HDMI,DVI, Components, need help !!!

from GalCiv2 Forums
Here is the situation :

I got a hdtv ready lcd 32''.
My pc got a BFG 7950 GT OC 512gddr3
I want to plug my super TV on this super Video card (if we want!)
I tried first with what they call a HDTV dongle.

It is a 7pin plug s-video you plug in the card, and the cable is made of 3 components video plug (Y, PB,PR or something like that) When I plug the component on my LCD TV, the image suck so bad, that's horrible, blur, bad colors, etc.

Now my Video card has 2 DVI-D receiver with 2 adapter for RBG signal (SVGA plug). Actually my pc screen is plugged with that.

MY TV can only receive RGB signal, HDMI and Components (of course)

So...my roomate here usa a RGB signal, analog on his TV and got a really nice picture.
How come if I use the HTDV dongle, s-video to compontent, I got a pretty bad screen...this is suposed to be hdtv plug and play !!!

By the way, NVIDIA software is a pain.

My brother sugest me to buy a dvi-d//hdmi cable with the two plug on it, or a HDMI cable with an adapter for the DVI-D plug on my video card.

It is so costy to buy that at futureshop (a kind of bestbuy but with more quality)...

170$ canadian dollars for a 12 feet hdmi//dvi cable.

This is pure non sense.

What can I do ?????

should I Use a RGB signal, plain and simple plug and play, and expect receiving a good image (like my roomate on the same tv hehe)

or should I buy a cable online, HDMI 15 feet gold, 12$ US, add 10$ US for shipping to Canada, add minimum 5$ canadian for custom tax. would be 30-35$ canadian.


I got no experience with HDTV, and I find this not really userfriendly.


lol
off-topic
12,771 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
My brother sugest me to buy a dvi-d//hdmi cable with the two plug on it, or a HDMI cable with an adapter for the DVI-D plug on my video card.


I've heard of all sorts of troubles with those--the result is generally no better than using component. The issue you're seeing with the component right now is likely that it is over/underscanning, rather than running at a proper 1:1 resolution. Even if you get it to run at 1:1, it'll probably only let you use a centered area on the screen, rather than the whole thing.

Since your TV has a VGA input, I'd strongly recommend just using that--if anything will work pain-free and properly, that'll be it.

Really, if you're looking to use an HDTV as a PC monitor, the best bet is to find one with DVI-D input on it. Leave HDMI and component for the consoles, DVD players, and cable boxes, which will be designed for those.


Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
thx for your answer, really appreciated.

However it loos like lot of people have different answer.

All people I asked about this told me that a RGB signal would not be good for me.
But my roomate use it and it's so nice. It's the good old analog quality.

Is RGB signal able to be HD ?

Groupy 2 - Organize multiple applications into grouped tabs on your Windows desktop
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
VGA can run just as high resolution as DVI. It can just be a little less sharp though due to the digital->analog>digital conversion, and the way the analog signal is formatted. How noticeable the difference is varies from display to display.

If you're taking video input from a PC though, the best option IMO is likely to be DVI first, then VGA, then the others, at least from the standpoint of getting it to work properly at the expected resolution.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Thx really.

I'm now thinking about that. It goes against all people told me, but most of thoses peoples never experienced it. It seem logic to me, since my roomate has the same TV and he is using VGA with a pretty nice result, a HD result in fact, nothing less.
By the way, in the booklet, in the connecting section, it is wrote that if you want to plug it in a pc, to use the vga plug.

With what you told me and the way you explained it, I'm sure I can trust you.

So I'm going to save my money and I'll buy a premium quality 15 feet VGA cable, along with my vga/dvi adaptor, it should be working nice. (sad that my tv had not a dvi-d input, but well)

Still, I'm just actually reading something really different about this...

look at this :
http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/02/08/how-to-connect-your-pc-to-your-hdtv/

This guy recommand us to use dvi-hdmi.

My tv is that one :

http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=10295769&whse=BCCA&topnav=&browse=&lang=en-CA

Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
If your TV manual says to use the VGA port for PC input, then that's probably indeed your best bet.

DVI is preferable, but you don't have it on your set so that's out. Using a DVI>HDMI convertor with a non-major brand set an iffy prospect (it may try to excessively over/underscan the image, or refuse to work at full native resolution, or not work at all), and potentailly expensive. And the visual quality improvement would probably be negligible, even if everything worked out perfectly. The only real benefit would be HDCP support, which is moot unless you plan on getting a Bluray or HDDVD drive for your computer.

VGA is cheap and simple, and your TV manual recommends it. A "premium" cable is not usually worth the extra cost, so just grab a regular one and see if you can get the result you want (heck, just borrow your roomate's first if you can). You can always return it and try something else later, too.


Always try the simplest solution first, IMO. VGA is it, and since both ends support it all you need is a cheap cable.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Ok, no hesitation.

I dont need to test it, since I already saw it on my roomate pc. And his graphics card is not as good as mine by the way.

So let's go the classical easy cheap plug and play cable.

In the worse case, I would have spent 20$ for a cable that give me a normal quality.

Better than spend 100$ for cable that may work as bad as component cable.

you make my day !!