Getting the most out of my HD3450 HDMI

kingnubian · 2008-04-08, 07:57

Here is my setup.

Intel E4300 @ 2.5ghz
Asus P5L-MX Motherboard
HIS HD3450 256mb (Comes with DVI->HDMI dongle) (Catalyst 8.3)
2gig (2x1gig) PC2-6400 DDR2
Seagate 7200.12 500gig Hard Drive
Inwin Mt. Jade (BK623) MicroAtx Case
Vista Home Premium
32" Samsung LNT3242H1099 LCD Television
Mediaportal @ 1360x768 Resolution (EVR Enabled)
Both FFDshow & CoreAVC used for H.264 video (Alternating to test)
FFDshow used for everything else

I just got my HDMI cable and have been doing some testing. In short, given that I had been using the VGA connection in the mean time, I've noticed that while HDMI in my setup looses hands down when it comes to the display quality of the windows desktop it offers a richer, brighter & IMHO better visual quality when playing back videos through my HTPC.

My question is how can I make sure I am getting the best PQ & performance out of my setup using the HDMI connection?

Spragleknas · 2008-04-08, 08:43

You could try ATI HD Registry Tweaks

GL

tourettes · 2008-04-08, 08:59

Make sure that you are using the TV's naive resolution (it's not possible with all TV's thru DVI/HDMI and it's more likely that with VGA it's possible.).

Spragleknas · 2008-04-08, 11:09

Read your post again, and I now see that I did not answer your Q properly - I only gave a tip for better PQ in general

Samsung has not been very PC-friendly in the past, due to lack of 1:1 pixelmapping. Read more here: pixelmapping » home

kingnubian · 2008-04-08, 16:47

I noticed that my television's model line is not listed.

The native resolution of my tv is 1366x768. Both VGA & HDMI offer 1360x768 which works well & can be scaled if necessary to use the whole screen using the adjustments in the CCC.

Displaying the static desktop is where HDMI is wanting. Video playback is another thing though.

Video playback quality, in Mediaportal (Latest stable release), is very very good though and actually improves if I turn off the EVR option. Colours are richer, brighter & more vibrant than when using VGA. This is one disappointment but I do realize that EVR is still an experimental option.

Do the svn releases have any improvements that may benefit me?

Spragleknas · 2008-04-08, 20:08

Not sure. You could search the log : MEDIAPORTAL - free MediaCenter HTPC Software - Changelog 0.2.3.0 RC3

kingnubian · 2008-04-09, 06:15

Thanks for the heads up! I've been playing with my Tv's setting and have improved the PQ even more. Time for ore reading & testing.

2008-04-08, 07:57	#1 (permalink)
kingnubian Portal Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 66 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country: My System	Getting the most out of my HD3450 HDMI Here is my setup. Intel E4300 @ 2.5ghz Asus P5L-MX Motherboard HIS HD3450 256mb (Comes with DVI->HDMI dongle) (Catalyst 8.3) 2gig (2x1gig) PC2-6400 DDR2 Seagate 7200.12 500gig Hard Drive Inwin Mt. Jade (BK623) MicroAtx Case Vista Home Premium 32" Samsung LNT3242H1099 LCD Television Mediaportal @ 1360x768 Resolution (EVR Enabled) Both FFDshow & CoreAVC used for H.264 video (Alternating to test) FFDshow used for everything else I just got my HDMI cable and have been doing some testing. In short, given that I had been using the VGA connection in the mean time, I've noticed that while HDMI in my setup looses hands down when it comes to the display quality of the windows desktop it offers a richer, brighter & IMHO better visual quality when playing back videos through my HTPC. My question is how can I make sure I am getting the best PQ & performance out of my setup using the HDMI connection?

2008-04-08, 08:43	#2 (permalink)
Spragleknas Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Rogaland Age: 32 Posts: 3,813 Thanks: 179 Thanked 90 Times in 76 Posts Country: My System	You could try ATI HD Registry Tweaks GL __________________ Please read -> HOW TO START A SUPPORT THREAD !!! Support MediaPortal! Donate by clicking HERE Dedicated HTPC board (Norway) -> MSPC.no

2008-04-08, 08:59	#3 (permalink)
tourettes Portal Developer Join Date: Jan 2005 Age: 30 Posts: 3,451 Thanks: 90 Thanked 114 Times in 92 Posts	Make sure that you are using the TV's naive resolution (it's not possible with all TV's thru DVI/HDMI and it's more likely that with VGA it's possible.). __________________ http://day2.no-ip.org/ "Commy64 - The problem there is that Oprah was on. MP tried to save you by blanking the screen"

2008-04-08, 11:09	#4 (permalink)
Spragleknas Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Rogaland Age: 32 Posts: 3,813 Thanks: 179 Thanked 90 Times in 76 Posts Country: My System	Read your post again, and I now see that I did not answer your Q properly - I only gave a tip for better PQ in general Samsung has not been very PC-friendly in the past, due to lack of 1:1 pixelmapping. Read more here: pixelmapping » home __________________ Please read -> HOW TO START A SUPPORT THREAD !!! Support MediaPortal! Donate by clicking HERE Dedicated HTPC board (Norway) -> MSPC.no

2008-04-08, 20:08	#6 (permalink)
Spragleknas Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Rogaland Age: 32 Posts: 3,813 Thanks: 179 Thanked 90 Times in 76 Posts Country: My System	Not sure. You could search the log : MEDIAPORTAL - free MediaCenter HTPC Software - Changelog 0.2.3.0 RC3 __________________ Please read -> HOW TO START A SUPPORT THREAD !!! Support MediaPortal! Donate by clicking HERE Dedicated HTPC board (Norway) -> MSPC.no

2008-04-08, 16:47	#5 (permalink)
kingnubian Portal Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 66 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country: My System	I noticed that my television's model line is not listed. The native resolution of my tv is 1366x768. Both VGA & HDMI offer 1360x768 which works well & can be scaled if necessary to use the whole screen using the adjustments in the CCC. Displaying the static desktop is where HDMI is wanting. Video playback is another thing though. Video playback quality, in Mediaportal (Latest stable release), is very very good though and actually improves if I turn off the EVR option. Colours are richer, brighter & more vibrant than when using VGA. This is one disappointment but I do realize that EVR is still an experimental option. Do the svn releases have any improvements that may benefit me?

2008-04-09, 06:15	#7 (permalink)
kingnubian Portal Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 66 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country: My System	Thanks for the heads up! I've been playing with my Tv's setting and have improved the PQ even more. Time for ore reading & testing.

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