HTPC + Plasma problems :(

[MehulLakhani]

Hi All

I built up a new HTPC about a month ago :

P4 Socket 478 3.00GHz ( not overclocked )
Asrock P4 Motherboard
OCZ 1gb RAM ( 2 x 512mb DDR 400 sticks )
ATI Radeon 9600 Pro 256mb graphics
On board lan and sound
500gb WD Hard Drive
Silverstone LC-11 case.

It has been working fine since then, and has been absolutely rock solid on XP Pro with Media Portal. All this time I have been using S-video to feed a 24" CRT.

Anyways, now I have got a nice, shiny Panasonic PX700 42" plasma. It has a VGA input on it, and accepts native 1024 x 768 @ 60hx . This is the resolution that everyone has been recommending on avforums etc etc.

I tried it, with a good quality VGA cable, and it looks absolutely amazing, however, it suffers from random crashes, and video lockups. I can use media portal for more than 5-10mins and it will crash, often with the sound running in the background - CTRL-ALT-DEL is locked out too.

If I connect the HTPC to the plasma with the S-video cable through a SCART it works perfectly, no problems whatsoever. Its just that with a display of this size and calibre I want a better picture than S-video can provide.

I have tried the latest Catalyst drivers, and the the latest Omegadrivers.net ones too. No joy . I have ordered an HDMI cable, and will try that too - but just wondering if anyone had any bright ideas ???? Your opinions would be gratefully appreciated !

R

Mehul

 

[BillytheImpaler]

Have you another VGA device with which you can pair the machine, an old monitor perhaps? Find out if the problem is in the computer's capability to output through VGA. Also find another device that outputs VGA and see if it works alright with the TV. Determine on which end the problem lies.

 

[MehulLakhani]

Hiya

Yep, done that, and it seems to work fine with my old 17" CRT.

Mmmmmm . . . . . the mystery deepens. Just installing the latest catalyst drivers right now.

R

Mehul

 

[m_cozzy]

hmm sounds like the screen has locked? so the pc is working fine in the background still but the screen not updating? What happens if you powercycle the tv or attach a monitor to the pc when its locked?

 

[MehulLakhani]

Ok, bit of an update.

Playing with it extensivley, this setup is rock solid at 800 x 600 . I just cannot get it to crash.

It seems that the problems start at 1024 x 768 . If I am careful it will be okay, but as soon as you start to play around in media portal, and start playing back video in a window etc etc, it crashes. And this was on my trusty 17" crt.

I have a feeling it may be a heat related issue? I am also getting some VPU recover errors . . . . ?

Very annoying !

R

mehul