Hook your computer up to your TV now

Timon Russo · 03-28-2003, 02:01 PM

I can't believe I waited a year to do it. I don't know whats going on exactly, I suppose its downconverting 1024x768 to 640x480 or whatever, but it looks great to me and I am having a blast playing Medal of Honor in 65" glory thru my HT speakers.

Its a Dell 4500 with S-Vid out and I didn't have to do anything to configure it. Just plugged in the S-video to the TV and started playing. Happy joy.

Brae · 03-29-2003, 07:43 PM

Well, actually its interlacing it also. Have you been able to discern any significant overscan when the desktop is projected noto the TV screen?

Scott L · 03-29-2003, 08:24 PM

There are some 3rd party programs that control the TV-outs for the popular graphics cards. TV Tool is the one I use for my GF4 Ti400. It looks much better than the one that is included with the drivers and there are many settings to fix under/overscan, brightness, and color.

Timon- you play MOH online any? If so are you in a clan?

Timon Russo · 03-30-2003, 02:52 PM

The image doesn't quite fill the entire screen, but its certainly not chopped off anywhere. I noticed that it stayed on 60 hertz when I reconnected it to my monitor. I manually put it back to 75.

I haven't played any online MOH yet; I always kinda figured the more experienced players would kick my ass like they did when I tried Quake a while back. Plus, I only have dial-up. Would it even work?

Brae · 03-30-2003, 04:21 PM

Timon, its just playing safe as it does not wish to over-drive your television with a refresh above 60-Hz. It is interesting that the S-Video 'boxed' your desktop into what I can only imagnie is an under-scanned condition. On your 65" RPTV how much of a border is there around the PC desktop image?

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Timon Russo · 03-31-2003, 05:29 AM

I'd say about 1" of black border on each side. But I cranked my overscan down on the set to around 3% last year.

Brae · 03-31-2003, 07:27 AM

Cranking the overscan to 3% still should mean that an unboxed display of your computer's desktop should lose about 3% of that desktop--unless I am misunderstanding overscan completely. It sounds like the video card manufacturer took the overscan condition into account, especially for those not aware or capable of adjusting their overscan.

Timon Russo · 03-31-2003, 08:32 AM

Brae, that almost makes sense to me, but you know a heck of lot more about it!!

Brae · 03-31-2003, 08:34 AM

On the contrary. I know just barely enough to be dangerous. Good thing I don't go suggesting a lot of things to people or there would be displays blowing up from California to NYC!

Tekara · 03-31-2003, 12:53 PM

games always look pretty good when you play them on a television. they just tend to really like the TV's dithering method. but the resolution is crap. . . I have a computer in my home theater that I occaisionally play some ghost recon on, and while it looks great it's a bit harder for extreme range sniper shots than on my monitor where I can run 1600x1200. but nevertheless, the big screen makes it worth it

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