Win 8 on a 720p TV - how can I run apps?

Jed Shields · 15 Jun 2013 at 23:03

Hi guys,

just installed Win 8 on my bedroom HTPC connected to a 720p TV and it won't let me run apps due to it being too low a reolution. Ignoring the fact the 1280*720 is a higher resolution than the minimum required 1024*768, are there any workarounds?

Cheers,

Jed

EYEREX · 16 Jun 2013 at 01:41

I run my PC via a LCD TV which only does 720 and not run into any problems with windows 8 apps, have mine running via VGA not sure if that would make any difference

TV is a early gen Samsung LCD

marc2003 · 16 Jun 2013 at 05:45

EYEREX said:
I run my PC via a LCD TV which only does 720 and not run into any problems with windows 8 apps

is that desktop apps you're talking about? i think it's metro apps that require 768px as the bare minimum height wise.

Jed Shields · 16 Jun 2013 at 09:52

Yeah, desktop apps...

EYEREX · 16 Jun 2013 at 10:45

How do you have the PC and TV connected as tried HDMI and could never get the picture on the TV to look good so used VGA

My resolution is 1360 x 768

bledd · 16 Jun 2013 at 11:47

Run it at 1360 or 1366 x 768

skyripper · 16 Jun 2013 at 11:53

I'm in the same boat - my Win8 media pc objects to my project which is "only" 720p.

However since I ditched Metro and used Classic Shell, its never stopped me watching DVDs, blurays etc.

If I tried running it at 1366x768, my projector would try and convert it upto 1080i which does my eyes in.

Glaucus · 16 Jun 2013 at 13:41

Google, you can change a registry setting, which will then show you all resolutions in the screen menu, rather than just supported resolutions.

Or you can try

From Screen Resolution select Advanced Settings and then List All Modes. From here select the desired resolution, OK and Apply.

Registry fix
http://nnell.pro/?p=376

Ignoring the fact the 1280*720 is a higher resolution than the minimum required

720 is not higher than 768

Jed Shields · 16 Jun 2013 at 18:01

720 is obviously not higher than 768. However, MS didn't specify a higher VERTICAL resolution of 768 or higher. They specified a higher resolution than 1024x768. 1280x720 is a higher resolution. Completely different things.

I'm connected with an HDMI cable. 720p is the native resolution, so I don't want to fudge the display to a different resolution as it'll compromise picture quality, quite important to me when using it as a HTPC.

I'll check out the registry hacks to see what they do...

Glaucus · 16 Jun 2013 at 18:09

Your only option is to fudge the resolution, or buy a 1080p tv.
The registry hack allows you to select an unsupported screen res.

Jed Shields · 16 Jun 2013 at 18:38

I'll see about returning Windows 8 in that case, pointless upgrade for 720p screen

Confused · 17 Jun 2013 at 08:48

Are you sure your TV is actually a 1280x720 panel, or is it actually a 1366x768 panel?

OliverDavis · 17 Jun 2013 at 11:09

Jed Shields said:
I'll see about returning Windows 8 in that case, pointless upgrade for 720p screen

Returning it? Other than the Metro Apps it has many other features.

Jed Shields · 17 Jun 2013 at 11:32

Well that's odd, it's actually 1366x768 according to the online specs. In Windows it's set up as 1280x720 (recommended), with no other options above it apart from 1920x1080. It's connected with an HDMI cable ... does this lock it down to 720 or 1080? Would a DVI cable show the 1366x768 option?

skyripper · 17 Jun 2013 at 11:39

I had this years ago with a Samsung telly. It would only talk 720p over HDMI, but 1366x768 over a VGA cable (with perfect pixel 1:1 matching, no scaling). I'd forgotten about that.

Jed Shields · 17 Jun 2013 at 11:50

Right then... I'll dig out some different cables and have a play. Would DVI give better PQ than VGA cable?

OliverDavis · 17 Jun 2013 at 11:59

Jed Shields said:
Right then... I'll dig out some different cables and have a play. Would DVI give better PQ than VGA cable?

DVI is digital, so its likely you will end up with the same results as its basically a HDMI Cable without sound, although sound can actually be passed through the cable if you put a HDMI adapter at the TV end.

VGA is analog, basically raw picture being sent across. Quality is based on quality of cable and length.

V F · 19 Jun 2013 at 02:02

OliverDavis said:
DVI is digital, so its likely you will end up with the same results as its basically a HDMI Cable without sound, although sound can actually be passed through the cable if you put a HDMI adapter at the TV end.

Care to explain this adapter for a DVI to HDMI cable to get the sound through it? or this adapter I'm thinking the graphics card needs to have a HDMI port that I don't have. I'd need to get a HTPC card.

OliverDavis · 21 Jun 2013 at 09:12

V F said:
Care to explain this adapter for a DVI to HDMI cable to get the sound through it? or this adapter I'm thinking the graphics card needs to have a HDMI port that I don't have. I'd need to get a HTPC card.

If your graphics card has a DVI port and is nVidia base (Maybe AMD too) you can put a DVI to HDMI adapter on the GPU then run a HDMI cable to a tv and the GPU will detect you have used an adapter and run audio in to the digital stream thats being sent across. Oddly, there was never anything official on this, it just kinda works.

V F · 22 Jun 2013 at 01:09

Interesting. Never knew that. I do have one to test on a x1950xtx. Was going to use it as a HTPC with the AMD X2 4600+. But to save heat I was going to get a £20/30 card that has HDMI.