I was wondering if anyone has any ideas why image quality on my new MCE PC is so poor. Here are the specifics: Samsung 50" DLP TV p4 3ghz 1 gig ram Geforce v9520 video card connected to TV w/ s-video Hauppage win PVR 150 tuner connected to DTV Sat receiver through component connections DVD+RW and DVD-Rom MCE 2005 rollup 2 Directv service I can do nearly everything on this PC but on this TV the image quality is a bit blurry. Its a brand new TV, not even 1 month old yet. DVD image qaulity is great through my reg samsung DVD player with HDMI input. Image fills the screen totaly, just a bit blurry through PC. any suggestions would be great..Thanks!
That's your problem^^ S-Video is a bad way to connect a media PC to a 50" screen and will give you a blurry image. Try using HDMI/DVI or at least component video/VGA.
So do you think using a cable that comes out of the video card as DVI and switches to HDMI at the TV is the way to go? My TV only uses S-video. component and HDMI. Also any advice on a brand of sound card? I am currently using on-board sound and want to be able to use it in a 7.1 channel home theater system. Thanks!
Yea, DVI to HDMI. Although be careful because you wont get HDMI content protection flag working that way (iirc). It depends on the TV but you might need HDMI to HDMI although DVI is compatible. You can get graphics cards with TV out dongles that have component on them, but that means changing your graphics mind. What motherboard do you have? Cause if you've got something ICH6/ICH7 southbridge based (intel chipset) then you will probably have HD audio. If you use the S/PDIF out you can use the integrated dolby encoding to give your music/TV virtual surround IIx or dolby live!.
Thanks for your input Bindi. Hopefully I am getting what you say correctly. So by going HDMI/DVI it will inhibit my ability to record content because of HDCP? Would it just be better to change the graphic card to be able to use component? What would you do? Thanks for your input. I am a MCE PC rookie.
No, it will limit your ability to upgrade the unit with a Bluray/HDDVD drive and show HD content onto your nice, huge Samsung screen because DVI has no HDCP. Also, some manufacturers may require the HDCP flag to be accepted before it accepts and displays a HDMI input. I dont know if it's true, but it's a possibility. Um, I'd probably get a DVI to HDMI adapter because a digital to digital input will gurantee quality and it will probably work out cheaper. Ive never looked into it though.
Bearing in mind (and not knowing what model you have) you'll be limited to the native res of 1280x720 or, if you have the more expensive model 1600odd by 1080. The screen wont be "PC monitor" quality because the pixel count is lower for the given size. Considering my 15.4" widescreen on my lappy is also 1280x800, but im sitting a foot away, whereas you'd be 2-3x 50" distance (said "best range" distances for HDTV) to get the same effect Id imagine. Each pixel will be 3.25x the size of this 15.4" TFT so to read stuff you'd have to be 3.25x further away, but the screens are made for TV/Movie watching not reading text. Im rambling now.
Quite the ramble, indeed. And 1080i/p (if that's what you were getting at) is 1920x1080 - notably more than the "1600odd" you mentioned I doubt any manu would be stupid enough to require the HDCP flag before accepting an HDMI input though - there goes anyone who wants to purchase a screen for gaming or wants to ever play back any of their DVD collection. I wouldn't be overly concerned about the HDCP thing... it'll a) be cracked quickly and b) finally go over the line by screwing over every single early adopter (the ones who spend the most money) of HDTV sets. Well, actually, it's already been cracked, but the cracker lives in the US so he won't publish the method for fear of prosecution under the DMCA (even though him publishing it back three years ago when he first did it would have allowed them to fix it). Some Swede will get your back on that one, don't worry
Ahhhhhhhhhhh Ok now I have another issue. Hooked up PC with new cable (DVI to HDMI) and the TV (50" Samsung DLP)screen goes black just before it gets to the Windows logon screen. It starts loading windows then black and I get a message that there is no video signal. If I switch back to S video or analog it works fine, just picture sux. I have played with the resolution settings and refresh rates but same ol same ol. Any ideas?
Get another monitor, plug that in and stick your TV on 2nd output, then play with it that way. Then you can determine whether it's being picked up or not or where it's a just not enabled etc
