Geforce4 TV - OUT worst quality than dvd Player?

[mzigaib]

I have a geforce4 ti4200 plugged into my tv with s-video cable, and i´ve noticed that the quality is worst than my video player playing dvds and stuff.
The biggest problemtha ive noticed is that color shades are rendered with less color than the dvd player, you see much more defects in pc-tv-out than in dvd the dvd player.
I´ve already adjusted my tv out to 32 bit color, no change. I´m using nview of nvidia driver.
Is this normal, or i can improve the quality in any other way?

[jaxxboss]

This has been brought up before. You will not get the same quality from ur tv out as u will from ur dvd player. You are basically looking at ur monitor on ur tv. I used mine for a long time, but now just burn my shows on a cdrw or dvdrw and watch em that way. In a snap or if Im too lazy I will watch thru the tvout.

[mzigaib]

Thanks for the reply and i´m sorry to insist in this matter.
So it´s true, playing to tv - out is really worst than playing in a dvd player right? In any video card?
Is there any hardware that makes my pc - tv playing better? Is it expansive?

Thanks and i´m sorry for my bad english

[jaxxboss]

I am No expert, but I would say "NO". Lordsmurff is the resident expert, at least with ati. I do not think that buying a more expensive card will help in what you want. Maybe in video gaming, but not with watching tv.
Again, you are watching on tv what is on or computer monitor and it just wont be as good as a dvd/vcd.
Look at it this way. If you take a picture of a car outside and then take a picture of a car that is on tv, which one do you think would look better?
You may be able to tweak some settings as far as color and brighnness, but thats about it. maybe use an s video connector instead of an rca plug will help too.
I really do not know HOW MUCH BETTER you want things. What you think is good may be different than what I think is good, so it's all a matter of personal preference

[Wetmonkey]

If your card has a DVI out and your tv has a DVI jack it greatly improve quality, my HDTV has DVI and a standard vga monitor jack as well. The DVI connections is by far the best. Not sure if an adapter would work better.

[waheed]

A few hints that may improve picture iutput quality:

1. Reduce the resolution. computer monitors operate at a much higher resolution than tvs. reduce the resolution to 800 x 600.

2. Try different dvd software players. this can make a difference, try PowerDVD, WinDVD etc with the latest patches installed.

[depressd]

I have a G4 Ti4600 card and use the T.V. out feature quite a bit. I don't see the problem your having. What is your driver version? I use the latest Nvidia drivers or just let windows update install them. What operating system?

[mzigaib]

I use the latest driver from nvidia, forceware 5.3.0.3, using windows XP.
About the resolution:
i´m using dual view from nvidia, in the main display i´m using 1280X1024 and in the tv output i´m using 720X480(DVD resolution), so i can use the main monitor while the fullscreen just play in the second view(TV).
When you say to reduce the resolution, you say to reduce in the main?
Any Ideas?

[Bob W]

My TV viewing is greatly improved since I bought this device http://www.theprojectedimage.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TPII&Pro...t_Code=AVT3800 .

[You_Are_Alive]

Here's a link to shed light on all these misconceptions about the difference in image quality from computer to tv. People who think its the same, are really mistaken. http://www.commspecial.com/6misconc.htm

[waheed]

When you say to reduce the resolution, you say to reduce in the main?

yes, i mean from control panel. go to display, then selct the settings tab, and reduce the resolution to 800 x 600.

[depressd]

Here is a couple of things to check. Check to see if you have this icon and right click on it. Click on Analog + Tv. This has to be done in order to have the other option available. Go to your display properties and double click on the first monitor. It should pull up the video properties and select the g4 tab. Then go to the selected screen. Make sure the options are checked and display what is shown. This forces any video played to full screen. Which differs from just maximizing the video window. This is only for video related files

[depressd]

Also your tv options should either be 640x480 or 800x600. For eveything else. I'm not sure how your forcing your tv output to dvd standard as this shouldn't be an option.

Here's a link to shed light on all these misconceptions about the difference in image quality from computer to tv. People who think its the same, are really mistaken. http://www.commspecial.com/6misconc.htm

You_Are_Alive, I read this and yes things are affected by output to a T.V. from a computer, however I don't see the effect on video played this way.
Displaying windows desktop, txt files and other items are effected. That page refers to a scan converter quite a bit. Is this the same thing the video card is considered?

[mzigaib]

Thanks by the posts folks, i appreciate the help, but here it is:
I´ve done all that and the result is te same. Sorry to insist
Just remembering what´s gong on on my tv out:
The color color steps in the pictures when i play dvd are much less accurate in the tv-out than in the dvd player(you can see the shades pixeled), the same for other formats.
I´d just like to know if the cause is normal or could be a alternative drive or something that could improve the quality on the tv out.
Anyone else had or noticed this problem?


Thanks Again

[depressd]

mzigaib, Does this happen with all video formats i.e. dvd, svcd, vcd, divx?

[You_Are_Alive]

Mzigaib, Have you read the link that I provided? If you did, then you already have the answer to your question. It's not spelled out for you, but by critically thinking about it, you'll understand. I will not do the work for you, I think its better for you to come to your own conclusion after you re-read the article.

But if you still want to know how to improve your signal, there are many variables involved, but try what has already been suggested and also this:

After swithching to 800by600 resolution, you can also try to output via
s-video output, hopefully you are not limited to just composite from your graphics card.

Now as depressd observed, when outputting just your desktop you see the crap you get, but still usable if you don't mind. The difference is that when playing a dvd with software emulation from your computer, it uses video overlay. With overlay, the output is alot more accurate but it will always be inferior, as mzigaib observed that the shades are pixelated, than a dedicated standalone dvd player. Same goes for Xbox or PS2, play a dvd there, then play it on a quality standalone, and the differences will be evident, especially in black shades and long dissolves and fast motion.

If you need to work from your desktop onto a TV and its some serious stuff, then do as was suggested, and also get yourself a scan converter. It will help you out the most. Check this link for tips on what to look for in a scan converter, http://www.commspecial.com/10quest.htm and re-read the first link to understand why this is the best way to go. If you don't want to bother with the extra cost, then you will just have to deal with it and accept the quality your graphics card gives you. Its that simple.

And to just add some more confusion, different graphics cards also output better image quality, so some are better than others. Good luck!

[mzigaib]

Yes it does to any format, all videos that have color shades is affected.
Resuming, all of them.
I´ve read the article above, and i know all about that, but everything is fine with my output but color shades, and in the article talks about RCA jacks not S-VHS, its what i´m using, the image on my tv-out should be at least as good as tv cable, dont you agree?

[johns0]

The image should be as good but it all depends on the video card,i`ve seen terrible to same as tv graphics on similar cards so i think its just your card thats got that problem.

[mzigaib]

Ok, i also think that´s the problem, actually i´m a little disapointed i thought i didnt need to go through all this just to have the right images passing through my tv.

But thanks everybory for the tips