Guide for connecting HTPC to flatscreen

[knutinh]

1. Do not purchase an lcd-tv with an "PC input" expecting it to work optimally. Chances are it wont. Ask specifically on a forum or make the salesman connect a PC!

2. The preferred connection is digitally through HDMI or DVI (equivalent). But VGA is also a good method. Use S-video only as a last resort for HD-resolution displays.

3. You may want to download the latest drivers for your graphics card. Most users seems to use ATI or Nvidia, and both are catering for lcd-tvs etc in later driver revisions. You may need powerstrip if you need absolute flexibility.

Now, as you have followed tips 1-3 you have compatible and working hardware.

What? You purchased a tv anyways, and now you come for help?=)

http://pixelmapping.wikispaces.com/P...ping+explained

As the link above shows, many tvs have a hard-wired scaler/cropper called "overscan". If you do, then you are in some ways out of luck. Because of poor engineering, you will never get a crystal clear PC image. This might not matter (natural video is a lot more forgiving to scaling), but a PC cannot fix a poorly designed tv. What you can do is set the PC up to do "resolution within a resolution". For instance 1100x694 pixels may mean that every PC pixels falls within the tv screen. Since the tv typically has 1280x768 pixels, it will still scale the image though.


One important parameter is framerate. If you live in the US or Japan, you will typically have a rate of 60Hz for tv transmissions and video content. Use this rate for the PC desktop to avoid stuttery tv image. For the rest of the world, this rate is 50 Hz.

-k

[Spragleknas]

I've been meaning to ask (you in particular) for advice on LCD/plasma.

Thanks for taking the time!

Could you please recommend some good buys, and also mention some "no-go"-screens?

*sending link to friends*

Btw: What happend to the "tips and tricks"-section?

[knutinh]

I am not updated on what brands to choose. Note that I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT GENERAL VIDEO quality (that is for you to decide in the shop). I am talking about optimum PC connectivity.

I do believe that Samsung has no 1:1 pixel capable models.

I believe that Philips has few or no 1:1 models

Sony finally started offering 1:1 in the very latest models

Plasmas generally dont do 1:1 (they will often have non-square pixels ayways)

Note that the guys in the shop likely wont know anything about this. They will say "Oh yes, it has got a PC connector", pointing to the VGA plug on the back. If you complain about overscan they will sa "oh, thats because youve got a bad computer". Check out the forums here for some great explanations (very helpful forum admin as well):
http://forums.entechtaiwan.net/


Also, note that 1:1 pixel means very little unless it can simultaneously do the framerate you need (50 and 60Hz at least. Ideally 24/48/72 Hz aswell).

Note#2 none of these things counts if your eyes tells you otherwise. Plasma screens will give you very good blacklevel and natural video movement. This may be more important to your eyes than a little scaling.

How does this look? One can design special patterns that are especially sensitive to scaling by having extreme high-frequency content (blackpixel, white pixel, black pixel etc). This is a kind of "worst-case" look.


the original (provided that you are viewing this page on a 1:1 monitor, of course)


a scaled version with lots of artefacts


-k

[funkstar]

excellent test pattern knutinh

that should come in useful

[SpeedFreak]

Originally Posted by knutinh

I do believe that Samsung has no 1:1 pixel capable models.

Samsung TVs have no 1:1 on the DVI/HDMI input; They only support the official DVI resolutions and frequencies.

However, they do support 1:1 on the VGA input, but you can't select the refresh rate.

It took quite a bit of research to discover this fact. I have a Samsung LE32M51B and I found out the hard way. We use 50Hz here in Denmark, but the TV only supports 60Hz. Other models might support other refresh rates - I don't know.

[Taipan]

Originally Posted by SpeedFreak

However, they do support 1:1 on the VGA input, but you can select the refresh rate.

Should this say "but you cannot select the refresh rate" ...

[knutinh]

I think that VGA cannot do 50Hz (?) This would be a good point for checking that your tv will do PC-DVI (or HDMI with the right cable) if you are living in "PAL-land".

I think that the only way things will get better is by showing people how little thought tv producers use on PC connection, and influencing their purchase. After purchasing a "bad" tv, there are limited possibilities.


http://www.hometheatermag.com/images...20Magazine.jpg

[SpeedFreak]

Originally Posted by Taipan

Should this say "but you cannot select the refresh rate" ...

Whoops, you're right - edited.

[smnnekho]

let me just throw some things in for the samsung LCD:

i have a LE 37 S71 B (37'') and im very happy with it.

what i like:

- SDTV quality: very good, far from what i've expected it to be
- HDTV quality: brilliant (as expected)
- PC-Picture: (MP is my only source) absolutly perfect
- gaming: very good

it is connected via VGA--> VGA and is running at 1360*768@60Hz
i also tested it (very quickly) with a hdmi-->hdmi connection and it was also very cool.

i have not tested any DVI-->hdmi tricks, but i suppose its right what people say, the only thing is: i cant imagine how the picture coul be any better then it already is now with VGA (-;

[tourettes]

Following LCD TV has 2 xHDMI inputs and it accepted 1360x768@50Hz 1:1 without any special tricks, only thing that was needed were setting the correct resolution in nvidia's control panel.

http://www.fujitsu-siemens.com/home/..._lcd_vq32.html