only real reason you would need a separate video card in your HTPC, it does make a difference.

One advantage with an AMD system that has an APU and a discrete card is that you should be able to run Dual Graphics. It's a sort of cross-fire setup that AMD has for their APU/GPU combos. First you should get everything running well with the system through the GPU. Once you have that all figured out, go here for more info on Dual Graphics.

 

[rsg003]

Thanks for all the help Folks...everything is perfect.

 

[cheez]

Thanks "Tastelikechicken" I know what you mean now...but let me ask you something? When I add the the separate Graphics Card to the 16x Slot I can only get a picture to the TV by connecting the HDMI to the Graphics Card...meaning if I insert the Graphics Card and leave the HDMI connected to the Motherboard(APU) I don't get a picture at all...so the proper way to do it is when I connect a separate card the HDMI needs to connect to the card correct?

Yes when you install a separate video card you must install the driver for it. Your computer detected the card and installed Standard VGA microsoft driver instead which explains for your low res on your screen (probably 800 x 600).

It is VERY unlikely that your TV even supports 1:1 pixel mapping. What is the native resolution of your Sanyo 50" TV?

Getting 1:1 pixel mapping can be tough / tricky due to hardware / software compatibility matter. In many cases, setting it to 720P from video card will give you blurry texts and soft images. You should have gotten the Panasonic professional grade plasma TV's. My 2004 technology Panny TH-50PHD7UY with DVI-D blade connected with DVI cable gives me 1:1 pixel mapping at native 1366 x 768 for razor sharp / clean / crystal texts and images. It looks better than the LCD monitors in crisper, crystal crisp diamond-like crispy texts and images with greater depth.

The problem with the HDMI is it only outputs signals in either 720P or 1080. With DVI it supports wide variety of resolutions, similar to VGA. What other inputs do you have on the Sanyo TV?


EDIT: Oops.. looks like I joined the game too late.

cheez

 

[cheez]

2004 Panny plasma technology man... via DVI-D.

This TV is 9 years old wuahahahahahahahaha.

If you really want to get serious with PQ/VQ save up some money and get a professional grade (commercial) Panasonic Plasma TV and use it with a HTPC with dedicated video card and not an onboard video from motherboard.



cheez