TV Resolution Issues

[SweetErika]

We got a new TV and are having issues getting our media resolution correct. The default resolution for the TV is 1024x768, but when the computer is set to that, it cuts off the screen (everything is stretched too wide and a little too high).

We're dealing with a:
- 42" Plasma
- MythTV (a media center/DVR distribution of linux)

The TV tech support won't be open until tomorrow morning, and you guys are much friendlier than a lot of the Linux and electronics forums. Any ideas on how this can be fixed?

 

[kindashy]

The fix is easy. You can treat the TV as if it was a flat screen computer monitor. Do you know how you can usually adjust the display area? Move it up, down, left, right, change brightness, sharpness? Same thing here, your tv is just a big dumb monitor and it will do what you tell it to do, you are th boss!

Another way to do the same thing is to tell your video card (in you media pc) to do these same adjustments. I have an ATI video card that comes with program called Catalyst that lets me do all kinds of technical things to the card. I also have an nVidia card that came with similar program.

Those are your choices, either do the adjustments on tv or do them on the computer. If my lcd monitor (not tv) any indicator, the tv should be capable of correcting this problem by itself when you go into adjustments menu of the tv. Let me look around the manual for the tv, I might find where they have the steps.

 

[SweetErika]

Yeah, that's what we tried first, but because there are actually two resolutions (the native plus the one for the 720p), it still didn't look quite right.

Hubby just informed me he finally set it as a 1024x768 widescreen monitor with a secondary resolution of 1280x720 for the 720p, and it's working fine. It's not perfect, but it's as close as we'll get with regular cable and our current video card.

I think we'll probably downsize to a 37" LCD instead, though (this tv is in a smaller space that just needs something between a 27" regular tv and this 42" plasma, and we'll save on energy and the price). And we'll upgrade the video card in the next 6 months.

 

[Seamus123]

What video card are you using? I've just done a big test of graphics cards at work - I'm a tech journalist - so I could let you know what would be a good media card

 

[SweetErika]

What video card are you using? I've just done a big test of graphics cards at work - I'm a tech journalist - so I could let you know what would be a good media card

I really don't know exactly. I'm pretty sure it's an older NVIDIA, as this computer was put together with parts from our previous desktop (so the parts, minus the TV tuner cards, are 3-4 years old).

Feel free to give your suggestions, though. Like I said, we'll be updating the system sometime in the next 6 months probably. We usually try to find the 'sweet spot' in terms of price, upgradeability and quality on stuff like this.

 

[Seamus123]

Well if you want to play games, then I can recommend something more powerful.

If not, then a very cheap card from the current generation will be perfect. An ATI Radeon HD 4350 or HD 4550 will be perfect and can easily handle playing Blu-ray, which is about as demanding as playing media really gets - they can be had for less than £50 in British cash, although I'm not sure about yours. The HD 4350 is even less; around £35 British.

If you want an Nvidia card, then the GeForce 9400 GT and 9500 GT will do the same things and cost similar amounts.

It would also be a good idea to look for one of these cards that is passively cooled. This means that there's no fan on the card to keep it chilled, so there's no noise - so even quiet moments in movies won't be interrupted by a constant whirr.

 

[kindashy]

I took a look through the tv manual. They mention pc in the manual and just say that the tv was not designed for working with pc, it really is just one line mention and that is it. All you can do is set it up the best you can.

Seamus123 is correct about the cards. The basic cards are now about 50 dollars, either ATI or nVidia. The jack of all trades cards (ATI 3000 series and corresponding nVidia cards) are a little more 80-100 dollars. One interesting thing about cards. Your tv had HDMI socket, well, they now put HDMI sockets on video cards too, this is perfect for pc to tv connection, you simply connect the two devices with HDMI cable.

 

[A_Kefka]

I noticed the same problem with hooking my laptop to our tv. The TV didn't have any settings that could fix it, but teh computer's settings that allow you to center and stretch the screen would have taken care of it. As far as size, I checked when I was switching from an older tv to a flat panel. The old TV image (sides letterboxed so its close to square) on a 32" is the same as a 25" old TV, so that size works good to replace a 27" older one.

 

[SweetErika]

I noticed the same problem with hooking my laptop to our tv. The TV didn't have any settings that could fix it, but teh computer's settings that allow you to center and stretch the screen would have taken care of it. As far as size, I checked when I was switching from an older tv to a flat panel. The old TV image (sides letterboxed so its close to square) on a 32" is the same as a 25" old TV, so that size works good to replace a 27" older one.

Excellent info; thanks! So, it sounds like a 37" will be perfect for us as a happy medium. Plus, we can get a nicer looking new tv (this new Panasonic is flat black, just like our old one; I'd like gloss or silver, I think). Fortunately, we bought it at Costco, so it'll be easy to return/exchange (they add an extra year to the manufacturer's warranty if you use an AmEx card, too, which is kinda nice).

 

[A_Kefka]

Excellent info; thanks! So, it sounds like a 37" will be perfect for us as a happy medium. Plus, we can get a nicer looking new tv (this new Panasonic is flat black, just like our old one; I'd like gloss or silver, I think). Fortunately, we bought it at Costco, so it'll be easy to return/exchange (they add an extra year to the manufacturer's warranty if you use an AmEx card, too, which is kinda nice).

Glad I could help.