Connection to my PC?

[Sibby]

Hello again all,

I have attempted to connect my PC to my new Mits 55511 without success.  Yes the TV has a VGA connection but only works with an incoming signal of 640 x 480 at 60 hz.  I have 4 PC's in my house and not 1 will go as low as 640 x 480.  I could go s-video but everyone knows that looks like garbage.  

So my question is, what other options do I have?  I've though of using a VGA Breakout cable (BCN) and send those to the DTV inputs (RGBHV) but it would just be a shot in the dark.  I can't be the only one thats run into this, so what do you reccomend?

Hoping for a simple solution...

Sibby

[cgardnl]

After reading the dire warnings in the Mits book about burn-in of static images, and the 640x480 limit, I decided to not even try it.

However, (forgive me if this tip is too pedestrian or something you've already tried) if you right-click on the desktop and go to Properties, you should have a Settings tab with a slide bar for Screen Area that takes your resolution down to 640x480 all the way to the left.

[Sibby]

Hi cgardnl,

Video I don't know, but computers I do like the back of my hand.  My card is uncapable of displaying a resolution lower than 800 x 600.  Not many new (good) video cards do today.  I was hoping there would be a way I could use another input for the same purpose.

Still hoping,

Sibby

[Matt Heebner]

I have hooked up my PC to my Mits and you have to match the native rate of the TV. I know that ATI cards have many resolutions that match. Refresh rates don't really matter as the TV will convert it to its's native 60 hz.  Basically as long as the second number of the resolution is 480i/p, 540p the first number can be anything.

ATI cards also have resolutions that match the widescreen format of the TV. 640 x 480 doesn't fit quite right, with overscan of the TV also interfering.  I know that ATI has custom res's of like 840x480, ect.

Even 640 x 480 on a 55" screen looks pretty damn good, surfing was awesome, but I didnt do it for long for fear of burn-in.

Matt

[Sibby]

Very helpful info Matt,

Fortunatly I have an ATI card on my PC, Unfortunatly I don't think it has any second resolutions of 480, but I'll double check tonight.  If so, I can connect that to the VGA input right?  And if I can't go this route. What are my options then?

Thanks alot!

[PFUNK]

I too have an ATI card I I have just ordered an HDTV component video adapter from ATI.  I have yet to use it but potentially this will probably be the best way to view your computer on your TV

[Sibby]

PFUNK....got some info on that adapter? a link maybe?  Is this adapter internal or external?  I'll do some internet searching but I'd like to know which one you are looking at.

Thanks again guys!

[StarvingForHDTV]

Originally posted by PFUNK
I too have an ATI card I I have just ordered an HDTV component video adapter from ATI.  I have yet to use it but potentially this will probably be the best way to view your computer on your TV

I'm curious about this as well.  Can you use that adapter with any ATI card, or just certain ones?  I would also like to know how various things look when hooked up to your TV.  I'm guessing you will be sending out 1080i.

Starving

[StarvingForHDTV]

I found the link at the ATI site:

http://www.ati.com/products/pc/hdtvadapter/index.html

$30 is the cost.  I hope you have good luck with it.  If you do, I will probably buy one of the supported cards and this adapter.

Starving

[drgingras]

Sibby;

Really want to adjust your ATI card's resolution? Try this:

Powerstrip

Lots of HTPC owners over at AVS use it. I use it with my Radeon AIW 8500DV.

Wanted to try the component adaptor myself, but my first gen. Mits doesn't have component input, except for 480I:(

Dave

[Sibby]

drgingras...

Over the weekend I DLed Powerstrip and tried it out.  First of all, what a great little app!  I was able to dumb my res down to 640x480, connect it to the VGA port, and get it to work.  Looks pretty good!  But now I guess I'm getting greedy.

According to Matt's post, I can use more "widescreen" resolutions.  I tried these and they didn't work.

Originally posted by Matt Heebner
I have hooked up my PC to my Mits and you have to match the native rate of the TV. I know that ATI cards have many resolutions that match. Refresh rates don't really matter as the TV will convert it to its's native 60 hz.  Basically as long as the second number of the resolution is 480i/p, 540p the first number can be anything.

ATI cards also have resolutions that match the widescreen format of the TV. 640 x 480 doesn't fit quite right, with overscan of the TV also interfering.  I know that ATI has custom res's of like 840x480, ect.

drgingras, what resolution do you use with Powerstrip?  I'm trying to figure out if this limitation with the custom Reses is my Video card or the Mits.

Thanks!

[Snard]

I have a question that is along the same lines as Sibby's request. I have a Toshiba 34HD82, which has a DVI connector. My PC's video card is an older Creative card, using the NVIDIA GeForce 256 chipset, and it has a DVI connector on the back. What is the likelyhood that putting a cable between these two connectors will give me the ability to display in high res on my Toshiba set?

There's a note in the Toshiba manual saying that their set is NOT intended to be connected to a PC, and so I've resisted trying this so far. I assume if/when I buy a HDTV tuner card, I won't have any difficulties doing this, but if there's a chance that I'm going to damage my new TV by trying to hook it up to the video card, then I won't do it. Has anyone here had experience doing this, or know someone who has?

  - Mike

[drgingras]

Sibby;

Sorry for the delay in responding - out of town on an extended weekend. I use custom 852 x 480 to give me 1:1 pixel matching on my ED plasma, don't know if this will work in your situation. However, you might try searching in the HTPC and Rear Projection forums over at AVS . Also a wealth of information on use of ATI cards over at rage3d

Be sure to come back and report your findings:)

Dave

[Kovu]

Has anyone atempted to hook up a pc to a toshiba?

I've see online at radioshack an adapter that goes from SVGA(RGB), to component or viseversa.