URGENT---Help with FX5700 card to TV

[marcw]

I built my PVR, it is a P4 2.8 Abit MB, Albatron FX5700 and a PVR 250. Everything boots up and the computer works with my LCD monitor.

I brought it downstairs for the final test, hooking up to my Pioneer 64" rptv, HD ready. I went S-Video from the FX5700 to the S-Video of the TV.

The picture was fuzzy and all B&W, no color. O could not find any settings on the video card or any reference in the manual to get it to work on the TV.

Suggestions please?????

Thx,
Marc

[stanger89]

B/W, sounds like the video card thinks it is supposed to be outputting composite, you'll have to look around to find out where to set it.

What you'll probably want to do is hook your HTPC up to a monitor (via VGA) and try the canned 1920x1080i in the nVidia drivers (the latest ones have that I believe). Assuming that works, hook it up to your TV via VGA and give it a shot.

[malore]

I agree with stanger89. Open Display Properties -> Settings Tab -> Advanced Button -> Geforce... Tab -> nView Display Mode on the left menu. Then select witch ever display is the tv (1 or 2) and click the Device Settings button. Then Select TV settings and make sure the Connection is set to S-Video Out.

[marcw]

I found the S-Video setting after I postyed this nmote. The computer still thinks it is the default monitor. On boot it is B&W then when windows loads it is color but blurry. I am going to try new drivers to se tit as TV output. Itis set to 60HZ refresh rate.

Are there settings in the driver I have 5.2.1.4 date 9/243/2003

[GbrNole]

the first and biggest issue is why in the heck are you using s-vid to hd ready tv????

if you have a new elite series tv then you will have hdmi inputs for input 5 and 6 and if you check ram electronics you will find they sell dvi to hdmi cables for hooking your fx5700 from dvi out to tv (hdmi in)

if your tv doesn't have hdmi in then check for dvi in and failing that the fail safe option is to buy a transcoder to convert vga signal to component video signal.

the other option is to use a radeon 9600 with the ati component video adapter....if you want to go that route i'd love to take that fx5700 off of your hands

the resolutions mentioned above are pretty much useless when using s-vid BTW so when you get the s-vid working just use 800x600 for the time being. also make sure the card is seated properly and that the card is set to ntsc and not pal.

[marcw]

I am not sure I follow you. I have three output modes on the card, S-Video, DVi and VGA. I have the following inputs on the tv open

1 set of componet left, opn s-video, coax. Their is an RGB connector but it says it is for HDTV.

For use by the computer it shouldnt matter.

Why is S Video no good. ALl the inputys I received said go with the FX5700 vs the ATI.

Will this board not recognize the the S-Video input as a tv connection.

Are there config files for using a TV vz and LCD flat panel monitor

[GbrNole]

the s-vid is not preferable because the maximum output resolution is 720x480 interlaced whereas using wideband component video input will allow full HD resolutions of 1920x1080i or even 1280x720p if your tv will accept it.

basically the biggest advantage of htpc's is the ability for them to cleanly scale standard definition interlaced images to HD resolutions (and almost true HD quality with the correct filters)

your sage experience will look fine through the s-vid cable but you would be cheating yourself out of a fabulous pic for dvd's (especially windows media HD dvd's) and other high resolution eye candy.

your fx5700 is just a heckuva card for only using s-vid too.

you mentioned that you have rgb input - is that a 5 rca plug rgb input? if so you can just buy a simple vga to rgb/hv cable and direct connect that to the tv also (even though the tv probably says not to)

get the s-vid working (it will work) then explore the better options

[marcw]

thx for your help, back to my original question though, how can I get the video card to pick up the tv and adjust to the settings. It is blurry and I cannot change the refresh rates.

also do I go to nvidias site or albatron for new drivers
thx,
marc

[GbrNole]

go to nvidia's site.

make sure that your video card tv out (svid connection) is set to default and select 800x600 60hz and 32-bit color.

[stanger89]

With s-video the output will always be 720x480 @ 30Hz no matter what resolution you select in windows, that's how TV out works. It will always be fuzzy, that's the nature of s-video.

What you're going to want to do is hook your HTPC up to the RGB input, but first set your 5700 to 1920x1080i since the RGB input on your TV only supports 1080i (I'd do that on a monitor first). Do the nVidia drivers have a default 1920x1080 resolution? I think they are supposed to now.

[marcw]

stranger89, I think you are familiar with the Piuoneer TV from a few posts ago. I am not wed to S-Video and can change to other inputs. I am not sure where to look to go to 1080i. It may only be available with a monitor that supports it. I can move my LCD downstair.

As for the connectors, the TV has an RGB in which it states is for HDTV only.
Should I use the DVI to RGB adapter. I assume I need to buy an RGB cable? I may have one from my DEll monitor which came with both adapters.

Do you have an MSN instant messenger address.

[marcw]

Ok Once I get the TV out issue resolved I wwill be hooking the PVR card up. Initiall I will take the output from my cable box, I have the following options on the back

Coax
S-Video
RCA

also

I will pick up an RGB male to male tomorrow and try that way. Do I want DVI to RGB (is that possible)?

It came with a DVI to RGB adpater.

My tv has one set of either component (HD) or composite connections left.

[gplasky]

Use the RGB conncection on your HDTV to connect to your PC. Make sure to define a monitor that will support the HDTV resolutions. I think I picked a Sony GW-900 or something like that. Make sure you're set at 60Hz. When you have your PC moniotr connected set the resolution for 800 x 600. Shut down the PC, disconnect your PC monitor and connect up your HDTV. You should get a decent picture on your HDTV. Now go ahead and change the resolution to the desired setting. Connecting to your RGB connector should give you your best picture.

Gerry

[stanger89]

Gerry,

800x600 will only work on a very select number of TVs (like mine) I think 640x480 is what you meant. But from looking at the manual for his TV, the RGB in will only accept 1080i.

Marc,

If you can't find 1920x1080 in the windows control panel try changing your monitor (Display Properties -> Advanced -> Monitor) to something like a FW-900 like Gerry said.

[gplasky]

Yeah-what he said. Only issue I'm pretty sure was the nVidia's drivers lowest resolution was 800 x 600 from the drop down. I think some of the HDTV's will try to scale the picture. It may not be pretty but you could change it from there. I know on my Panasonic HDTV it worked for me.

Gerry

[stanger89]

Actually I think thats an XP thing, if you go to Detailed Setup->Advanced->Adapter - List all Modes, 640x480 and 1920x1080i should be available in the list.

Good catch Gerry, I forgot XP hid resolutions < 800x600.

[GbrNole]

i'm still confused by what he refers to as an RGB input.

is it actually a 5 rca plug RGB/HV input, a standard 3 plug RGB input which integrates the h & v sync into those 3 plugs or is it an actual 15 pin vga style input?

i know the new elites use both component video (yprpb) and hdmi inputs for high resolution images.

[marcw]

I have a VGA plug (I guess 15pin), a set of HD inpouts and a set of composite (yellow, white, red) inputs. The VGA inpout saysd for HDTV only.

The tv is a Pioneer SD-643HD5

[marcw]

http://www.hometheatermag.com/rearpr...10/index4.html

[GbrNole]

perfect!

just hook a vga cable from the card to the tv 15-pin vga in and set the output to 1920x1080i 60hz 32-bit color and you're good to go.

once you have got that working you can then mess around with custom resolutions to to limit overscan or use the resize features in the nvidia drivers.

your vga port will be your primary display, no real need to use the dvi port.