What's a good resolution to use in an HDTV?

[HandGrenade]

I have a 720p Sony and I'm thinking about creating a small box just for gaming and fun and hooking it via component/hdmi to my tv. I've never used an HDTV with a PC before but bought a DVI-to-HDMI connector for my MBP. It works pretty good but I can't find a good resolution for it. The fonts always look crappy.

So before I start looking at video cards, what is a good resolution for using on an HDTV at 720p or 1080i? Any advice?

 

[96Firebird]

Find the documentation for your TV, it will have a native resolution that you should use. Usually the native resolution on 720p TVs is 1376 x 768. As far as the blurry text, it could be "ClearType" in windows messing with the text. Mess around with that to see if it comes clear...

 

[Lioninstreet]

I think you cant run a monitor at over it's rated resolution without damaging it.

If I'm correct, a 720 tv should run at resolutions no tighter than 1280x720

 

[HandGrenade]

The native resolution is listed as 1366x768.

When I plug in the DVI cable and I'm in OSX it configures the resolution automatically, I just discovered. Running under windows I'll have to set it manually.

 

[nenforcer]

Try running exactly at the native resolution, 1366x768, for the best picture quality.

Any 720P (1280x720) content you have, Youtube, should fit nicely and leave you room for the menu / search bars if your not in full screen mode.

 

[HandGrenade]

Hmm well for some reason the Windows drivers for this Nvidia chip (8600M GT) won't take 1366x768 as a resolution and it's picked out something around 720 horizontal (posting from OSX now).

 

[nenforcer]

Which driver version are you using for what I assume is a laptop? It is quite possible the laptop vendor has some funky outdated drivers which could be the culprit.

Try getting the latest drivers from your vendor's website and if not try the drivers at

http://www.geforce.com

Almost any monitor / TV built in the last 10 years has EDID capability as long as its connected via a digital interface (DVI / HDMI). You aren't using a VGA to Component, component to DVI or component to HDMI adapter are you?

 

[HandGrenade]

This is a macbook pro and so I used the Snow Leopard install disc to install the boot camp drivers to dual-boot XP. Not sure on the exact version of the drivers but I'll check again when I get home (at work now).

For the connection I am using a DVI-to-HDMI cable.

 

[ocre]

@720 how big is your TV? For computers the resolutions are fine so that you have clarity and its less blotchy. Text is a good way to exaggerate it. When you look at screen sizes per resolutions for PCs you will quickly notice, as the size goes up the resolution scales accordingly. Most 22 inch lcds now a days are at least 1920x1080. As a matter of fact, by the time tese LCDs get 26> inches they almost all go past 1080. LCD TVs are still using 1080 all the way up to huge 60+ inch TVs.

But your case we are talking 720. If your TV is over 18 inches diagonally, it is probably gonna look worse than LCD made for a PC. but for a TV use 720 can look okay even at a 42". For your regular TV stuff, you may not ever notice a drawback. yet for a PC (especially focusing on text), you can easily see the imperfections of a larger screen with a lighter pixel density.

To put it short, when you plug your TV into your computer dont expect the clarity of a PC screen. It may be a great option to watch stuff on, even play games with, but its not going to look as clear as the heavy pixel per square inch screens that are popularly sold for PCs today.

 

[HandGrenade]

My TV is 40 inches. I hooked it up mainly for a test and this is my first time trying it. ocre, what you said sounds right but I wanted to check around and make sure I had it at least configured the best I could and it sounds like I do.

 

[soccerballtux]

The native resolution is listed as 1366x768.

When I plug in the DVI cable and I'm in OSX it configures the resolution automatically, I just discovered. Running under windows I'll have to set it manually.

yeah whats up with that, 720p is given a 768p screen?? Always wondered this.

 

[ocre]

My TV is 40 inches. I hooked it up mainly for a test and this is my first time trying it. ocre, what you said sounds right but I wanted to check around and make sure I had it at least configured the best I could and it sounds like I do.

It will be alright. As far as movies and gaming, well with any videos your computer should look okay hooked into the TV. I know several ppl that game and watch movies on their PCs hooked up to a big screen TV. and its really not bad at all. But your will never get the text to look crisp with that size setup at only 720. A 40" 1080 is better but still nowhere near the fine looking text you get from an actual PC LCD.