I need to improve my PC's TV-out quality. My System: - 1.4 Ghz Celeron - 256Megs Ram - 7200 RPM hard drive - Dual-Head Matrox G450 AGP graphics card - Audigy 2 NX USB audio device - Hauppage 250 TV tuner - Sony Wega CRT NTSC TV (using S-video cable to connect to PC) I'm not getting good enough out quality for TV-out. The picture is not very crisp and somewhat pixelated. However, the picture does seem better when playing a DVD disc versus the Hauppage card. I have set the Hauppage card to record at MPEG 4. I'm more concerned with using the system as PVR, so my main focus is getting good quality out from the TV tuner. I'm not sure what else to do at this point. Are there any tweaks or settings that I can try? thanks, Joe
1. TV Out has two resolutions, 640x480 and 800x600 -- you're gonna have to adjust your standards a bit (which is why i hate TVs) -- computers will be sharper always 2. I seem to have the same issues (DVD vs regular out) so I dont know if its coincidence or not (it happens with the projector as well as the TV) but since I dont watch anything much outside of a CRT so i didnt bother lookin into it.
When using standard TV you have to adjust the setting level down by right clicking, properties, Settings and set to 800x600. this will provide a noticeable increase in quality. Unforutely the best way to improve the quality is to get a good Monitor. Instead of using a Tv, look into a LCD monitor. What doesn't make sence to me, but seem to be true is that you can buy a 17 or 19 inch LCD computer monitor (amazing SXGA resolution) for less than $1000 Canadian. But a LCD 13 inch Tv is more than $1000 Can. Solution is buy the the LCD monitor (some even will take super video in, if not there are $100 adaptors that will connect to DVI or standard Monitor cables.
I have the same problem. Your TV is probably HD-Ready and has component video inputs. You should be able to get clear graphics and text when using the component inputs. The problem is in using S-Video. This is most likely the key to our problem. I have just purchased an XFX FX 5200 Personal Cinema card. It has a DVI output and a DVI to VGA adapter. Problem is it doesn't have a DVI to Component Video adapter. I have found cables that go from DVI to Component Video on the net and have located an ATI adapter that does the same. Problem is....The XFX support people don't have a clue as to if this will work. I think it will because my card has the DVI-I connector which should support both digital and analog. If you get a solution, please let me know! Fdwho
Are you assuming its an S video cable problem or do you know so? As the S-video connection is one of the better ones to a tv, i can't see that being the many issue. I think it does reside with that most TV's are VGA quality and most computer systems are setup for XGA quality. So good computer graphics look like junk on a junk resolution TV. Even some high end LCD tv's have junk resolution of 640x480. Only newer ones are HDTV compatible with higher resolution. Before you spend lots on a cable, I would check out the specs and see if what you think about the Svideo is true.
I'd like to say that I'm 100% sure, but I'm not. 99% yes.... From everything I have read, the best resolution that you will get out of S-Video is 640 X 480. Hardly high-definition. So, basically, connecting a computer to a TV via s-video interface is going to look like crap....... Until you can get the resolution above the 480i, text won't be clear on a large screen TV. This is not as noticable on a small 25 or 35 inch screen, but when you go to a 50 to 60+ inch screen it is obvious. So, my TV has component inputs,s-video, and composite. I believe that when I connect via the HD-Ready interface (component), it will clear the picture up considerably. I have a DVD connected to one of my TV component inputs using 480p and it is clear, clear, clear. Unfortunatly, I agree with your earlier statement about a $100 converter. That will ultimately be my solution..... DVI or (VGA 15 pin) to component. All of the converters I have found so far are for VGA. If anyone knows of a DVI to component converter (for around $100), please let me know....That way, I can eliminate one adapter. Fdwho
I have a 55 inch HDTV with my system hooked up.. Svideo looks like crap.. My manual says Svideo is 1024X768 it looks alright but not acceptable to me. I ran my PC to my HDTV through my VGA cable (tv has a VGA input) It still doesn't look good at all because they limited the resolution on that input to 640X480 which I thought was rediculous. I do know that if you get a cable to go DVI to componet you will only have the 3 resolutions of high definition. 480p,720p,1080i. I also have my XBOX plugged into my HDTV and if my pc is going to look anything close to what the xbox looks like at those 3 resolutions it's going to be a amazing looking desktop let me tell you.. Also if you want a really nice TV output program try TVtool its the best out there. Matt
I was recently able to get much better quality on my TV-out. I'm only concerned with full-screen video, so I don't really care about text clarity. The picture is very clear when using an s-video cable directly from my satellite reciever. So, I don't think it had anything to do with my TV's resolution or s-video cable. My problem was that the captured video from the 250 is made to display to a monitor (or HDTV). The 250 deinterlaces the signal which is sent to my TV. My TV is not HD so it needs an interlaced picture. There is a registry setting called "weave" that addresses this issue and helped improve the quality. See this site for details... http://www.cask-of-amontillado.com/htpc.html
fdwho wrote: "... If anyone knows of a DVI to component converter (for around $100), please let me know....That way, I can eliminate one adapter... ATI's HDTV Component Video Adapter comes in VGA and DVI-I models; see:http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/products/story/0,24330,2174896,00.html
nice find clm811, here's the most recent version at ATI's site: http://www.ati.com/products/hdtvadapter/index.html
Has anyone tried ATI's http://www.ati.com/products/hdtvadapter/index.html adapter on another manufacturer's video card? I have an old geforce2 gts that i would like to use for my hdtv.
Does any one know of a bidirectional D-sub (15pin) to Componet addaptor? I don't think the ATI is bidirectional and from some reviews its very cheap $30 but looks like requires an ATI video card.
hi..............i just got my new pc........ i am trying to use my tv as a monitor, cos i bought the pc without a monitor, as i THOUGHT i could use the tv out. however, the scrren is all kinda..........well, it kinda flickers purple scrolling lines most noticable over text on the screen. on pictures and video it seems alot better.........but wherever there are words it is all unviewable. this will amke using ym tv as a monitor a very difficult task. my graphics card is called ati radeon 9200 SE i am using a s-video to scart in th3e tv anyone know a solution??? oh, i am from uk, but my tv suppoorts pal and ntsc.........it says??? please help -x-x-x-
well.........guess what? S-VIDEO IS CRAPPY yup, i switched to using the other cable..........um, i think it's called rca?? or phono??? something liek that anyways, that workes perfect and aftr resetting the pixels per inch and choosing large fonts instead of normal..........it's perfect....... well, not perfect, but as good as it will ever be on a tv screen and i like it, so i am happy so, incase anyone nelse has problems DON'T USE SVIDEO LOL -x-x-x-
oops.........i meant DOT PER INCH DPI right click on desktop goto properties, then settings then the dpi setting is under advanced at least, it is for me. oh, by the way.......although i THOUGHT it seems ok.........that was only from first glance now i am actually trying to use it it is quite difficult thing is.........if you use "large fonts" under appearance settings, the windows are too huge, so there's no room for anything but the window edges themselves. but if you choose regular size, you can't read ANYTHING lol i tired adjusting the screen resolution too. the best look i have found so far is 800x600 with the normal 96 dpi anything else is just awful, LOL oh well...........i think i have a spare monitor somewhere upstairs, so i can sue that uin my room i guess eventiually i cna buy a flat screen monitor but till then, i will just use the mahussive one i have upstairs i ncan still sue my tv for watching movies tho, loooks superb (soon as i sort out the sound card issue, HA HA HA) i'm getting there............slowly -x-x-x-
Really good article on Building a Home theater Pc with HDTV capabilities. http://htpcnews.com/main.php?id=htpcmidbuyersguide_1 ATI Dongle versus a HDTV transcoder discussed here: http://www.htpcnews.com/main.php?id=transcoder_1
