Problem running 1920x1080 - Windows 7

Monkey Puzzle · 26 Feb 2011 at 16:43

Just switched over to use my phillips 32" 1920x1080 lcd tv for my pc, connected via a DVI-hdmi converter plug. I'm using windows 7, standard generic 6.1.7600.16385 monitor driver and using an nvidia GTX480 with latest drivers. It won't display 1920x1080 properly, cropping the display around the edges (the taskbar is cropped for example), and the image looks terrible, with white around all text. In control panel it recommends 1280x768, and at this res the image is fine - no cropping and no weird whitehalo funniness around black lines, text etc.

Is there some reason why it's doing this, and is there a simple fix - monitor driver update?

vanandjuanunited · 26 Feb 2011 at 16:45

Yes it is scaling the image or over scanning
check the gfx properties

Tomcat825 · 26 Feb 2011 at 16:56

So your plugged into the monitor via HDMI or DVI?

Monkey Puzzle · 26 Feb 2011 at 16:58

Via HDMI atm - using a HDMI cable into the tv and then into the gtx480 via a DVI-HDMI converter plug.

DragonQ · 26 Feb 2011 at 17:07

Most TVs use overscan for everything but VGA and DVI. Check the TV's settings/menu page to disable overscan. It might have separate overscan settings for each connection so make sure you're on the right one.

Monkey Puzzle · 26 Feb 2011 at 17:43

Hmmm, the tv doesn't seem to have any options for turning off overscan that I can find; only options for 4:3, widescreen, widescreen zoom...

Would it be okay running via mini-hdmi to hdmi converter instead? I mean, it runs the PS3 okay at 1080 for blu-rays etc.

Surveyor · 26 Feb 2011 at 17:51

What's the model number of the TV?

Monkey Puzzle · 26 Feb 2011 at 18:10

Phillips 32" 32PFL5522D/05

The manual isn't promising - "when using HDMI to connect your TV to the PC, it is possible that they may not operate perfectly first time. Often this is resolved by changing the resolution of the the device connected to the tv."

But it runs the PS3 at 1080 via HDMI without issue.

Surveyor · 26 Feb 2011 at 18:13

Monkey Puzzle said:
Phillips 32" 32PFL5522D/05

The manual isn't promising - "when using HDMI to connect your TV to the PC, it is possible that they may not operate perfectly first time. Often this is resolved by changing the resolution of the the device connected to the tv."

But it runs the PS3 at 1080 via HDMI without issue.

That's your problem.

It's not a "full HD" TV it's "HD ready".

The resolution of the panel is only 1366x768 so that's the resolution you need to use on your PC.

Monkey Puzzle · 26 Feb 2011 at 18:50

How does the panel do 1080i if the panel's only 1366x768? :confused:

Surveyor · 26 Feb 2011 at 18:56

Monkey Puzzle said:
How does the panel do 1080i if the panel's only 1366x768?

The image is downscaled.

Your TV cannot physically display 1920x1080 without downscaling.

Monkey Puzzle · 26 Feb 2011 at 19:12

Oh. Well that's crap. I thought 1080i was still 1920x1080, just interlaced, so 30Hz. Why the hell does it have 1080 in it if it's nothing of the sort?

james.miller · 26 Feb 2011 at 19:13

1080i IS 1920x1080. but your tv isnt. your tv supports 1080i, but the display resolution is 1366x768 so it has to be downscaled to fit. This is ok for video and games but bad for desktops, or anything with a lot of small text. for this reason you should always try and use native resolution whenever possible.

Monkey Puzzle · 26 Feb 2011 at 20:34

Aha. So you could sell a 576p monitor that just downscales 1080 and sell it as HD ready?

DragonQ · 26 Feb 2011 at 20:54

Yep. "HD Ready" just means it accepts and has the ability to display 720p and 1080i signals. "HD Ready 1080p" means it also accepts and displays 1080p but I'm not sure if TVs with that sign must be 1920x1080. Most 1920x1080 devices use the non-standard "Full HD" logo.