Please explain 16:9, resolution, aspect ratio etc

[fredriksk]

Ok. I have a TV that can display 16:9 format (when i look at TV (not threw MP) and the broadcast is in 16:9 my TV automaticaly change the format and displays the text "W I D E" on the screen).

What I don't get is how to get the best solution when displaying a Data screen on my TV.
Questions:
* Is a 16:9 broadcast the same as widescreen?
* What resolution should I use on my computor (I currently use 1024x768)?
* What aspect ratio should I use in MP when watching DVD?
* Do I need some special hardware to get the right format (I'm currently using the built-in graphic card and a little gadget to transformat VGA to S-video)?

If someone could make the time to explain how all this fit together it would be nice :-)

Or maby someone have some usefull links?

[Klept]

Originally Posted by fredriksk

Ok. I have a TV that can display 16:9 format (when i look at TV (not threw MP) and the broadcast is in 16:9 my TV automaticaly change the format and displays the text "W I D E" on the screen).

What I don't get is how to get the best solution when displaying a Data screen on my TV.
Questions:
* Is a 16:9 broadcast the same as widescreen?
* What resolution should I use on my computor (I currently use 1024x768)?
* What aspect ratio should I use in MP when watching DVD?
* Do I need some special hardware to get the right format (I'm currently using the built-in graphic card and a little gadget to transformat VGA to S-video)?

If someone could make the time to explain how all this fit together it would be nice :-)

Or maby someone have some usefull links?

I'm kinda confused here too.. I have a wide plasma, and mp dosen't fill the screen with widescreen content unless i use "Zoom" and to me, "Zoom" means artificial decoding with pixelation. Mind you it does look okay.. but just switching to "Zoom" mode makes me sick to my stomach.

[moullas]

What brand/model is your tv? You should find from the manual the native resolution of your tv (if it's plasma/lcd), and try setting your desktop to that. If it is crt then find a low wide resolution (1024x768 is 4:3, not 16:9), so that you won't have a wrong aspect ratio.

Also, s-video is really the worst choice of video-out available to connect to it, see what other connectors are present on the rear of your tv set, and report back here.

[Inker]

The problem with plasmas (as opposed to lcds) and htpcs often is that they have non-square pixel. So your 1024x768 would be 4:3 using square pixels, but in your plasma every pixel is wieder than it is high, thus it's really 16:9. But your htpc doesn't know that, and so it thinks your using a 4:3 screen. So far for the explaination.

Since I don't have a plasma, I don't know too much about a solution. However try going into the settings menu, there is a screen calibration in there somwhere where you can adjust for non-square pixels (or at least that's what I seem to remember)

[fredriksk]

My TV is a (crt) Panasonic tx-32dk20f WideScreen 100Hz.
I have access to scart to but I thought that S-video was slightly better?

I can't find the "native resolution" to my specific TV and what do you mean by "If it is crt then find a low wide resolution"? Any suggestions on what resolution to use instead of 1024x768?

Does it help if I get any type of harware?

[dukeelam]

If you run your widescreen TV in a 1024x768 res. you will get a distorted picture from the start, as that gives a 4:3 (4/3=1.33, 1024/768=1.33) aspect. The icons on the desktop will look like they are short and wide.

Check your graphics settings if your card has resolutions for 1366x768 (16/9~1.78, 1366/768~1.78) if your graphics card and converter can handle that output.

If your graphics card has options for custom user resolutions you could try adding 1024x575 or another standard horizontal resolution (800 or 640) calculating the vertical value by divideing with 1.78
(NVidias newest gfx drivers have support for custom resolution, not sure about ATI though).

Regards
Duke

[Jetboy]

There are two options, as stated above:

1. Set your resolution to a 4:3 resolution like 1024x768 (PAL is 720x576). Set your tv to "wide" so it stretches the image and fills the screen. Then adjust the pixel ratio in MP and all other video players you use so you get the correct aspect ratio.

2. Set your resolution to a 16:9 resolution like 1024x576. If your graphics card cand handle that correctly (my GF5200 can) it will squeeze the image to an anamorphic one that your tv will display correctly using the "wide" setting.

I prefer #2 since it gives you the correct ratio for everything that windows does, including desktop icons and all programs. #1 will give a stretched look to everything that doesn't have a built in pixel correction setting.

[chenks]

how do i set a resolution like 1024x576 ?

i have a GF5200 and can't see where to set a custom resolution like that.

edit - ignore that .. i worked it out

however the 1024x576 doesn't fit my widescreen TV... the resolution is WAY too big.
i have a sony 22inch widescreen and i have it set to wide mode.