RGB Scart output from a pc

Any help regarding setting the switching of resolution (say from 1024 x 768 to 1280 x 720 for PDP) when the HTPC boots into Window. Otherwise, it will is trobulesome to switch this every time.

Thanks in advance

FYI: I gave up on that RGB cable. It's working (allthough the picture-quality is almost equal to the tv-out on my radeon 9600) but I decided to use the standard tv-out.

I found the project to be very interesting, but it's more a hassle than getting me to the perfect HTPC

The only reason I didn't give up at first, was: I got a DolbyDigital TV (it has wireless surround-speakers) and the subwoofer and all the rest is integrated into the tv itself. The problem with it is: It has only one coax-s/pdif inout which only coresponds with the first scart input on the tv. This scart-input however only excepts RGB or Comp signal. So the cable would have helped me in getting digital sound with a superb picture.

Yesterday however, I decided to buy a Logitech Z-5500 digital surround speaker set. Now I use the second scart input (which supports Y/C) together with my tv-out and my new surround speakers and everything works perfect :-)

Thanks for all the help though :-)

quicky

I was very unhappy with the poor TV-out on my graphics card with Sapphire Atlantis 9200SE. High contrasts (i.e. white on black etc.) resulted in colourful artefacts at the edges like a pearly necklace. Because of the obviously different results with homemade solutions, as I read here, yesterday I bought this device http://www.grandtec.com/xppro.htm in a local store and I am glad with it. There are a lot of adjustments possible to match the TV perfectly, partly immediately via buttons, partly via OSD. Even on a small 15" TV (I use the RGB option!), which I made the first test with, I can read the menues, and no flicker at all. Sold for 99.95€ it's not really on the cheap side, but highly recommended.

[FlipGer]

Hi,

nice device ktg. But be carefull the output is only 480i which is not even PAL resolultion of 720x576! So you will loose picture information ecspecially if you look into the future to HDTV which goes up to 1080i (1920x1080 interleaced).

So people with more money and HDTV equipment should take a look at the other converter (200$).
Or for a new graphics card that supports HDTV output.

Thanx for the tipp, Flip.

[JeanCC]

Hello,

for anyone still interrested in this topic: I succeded in setting the resolution at 848x480 on my Sony KV-32FX60B. Hereafter the parameters of powerstrip (copy, paste:

PowerStrip timing parameters:
848x480=848,117,24,179,480,10,7,28,17809,312

Generic timing details for 848x480:
HFP=117 HSW=24 HBP=179 kHz=15 VFP=10 VSW=7 VBP=28 Hz=29

Linux modeline parameters:
"848x480" 17,809 848 965 989 1168 480 490 497 525 interlace +hsync +vsync

I am still very happy with the cable solution and also still looking for the settings for PAL 16/9 at a 50 HZ refresh rate. Not being an electronician myself I can onlz do it the 'try on error' way. However Powerstrip is of great help.

[bigj]

Originally Posted by JeanCC

still looking for the settings for PAL 16/9 at a 50 HZ refresh rate. Not being an electronician myself I can onlz do it the 'try on error' way. However Powerstrip is of great help.

You mean 50hz progressive or interlaced?
I'm running 960x540 at 25Hz Interlaced, my PS timings are below.

I was running 1024x576 16:9, but found the overscan on the TV was effectively reducing visible res to 960x540 anyway (there is a 'screen designer' feature in powerstrip that helps determine this). Also at 1024 there were geometry/colour inconsistencies. At 960x540 my TV (Philips) syncs perfectly. This is using an ATI9700Pro.

To those who didn't get this working:

a) You must disable tiling.
b) You must enable composite sync.

It *is* possible to avoid setting composite sync - but when making the cable you must combine H+V sync to produce it. There are simple circuits described on the internet to do this. I added this to my cable as an option - it just requires a double-pole-double-throw switch to bypass the additional circuit if you know composite is already being provided. I tested this by disabling the composite on the ATI card and it does work (although the geometry is not quite as good). I mention this as, in theory, this cable would work with any card manufacturer - eg nvidia - that don't provide a composite sync option).

About quality in general:
Compared with the 800x600 svideo TV out - much better focus/colour resolution and less colour bleeding. The TV out however does provide some form of filtering so line twitter is more pronounced on the VGA->SCART. But with the bold interfaces of media portal and video it's perfect; still, I can easily use the desktop/GDI - I'm writing this now on the TV. On the whole the TV out was much worse than my old DVB-T setup box I was using as reference. The VGA->SCART is distinctly better.

More about twitter - and frame filtering - in principle, it should be possible to add a full-frame filter option to the MediaPortal interface to reduce this. Just render the interface to a render target instead of backbuffer and then copy-filter final RT to backbuffer using some funky pixel shader. I'm not sure how many taps are required per pixel, but I'm guessing there are well defined filters for this. It might require storing 2 rendertargets for current and previous frame. OTOH, I guess the new display techs LCD/Plasma/Projecters that take native progressive scan signals will make all this a non-issue. But I like my old CRT.

Anyway, here are my powerstrip timings:

PowerStrip timing parameters:
960x540=960,50,48,142,540,25,5,55,18750,312

Generic timing details for 960x540:
HFP=50 HSW=48 HBP=142 kHz=16 VFP=25 VSW=5 VBP=55 Hz=25

Linux modeline parameters:
"960x540" 18.750 960 1010 1058 1200 540 565 570 625 interlace +hsync +vsync

[JeanCC]

Great, it works.

Again, not being a technician I don't understand the meaning of your question about 50HZ being progressive or interlaced. I have red somewhere on the web that the 100HZ TVs use interlace mode to display a more stable picture.

One more tip for the interrested: on my TV there is a RGB menu where you can adjust the size and centering of the RGB input. it helps.

Thanks again BigJ.

[olman]

Here is a list of timings that you can use. WHEN you get the picture, be sure to fine-adjust the timings in PowerStrip to get the perfect picture.

• Luxor 2001 type 4854 (21" 50 Hz)
  
  PowerStrip timing parameters:
  720x576=720,51,56,125,576,27,3,13,15721,312
  
  Generic timing details for 720x576:
  HFP=51 HSW=56 HBP=125 kHz=17 VFP=27 VSW=3 VBP=13 Hz=27
  
  Linux modeline parameters:
  "720x576" 15,721 720 771 827 952 576 603 606 619 interlace +hsync +vsync
  ------------------------------------------------------------
  Nokia 50-60Hz (okänd äldre modell)
  
  PowerStrip timing parameters:
  720x576=720,47,40,105,576,37,3,53,15251,312
  
  Generic timing details for 720x576:
  HFP=47 HSW=40 HBP=105 kHz=17 VFP=37 VSW=3 VBP=53 Hz=25
  
  Linux modeline parameters:
  "720x576" 15,251 720 767 807 912 576 613 616 669 interlace +hsync +vsync
  ------------------------------------------------------------
  Nokia 50hz 28" (okänd modell)
  
  PowerStrip timing parameters:
  720x576=720,36,56,164,576,1,3,17,14567,312
  
  Generic timing details for 720x576:
  HFP=36 HSW=56 HBP=164 kHz=15 VFP=1 VSW=3 VBP=17 Hz=25
  
  Linux modeline parameters:
  "720x576" 14,567 720 756 812 976 576 577 580 597 interlace +hsync +vsync
  ------------------------------------------------------------
  Philips 28" (11 år gammal okänd modell)
  
  PowerStrip timing parameters:
  720x576=720,15,160,81,576,1,3,17,14567,312
  
  Generic timing details for 720x576:
  HFP=15 HSW=160 HBP=81 kHz=15 VFP=1 VSW=3 VBP=17 Hz=25
  
  Linux modeline parameters:
  "720x576" 14,567 720 735 895 976 576 577 580 597 interlace +hsync +vsync
  ------------------------------------------------------------
  Philips 28" 4:3 TV (okänd modell från 1986)
  
  PowerStrip timing parameters:
  720x576=720,32,40,120,576,6,6,37,14250,312
  
  Generic timing details for 720x576:
  HFP=32 HSW=40 HBP=120 kHz=16 VFP=6 VSW=6 VBP=37 Hz=25
  
  Linux modeline parameters:
  "720x576" 14.250 720 752 792 912 576 582 588 625 interlace +hsync +vsync
  ------------------------------------------------------------
  Philips Matchline 32pw9525
  
  PowerStrip timing parameters:
  720x576=720,73,24,127,576,4,23,17,14872,312
  
  Generic timing details for 720x576:
  HFP=73 HSW=24 HBP=127 kHz=16 VFP=4 VSW=23 VBP=17 Hz=25
  
  Linux modeline parameters:
  "720x576" 14,872 720 793 817 944 576 580 603 620 interlace +hsync +vsync
  ------------------------------------------------------------
  Salora S Digital 28E7S
  
  PowerStrip timing parameters:
  720x576=720,62,48,98,576,1,13,47,14915,312
  
  Generic timing details for 720x576:
  HFP=62 HSW=48 HBP=98 kHz=16 VFP=1 VSW=13 VBP=47 Hz=25
  
  Linux modeline parameters:
  "720x576" 14,915 720 782 830 928 576 577 590 637 interlace +hsync +vsync
  ------------------------------------------------------------
  Samsung 28" WS (okänd modell från -00)
  
  PowerStrip timing parameters:
  720x576=720,46,48,114,576,1,3,55,14732,312
  
  Generic timing details for 720x576:
  HFP=46 HSW=48 HBP=114 kHz=16 VFP=1 VSW=3 VBP=55 Hz=25
  
  Linux modeline parameters:
  "720x576" 14,732 720 766 814 928 576 577 580 635 interlace +hsync +vsync
  ------------------------------------------------------------
  Sharp 28" 4:3, PAL, okänd modell
  
  PowerStrip timing parameters:
  720x576=720,15,160,81,576,1,3,17,14567,312
  
  Generic timing details for 720x576:
  HFP=15 HSW=160 HBP=81 kHz=15 VFP=1 VSW=3 VBP=17 Hz=25
  
  Linux modeline parameters:
  "720x576" 14,567 720 735 895 976 576 577 580 597 interlace +hsync +vsync
  ------------------------------------------------------------
  Sony 29" 4:3 50hz (okänd modell)
  
  PowerStrip timing parameters:
  720x576=720,47,40,105,576,8,6,35,14250,312
  
  Generic timing details for 720x576:
  HFP=47 HSW=40 HBP=105 kHz=16 VFP=8 VSW=6 VBP=35 Hz=25
  
  Linux modeline parameters:
  "720x576" 14.250 720 767 807 912 576 584 590 625 interlace +hsync +vsync
  ------------------------------------------------------------
  Sony 32FQ70 100Hz
  
  PowerStrip timing parameters:
  720x576=720,16,96,96,576,9,5,39,14578,312
  
  Generic timing details for 720x576:
  HFP=16 HSW=96 HBP=96 kHz=16 VFP=9 VSW=5 VBP=39 Hz=25
  
  Linux modeline parameters:
  "720x576" 14,578 720 736 832 928 576 585 590 629 interlace +hsync +vsync
  ------------------------------------------------------------
  Sony KV-32FX65E
  
  PowerStrip timing parameters:
  720x576=720,91,16,101,576,5,9,33,14373,312
  
  Generic timing details for 720x576:
  HFP=91 HSW=16 HBP=101 kHz=15 VFP=5 VSW=9 VBP=33 Hz=25
  
  Linux modeline parameters:
  "720x576" 14,373 720 811 827 928 576 581 590 623 interlace +hsync +vsync
  ------------------------------------------------------------
  Thomson 28" (okänd modell)
  
  PowerStrip timing parameters:
  720x576=720,0,160,80,576,1,13,17,14763,316
  
  Generic timing details for 720x576:
  HFP=0 HSW=160 HBP=80 kHz=15 VFP=1 VSW=13 VBP=17 Hz=25
  
  Linux modeline parameters:
  "720x576" 14,763 720 720 880 960 576 577 590 607 interlace +hsync +vsync
  ------------------------------------------------------------
  Samsung 28", NTSC
  
  PowerStrip timing parameters:
  720x480=720,33,72,31,480,64,6,89,13411,312
  
  Generic timing details for 720x480:
  HFP=33 HSW=72 HBP=31 kHz=16 VFP=64 VSW=6 VBP=89 Hz=25
  
  Linux modeline parameters:
  "720x480" 13,411 720 753 825 856 480 544 550 639 interlace +hsync +vsync
  ------------------------------------------------------------
  Sharp 28" 4:3, NTSC
  
  PowerStrip timing parameters:
  720x480=720,0,152,8,480,9,3,5,13121,312
  
  Generic timing details for 720x480:
  HFP=0 HSW=152 HBP=8 kHz=15 VFP=9 VSW=3 VBP=5 Hz=30
  
  Linux modeline parameters:
  "720x480" 13,121 720 720 872 880 480 489 492 497 interlace +hsync +vsync
  ------------------------------------------------------------
  32" Widescreen
  
  PowerStrip timing parameters:
  1024x576=1024,68,48,132,576,6,6,37,19875,312
  
  Generic timing details for 1024x576:
  HFP=68 HSW=48 HBP=132 kHz=16 VFP=6 VSW=6 VBP=37 Hz=25
  
  Linux modeline parameters:
  "1024x576" 19.875 1024 1092 1140 1272 576 582 588 625 interlace +hsync +vsync
  ------------------------------------------------------------
  Philips 28" Widescreen
  
  PowerStrip timing parameters:
  1024x576=1024,40,48,112,576,5,29,15,19012,312
  
  Generic timing details for 1024x576:
  HFP=40 HSW=48 HBP=112 kHz=16 VFP=5 VSW=29 VBP=15 Hz=25
  
  Linux modeline parameters:
  "1024x576" 19,012 1024 1064 1112 1224 576 581 610 625 interlace +hsync +vsync
  ------------------------------------------------------------
  Toshiba 57" 16:9 100Hz bakprojektionstv från 2002
  
  PowerStrip timing parameters:
  1024x576=1024,68,48,132,576,6,6,37,19875,312
  
  Generic timing details for 1024x576:
  HFP=68 HSW=48 HBP=132 kHz=16 VFP=6 VSW=6 VBP=37 Hz=25
  
  Linux modeline parameters:
  "1024x576" 19.875 1024 1092 1140 1272 576 582 588 625 interlace +hsync +vsync
  ------------------------------------------------------------

All of this settings are from a swedish site: http://www.nada.kth.se/~feldt/vgascart/tv.html

[jovana]

Has someone already tested whit a nVidia video card?
I can't get it to work. I think maby the nVidia card will not set the right resolution for the RGB singal.

[FlipGer]

Hi,

Originally Posted by jovana

Has someone already tested whit a nVidia video card?
I can't get it to work. I think maby the nVidia card will not set the right resolution for the RGB singal.

The cable mentioned here does not work with nVidia cards. Those cards do not deliver the needed synch-signals (sync on green or composite-sync). Additional hardware and wiring is needed for nVidia cards:
http://www.sput.nl/hardware/tv-x.html
Full How-To (german!):
http://www.myhtpc.de/showtopic.php?threadid=5482

Flip.