[mythtv-users] optimizing nvidia tv-out for widescreen rear projection tv connected via s-video

[Rich West]

Braindead wrote:
> On Fri, 18 May 2007 16:16:35 -0400
> Rich West <Rich.West at wesmo.com> wrote:
>
>   
>> Braindead wrote:
>>     
>>> On Fri, 18 May 2007 17:29:25 +0100
>>> "James Buckley" <xanium4332 at googlemail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>   
>>>       
>>>> On 18/05/07, Daniel Agar <daniel at agar.ca> wrote:
>>>>     
>>>>         
>>>>>> now that I've been using Myth for a while... starting to wonder
>>>>>> if I can get better picture quality, not that it's bad... seems
>>>>>> pretty darned
>>>>>>         
>>>>>>             
>>>>> nice
>>>>>       
>>>>>           
>>>>>> really.. but one just never knows.
>>>>>>         
>>>>>>             
>>> <snip>
>>>   
>>>       
>>>>> This probably isn't the suggestion your looking for, but you might
>>>>> consider swaping that FX 5200 for one that has dvi on it. I was
>>>>> using an s-video connection on my 37" lcd and the quality
>>>>> difference when I switched to dvi was incredible, completely worth
>>>>> the $40 spent on the card.
>>>>>
>>>>> Other than that I don't see any main changes you could make with
>>>>> your xorg.conf, its about the same as the config I use on another
>>>>> SD frontend. You might consider adjusting the overscan with the
>>>>> nvidia-settings tool which will adjust in real time.
>>>>>       
>>>>>           
>>>> I second this, DVI/HDMI gives awsome pictures, and in some
>>>> circumstances allows one-to-one pixel mapping.
>>>>     
>>>>         
>>> Thanks, that's pretty much what I thought.. But I wanted to make
>>> sure I wasn't running a really off xorg.conf or something like
>>> that.  One of these days I'll upgrade my BE/FE box.. I've only got
>>> one input (PVR-150) at this point..  I have a feeling that
>>> eventually the evil cable companies will force me to have a cable
>>> box (none yet), which will mean some re-thinking my setup... IR
>>> blaster... or what have you.  I'll simply have to upgrade at that
>>> point ;-)
>>>       
>> Check out http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/ComponentOut for come 
>> good Component Out tips.
>>
>> If your TV works properly with DVI, try that.  Although, most TV's
>> treat DVI as a "pc connection" which, for some vendors or TV types,
>> doesn't work out as well.  Also, be aware that some TV's don't do DVI
>> correctly (a co-worker's 1yr old projection has a DVI port, but isn't
>> supported to be hooked up to a PC).
>>
>> Component out is as good as HDMI, except for the fact that there is 
>> digital->analog conversion in there (and theoretically there could be 
>> some loss involved) while HDMI is all digital to the TV (less subject
>> to interference along the wire).  However, Component Out doesn't have
>> the possibility of any DRM (which HDMI might).
>>     
>
> I believe my TV doesn't support PC connections (last I checked the manual), but it's got plenty of component out... I'll probably go that route when it comes down to it..

Component out will look good.  Just be aware that different brands of 
TV's have different amounts of overscan, and the nVidia driver also 
tries to account for overscan.  There is very little you can really do 
about it (overscan exists all of the time anyhow, it is just a matter of 
trying to minimize it).  I had very good luck with pushing component out 
via my nVidia 6200 until I got a new TV with HDMI in and switched to a 
fanless 6200 (that and a simple DVI to HDMI cable did the job just nicely).

-Rich