Best way to connect HDTV to HTPC

[IDRick]

Hello,

Slowly going about process of setting up my HTPC. Presently, I have a 1600 HVR and wintv2000. In April, I will be switching from cable to Dish network, switching from wintv2000 to BeyondTV, and adding a HDTV/monitor. The HTPC will be recording SD/HD programming from Dish, no OTA HD at this time. The HDTV monitor will be connected to a Dish HD receiver with HDMI and also connected to the HTPC to play saved programming.

I have an ATI Radeon 9800 pro video card with a VGA output, a DVI output, and a TV output (s-video). My 17 inch CRT monitor is connected to the VGA output. Which is the better connection for the HDTV: s-video or DVI?

I suspect that the DVI connection has better PQ. But, that means configuring the system for two monitors, with the HDTV as the primary monitor. (Video overlay is only available to the primary monitor from my ATI video card). My system will primarily be used for general computer tasks with occasional use as a PVR (maybe 2-4 hrs/day). Given this usuage, I would prefer to have the HDTV as the secondary monitor or simply use TV out to play saved programming.

Thoughts, advice, suggestions?

Thanks!

Rick

[queonda]

You cannot get HD quality out of s-video.

[IDRick]

Yes, I understand that I will not get HD with S-video. I would be playing the saved mpeg (SD) files on a HDTV. HD programming saved in SD format is very good quality, much better than analog.

I am purchasing the HDTV so I can watch live HDTV near my computer. Alternatively, I can watch saved programming while recording new.

[queonda]

If that's it then s-video is fine, but If your getting an HDTV the dvi or vga would be better (including if your going to surf the web or watch HD in the future). The only issue you will have is overscan/underscan and computer resolution through dvi or vga (but you may have the same issue with s-video but not as much). Powerstrip (program) can be your friend.

Another problem you may run into is the native resolution if that tv has a pc connection would be different from the native resolution of the tv.

[Myung]

I am trying to figure this out too!

I plan to buy 45" ~ 50" HDTV (LCD or Plasma), but it is giving me a headache to figure out which one to buy. If your HDTV has pc input (VGA or DVI), then it seems straightforward. Otherwise, you have to go through adjustment/calibration or use an adapter.

I have Samsung 32" LCD HDTV monitor and have been using Beyond TV4 to watch OTA HD shows. My PC is connected to LCD by VGA, and I have been very happy with the picture quality although VGA is analog. This could be due to the small HDTV size. I have tried to connect HDTV via HDMI, but the supported (or readible) resolution is only 800 x 600 with black bars on around the screen (with a VGA input, the supported resolution is 1360 x 768).

If you plan to buy HDTV smaller than 40", I think HDTV with VGA would be good.

Let us know what you ended up buying!

Have fun in shopping.

[queonda]

Originally Posted by Myung

I am trying to figure this out too!

I plan to buy 45" ~ 50" HDTV (LCD or Plasma), but it is giving me a headache to figure out which one to buy. If your HDTV has pc input (VGA or DVI), then it seems straightforward. Otherwise, you have to go through adjustment/calibration or use an adapter.

Be careful! Some HDTVs have a pc input may NOT be the native resolution of the tv. It may be alot less. Alot of time, it don't even fill up the whole screen. I bought a 73" MITSUBISHI '07 model and had this problem (good thing I took this back in 30 day, but had other issues too; RBE).

[IDRick]

Interesting replies!

I'm leaning towards a 27 or 30" Samsung monitor. Excellent picture quality and appear to have very high ratings. These monitors are 1366x768 (720p). According to the good folks on AVSforums, you'll never see a difference between 720p and 1080i/1080p with this size screen.

I checked my ATI manual and it said:

"If you move your PC to a place where you are using TV display only, make sure that you have the TV display feature enabled. You can set your display resolution as high as 1024x768. However, higher resolutions will result in a virtual desktop. If a TV is your only display device and a higher mode is selected, the display on your TV will disappear."

queonda, what would happen if I set this display at 1024x768 when it's native resolution is 1366x768? Does this ATI comment apply to a monitor/tv combo or only to a tv?

Myung, nice choice on the 32" Samsung monitor! Wow, the larger models are wonderful but very hard to choose... Good luck!

How are you using your Samsung? Is it the sole monitor or do you use two monitors? If two, did you set it up as the primary or the secondary monitor?

Best,

Rick

[queonda]

What is the model number of the Tv? Does it have a dedicated pc input?

Are you going to use it as a sole monitor (tv) or 2 monitors?

Please someone correct me if I'm wrong. But I think, 1024x768 is a 4:3 format and 1366x768 is a widescreen (16:9).

Ati is talking about if your using the svideo out then your monitor (main display) cannot be over.

I have a 9700aiw and using component out.

[Myung]

Hello, IDRick.

32" samsung is the only monitor connected to pc in the living room.

A long time ago, I was trying to connect two monitors to my old pc via two vga's. But I couldn't get it working as two separate monitors: it was either one big screen separated in two computers or two screens having the same image. Then, I had trouble watching shows using Beyond TV (I think it was a trial version before I bought Beyond TV4). I could hear the sound, but the screen went black. It should work, but I couldn't figure out how to do it.

I haven't tried connecting two monitors to my newer pc in the living room.

Good luck!

[IDRick]

***What is the model number of the Tv? Does it have a dedicated pc input?

Havent purchased the tv yet. I'm looking closely at the LNS2351W, LN-S2651D, and LNS3241D. All three Samsung HD Ready tv's have a dedicated pc input. I will be watching the tv's while at the computer, they don't need to be large tv's...


*** Are you going to use it as a sole monitor (tv) or 2 monitors?

I will need two monitors, just not sure of the best way to set up the connections. I want to be able to use the computer and watch tv. For maximum flexibility, it seems as though the TV should be connected to the Dish receiver via HDMI and to the computer via s-video out. My 17" CRT would remain as the primary computer monitor. With these connections, I can watch live HD from the receiver, watch SD recordings from the computer and have minimal effects on computer operation.


*** Please someone correct me if I'm wrong. But I think, 1024x768 is a 4:3 format and 1366x768 is a widescreen (16:9).

Oh, you're probably right! I quess that means that I would to connect as a monitor rather than a TV! Thanks for the heads up!

For my purposes, it will be easy to change video connections on the HDTV using it's remote. The challenge is the change in computer environment. I'm not sure how to configure two monitors. According to the 9800 manual, video streams must be displayed on the primary monitor. This means that the CRT must become the secondary monitor and I need to figure out how to move windows toolbars etc to the secondary monitor. Also, each new program will open in the primary monitor first. So, I'll have open all programs that I may use and move them over to the secondary monitor before watching the saved SD programming on the primary monitor. Seems very confusing to me on how to accomplish the above tasks. The 9800 manual shows me how to set up the two displays but does not discuss how to switch windows over to the secondary monitor. Do you know how to do this or know a URL that can help me figure this out?


*** Ati is talking about if your using the svideo out then your monitor (main display) cannot be over.

Gotcha. I was misinterpreting the comment. Thanks!


*** I have a 9700aiw and using component out.

My ATI 9800 pro was a top of the line gaming card at the time of purchase. It's obviously second rate for gaming in comparison to today's cards and somewhat lacking for tv out. Wow, component out from the 9700aiw! Should I change video cards? My computer is getting rather long in the tooth (4 yr old Dell P4, 2.4 Ghz, 768 MB RDRAM). Hmmm, maybe I should just buy a new computer and skip the HDTV! LOL!

Oops, no reason to update computer or graphics card, see later post.

Thanks for your great advice!

Best,

Rick

[IDRick]

Originally Posted by Myung

Hello, IDRick.

32" samsung is the only monitor connected to pc in the living room.

A long time ago, I was trying to connect two monitors to my old pc via two vga's. But I couldn't get it working as two separate monitors: it was either one big screen separated in two computers or two screens having the same image. Then, I had trouble watching shows using Beyond TV (I think it was a trial version before I bought Beyond TV4). I could hear the sound, but the screen went black. It should work, but I couldn't figure out how to do it.

I haven't tried connecting two monitors to my newer pc in the living room.

Good luck!

Hello Myung!

Thanks for the info! I was afraid that configuring two monitors was going to be a challenge... Your story confirms my fears. I searched the archives and found some posts on the topic. Some suggest that it may be easier to do with an ATI card but, at this point, I'm mostly confused but at a higher level! LOL!

Take care!

Best,

Rick

[IDRick]

Originally Posted by queonda

I have a 9700aiw and using component out.

queonda,

Is this what you are using to convert to component out?

http://www.svideo.com/97009800hdtv.html

or this?

http://www.svideo.com/radeon9600pro.html

This second option would work for my 9800 pro.

Wow, great tip! Thanks!

Best,

Rick

[queonda]

Originally Posted by IDRick

queonda,

Is this what you are using to convert to component out?

http://www.svideo.com/97009800hdtv.html

or this?

http://www.svideo.com/radeon9600pro.html

This second option would work for my 9800 pro.

Wow, great tip! Thanks!

Best,

Rick

Since mine was an AIW, mine came with a dongle (the 1st link). I'm sure the second will work with yours. But IF you have VGA inputs, just use that. I still had underscan with mine and had to use powerstrip to compensate.

[queonda]

Originally Posted by IDRick

***What is the model number of the Tv? Does it have a dedicated pc input?

Havent purchased the tv yet. I'm looking closely at the LNS2351W, LN-S2651D, and LNS3241D. All three Samsung HD Ready tv's have a dedicated pc input. I will be watching the tv's while at the computer, they don't need to be large tv's...

I tried to look up the manuals for the tvs but couldn't get them (i had an error when I tried). You need to see what is the native resolution with the VGA. But in looking at the tv looks like an LCD, so you may not have a problem with over/under scan.

[tenax]

careful with hooking up a pc to a samsung..maybe newer ones are better at it, but most hd tvs will have a caution not to hook up a pc to the tv..i'm assuming it has to do with the much discussed native resolutions. i had a sammy rear projection tv that was clearly labeled do not hook up a pc..and i did anyway..hey it fit and i had a warranty..just over a year later it died a miserable death..i don't know if it was coincidence or not..i have a panasonic 53 inch plasma now (for 3 years) and hooked up dvi from my nvidia card (i've upgraded a few times now but continue to use nvidia for playback quality that's superior in my opinion over ati with the purevideo) i've had it this way for almost 3 years now and no problems. i have a 24 inch dell lcd monitor running at it's highest 1080 x 1950 i think it is resolution. and the tv by it's own choice displays best at 720 x 480 which is fine by me. it will run a higher resolution but it's too small to read and flickery and i do 90% of my surfing etc on the big screen. i get some overscan on the desktop but i'm able to shift the screen around the few inches necessary with my mouse to see the whole desktop..i have the nvidia set as single display but when i mouse over the option, i can choose to go back and forth to either very quickly, with their own display resolutions (no cloning, screen extender etc) and it works great. my monitor and tv are both happy..so i am i use theatertek for playback and i'm able to customize to fill my tv screen as necessary for wide screen and it's fine by my eyes.