Connecting HDTV to PC

[XA04]

I bought a DVI to HDMI cable for my tv and when I put it in 1080p (1920x1080) the image quality isn't great? Maybe too sharp? When I use a standard VGA cable it looks amazing. Even lower resolutions look better than 1080p!

Any ideas? Could it be the cable I purchased? It was only £2 off ebay.. but I don't see why/how it could cause this problem.

Edit:

VGA:
DVI:


OK OK the pictures don't make it look too bad but when you see it in person it is worse

[Skinleech]

That's strange, DVI should be better as it's going to be digital to digital, so no digital to analogue conversion is needed.

I used to use a DVI to HDMI cable on my old HTPC/TV and it was perfect, VGA looked awful. You shouldn't have to spend loads on a cable - but what length is it?

And what card are you using to output to the TV?

[XA04]

Originally Posted by Skinleech

That's strange, DVI should be better as it's going to be digital to digital, so no digital to analogue conversion is needed.

I used to use a DVI to HDMI cable on my old HTPC/TV and it was perfect, VGA looked awful. You shouldn't have to spend loads on a cable - but what length is it?

And what card are you using to output to the TV?

It's a 2m cable. See the my system drop down to the left

I only have 2 dvi ports on the back of my card so when using the vga cable I have to use an adaptor anyway.

[stavroshamster]

Are you just making the comparison with BBC Iplayer?
I player looks shocking in HD on my HDTV using HDMI, lots of jaggies.
Playback of DVDs is much improved though!

[Shooty*]

I had the same thing, plus when I played media back (bluray, dvd, avi, mepg, whatever) it was really really choppy.

Apparently, it was something to do with a handshake problem between my telly and my computer.

I've just put it on a VGA link now and have never looked back. It looks fantastic, the only difference when it was on the hi def connector thing was that the colours looked well different. the graphics are perfectly sharp with VGA on my set. The only odd thing is that the system tray icons for skype, etc, look a little blurred. But that's all. The clock is fine, the rest of the screen is fine, just some of the system tray.

Meh.

[XA04]

Originally Posted by Shooty*

I had the same thing, plus when I played media back (bluray, dvd, avi, mepg, whatever) it was really really choppy.

Apparently, it was something to do with a handshake problem between my telly and my computer.

I've just put it on a VGA link now and have never looked back. It looks fantastic, the only difference when it was on the hi def connector thing was that the colours looked well different. the graphics are perfectly sharp with VGA on my set. The only odd thing is that the system tray icons for skype, etc, look a little blurred. But that's all. The clock is fine, the rest of the screen is fine, just some of the system tray.

Meh.

Is there no way of fixing it then? system tray looks fine on vga and so do games.. might just stick with it. just seems odd!

Originally Posted by stavroshamster

Are you just making the comparison with BBC Iplayer?
I player looks shocking in HD on my HDTV using HDMI, lots of jaggies.
Playback of DVDs is much improved though!

noooo haha. focusing more on the text really.

[XA04]

Some news... I messed with the settings on the TV and changed the name of the port I was using for the pc connection to 'DVI PC' which has seemed to of almost fixed it. The colours are now normal but the image quaility is slightly blury? Any ideas?

It's a 40" Samsung LCD TV.. Can give the model number if it helps..

[Zap]

How does it look in Media Centre?
My friend had the same issue but only on the desktop, 1080 in Media Center looked perfect.

I know it's obvious but have you tried messing with the settings of the TV?
Best to avoid the "vivid" type setting alot of TV's come with.

[k0nigen]

Check the overscan settings of your TV and your graphics drivers
Reduce sharpness on TV (probably to zero)

[XA04]

Originally Posted by Zap

How does it look in Media Centre?
My friend had the same issue but only on the desktop, 1080 in Media Center looked perfect.

I know it's obvious but have you tried messing with the settings of the TV?
Best to avoid the "vivid" type setting alot of TV's come with.

Not looked at media centre.. I'd imagine it would be ok but I've tried playing games with this cable and it just looks crap compared to VGA.

Originally Posted by k0nigen

Check the overscan settings of your TV and your graphics drivers
Reduce sharpness on TV (probably to zero)

Messed with the graphics settings like crazy. And see the post above.... it's too blury now.. it won't let me change the sharpness settings.

[Agent]

Correct refresh rate?
Most HDTV's will take stupidly wrong inputs and display something, but usually not correctly.

[XA04]

Originally Posted by Agent

Correct refresh rate?
Most HDTV's will take stupidly wrong inputs and display something, but usually not correctly.

Yep. 60hz. If I set it lower it does the funny colour thing again.

[Stoo]

Is there an auto picture adjust option on one of the menus of the TV?

[DannyM]

My 40" Sony Bravia looks a bit too sharp on the basic desktop, but once it's got XBMC up and running and playing videos, I find it to produce a fantastic picture!

[Hawklan]

Hi

Are you setting the output to the native resolution of the HDTV - This can make an immense improvement (on the basis that the scalling on PC's can be better then that on a HDTV)

All the best

RON