"Tearing" in top right corner of LCD

[Spectrum]

I'm not sure if this is software related or hardware related, but I'm leaning toward hardware.

I just set up a new 720p LCD TV (Toshiba 32AV500U) and I am noticing what I would describe as tearing in the top right corner. See attached pic, best I could catch with my digital camera to show the problem.

• It happens for live and recorded TV from an NVIDIA DualTV using either Pure Video or Sage Decoder
• It happens on playback of an Xvid encoded avi
• It happens with FSE enabled and disabled
• It happens in full screen and in a window if the window is in the top right corner
• It does not always occur at the same location in a file, rewinding the file and watching again may or may not reproduce the anomaly.
• It happens from HTPC as well as when playing from laptop using placeshifter

The last item is what is making me suspect hardware...
I placed a sticky index card to the bezel to mark the location and it happens at the exact same location in all of the above scenarios.

The one thing I have not been able to test is using a different input. Currently HTPC and laptop were connected using VGA (same cable - only have one). I have a DVI to HDMI cable on order, but will not have a way to test using HDMI until the cable arrives.

Does this sound like a hardware defect, a video card issue (Both systems using Nvidia cards), a bum VGA cable, or a bum TV?

HTPC System:
Intel 3.2GHz Prescott
1.5 GB RAM
NVIDIA 7600GT - Driver version 175.19
Onboard Realtek AC'97 sound

I'll be happy to provide any more info you need, just ask.

Edit* Happens when using overlay or VMR9

[HelenWeathers]

From the picture it looks like a bum TV. Bad grid in LCD pannel. Do you have another source to try; ATSC tuner for example. If it happens no matter what you feed it, it must be the TV.

[Spectrum]

Thanks Helen,
Only other thing I can give it is an SD source. When the DVI - HDMI cable comes in I can give it HD via that input. I could try to track down an antenna, TV does have an ATSC tuner so I should be able to pick up something as I am in a relatively large metro area.

Is it worth trying the antenna route, should I just wait for the cable, or should I just return the TV?

Thanks again,
Robert

[HelenWeathers]

If you have a set of rabbit ears that should work as a temp solution for local HD channels unless you live too far away from them. I would try it. The pattern of the box is so straight edged vertically and horizontally that I *think* it's the TV pannel.

[Spectrum]

Update:
I couldn't track down and antenna so I just took the TV back and got it replaced. The new one does the same thing
Happens on multiple systems so that narrows it down to:

• 2 bad TVs (unlikely)
• Bad VGA cable - doubtful as I have run 1600x1200 on another display w/o problems
• Something inherent to this TV

UPS delivered the DVI to HDMI cable so I will be able to try that when I get home. Hopefully that will resolve it. If not looks like I'll be in the market for a different TV
I'll report the results in case anyone else is interested.
Thanks again for your Help Helen!

[HelenWeathers]

Originally Posted by Spectrum

UPS delivered the DVI to HDMI cable so I will be able to try that when I get home. Hopefully that will resolve it. If not looks like I'll be in the market for a different TV. I'll report the results in case anyone else is interested.

I am anxious to hear your results with the new cable. Two different sources with two different TVs having the same display problem is odd. Toshiba has in the past been one of my favorite TVs. I lean heavily to Samsung now.

I hope the HDMI cable solves your problem though.

[Spectrum]

Using the HDMI cable seems to have solved the problem. I haven't had time to test exhaustively (hopefully I'll get a chance to watch some TV this weekend) but in limited testing the problem seems to be gone. I guess that narrows it down to something with the VGA input on the TV or a problem with the VGA cable I was using. Either way it won't bother me now that I have the HDMI cable