Question about connecting TV to computer.

just Scott · 30 Aug 2007 at 23:33

Hey guys,

I've just ordered a Panasonic TX-32LMD70 HD TV which has HDMI and VGA inputs. I'd like to connect this to my computer so I can play the HD content I've got on my hard drive on my TV. The Panasonic only supports 1:1 pixel mapping via VGA I believe.

I currently have an old Leadtek 6600TD video card that has 1xDVI-I and 1xVGA inputs. My monitor only supports VGA so I need to use that with this card. I've tried a DVI-VGA adapter to connect the monitor to the DVI socket on my video card but didn't get a picture (assuming because DVI is digital were VGA is only analogue).

Would it be possible to run two video cards -- one for my monitor and one for my TV? If so, would any old video card with VGA work? Could someone recommend me a cheap video card that would be able to display the HD content on the new TV please?

And lastly, is there anything else I should know about this? Do I just open up the HD video in VLC, full screen it and that's it?

This is the first time I'll be doing something like this so please excuse my ignorance on the subject.

Thanks

just Scott · 31 Aug 2007 at 03:05

*sigh*

Just found out I need a new video card anyway. This one only supports up to 1280x1024. I need 1366x768 if I want to display my TV in HD. Setting a custom resolution with Powerstrip didn't work either.

Hmm, can so can someone recommend me a good card that supports lots of HD resolutions? I'm thinking ATI for this definitely.

helmutcheese · 31 Aug 2007 at 03:17

Nvidia works out the box, ATI peeps had to mess about with 3rd party apps if I remember correctly but that may have been to get 1920x1080p/60hz, which you wont need.

I had a TrueHD 46" Sharp and ran it from my old card (7900GTX) using HDMI to DVI and all RES's worked and as it was 1:1 if I watch a HD program with 1280x720p or 1920x1080i/p where as most screen are 1366x768 so have to upscale to that RES unless its outputed from a PC as your doing.

just Scott · 31 Aug 2007 at 03:31

helmutcheese said:
Nvidia works out the box, ATI peeps had to mess about with 3rd party apps if I remember correctly but that may have been to get 1920x1080p/60hz, which you wont need.

I had a TrueHD 46" Sharp and ran it from my old card (7900GTX) using HDMI to DVI and all RES's worked and as it was 1:1 if I watch a HD program with 1280x720p or 1920x1080i/p where as most screen are 1366x768 so have to upscale to that RES unless its outputed from a PC as your doing.

Yeah I heard that the Sharp's were good with pixel mapping 1:1.

Unless I could force the video card to display 1366x768, I don't think I'd be able to use the DVI in on my video card as I've read that the Panasonic only does 1:1 pixel mapping via VGA. So I'm stuck with the VGA out I think.

Could I just get a cheap PCI (not E, or would a 1x PCI-E work OK with another video card?), and just use the VGA out on that to connect my TV to?

helmutcheese · 31 Aug 2007 at 03:37

Pity they mostly had banding issues and noisey PSU's (mine took 5 days to make noise, but banding was on screen as new, returned it, SD looked crap to and I actually do have HD Cable but there is little HD content on it and its most likely upscaled.

just Scott · 31 Aug 2007 at 03:48

helmutcheese said:
Pity they mostly had banding issues and noisey PSU's (mine took 5 days to make noise, but banding was on screen as new, returned it, SD looked crap to and I actaully do have HD Cable but there is little HD content on it and its most likely upscaled.

Ah, shame that. Hopefully I'll like my Panny. It's coming on monday.

btw, do you know of a cheapish card that has two VGA? It'd be easier than running two video cards. I only have 1 PCI-Ex16 anyway, and I don't think there's a PCI card good enough to display HD content heh.

decto · 31 Aug 2007 at 07:49

Hi,

I have a Sharp with a similar 1366x768 resolution.

I just feed it a 720p (1280x720) signal through the component input (3 jacks).
It's an older unit without HDMI.

Picture looks great, even for games, though the response rate is a little low @ 16ms

AD

Dutch Guy · 31 Aug 2007 at 12:26

Why not get a DVI > HDMI connector and use that?

just Scott · 31 Aug 2007 at 13:30

Dutch Guy said:
Why not get a DVI > HDMI connector and use that?

Because my video card won't support higher than 1280x1024. The TV's native res is 1366x768, so I believe there will be lots of overscan.

I just need a card that has lots of resolution options. Two VGA would be ideal though.

helmutcheese · 31 Aug 2007 at 13:51

After buying a new HD TV, I would advise you ditch the old GPU and buy a new one (dont need by top model), they mostly have 1xDVI and 1xVGA or 2xDVI and inc VGA adapters.

Fothsn · 31 Aug 2007 at 13:53

Your card should support the resolution of the LCD screen, once you plug the screen to the card it will unlock the new resolution of the screen so to speak, one way to check what res your card supports is check in display properties and uncheck 'Hide modes this monitor cannot display' in the monitor tab, you should find a lot of resolution sizes now.

Edit/ Specs of the 6600 series card stats the max res will be 2048x1536 so you should be fine

GeForce 6600
Video Memory 256 MB/128 MB DDR
Engine Clock 300MHz
Memory Clock 256 MB DDR: 500 MHz(250MHz DDR) 128 MB DDR: 550 MHz(275MHz DDR)
RAMDAC 400MHz
Bus Standard AGP 8x/4X
Memory Interface 128-bit
Max Resolution 2048x1536
TV Output S-Video and Composite
VGA Output Standard 15-pin D-sub
DVI Output DVI-I
2nd VGA Output Ye

just Scott · 31 Aug 2007 at 14:01

fothsn said:
Your card should support the resolution of the LCD screen, once you plug the screen to the card it will unlock the new resolution of the screen so to speak, one way to check what res your card supports is check in display properties and uncheck 'Hide modes this monitor cannot display' in the monitor tab, you should find a lot of resolution sizes now.

Ah yes, you're right.

It's got a 1360x768 resolution, which is close enough to 1366x768. There will be a little overscan but only noticeable in Windows I presume.

Would I be better off with a different card anyway? Like an 8500GTS that's got all the HD stuff with it?

Also mate -- do you know why when I connect my monitor to the DVI output on my card (using VGA adapter) I don't get a picture? I used DVI via VGA adapter with my 1950Pro when I had it, but it doesn't seem to work with this card.

Thanks lads.

Dutch Guy · 31 Aug 2007 at 14:02

I would be surprised it a 6600 would be limited to 1280x1024, maybe it is a VGA limitation.

Also Nvidia has the option of selecting 720p as a resolution which is just what you need.

Fothsn · 31 Aug 2007 at 14:06

H2F Scott said:
Ah yes, you're right.

It's got a 1360x768 resolution, which is close enough to 1366x768. There will be a little overscan but only noticeable in Windows I presume.

Would I be better off with a different card anyway? Like an 8500GTS that's got all the HD stuff with it?

Also mate -- do you know why when I connect my monitor to the DVI output on my card (using VGA adapter) I don't get a picture? I used DVI via VGA adapter with my 1950Pro when I had it, but it doesn't seem to work with this card.

Thanks lads.

Good your card should be fine then, what is it you want to do exactly? game/watch movies/browse the net etc, the 6600 should be a good card apart from gaming off course on the LCD

I would personally keep the card and run it for a few weeks and if you feel its sluggish upgrade

just Scott · 31 Aug 2007 at 14:07

Dutch Guy said:
I would be surprised it a 6600 would be limited to 1280x1024, maybe it is a VGA limitation.

Also Nvidia has the option of selecting 720p as a resolution which is just what you need.

Yeah I just found the option to unlock all the resolutions of the card.

And where is that option mate? I can't find it anywhere in the Nvidia control panel. Unless you mean just changing the res to 720.

Fothsn · 31 Aug 2007 at 14:09

H2F Scott said:
Yeah I just found the option to unlock all the resolutions of the card.

And where is that option mate? I can't find it anywhere in the Nvidia control panel. Unless you mean just changing the res to 720.

I dont think the 6600 supports any HD modes so you will not be able to select 720p :confused:

just Scott · 31 Aug 2007 at 14:09

fothsn said:
Good your card should be fine then, what is it you want to do exactly? game/watch movies/browse the net etc, the 6600 should be a good card apart from gaming off course on the LCD I would personally keep the card and run it for a few weeks and if you feel its sluggish upgrade

All I'll be doing mate is playing the HD content I have on my computer.

No gaming or anything like that -- I have a monitor for that.

But I'm 99% I can only connect the TV to the computer via the "TV Out" on the TV; which is VGA. And my monitor won't display a picure when I free up the VGA connection. (connecting monitor to DVI via VGA adapter like I said earlier)

Fothsn · 31 Aug 2007 at 14:13

H2F Scott said:
All I'll be doing mate is playing the HD content I have on my computer.

No gaming or anything like that -- I have a monitor for that.

But I'm 99% I can only connect the TV to the computer via the "TV Out" on the TV; which is VGA. And my monitor won't display a picure when I free up the VGA connection. (connecting monitor to DVI via VGA adapter like I said earlier)

Are you sure you’re on the right channel on the TV when connected up to VGA, sounds daft but maybe a possibility. Maybe the res you have set in the display settings on the PC is not compatible with the LCD as when I select a res higher than mine I get a blank screen also.

just Scott · 31 Aug 2007 at 14:16

fothsn said:
Are you sure you’re on the right channel on the TV when connected up to VGA, sounds daft but maybe a possibility. Maybe the res you have set in the display settings is not compatible with the LCD as when I select a res higher than mine I get a blank screen also.

I haven't got the TV yet mate.

Currys phoned me today and said it was out of stock.

I'm going by what I've read. There's a huge thread for like every TV on another forum, and they all said that the Panny only supports 1:1 pixel mapping via VGA. So if I don't use VGA -- I'll get lots of overscan. I suppose it would be OK as the video card can display 1360x768, so it's only 6 lines out. But still, I'd rather use VGA.

Fothsn · 31 Aug 2007 at 14:26

H2F Scott said:
I haven't got the TV yet mate.

Currys phoned me today and said it was out of stock.

I'm going by what I've read. There's a huge thread for like every TV on another forum, and they all said that the Panny only supports 1:1 pixel mapping via VGA. So if I don't use VGA -- I'll get lots of overscan. I suppose it would be OK as the video card can display 1360x768, so it's only 6 lines out. But still, I'd rather use VGA.

And I'm thinking you’ve got the TV lol,

It will work out all okay mate I'm sure if it doesn’t report on here and no doubt you will get some help along the way.

You may want to get a card that has some HD features which will make those HD vids you have got come to life

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-059-OK&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=912

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-155-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=939

Only basic cards I know but will leave the 6600 for dead displaying HD content.