Video Card to HDTV question

[Rekonn]

I decide to hook up my computer to my 32" Samsung HDTV. I set my resolution to 800x600, and have an S video cable going from my ati 9600 to the tv. It's nice, but I thought it would be better. I started playing WoW, but quickly stopped after realizing I couldn't read the chat text even if I was only a couple feet away. The tv also has a DVI interface, would that be much better ? Is there another way to a get better picture ?

 

[rbV5]

Its not great because it's 480i resolution output from s-video or composite (RCA).

DVI can carry a higher bandwidth signal, so it will look alot better if you can get it to sync to a higher resolution that your display supports. Even 480p would look quite a bit better. There is support for HD resolutions in Catalyst drivers, but you may need to use a utility like Powerstrip to configure the ouput for your particular display.

You can get a lot of info at AVSforum HTPC forum maybe try typing your display into the search engine for that forum and see what you come up with.

 

[Matthias99]

You want the DVI->component adapter from ATI for your R9600. This will let you output in HD resolutions (480p, 720p, 1080i) to an HDTV. Using SVideo, you're limited to 640x480 interlaced analog output, which looks like crap.

If you have DVI/HDMI in on the HDTV, you probably don't need the adapter, but you may need to tweak settings or use Powerstrip as decribed above. AVSForum has a LOT more information on all this.

 

[Rekonn]

Thanks for the great info!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Yep, the DVI to component is probably what you want. I'm using it on a 9800pro to a projector. The projector is only EDTV though. Depending of your display, you still might not get the really clear text your desire, but component will certainly get you farther than s-video. If you can get a good resolution to match to your tv without overscan, then you should be in good shape.

ATI supports resolutions to help correct overscan so check them out.

 

[Wingznut]

I just had my 9800 PRO hooked up to my RPTV via the DVI connector. I got it to run at both 720 and 1080 without too much trouble. While the picture wasn't exactly framed properly, I imagine that could've been fixed with some tweaking in Powerstrip.

My problem is the exact same as Rekonn's... The text is not clear. Whether it in IE or WoW, it's just about unreadable.

Can it be better? Would the component adapter help? Are there any tweaks in PS or the Catalyst drivers that I am missing?

TIA.

 

[bcoupland]

It's possible that neither WOW nor IE can run at those resolutions properly, even though your PC can. Maybe that would explain the blurred text, because the game is actually defaulting to another res, even though your vid card is displaying it at those HD resolutions.

 

[Wingznut]

Thanks for the input, bcoupland...

I guess I'm really wondering if I'm doing something wrong, of if people who do run their PC on their HDTV just accept the blurry text.

 

[Wingznut]

Bump.

 

[rbV5]

Blurry text means that you are not getting 1:1 pixel mapping from the DVI to the Display. In other words, especially with DVI, its important to get each pixel mapped to a corresponding pixel on the display for crisp text (or crisp anything for that matter) It requires the proper game resolution matched with the properly configured display resolution...the bigger the difference between the two, the blurrier the display (text shows it easily)

People run extremes to accepting "poor" "adequate" and "give me break, is it worth all that?"<--yes of course it is.

For me, for gaming on my big screen, I'll accept the better YPbPr support in Catalyst drivers using component, and slightly less PQ, with infinately easier configuration for games. AVSforums HTPC forum is a gresat place to get more info than you ever wanted