Nvidia component output issues...

[dimtim]

Ok so I'm having a little issue with nvidia tv output. I had it all hooked up to S video and everything was working great so I thought I might as well make the jump to component. My tv is not an HDTV, and the issue is that Nvidia won't let me select component as an output without "pretending" my tv is HDTV. When I do "pretend" it's an HDTV Nvidia says the maximum resolution it will allow is 720 by 480 when previously, with the Svideo connection, the resolution was 1024 by 768. Anyone know how to fix this issue, because I really would like to enjoy component quality?

Thanks a lot
Tim

[edDV]

Ok so I'm having a little issue with nvidia tv output. I had it all hooked up to S video and everything was working great so I thought I might as well make the jump to component. My tv is not an HDTV, and the issue is that Nvidia won't let me select component as an output without "pretending" my tv is HDTV. When I do "pretend" it's an HDTV Nvidia says the maximum resolution it will allow is 720 by 480 when previously, with the Svideo connection, the resolution was 1024 by 768. Anyone know how to fix this issue, because I really would like to enjoy component quality?

Thanks a lot
Tim

For an analog TV with component analog inputs you have one choice for graphics card output 480i. The digital description (before D/A) is 720x480 interlaced Y, Cb, Cr. After D/A the analog standard is Y, Pb, Pr.

[dimtim]

Dang it. So you're saying the maximum resolution I can display is 720 by 480 right? Any of you guys know any like 3rd party tv out software or something?

[edDV]

So that means that the maximum resolution I can display is 720 by 480 then?

Thanks

Short answer yes.

Longer answer 720x480 is the resolution that goes to your graphics card D/A. Your TV most likely can't display that resolution (6.75MHz, 540 lines in analog terms).

A typical "premium" analog TV is only capable of around 5.5MHz or 440 lines.
In analog this doesn't change screen size, it just makes the image more blurry. Your S-Video 1024x768 setting would result in the same analog resoultion.

[dimtim]

Hey thanks for the help but I have one more question. My video card is an nvidia 6600 GT and it has a DVI-I connection on the back which isn't being used by my computer monitor. I know there are adapters so you can hook up a component connection to that. If I did that could I display the higher resolution like I had with Svideo?

[edDV]

Hey thanks for the help but I have one more question. My video card is an nvidia 6600 GT and it has a DVI-I connection on the back which isn't being used by my computer monitor. I know there are adapters so you can hook up a component connection to that. If I did that could I display the higher resolution like I had with Svideo?

Not with that TV. Your TV is resolution limited and can't display anywhere close to 720x480 resolution let alone 1028x768. All you are doing is changing the size of the desktop. The NVidea card will then window a portion of the 1024x768 or downscale the full desktop to fit the output resolution (typically 720x480 or 640x480).

A CRT "HD ready" TV operating in 480i analog component input mode can get close to 720x480 resolution over the S-Video input. That is why a "HD ready" monitor is great for monitoring a DV editing session from a camcorder.

I'm not familiar with the DVI-I to Component Analog adapters for the NVidea* card but I have one for the ATI AIW. In 480i analog component mode the results aren't that great for computer desktop display even with a "HD Ready" monitor so you shouldn't expect significant improvement with that standard TV.

480p progressive is an improvement. My monitor doesn't support 720p. 1080i is good for stationary displays but is not the best with motion. I can get better motion results with 540p (single field 1080i).

*for my old NVidia MX-420 card I'm using VGA out to VGA in on the HD monitor and projector. I match scan rates with powerstrip software. The results are similar to wideband analog component but with more control.

[dimtim]

Oh I think I understand. Thanks a lot for your help.