Using an RCA LCA TV as a PC Monitor

[burritonator]

I'm looking for some advice concerning some display problems that I'm having.

I just purchased an RCA 32" LCD HDTV (model: L32WD12; spec sheet here: http://tv.rca.com/NR/rdonlyres/8FE5C137-8504-4009-B6AA-9424D07BDBDD/0/L32WD12.pdf).

I've connected the TV to my PC's video card via the VGA ports on both devices. The video card is an ATI Radeon x850 XT Platinum Edition (256 MB RAM; specs sheet here: http://ati.amd.com/products/radeonx850/radeonx850series/index.html).

The problem I'm having is that there is a bad shadowing affect on the TV when I'm using it as a PC monitor (television looks OK). I refer to the problem as "shadowing" instead of "ghosting", because it is always visible, even with still images such as the icons on the desktop. A good example that I can use to try to explain what I'm seeing is that when my mouse cursor is sitting still, I can see two more "dimmer" mouse cursors to the right of it. This same shadowing effect exists on all graphics, whether on the Windows Desktop, within games, etc. This results in the display quality being very poor.

I've spent a significant amount of time adjusting the display settings on the TV and the Video Card, to no avail. I was able to improve the display very slightly by increasing the contrast setting on the video card; however, I noticed that for all practical purposes, none of the adjustments that I make have any real affect on the shadows. I also updated my video card's drivers to the latest version, but that didn't have any noticeable affect.

So, with all of that being said, here are my questions:

1. Does anyone have any general advice on what might cause this and how I can correct it?

2. My video card has a DVI port, and the TV has an HDMI port - if I connect the video card to the TV using a DVI->HDMI cable, what are the chances that could correct the problem?

3. Someone told me that problems like this were usually related to signal strength. While I'm aware that is an important factor when dealing with coax cable and TV connections, but is the idea of "signal strength" applicable when dealing with a VGA connection? If so, what could I do to improve it?

Thanks

[TBoneit]

Sounds like a inexpensive cable or to long a run. Try moving the computer next to the TV set and use a 6 foot cable as a test.

[edDV]

The LCD has a native resolution of 1366x768. Have you fed that over VGA as the base test? I agree start with a short cable then see how the picture degrades as cable length is increased.

How long is the desired cable run?

The VGA port is intended for computers or games and should not overscan. The HDMI port will probably have a fixed 5-10% overscan forcing the need to zoom the desktop (lowers quality).

Long HDMI cables can get very expensive.

[burritonator]

I decided to go ahead and try the DVI->HDMI cable, and that solved my problem. The display looks great now, and I'm very pleased with it.

The VGA cable that I was using originally was only 6 feet long, so maybe it was a low-quality cable, or else it was picking up some sort of interference from somewhere.

[SatStorm]

Yeah, I had this problem too. The VGA connection show me ghosting on my TV. The reason was bad quality cable. So, I just plug in my cheapo DVI>HDMI one and the picture now is perfect.

[lacywest]

Good info ... thank you

[lacywest]

By the way ... I'm at work doing graveyards ... again.

Could someone please post something ... so when I get home ... I will receive an email that a new post for this thread has been made. I might just try out this ... RCA 32" LCD HDTV.

How well does it do for games ... I like Half Life 2.

Online gaming is great with Half Life 2 ... especially the Spookface server ... I can spend hours and hours playing there.

[neomaine]

lacywest,

If you're thinking of getting a display device that's intended for TV but want to use it for a computer, I'd highly recommend getting 1080p. This difference in desktop area and resolution for games is TOO much to pass on. Unless, of course, your eyesight is less than good and you use a large fonts or a small desktop area anyway. Seems too small for most, but I usually keep the desktop at the native resolution for my monitors.

Though, anyone with a 720p setup (pc to large screen tv/monitor) is missing out on alot in my opinion. There's a big difference between 720p and 1080p just like the difference between 640x480 and 1280x1024 when playing a game or the space available on the desktop. For movies or console games the difference between 720p and 1080p is negligable.

However, for PC work or PC games, the difference between 1280x720 and 1920x1080 can be, and is, huge. I've got a pc hooked up to my 42" 1080p lcd via VGA. It actually worked better with 1920x1200 but I think that's got something to do with VESA specs. Don't seem to be loosing much with the TV down-scaling the 1200 to 1080 anyway.

[edDV]

Only problem is there are no games authored at more than 1280x720p (Xbox360).

The Xbox360 allows analog component output at 480i, 480p, 720p or scaled 1080i. A 1080p display would be internally upscaling 720p or deinterlacing 1080i.

If a huge screen isn't needed, Xbox360 also offers a VGA adapter that will work fine with 1366x768 LCD computer monitors or other computer displays at far less cost.

[neomaine]

edDV,

Where'd the 360 come from? I assumed PC when he said HL2. However, that's why I specified the PC games in my response.

However, since we're on the subject, I've also got a 360 hooked up to the TV (4port vga switch for pc/360 hookup, best $6 I ever spent). Though you are correct, there was little difference when the 360 got the November patch to allow 1080 graphics.

There is some discussion that I don't quite follow on 360 games actually being renderred in 1920x1080 but only displayed in 1280x720. It was too much for me. Just happy to know that once 1080 games come out, I'll be ready.

Sorry if this is off topic...but related.

[edDV]

edDV,

Where'd the 360 come from? I assumed PC when he said HL2. However, that's why I specified the PC games in my response.

However, since we're on the subject, I've also got a 360 hooked up to the TV (4port vga switch for pc/360 hookup, best $6 I ever spent). Though you are correct, there was little difference when the 360 got the November patch to allow 1080 graphics.

There is some discussion that I don't quite follow on 360 games actually being renderred in 1920x1080 but only displayed in 1280x720. It was too much for me. Just happy to know that once 1080 games come out, I'll be ready.

Sorry if this is off topic...but related.

Which PC games are rendered 1080p? I haven't been paying that close attention but I doubt any are rendered over 720p. Most games are far less than even 720x480p DVD since speed is more important than resolution to most gamers.

If so I need to catch up.

In PC graphics cards, upscale is used to get to 1080i or 1080p.