Configuring LG Full HD screen on GeForce GTS 250 1GB DDR3

[iceq]

Hi Guys

1- Got me a new Full HD TV screen, model: LG 32lf20fr
http://www.lg.com/za/tv-audio-video/television/LG-lcd-tv-32LF20FR.jsp

I connected it through HDMI cable to my computer's Nvidia Geforce GTS-250's HDMI port.

I got picture, but I not a good quality. The best picture I got was when choosing "PC - 1280 x 1024" setting, and not any of the high resolution HD settings. If I do choose any of the HD settings, the picture looks either over-stretched or the colors are not rendered good.

What is the best configuration for these two ?

2- Also, I can't get any sound via the HDMI cable, although I did choose "High definition audio device" from the "Playback devices" list in Sound settings.

What could it be?

Is there a way to connect my Sound Blaster Audigy 4 to the screen ?

Appreciate your help

[jagabo]

You should set the computer to 1920x1080. Then look for a pixel-for-pixel (non-overscan) mode on your HDTV. You need to install a driver that sends audio over the HDMI connection. It's usually included in the graphics card's drivers. Go to the Control Panel's Sound setup applet and make sure the HDMI driver is set as the default audio output.

[iceq]

You should set the computer to 1920x1080. Then look for a pixel-for-pixel (non-overscan) mode on your HDTV. You need to install a driver that sends audio over the HDMI connection. It's usually included in the graphics card's drivers. Go to the Control Panel's Sound setup applet and make sure the HDMI driver is set as the default audio output.


[Attachment 13235 - Click to enlarge]

Thank you jagabo. Here's the results:

1- I set the resolution to 1080p, 1920 x 1080
The desktop' was overstretched so I resized it to be able to see the whole desktop. Now the custom setting is 1080p, 1834x 1036

However the picture is not right. very sharp edges (I mean excessively sharp, which does not look good, with white halo around texts), and colors are not correct.

2- My LG screen has no non-overscan option whatsoever (nor pixel for pixel).
I found in the Nvidia settings a resize options : overscan OR underscan. I played with these but nothing changed

3- Regarding the audio, I have the latest Nvidia driver installed. I found a Digital Audio settings in my Nvidia's control panel. From there I chose the LG screen to appear in the audio settings as a playback. Yet the only thing I see in the playback devices (besides the sound blaster card and headphones) is "Speakers - High difinition audio device". Chooseing that as the default device does nothing I see the audio bar moving, but no sound. THe problem is not in the screen itself, I verified that.

What else, please ?

[jagabo]

According to the link you gave your LG HDTV has a non-overscan setting. See Specifications -> Video -> Just Scan (0% overscan). That will get the 1920x1080 desktop to fit properly. And since there will be no resizing it will probably get rid of the over sharpening artifacts. If not turn off all sharpening filters on the TV.

Regarding colors, what exactly do you mean by "the colors are not correct"? For a start, turn off all automatic brightess, contrast, hue, and saturation filters. Also any edge enhancement and noise reduction features. Both on the TV and the graphics driver's setup applet.

Was your HDTV plugged in via HDMI when you installed the Nvidia drivers? The HDMI audio driver may not have been installed if there were not HDMI devices connected. Also, when in the Sound applet, right click in the window with the devices and make sure Show Disabled Devices and Show Disconnected Devices are enabled.

[iceq]

According to the link you gave your LG HDTV has a non-overscan setting. See Specifications -> Video -> Just Scan (0% overscan). That will get the 1920x1080 desktop to fit properly. And since there will be no resizing it will probably get rid of the over sharpening artifacts. If not turn off all sharpening filters on the TV.

Regarding colors, what exactly do you mean by "the colors are not correct"? For a start, turn off all automatic brightess, contrast, hue, and saturation filters. Also any edge enhancement and noise reduction features. Both on the TV and the graphics driver's setup applet.

Was your HDTV plugged in via HDMI when you installed the Nvidia drivers? The HDMI audio driver may not have been installed if there were not HDMI devices connected. Also, when in the Sound applet, right click in the window with the devices and make sure Show Disabled Devices and Show Disconnected Devices are enabled.

Well, yes I found a "Just scan" setting in the aspect ratio and selected it, and now the screen's dimensions fit the desktop fine (although I feel the far sides of the screens (left and right) are like "compressed" .. so the icons next to the Windows Start button are not appearing in their natural shape but are somewhat compressed in a smaller space. Dunno if this is fixable.

Regarding the sound. yes when I installed the latest driver the HDMI cable was connecting the screen and the gfx card. And I have the "disabled" and the "disconnected" devices shown, but yet no HDMI option.


I will try reinstalling the driver now.

Thank you again

[iceq]

According to the link you gave your LG HDTV has a non-overscan setting. See Specifications -> Video -> Just Scan (0% overscan). That will get the 1920x1080 desktop to fit properly. And since there will be no resizing it will probably get rid of the over sharpening artifacts. If not turn off all sharpening filters on the TV.

Regarding colors, what exactly do you mean by "the colors are not correct"? For a start, turn off all automatic brightess, contrast, hue, and saturation filters. Also any edge enhancement and noise reduction features. Both on the TV and the graphics driver's setup applet.

Was your HDTV plugged in via HDMI when you installed the Nvidia drivers? The HDMI audio driver may not have been installed if there were not HDMI devices connected. Also, when in the Sound applet, right click in the window with the devices and make sure Show Disabled Devices and Show Disconnected Devices are enabled.

I would be grateful for your further help Jagabo

[Bjs]

These cards pass audio over hdmi using system audio pass through via gpu card using s/pdif cable.

[jagabo]

These cards pass audio over hdmi using system audio pass through via gpu card using s/pdif cable.

Some do. Most newer graphics cards can do it directly through the PCIe slots.

[jagabo]

Well, yes I found a "Just scan" setting in the aspect ratio and selected it, and now the screen's dimensions fit the desktop fine (although I feel the far sides of the screens (left and right) are like "compressed" .. so the icons next to the Windows Start button are not appearing in their natural shape but are somewhat compressed in a smaller space. Dunno if this is fixable.

Make sure your graphics card is no longer set to squish the picture.

Regarding the sound. yes when I installed the latest driver the HDMI cable was connecting the screen and the gfx card. And I have the "disabled" and the "disconnected" devices shown, but yet no HDMI option... I will try reinstalling the driver now.

I was waiting to hear if reinstalling the driver helped. Make sure you get the driver from the chipset manufacture's web site. Ie, nvidia, ati, or intel.

[iceq]

These cards pass audio over hdmi using system audio pass through via gpu card using s/pdif cable.

Yes some cards have what Nvidia call it "internal" audio chipset, but this doesn't , and audio can be obtained from it via SPDIF cable, which I do not have.

[iceq]

Well, yes I found a "Just scan" setting in the aspect ratio and selected it, and now the screen's dimensions fit the desktop fine (although I feel the far sides of the screens (left and right) are like "compressed" .. so the icons next to the Windows Start button are not appearing in their natural shape but are somewhat compressed in a smaller space. Dunno if this is fixable.

Make sure your graphics card is no longer set to squish the picture.

Regarding the sound. yes when I installed the latest driver the HDMI cable was connecting the screen and the gfx card. And I have the "disabled" and the "disconnected" devices shown, but yet no HDMI option... I will try reinstalling the driver now.

I was waiting to hear if reinstalling the driver helped. Make sure you get the driver from the chipset manufacture's web site. Ie, nvidia, ati, or intel.

Sadly, reinstalling the driver did not help. I still have "high difinition audtio device", but not "HDMI audio device" or anything with "HDMI"..
No sound is heard when selecting "high definition audtio device".
I should mention that I have an independent PCIE Sound Blaster Audigy 4 sound card with 6 channels, but I had it disabled from Device Manager, to make sure it is not the cause of the problem. I also disabled the onboard Realtek sound card, But that didn't help either.

I got the most recent drivers for all the devices from their official websites.

[jagabo]

I'm out of ideas.

The video card has an HDMI output right? Not a DVI output with a DVI -> HDMI adapter?

[iceq]

I'm out of ideas.

The video card has an HDMI output right? Not a DVI output with a DVI -> HDMI adapter?

Indeed, pure HDMI connection: from my gfx's HDMI to the LG's .

I tried every solution posted on the internet, no luck !

[iceq]

Hi again. I am still trying and to no avail .

I removed all video + sound drivers and reinstalled them (latest), no help.
Tried to switch the ends of the HDMI cable, no help

Reminder: The Nvidia control panel reports that an HDMI audio connection is available via the LG TV , but going to the Playback Devices in the sound settings, there is no HDMI audio playback device, only the onboard sound card shows there.

What could it be ? Could this type of HDMI cable not support audio, only video? Is that even possible?

If not.. what is the problem here ?

[iceq]

UPDATE
I could get sound through a 3.5 audio connection from my sound card to the LG TV. However this only works when the gfx card and TV are connected with RGB, not HDMI. The sound simply does not work under a HDMI connection.
Connecting both RGB and HDMI cables same times gives no sound under HDMI.
Is there a way around this ?

[iceq]

UPDATE I bought a 3.5 to RCA cable and connected it from my sound card to the LG's Audio input, but no audio signal under HDMI at all. Only under AV mode.

I am still not getting HDMI audio in my Windows' playback devices. I am very confused: is it the cable, or the graphics card, or what else ?

Please help !