Secondary display resolution

[Digiface]

I use extended desktop to watch movies. What resolution i should use on secondary display (TV)? It says that biggest supported resolution on my TV is 1024x768 and it's now set to that. Is that ok?

[SatStorm]

Search the resolution of your TV Panel and set the output of your card on that resolution.

[Digiface]

Search the resolution of your TV Panel...

I checked the manual, but didn't found that info anywhere. Where can i find it? TV is 28" 4:3 PAL TV.

[JohnnyMalaria]

If it's a normal TV, then it will display 576 lines (PAL). You might as well set the resolution to 800 x 600.

Depending on the graphics card, it may not actually matter, though.

What graphics card do you have?

[Digiface]

I have R9550.

[jagabo]

If all you want is to watch video on a TV hooked up via composite or s-video don't extend your desktop to the second display. Just enable Theater mode in the ATI drivers. Whatever you play with any media player will appear full screen on the TV.

[Digiface]

Clone mode brights up picture too much. Quality & colors are better with extended desktop. I just recently noticed that.

[jagabo]

ATI has separate brightness/contrast/color controls for the desktop and TV output.

[Digiface]

Extended desktop is better. Anyway, this is off-topic.

[SatStorm]

If your TV is a 4:3 CRT PAL 28", then it's easy for you.

Set the output to 720x576@50Hz. An alternative can be 768x576 (rare option). If your card doesn't give you those options, then it is 800x600 for you.

[Digiface]

Ok, i setted it to 800x600. There's no choise for 50Hz refresh rate. It's now 60Hz. Next lower value is 56.

[SatStorm]

Search for drivers, alternatives, etc...

Something close to 720x576@50Hz.

Now what you display there is NTSC "like". Very bad for PAL videos, DVDs, etc.