[mythtv-users] MythTV, 1080P, NVidia, DVI to HDMI

[Jarom McDonald]

> HI all,
>
> Just a quick question, I just bought a 1080P Panasonic S1 panel.  It does not have VGA (I.E. PC Input) in.  My assumption is I can hook up a DVI to HDMI cable and everything should work, and that VGA is reaching end of life (so I didn't want to spend an extra $300 on the G10).  I am about to invest in a computer upgrade.
>
> My specs I plan to move from my old setup to a new computer.
> Myth .21
> PVR 150 (SD Cable from Coax In)
> PVR 250 (SD Cable from Coax In)
> ATI HDTV Wonder (QAM Cable for Coax In)
> Hauppage HD PVR (Uses Cable STB Component Out)
>
> I have read on this list that some people have overscan issues and switch to VGA.
>
> 1.  Should I return the S1 and get a panel with a VGA input because I will have less issues?
>
> 2.  If not 1., should I buy an NVidia card with HDMI out or is DVI equivalent in a MythTv system, is xorg.conf hard to work with HDMI?
>    

Are you planning on playing audio through the TV? If so, there are a few 
things to think about:

a) Some TVs do not allow you to have an HDMI input with a separate audio 
feed. Check your Panasonic's HDMI inputs to see.

b) If you do have such an HDMI input (one with a separate audio input) 
but choose to get a nvidia card with HDMI output, there may still be 
audio issues. I have a nvidia card with an HDMI output that is designed 
to use SPDIF audio passthrough (there are little jumpers on the card). I 
haven't bothered to hook that up yet, but the card still sends an empty 
audio stream--the TV tells it in its EDID data that it accepts audio 
over HDMI, and so my card sends it regardless, and unfortunately my 
Philips LCD doesn't have an option for overriding the HDMI for the 
alternate input. Until I get around to doing the SPDIF setup, I've been 
relegated to acquiring the EDID data, wiping the extension block so the 
card doesn't know the TV can accept HDMI audio, passing that custom EDID 
to xorg, and thus the empty stream is never sent out over the cable (a 
more difficult solution, I know ... but sometimes getting to the store 
for necessary cables is such a low priority when a few hours of 
tinkering can do it instead!)

c) If you have to or want to send audio over HDMI (because of your TV's 
hookups), then your only option would be a nvidia card that allows SPDIF 
audio passthrough. Nvidia doesn't yet make a card (unless things have 
changed recently) that has an onboard audio chip (although ATI does).

d) If you aren't playing audio through the TV, then disregard this whole 
response.

Best,
Jarom

-- 
Jarom McDonald
Assistant Research Professor, College of Humanities
Brigham Young University
1163-G JFSB
Provo, UT 84602
801.709.1556
jarom_mcdonald at byu.edu