Display Config Help (1 Viewer)

[Will101]

TV-Server Version:
MediaPortal Version: MediaPortal 1 v0.2.3.0
MediaPortal Skin: Bluetwo wide
Windows Version: XP Pro SP2
CPU Type: Athlon XP2000+
HDD: Maxtor 40GB + Seagate 320GB
Memory: 1GB DDR (2 x 512)
Motherboard: MSI KT3 Ultra
Motherboard Chipset: VIA
Motherboard Bios: MSI
Video Card: MSI FX5700 Ultra 128MB
Video Card Driver: Latest NVidia (v167.xx?)
Sound Card: SB Live! 5.1
Sound Card AC3:
Sound Card Driver: Latest Creative
1. TV Card: Hauppage Nova T 500 Dual Tuner
1. TV Card Type: DVB-T
1. TV Card Driver: Latest Hauppage
MPEG2 Video Codec: Bundled w. MP
MPEG2 Audio Codec: Bundled w. MP
Satelite/CableTV Provider:
HTPC Case: Silverstone LC17 Black
Cooling: Zalman Flower CPU cooler
Power Supply: Enermax 430W
Remote: Hauppage 45 button
TV: Sony 26" widescreen CRT
TV - HTPC Connection: S-Video


Issue: NV Display setup can only select 1024x768

As you can see above, I am connecting my HTPC to my TV using an S-Video cable. First off is this the best option? My video card has DVI & VGA outputs as well as S-Video.

From the Windows advanced graphics adapter dialogue I am able to run the TV wizard which sets the connector type and I-PAL correctly. However, the maximum resolution I can select is 1024x768. Trying to manually add a custom resolution using NVidias advanced settings menus keeps returning a message of either 'this resolution is invalid' or ' this resolution cannot be added'.

Currently I am using the maximum 1024x768 res and stretching it to fill the TV screen using the TV input settings. Using the Bluetwo Wide skin makes the MediaPortal interface menus look correct in aspect ratio but this is hardly ideal. There are also wavy distorted edges to the displayed picture.

Is this a limitation of the S-Video connection type? Will using PowerStrip or similar allow me to manually configure Windows to display the native resolution of my TV or will using a DVI to Scart cable allow Windows to detect the TV's native resolutions? Ideally I'd like to achieve a 1:1 pixel mapping ratio.

in advance

 

[trevor]

On the first part I would switch to DVI if possible, what inputs does your TV have? I go DVI to HDMI on my setup, expensive cable though.

As for the rest, not sure on the capabilities of the 5700 chipset, old card though but should be capable of a lot higher resoultion.

Trevor

 

[Will101]

My TV has S-Video, Composite and Scart Sockets. It's an old TV and I'm unsure of the exact model but a similar model has these connectors:

Connector Type: 1 x S-Video input ( 4 PIN mini-DIN ) - front ¦ 1 x composite video/audio input ( RCA phono x 3 ) - front ¦ 1 x SCART (AV in/out / RGB in) ( 21 PIN SCART ) ¦ 1 x SCART (AV in/out / S-Video) ( 21 PIN SCART )

I agree; the 5700 IS and old card but when connected to a TFT monitor is able to display 1680x1050 with no problems. The issue seems to be that the settings will not allow you to select a higher resolution when the monitor type is set to 'TV' and it is connected via S-Video.