just bought a projector...connection advice please

[nO}{8]

Ive been debating for a year now wether to get a plasma, lcd or projector but have bought a Hitachi CP-X327W XGA projector, as it was the right price and will give me a screen size of 300 inches in the room im in .

Im hooking it up with with my computer for playing movies/games on with the RGB out from my nvidia 7800 gtx graphics card. The card is dual screen, but my monitor is 1680x1050@60Hz and the projector is 1024x768@60 - 85Hz. This is where the problem is. In windows can I have both resolutions on different screens?

Also can I power the projector on if the computer is on first, the manual discourages this but it seems awquard to have to turn the computer off, then the projector on then the computer on, if I want to use it.

Any help with either of these issues will be much appreciated

 

[Goatboy]

I think that graphics card might let you have two independent resolutions though I'm not sure. If not the easiest thing will be to use the nvidia icon on your toolbar and right click to change the primary display.

I'm lost on the logic of making sure the pc is off before using it on the projector, it's no different to switching between input sources on the projector so I wouldn't give it a second thought.

 

[daz]

The best output from a PC to projector will be VGA or DVI... you also shouldn't have a problem using two different resolutions on your seperate displays, it's a relatively common thing to do.

I usually power on my projector at the same time as I power on my HTPC, since it takes around a minute or so for the projector to warm itself up, which is handy because it takes around that long for my PC to boot into windows.

 

[nO}{8]

The best output from a PC to projector will be VGA or DVI... you also shouldn't have a problem using two different resolutions on your seperate displays, it's a relatively common thing to do.

I usually power on my projector at the same time as I power on my HTPC, since it takes around a minute or so for the projector to warm itself up, which is handy because it takes around that long for my PC to boot into windows.

thanks, please tell me more about your setup, im new to projectors. What about playing a dvd on the computer, is it as simple as it looks?

 

[Goatboy]

Most projectors are designed for PC use so they work exactly like any other monitor.

 

[daz]

thanks, please tell me more about your setup, im new to projectors. What about playing a dvd on the computer, is it as simple as it looks?

When using two monitors, I imagine you might need to play with the overlay and primary/secondary monitor settings. My projector is the only display attached, so I haven't had any issues with that.

I'm still projecting my picture onto a white wall, so my setup isn't properly developed yet, but soon enough I hope to have a nice new screen and HTPC setup using ffdshow and theatertek to make the picture even better than it currently is.

Here are some images of me just messing around with the projector.

This one when I finally set it up in my front room (sorry for the picture quality)
In the bottom right corner, you can just about make out the shape of my 28" telly for size comparisons!