16:9 Resolution from a Shuttle PC

[unrealrocks]

OK, getting my new TV and as I watch alot of DivX movies my plan is to use a shuttle because this will allow me to watch them easily and not have to mess around burning disks - same with MP3s!

My question is, untill you get into higher resolutions (not usable on TV encoder chips) all the resolutions are in 4:3, and with a 16:9 TV. Isn't this either going to strech a picture with huge black bars or end up with the sides not being used (kinda pointless having a 16:9 TV).

I've found this program called TVTool which seems to have all sorts of options, one of which is in the overlay options which allows you to select an aspect ratio ... will this work? If not, how do I do this?

(The Shuttle will most probably be an SK41G - this has the Chrontel chip in)

[shredisn@tdead]

I may be wrong, but I think the Rage3D Radeon overclocking utils let you do just this kind of thing too. Although not much use without an ATI card in there. Sorry...

[MD]

I have a SK41G, plugged in directly to my Sony 28" Widescreen TV, on the network, streaming the files like a dream. Card in the XPC is the ATi Radeon 7000 I had lying around, works fine, no matter what file I throw at it, mostly .avi/.xvid/.divx etc etc I use BS Player and WMP and the screen is done proportionate to the actual original source file....

m@

[Stoo]

Yeah, tvtool will work as long as it's got a compatible chipset, you have to create a custom screen res, can't remember off hand, but I'll see if I can dig up a tutorial in a bit..

[unrealrocks]

I have a SK41G, plugged in directly to my Sony 28" Widescreen TV, on the network, streaming the files like a dream. Card in the XPC is the ATi Radeon 7000 I had lying around, works fine, no matter what file I throw at it, mostly .avi/.xvid/.divx etc etc I use BS Player and WMP and the screen is done proportionate to the actual original source file....

m@

What resolution do you run?

If you run EG 800*600 then use the TV to stretch it then sureley its just going to sqeze the picture width ways and make everyone about 5 stone heavyer?


Cheers for the replys, further help would be really appreciated

[Stoo]

You set up a special 768x576 or 720x480 res, that will set you up a proper pal or ntsc tv resolution, not sure if a tv-out outputs the widescreen signal the set uses to switch modes though..

[unrealrocks]

You set up a special 768x576 or 720x480 res, that will set you up a proper pal or ntsc tv resolution, not sure if a tv-out outputs the widescreen signal the set uses to switch modes though..

But both of those resolutions are still 4:3 so won't it strech the picture?

[MD]

I do use 800x600, but never had stretching problems, of course depending on the format of the source file depends just how much 'letterbox' I get, I could go to funky resolutions with it if I really could be bothered, but because I also have a 5.1 surround sound card in the shuttle and I have the Creative DTT 5.1 surround with the hooge sub and the dolby decoder I am too bust havin my body shaken lol to worry about a few pixels on the original res lol.....its a sweet setup IMO as it is...

m@

[Stoo]

But both of those resolutions are still 4:3 so won't it strech the picture?

Yes, but that's all pal or ntsc can ever be, the tv normally scales the picture when it detects a widescreen signal (if you have auto select turned on) or you do when you select wide mode, as I said before, I'm not sure if a pc tv-out produces a widescreen signal..

[unrealrocks]

So ... to recap ...

EG I select 800*600, shove in my SVideo cable between my TV and Shuttle. Shove in a Letterbox DVD and start playing ... I will get the midsized black lines, the people will have normal sized wastelines and it'll be using the whole TV?

Thankyou for being patient ... I wanna make totally sure I'm getting the right thing (even though I'm not paying for it)!

[G4Z]

im gettin a shutle next week, what is the picture quality like? can you see the lines or anything?

[G4Z]

any1 got any idea on this? my shuttle arrives next week

what res do you need for widescreen?

[Howard]

The TV will stretch the picture of the DiVX movie to fill it's screen. No need for any software. Just use normal output.

[unrealrocks]

The TV will stretch the picture of the DiVX movie to fill it's screen. No need for any software. Just use normal output.

Stretch or cut? IE will it still be in the correct ratio?

[Howard]

On my widescreen TV, DiVX movies look perfect when stretched upwards to fill the screen. So I'm assuming they'll be OK for you.