BD from PC to TV

[raphytaffy]

Hi all, not sure if this is posted in the right area or not so please feel free to move if not. I have a Dell Sutdio XPS 8000 that I want to hook up to my TV via HDMI so that I can view my Blu-Ray movies from. The video card that came with the machine is an Nvidia GeForce GTS 240. It has two DVI slots on the back. I have one DVI slot hooked up to my computer monitor (Samsung XL2370) and the HDTV (Sony KDS-60A2000) hooked up via a DVI-to-HDMI with an HDMI cable running from the adapter to my TV.

The video feed is crystal clear, however, I can't seem to get it to display the proper resolution. With my resolution set at 1768x992, there's a black gap between the TV and where the video width starts (see attachments). The next higher resolution is 1920x1080 and when I set it to this resolution, it seems to lose a bit of the top and sides of the video (also in attachments). This is evident as I've taken a screenshot of the same scene at full screen and at a smaller screen. There is more to the sides of the video and I'm sure just a bit more at the top that aren't being seen in full-screen mode.

I've tested the same BD with my Blu-Ray standalone player and the resolution is completely fine. The width of the video stretches to the outside edge of the TV like it is supposed to.

I'm using Arcsoft TotalMedia Theater to play the BD from the PC. I'm not sure if it's an issue with my video card, or the software, or my TV, but any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[jagabo]

TV's overscan the picture by default. They hide the outer few percent of picture on all four sides. This is because there is often junk out there. And since broadcasters know you can't see the edges of the frame they don't worry about leaving junk out there. It's a vicious circle.

Your TV may have a non-overscan mode. Samsung calls it Just Scan. Other's call it Pixel-for-pixel or other terms. Set the computer to output 1920x1080. With the TV in pixel-for-pixel mode and the computer putting out 1920x1080 you will have the best possible picture.

[raphytaffy]

Thanks for the quick reply. If you look at the two pictures of Uma driving the car above, there's quite a bit cut off noted by the beads that hang from the rearview mirror and also a bit cut off from the side mirror on the driver's side. I don't see any option for pixel-for-pixel mode on my TV. Is there a way to fix the overscan from my PC?

[guns1inger]

You would have to get access to the service menu to adjust at this level. This may need a service remote. Depends on the TV ?

[raphytaffy]

Whoa, really? How would I even get ahold of a service remote?

Just so I'm understanding correctly, the TV overscans every feed by default? So channel feeds that are broadcasted to my TV actually have some junk on the side to make the feed optimal for viewing when it reaches my TV? And since playing the BD from the PC doesn't add this junk to the sides, the overscan covers that part of the picture?

If so, then this seems like it should be fixable through the software I use to play it right?

[guns1inger]

Every TV program and DVD you have ever watched has been like this for as long as you have been watching, and you haven't ever missed it.

[jagabo]

Just so I'm understanding correctly, the TV overscans every feed by default?

Yes. If it has a dedicated "computer" input (often VGA) that may not overscan. I know at least some Sony TVs have a non-overscan mode. Here's one example: http://bluxte.net/musings/2009/01/11/removing-hdmi-overscan-sony-hdtv

So channel feeds that are broadcasted to my TV actually have some junk on the side to make the feed optimal for viewing when it reaches my TV?

Some may have junk. It's not intentional. It's usually a byproduct of the processing somewhere along the line.

And since playing the BD from the PC doesn't add this junk to the sides, the overscan covers that part of the picture?

The setup applet for some graphics cards let you shrink the desktop and add a small border around the edge. That way the border is hidden by the overscan, not the main movie. But the price you pay for this is a less sharp picture.

If so, then this seems like it should be fixable through the software I use to play it right?

Some players have a zoom out feature that will let you shrink the movie and add borders. MPCHC, for example.

[raphytaffy]

Every TV program and DVD you have ever watched has been like this for as long as you have been watching, and you haven't ever missed it.

Hmm you're right buddy. When playing the BD through Arcsoft and sending to my TV, it seemed like I was missing some stuff on the sides (evident by the beads) because I saw more when the video was not in full-screen. When I played the same scene through my BD player however, it cut out the same amount of screen that was to the left of the beads. Thanks for the help!

Now how do I go about getting the best possible video and audio from my PC? Do I lose anything by using a DVI-to-HDMI adapter? Does the sound card or video card affect the quality seen when it's passed to my TV and AV receiver?

[fitch.j]

With the geforce drivers you have an option to set a custom resolution if you need to, this way you can eliminate overscan that way. I wouldnt recomend it for just viewing movies, but sometimes if using it as a computer as well, having half the taskbar cut off isnt what you want so you resize it.

Or you probably have a pixel-for-pixel PC input on the back of your tv as mentioned above, its probably a VGA connection. You can connect it up through that and then you wont have any overscan it will be like your monitor. This is a much better idea and the best way to go unless you can find a 'Just Scan' mode for your HDMI input.

[jagabo]

Do I lose anything by using a DVI-to-HDMI adapter?

No.

Does the sound card or video card affect the quality seen when it's passed to my TV and AV receiver?

It can. You want to use a digital cable for audio (optical or coax, HDMI) if you have a surround sound receiver. If you use red/white RCA cables the computer will downmix multichannel audio to stereo. Since your HDTV has a native resolution of 1920x1080 you want the graphics card set to 1920x1080. Make sure the video proc amp settings (graphics card's setup applet) are set properly. The setup applet may also have other options for noise reduction, automatic contrast enhancement, etc. You may or may not want to use them. Set your TV to pixel-for-pixel mode if you can.

[raphytaffy]

I tried setting some custom resolutions, but it just gives me an unsupported signal (check device output) error message. Guess I'll have to live with having the taskbar cut off unless there's a way around it.

Thanks for the tips regarding my sound and video card.

[jagabo]

I tried setting some custom resolutions, but it just gives me an unsupported signal (check device output) error message.

HDTV's are very particular about what resolutions they will accept via HMDI. 720x480 (NTSC), 720x576 (PAL), 1280x720 and 1920x1080 are usually the only resolutions supported.

Guess I'll have to live with having the taskbar cut off unless there's a way around it.

Some graphics cards have a special mode where they will output a standard 1920x1080 signal but only use the center part of the frame for the desktop. Ie, the outer ~5 percent isn't used and is left black.

[raphytaffy]

Some graphics cards have a special mode where they will output a standard 1920x1080 signal but only use the center part of the frame for the desktop. Ie, the outer ~5 percent isn't used and is left black.

Played around with my video card settings and sure enough there was an option to resize the desktop seen on the TV. Thanks!