hd signals from pc....

[Hicks12]

Im wondering how would i go about using my hd-tv with my computer, i already use it via hdmi--->dvi(connects to gfx card). But the hd cable that came with the card is a 3way cable right? how would i use that, its no where near long enough to connect to my tv O.o xD. Its hdcp complaint etc but i do think having it @ 1680x1050 means its showing hd? would i notice a difference with using the supplied cables? and for movies would it affect it.


Thanks

edit: another question, is there a way to say, use my computer as a tv recorder? so somehow relay the signal from the Ariel too the tv then too the pc for recording, id would be nice to somehow do that if it is possible, what connection/ how would i actually achieve this?

[nichomach]

I'm assuming that you're running the DVI out from the graphics card via a DVI to HDMI cable supplied with the card. Your card should support HD via your DVI outputs, so the component cable shouldn't be necessary ( ).

You don't say what television you're running it to, but generally there are three HD display modes:
720p (720 lines, progressive scan)
1080i (1080 lines, interleaved scan)
1080p (1080 lines, progressive scan)

Progressive scan means that each line on the display is rendered in each pass, interleaved means that alternate lines are rendered on each pass.

Commonly, televisions are supplied with native resolutions of 1366x768 or 1920x1080. The latter may be progressive or interleaved. A 1680x1050 resolution is kind of a halfway house used by (commonly) 20" and 22" PC displays. If you're outputting that to your telly, it's not ideal - you should be outputting, if poss, to the native resolution and scanning mode (i or p) as your telly, so either 1366x768p or 1920x1080i or p.

Second question; yes, and quite a few people do. You need a tuner card compatible with whatever TV signal you intend to receive. In the UK you can receive digital TV via terrestrial digital (Freeview) using DVB-T receivers, digital satellite via DVB-S receivers, or cable via DVB-C receivers. The first, you can easily get a PC card to do, the second, yes, but only the free-to-air stuff, really, and the third you can only legally plug in their own set-top box (there are such things as DVB-C tuner cards, but their use with a Virgin Media cable service violates the Ts & Cs of the service). You CAN output from Virgin's standard def STB to an analogue card, but you can't really do the multi-channel thing. I see you're on Virgin cable so this last probably applies to you. I'm on cable also, and bluntly? You can't really do a lot with a PC that you couldn't do cheaper and better with the V+ box and a DVD recorder. Of course, you could use a freeview card in addition to your cable service, but, well, why? The V+ box can record two programmes while you watch another, upscale your SD channels to 1080i and display the HD stuff that VM makes available. They've also been doing them half-price recently.

[Hicks12]

its an lg 22ls4r, the cable wasnt with the card, i bought it when i got this tv and it plugs into the hdmi connection from the tv to dvi on the card, how would i go about setting it to 768p/i?

and i know what hd versions there are , it can upscale to 1080i but i think the tv fails at that .

[nichomach]

OK, just had a gander at the specs on play.com for your TV, and its native res is 1680x1050, so don't worry about setting the res to anything else. As long as that's OK, then your PC should scale the output appropriately. 1080 exceeds the capabilities of your screen. Voila, you're done. So yes, you should be seeing in "HD" already. As far as what cables, I'd say stick with the DVI > HDMI.

[Hicks12]

right, was just making sure xD. Now i just need to get some hd films......

[nichomach]

I assume you have a Blu-ray/HD-DVD/Combo drive in your rig?