| Author |
Thread: Media Center PC to HDTV hook up? |
    
Dinah Shore |
| Posted on Sunday, November 30, 2003 - 05:58 pm: |
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I just bought a HP Media Center PC that came with a nVidia GeForce 5600 card. The video card has outputs for DVI, VGA, and S-Video. My HDTV has inputs for component and S-Video only. I'm going to use the HDTV as my monitor for computing needs as well as viewing TV/movies.
Any suggestions on how to hook this up to get the best resolution? Should I buy a VGA to HDTV component converter? |
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Relevant Product Info
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Derek |
| Posted on Monday, December 01, 2003 - 05:17 pm: |
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Yes, try http://www.audioauthority.com/aacconsumers/9a60detc.html or http://www.keydigital.com/keydigital/Itemdesc.asp?CartId={8AA681B0-82FB-46A8-8277-197BD6297EA9}&ic=KDCTCA3&Tp=. |
Dinah Shore |
| Posted on Monday, December 01, 2003 - 08:07 pm: |
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Thanks Derek! |
new message Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Sunday, January 18, 2004 - 02:13 pm: |
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i don't understand why anyone bothers to connect their pc to hdtv to watch movies, just buy a decent monitor and watch them on it. connecting to the tv, at this point, is something the video card makers tout. they should instead concentrate on adding hdtv reception to their video cards so buyers could watch hdtv on their computers. the hdtv cards out there are made by companies that i've never heard of, so i won't buy one. at this point hdtv's resolution isn't high enough to me, most pc monitors will do better. |
New member Username: Palmtree
Post Number: 1
Registered: 01-2004
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| Posted on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 02:24 pm: |
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Derek, I took a look at the hyperlink for the item you recommended to Dinah. It appears as though that piece of equipment replaces your PCs current monitor by using its VGA port. Is there anything out there that uses the computers DVI port that converts to YPbPr component inputs. |
New member Username: Kalamas
Anoka,
MN
Post Number: 1
Registered: Sep-04
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| Posted on Saturday, September 04, 2004 - 04:06 pm: |
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http://www.trianglecables.com/dvi-hdtv200.html
Try this out just found it today. Will solve the DVI out on video card to YPbPr problem  |
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| Posted on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 02:30 pm: |
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I want to use my hplaptop as a tv in my den. I want to watch movies while he watches games on the tv. I have comcast digital cable. How can i do this? Also could i send a signal from our bedroom tv to the laptop and be able to watch it in the den? |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Saturday, October 02, 2004 - 04:42 pm: |
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Is there a way to hook up my laptop to my Hitachi projection HDTV and keep the signal digital all the way, such as by using some sort of PCMCIA card with DVI output to convert to DVI and then putting that into the DVI input on the TV? |
Bronze Member Username: Forcedinduction
Post Number: 15
Registered: Sep-04
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| Posted on Saturday, October 23, 2004 - 01:12 am: |
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I'd say all true HDTV's come with a DVI input...It doesn't sound like you have a true HDTV...  Remember anytime you use converter boxes you lose some quality... |
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veeb0rg Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Friday, November 26, 2004 - 11:26 pm: |
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I have a 46 inch Samsung HDTV with DLP, it has a pc and DVI input, what would be the correct resolution to hook my dell laptop to it and not stretch/skew the images? |
Bronze Member Username: Tipstir
Post Number: 15
Registered: Sep-04
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| Posted on Sunday, November 28, 2004 - 09:54 pm: |
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You can read my review on Media MVP device which makes that Media PC connect over the home network to reach that TV you have either in your living room, family room or bedroom without bringing that PC in the same room.
http://www.epinions.com/content_160603278980
This device is the best way and not expensive, there are other devices beyond this Media MVP but they cost $199 and up plus they have wireless connections, Optical and Digital Coax sound.
Turn your PC HTPC into a Network Media Server and send all your audio, video, pictures and even Web Radio down to your Living large screen TV.
Can also check out:
http://www.hauppauge.com/html/mediamvp_datasheet.htm
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Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 07:40 pm: |
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hey everyone!
ok i have a really ugly problem. Im trying to hook my tv to my computer. I have a normal 4 pin s video wire, it fits in my (old) computer... i also have a wire that has 6 pins and a rca like cable hole on the other end. my tv doesnt have an s video hole...
What do i do now???
PLZ anything would help!
Email me!!! grafiklerevolushun@hotmail.com |
Bronze Member Username: Tipstir
Post Number: 17
Registered: Sep-04
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| Posted on Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 03:26 pm: |
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First off on your TV side there are RF to S-Video/Standard Video and Audio L/R converter selling for $17 and up that will allow you to hook your TV into your PC S-Video. But be warned the picture quality from your TV to PC without an Video decoder will not be the same when you use a Media MVP device. That's the best way to go. If you don't have a network in the house you can use cross over cable but you need a network 10/100 card in your PC once you have such a device you can use the crossover cable from the PC Network Card to the Media MVP 10/100 NIC, then from the MVP would hook into your TV (if your using an RF-to S-Video converter) in your case. |
New member Username: John_delaquiox
Hialeah,
Florida
Usa
Post Number: 3
Registered: Dec-04
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| Posted on Sunday, December 19, 2004 - 04:54 am: |
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I am making what i think is the best home theater pc with component video that money can buy if anyone wants the full spec they can email me belive me it has everythign you could want
i am also working on an nforce4 sli computer with the 2 sli cards and 4 monitors
everything very affordable and i think the best products and it also lookss awsome with a flat pannle tv if anyone is lucky to have one
i have mine to a projecter and its awsome |
Bronze Member Username: Tipstir
Post Number: 25
Registered: Sep-04
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| Posted on Monday, December 20, 2004 - 05:48 pm: |
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Might be but with a free program called GB-PVR at http://www.gbpvr.com you can built or take any PC turn it into a HTPC (Home Theater Personal Computer) and just add a WinTV PVR-150, 250, 350, or 500 hardware capture encoder card and buy as many Media MVP 1000 for each of your TVs to playback all video, music, net radio, FM Radio onto your living TV from your network PC.
Excellent results!
Regards,
TipStir!
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| Posted on Wednesday, January 05, 2005 - 06:36 am: |
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"I'd say all true HDTV's come with a DVI input...It doesn't sound like you have a true HDTV... :-( Remember anytime you use converter boxes you lose some quality..."
that really does not make sense to me....
My HDTV can display 1080i resolutions and looks awesome. But it does not have a DVI plug?
So are CRT monitors not "True" because they have serial connections instead of DVI?
The best video cards out there today still convert the precious digital signal to analog for serial connection monitors. Signal degradation? Yes. Not true? Absolutely NO. I think HL2 and DOOM III look pretty awesome through my serial connection 21" monitor.
Most people are not that a-nal about "video signals", and would drool over my HDTV picture in "true" 1080i or 720p. Maybe my car is not true because it has anti-lock brakes and an automatic. Dont get me wrong I love manuals and think everyone should learn the clutch, but I would never call some of the most beautifal machines in the world untrue because they dont meet specific criteria. Thats just crossing the line into a-nal-ville.
Please wipe in the future |
bobjohnson Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Friday, January 07, 2005 - 12:10 am: |
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"at this point hdtv's resolution isn't high enough to me, most pc monitors will do better."
1920x1080 is a pretty damn high resolution considering most monitors usually only go to 1600x1200, which leaves the question why would you want to watch a movie on a small little 17 or 19 inch monitor with 4x3 aspect ratio when you could be watching it on a 30 inch widescreen at a resolution that rivals most pc monitors. |
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| Posted on Monday, January 10, 2005 - 08:34 pm: |
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HI all, I want to hook up my computer DVI to my HDTV DVI. i have an nVidia Ti4200 w/ VGA and DVI. I succesfully hooked the 2 together and set the TV as the primary monitor. However, the picture "Scrolls" . I hope that is clear what i mean...not sure how else to explain it. In my TV manual it says it is not compatible with computer DVI....so i guess thats why i have this problem. Is there any way i can hook it up flawless without converting to component and still use the direct DVI cable? Perhaps i need a special driver? Thanks |
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| Posted on Tuesday, January 11, 2005 - 01:39 am: |
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Nvidia did release some new drivers in November, you could try their site to see if there is one for your Ti4200. Does it "scroll" when you use S-video out too? Just wondering. |
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| Posted on Tuesday, January 11, 2005 - 12:06 pm: |
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no, it doesnt scroll using S-video, but the picture quality is drastically reduced and it only is produced in a 4/3 aspect ratio....the tv is 16/9 |
New member Username: Rdksek844
Post Number: 1
Registered: Jan-05
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| Posted on Tuesday, January 11, 2005 - 08:48 pm: |
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Is there a way to connect my dish network hdtv reviever to a computer and then feed it to my hdtv? |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Wednesday, January 12, 2005 - 11:37 am: |
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Ok, I want to use a spare PC with wireless NW card to connect to my HDTV and serf the net, and check mail, is there a way that one can do that without getting to expensive? |
New member Username: Koolmokool
Post Number: 3
Registered: Jan-05
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| Posted on Thursday, January 20, 2005 - 09:42 pm: |
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I am not able to get the custom resolution-in-resolution tool in Powerstrip to take the computer feed on my Mits 52-725 DLP. I am running a windows box, of course, with an nVidia 6800 Ultra graphics card with dual DVI out. Like another poster here, the Mits went to a solid blue screen as soon as windows tried to load the desktop when connecting into the VGA port on the TV. However, I am able to get the TV to take the computer feed when connecting DVI out (computer) to HDMI in (TV). Then I downloaded PowerStrip to try to resolve the overscan that was pushing icons off the sides and top of the screen. However, when I use the auto-resizer and tell Powerstrip to make the settings my new default, the entire computer image shrinks to about one-quarter of the screen, rather than the corner-to-corner image I selected using the auto-resizer tool. Can anyone make any suggestions? I am starting to suspect the nVidia card, no? Again, any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you. |
New member Username: Koolmokool
Post Number: 6
Registered: Jan-05
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| Posted on Thursday, January 20, 2005 - 10:10 pm: |
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Nevermind -- I just figured it out. First rs-size the resolution on the PC to 1024x720, then go to PowerStrip and use the tool for creating a resolution-in-resolution. It takes on the TV. Now I have a full windows desktop at 720p with all items properly fiting on my 52" DLP. Kool. |
user 2200 Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Saturday, January 29, 2005 - 07:26 pm: |
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Is it really as simple as hooking up the dvi out of the video card to the dvi-1.0 compatable port on the back of my hd-ready tv, then using powerstrip to adjust the resolution settings?
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deanster Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Monday, February 07, 2005 - 06:06 pm: |
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To make use of an hdtv as a pc monitor, do you need to have one of these (signal converter)to connect my laptop to the tv and get the best resolution? what are the things i need to watch for b4 buying something like this? how can i take advantage of my dvi-d output in my laptop and hdmi input on my tv? these ones do not use dvid or hdmi... Please HELP! THANX
http://www.securemart.com/cgi-bin/future/SM137582.html?pcode=4
http://www.camcor.com/cgi-bin/bcatalog.cgi/id=1105035675 |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Wednesday, February 09, 2005 - 10:07 am: |
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I have a Toshiba P10 laptop running Windows Media Center Edition. It has both RGB and S-Video out capabilities. I currently use my CRT 27" TV as a monitor (connected via S-Video) when using Media Center which isn't horrible, but when viewing the regular desktop it isn't very clear. I am thinking about purchasing a HDTV - specifically a 42 or 50" Sony GW LCDRP, but I am concerned about connecting my laptop to the TV as it does not have a PC in and I think the only way would be to use the S-Video. Should I be concerned with this? What would teh difference be? |
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| Posted on Sunday, February 13, 2005 - 04:17 pm: |
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i just needed to connect my spare pc to my mitsubishi 42" in bedroom (1000 bucks at goodguys) so that i could surf in bed. my video card did not have dvi output and i didn't want to pay extra for a tv with vga input. so, i just went out to compusa and bought the cheapest video card with a dvi output (ATI for 39 bucks) and connected it to the DVI input to HDTV with a standard dvi cable that was just lying around. i downloaded powerstrip and read through instructions and was able to display my pc output properly after some trial and error. it only cost me 39 bucks for the new video card. didn't have to buy new pc or upgraded to a hdtv with vga. looks great. |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 04:32 pm: |
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Everyone here seems like they are knowledgeable and freindly so I feel comfortable posting a total noob question.
Here it is: How do I get a decent (clear) picture on my HDTV (16:9) through component cables?
Here is my equipment list:
Tv- Philips 34PW9819 34 inch 16:9 HDTV CRT with component and DVI-Hdcp 1080i inputs.
http://bizrate.lycos.com/marketplace/product_info/details__cid--11520000,pid--11 206302.html
PC- Abit a17 mobo -- 1gb corsair ddr400 xms mem --
evga 128mb AGP Nvidia Geforce 5700 ultra (dvi)
--Antec true power 430-"Da ZAHLMAN RESAHRATAH"
liquid fanless cooling system. AHANIX D4 Case
Software-- MCE 2005, Powerstrip, latest Nvidia forceware drivers.
I am currently connected from PC to TV with the S-Video cable, but i'm sure you all know that the picture sucks. DVD's, even with Nvidia's special codec for MCE, look grainy (compared with my component input samsung dvd player) and the desktop environment is downright unbearable. I've tried all manner of custom timings in powerstrip to get the overscan in check. Currently my desktop extends vertically outside the screen by at least 10 percent. The sides are underscanned by five inches on each side too.
Am I polishing a turd here? Is the real problem that i'm not using the 1080i component inputs on my tv? And how do I get component from my nvidia 5700 to the tv? I've seen ATI cards that have dongle options to convert the signal, but I don't want to buy yet another expensive card.
I would also like to figure out why it is not possible to use the DVI output of my card into the DVI input of the Philips TV. When I try this hookup I get terrible flickering and distortion at all resolutions including the native res of the tv.
Please help the Noob! I will do whatever I have to do...just want to get this HTPC to work for web
browsing, DVD watching, etc. TV reception/HD broadcast decoding is not important right now. |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 12:25 pm: |
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Hi I'm trying to connect my HP notebook to my HDTV using s-video. I used a 4-pin cable and the picture on the tv is fuzzy and almost black and white looking. Someone please help! |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Tuesday, March 08, 2005 - 02:58 am: |
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I am using the GeForce 5200 card in my media centre using a plasma as monitor. In order to get full screen view when watching TV, I have had to set my resolution on PC to 1280 x 720. The problem then is that I lose the edges of the screen. I have tried using Powerstrip to 'shrink' the screen, but there is no setting to do this (only option is to go left/right & up/down). Any ideas? |
dleahey Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Thursday, March 24, 2005 - 05:11 pm: |
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HELP! :o) I am trying to hook up my RCA rear projection HDTV up to my XP Media Center through e-GeForce 6800 Ultra (Dual DVI and S-Video ports). My TV has DVI but won't display ANY picture from my PC on it. I know the card is ok coz the VGA/DVI adaptors work for my CRT monitor. Any ideas? Oh, I am using a DVI-D cable too. I am at a loss... Thanks |
New member Username: Dleahey
Post Number: 1
Registered: Mar-05
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| Posted on Thursday, March 24, 2005 - 05:28 pm: |
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HELP! :o) I am trying to hook up my RCA rear projection HDTV up to my XP Media Center through e-GeForce 6800 Ultra (Dual DVI and S-Video ports). My TV has DVI but won't display ANY picture from my PC on it. I know the card is ok coz the VGA/DVI adaptors work for my CRT monitor. Any ideas? Oh, I am using a DVI-D cable too. I am at a loss... Thanks |
New member Username: John_delaquiox
Hialeah,
Florida
Usa
Post Number: 4
Registered: Dec-04
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| Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 05:18 pm: |
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i think this will solce any prioblems any one might have hooking up a media cewnter pc to an hdtv that does not have a Dvi input
http://www.ati.com/products/hdtvadapter/
its A DVI to Component Video Adapter
i think it worlks very well
for any one looking for a decent sized affordable tv this is the best on the market they give you everything you need for a great price
samsung 32" Premier Series DynaFlat Flat-Tube HDTV with Built-In HD Tuner - Silver
Model: TX-P3271H
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Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Sunday, March 27, 2005 - 04:08 pm: |
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Does the ATI DVI to Component Adapter work with NVidia cards, More specifically FX5700? |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Sunday, March 27, 2005 - 04:13 pm: |
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Does the ATI DVI to Component Adapter work with NVidia cards, More specifically FX5700? |
New member Username: Dleahey
Post Number: 2
Registered: Mar-05
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| Posted on Monday, March 28, 2005 - 06:57 pm: |
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Just bought one - arrives tomorrow. I'll let you know! |
New member Username: Dleahey
Post Number: 3
Registered: Mar-05
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| Posted on Wednesday, March 30, 2005 - 07:04 pm: |
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Nope - don't work! The manual says you need to install the ATI Catalyst drivers before it will work and of course with my Nvidia Geforce 6800 Ultra...no luck! Back to the drawing board... I am COMPLETELY STUMPED!!!! Why won't my DVI work with my TV?!?!? |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Wednesday, March 30, 2005 - 11:30 pm: |
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I have a Philips 30" 16:9 HDTV that I just hooked up to my Nvidia 6800 with some luck using a DVI-D to HDMI cable. Running 1080 mode on the tv with 1024x768 res. The edges are cut off, small print shakes quite a bit and is a little fuzzy, cant get rid of that unless I run the TV in 576p mode, then the shaking stops but the res has to be lower. I'm just cloning my desktop and using the tv for gaming, the picture is beautiful in games @ 1024x768. My full screen video started flickering really bad for some reason though through media player, cant figure that out. Worked before, cant figure out what I changed but it dont work anymore. Other than that it works good hooked up like this. |
New member Username: Ulrik
Post Number: 1
Registered: Mar-05
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| Posted on Thursday, March 31, 2005 - 07:43 pm: |
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I am having the same flickering problem as many others in this thread when connecting a PC to a EDTV/HDTV monitor.
I have a PC running Windows XP MCE 2005 and I am trying to connect it to my Panasonic TH-42PWD7UY EDTV plasma monitor using the ATI 9550 graphic card on the PC.
When I connect it to the monitor using a VGA cable I get this annoying flickering on the monitor. It works flicker free when i use the composite output on the graphic card, but ofcourse it doesnt give me nearly as good picture as the VGA output should give me.
Does anyone have a solution to this flickering problem? Why does it occur? |
New member Username: Jagnet1
Post Number: 3
Registered: Apr-05
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| Posted on Monday, April 04, 2005 - 12:40 pm: |
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I have an 52" Rca HDTV. I am trying to figure out the best way or I should even connect my pc to my cmcast converter. I am not sure how to go by doing this i.e...what are the correct cable? What should i look for to see if this is working. |
New member Username: Jagnet1
Post Number: 4
Registered: Apr-05
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| Posted on Monday, April 04, 2005 - 12:42 pm: |
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Sorry.....My pc is a dell 2400 I am also using a comcast converter box. |
New member Username: Jagnet1
Post Number: 5
Registered: Apr-05
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| Posted on Monday, April 04, 2005 - 01:15 pm: |
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please forgive my ignorance....Is it possible to connect the converter box's DVI-D out to the video input on the computer? Will this give me proper connection? |
New member Username: Dleahey
Post Number: 4
Registered: Mar-05
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| Posted on Wednesday, April 06, 2005 - 01:09 am: |
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Got the ATI adaptor, took my Nvidia 6800 Ultra back and exchanged it for ATI Radeon 700 Pro (PCI Express) - cheaper, works and stops me getting annoyed!!! I suggest people move away from Nvidia - ATI is the way to go. Only problem is I still can't use my DVI cable, only the component. I guess my TV and PC are not compatible... |
Bronze Member Username: The_nerdly_guy
Post Number: 15
Registered: Apr-05
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| Posted on Friday, April 08, 2005 - 04:51 pm: |
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As I've posted in other forums, TechLore ( www.techlore.com ) has a really good guide for connecting a computer to an HDTV. Here's the link: http://www.techlore.com/article/10061/ |
TV Watcher Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Thursday, April 14, 2005 - 07:23 pm: |
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Hello, I have a Mitsubishi 62" DLP and I could
swear that the right side of the picture bends
upward slightly. Is there any way to manually
adjust this? |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Thursday, April 21, 2005 - 09:16 am: |
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I am bald and still want to pull my hair out on this one...
has anyone found a dvi to YPbPr adapter for use with nvidia based cards?
I am using a TI-4800 card and want to hook up to a LCD projector using YPbPr and would prefer not to use s-video for the task...
I have seen these listed all over for ATI cards but has no one found anything for use on the NVIDIA cards??? |
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| Posted on Sunday, May 01, 2005 - 01:00 pm: |
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Hello all,
I'm in need of some info and would greatly appreciate some insight:
I purchased an HP MCE 2005 computer (model m1280n) last week and have not even turned it on yet so I could familiarize myself as thoroughly as possible with all its capabilites / possibilities. The basics of the system are P3.2, 1GB RAM, 300GB HD, ATI Radeon X600 Pro
256MB DDR memory, PCI-E (Express) interface &
wireless KB & mouse. See more complete specs here -http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericDocument?lc=en&cc=us&docname=c00291217
What I'm envisioning is being able to utilize the PC as the family entertainment / communication center with which to record and play back videos, surf the net, e-mails, video editing etc. in the family room where the widescreen HDTV (ready) TV is located and utilize the HDTV as the monitor. I will also connect the PC to a home network through a wireless network / internet connection and to a Panasonic Home Theater System (the connection of the PC to which I'm not too concerned with at this time unless it involves video connections).
The PC has the following inputs: 1 coax for combined Cable / TV / Antenna, 1 coax FM input as well as 2 RCA audio inputs. The video outputs are for VGA, S-Video & DVI.
I'm using a HDTV STB from Cox Cable which has component outputs (green, blue, red) and a DVI output (as well as a coax output). My HDTV (ready) TV (Panasonic model CT-34WX54, 34" widescreen pure flat tau) has 2 sets of Component inputs (green, blue, red), S-Video, standard RCA video and audio inputs and a narrow almost USB-like sized "HDMI AV In" slot in which I can see several small pins (I'm not at all familiar with this input). There is NO DVI or VGA input.
My question is this: how do I get the HD signal from the STB into the computer?
I'm thinking I will need to purchase 2 DVI cables - one to run from the STB into the computer - but how do connect it - via a converter plug (so it's compatible with either S-Video or coax)? A 2nd DVI cable to run OUT of the computer and connect a converter plug to the other in order to connect the component cables from it into the TV component inputs?
Also, will I need to adjust the screen resolution settings on the PC (I generally only use 800x600, 32 bit highest color) and will I need to change the video / screen settings on the TV?
Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Greg |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Sunday, May 08, 2005 - 10:10 am: |
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I want to buy a media center to hook up to my 42" LCD HD Wega TV. I want to be able to back up all my DVD and watch them from the hard drive. Is this possible? What are the downfalls? Can anybody recommend a specific media center and adaptors needed? Please help. Thanks. |
tom.smith Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Sunday, May 08, 2005 - 08:32 pm: |
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Seems to be a lot of confusion here about PCs, HTPCs, DVRs, and HDTVs. Maybe this will clear up a few things.
First and foremost, maintain signal integrity. Every conversion degrades the signal, so minimize them. Here is the order of connection as ranked on picture quality.
1) F-connector from your STB out. This is RF-modulated analog, very very bad. This is not the digital F-connector INTO your STB, which is serial data interface. True digital, SDI is great (more on this later).
2) Composite video (the yellow plug). Slightly better than the f-connector, but not much.
3) S-video. Okay in the analog realm, it's basically a 480 interface. Still not suitable for HD.
4) Component video. This is the RGB (YPrPb) connection you see and is the low end of digital. Suitable for most small mass-market HDTVs, but you can do better. RGB is still an analog interface. The digital signal is converted to analog, pumped through three wires, and re-digitized at the TV.
5) DVI. Now you're getting into HD range. Signal stays digital thoughout the process.
6) HDMI. The current top-end of the digital realm. DVI to HDMI convertor cables exist, and they often perform slightly better than the standard DVI cables, but you'll have to try it out to see. Poor quality inputs (like DirecTv's HD system) will flat-out show zero improvement, and they may even look worse since HDMI is better at showing off defects. Lower resolution TVs may not show any differences either. HDMI cables require a longer break-in than others, but it's worth it on a good system with good inputs.
The one thing to keep in mind is break-in time. All electronic equipment needs a certain amount of break-in before it will appear at its best. When I got my Sharp Aquos, I was certain I had chosen poorly for the first 40 hours. After that, it settled in nicely and the picture is now spectacular. The same applies to STBs, and yes, even cables. I know a lot of readers will pooh-pooh that last comment, but if you ever get to a high-resolution system, whether audio or video or both, you will soon learn that it's true. Everything needs break-in. Do not rush to judgement for 40 hours.
The one non-standard connection alluded to is SDI (which has nothing to do with Republicans or Star Wars). This is the Holy Grail for most readers, as it allows you to maintain a digital signal throughout the chain. It's not cheap ($1000) but is the best you can currently do if you want to capture HD from your set top box onto your computer. You will likely have to send your STB out for modification, since nobody markets one with SDI built in. More on SDI and the cheapest capture card on the market: http://www.digitalconnection.com/Products/Video/sdi.asp. Go here for modifications: http://www.pluggedin.tv/cat--SDI-Modification-Service--SDI+Modification+Service.
Getting your computer hooked up to a TV can be problematic. First, not all DVI connections are identical. There are the usual DVIs you know of, DVI-A, DVI-D, and DVI-I, but there are also single-link and dual-link DVIs as well. Dual-link is not two DVIs connected together, but it functions like that. Where a single-link DVI runs three signal wires, dual-link runs 6. Dual-link is required for serious high-end equipment and doesn't come cheap. I'm running an Apple 30" display on my PC and it requires dual-link, provided by a Matrox Parhelia 256DL. If your TV supports DVI in from a PC, go that route. Set your PCs resolution on that monitor at 1280 X 720 and 60 Hz and see if it works. Underscan/overscan can sometimes be a problem. If you run into that, PowerStrip will take care of it. You should also experiment with other settings until you find the one that looks best. It doesn't hurt to try, however, you can run into problems if you force your TV to do something for long periods of time it just wasn't meant to do. If a setting doesn't work, move on to something else instead of spending hours trying to force it to work.
If your TV can't accept DVI, then RGB is your next best bet. Lots of RGB convertors out there, including the one at http://htpcnews.com/main.php?id=crescendo_2200_1. The extra conversion will degrade the signal quality a little, so you should try to avoid it. If you are just now buying an HDTV, get one that supports as many kinds of inputs as you can think of. You will need them all at some point. More info on this can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/mce/getstarted/connecttv.mspx.
If you are looking to build a DVR out of an HTPC, don't waste your time or money unless you go the SDI route. A set top box with an HD DVR will give much better results since it will capture the data stream without degradation. An HTPC can only do it in s-video for anything not off the air, which you will not be happy with. It's less than DVD quality, and we all know how barely acceptable DVDs are when compared to HD. This will be worse, anywhere from a fair amount worse to very much worse. Depends on your cables, how well they're shielded, how noisy (RFI and EMI-wise) your PC is, etc. An s-video DVR is standard definition, plain and simple. I lease two HD DVRs from my cable company for $20 a month, counting DVR service ($7.50 each for hardware and $5 for the service). There is no difference in quality between live TV out of the STB and what comes off the DVR.
In fact, the biggest difference for me right now is the MPEG-2 encoders my cable company is using. When Voom was running, they had MPEG-4 and the difference was astounding. All the MPEG-4 channels were much better than what I have now, while the MPEG-2 channels were about the same. You'll never have a truly great picture (up close and personal) until you get MPEG-4. Dish Network is moving in that direction, since picking up the Voom 21 channels and the Voom bird at 61.5, so we can only hope that EchoStar gets their act together and gives us real HD again. E* looks to be more HD aware than D* and the cable companies. My cable company just keeps adding more and more SD channels by freeing up bandwidth through compressing their HD channels. HD-Lite I call it.
So what about component video into a computer? Yes and no. There ar |
