HDTV problem with windows

[kenna]

Hi,
I have just bought a Panasonic TX-L39EB6 smart viera which is beautiful. But im having a problem with text and icons being blurry when im viewing the desktop.
1080 films that are played through VLC player are stunning and gaming is really good too.
But the internet, general desktop icons and text is plain awful, and im worried in case ive bought the wrong TV.

I have tried clear text on and off, changed resolutions, turned all the options off on the tv but nothing works.
Its connected by Hdmi straight to my G/card and is set at 1080p 60hz.

Have read that this problem was fixed on Samsungs by changing to Game setting, but there isnt one on this 2013 Panasonic model

Any ideas would really be appreciated.

[jagabo]

Look for a pixel-for-pixel or non-overscan mode in the TV's setup menus. Different manufacturers call it by different names. Not all TVs have it.

[kenna]

Thanks for your reply.
There is a "16:9 Overscan " mode which is switched off.

[DB83]

I was about to quote jagabo's post in a topic I started some time ago but he beats me to it.

But reading these topics about blurry text makes me satisfied that I chose a monitor for PC output rather than a tv. You do get the best of both worlds then.

[kenna]

I know what your saying, but have you tried to get a 39" monitor?
The tv i had before was a 27" lcd and it did the PC and the Tv well..but it was too small.

I bought this TV because it is 1080p ,and i was unware that a crummy PC display was a side effect.

I really hope this can be resolved

[jagabo]

My 1080p Samsung has perfectly sharp display connected to my HTCP via HDMI. Just like a giant computer monitor.

[DB83]

No. I doubt if you can easily get a 39" monitor.

Now this monitor is 23". And is regular viewing distance away (for a PC). My 32" tv is approx 3 times away that distance. But eyes adjust and both appear to be the same size. And if you are gonna watch a 39" tv up too close then your eyeballs will pop out

On the other hand, using such a device for a monitor means you are gonna be a long way away from it which for me is an un-natural experience.

Now back to your topic. You had better check all the settings on your graphics card. They will control over-scan etc. The tv simply takes that signal over hdmi (subject, that is, to pixel-for-pixel mapping)

[jagabo]

Check the different inputs on the TV. There might be a DVI or VGA input for computer use. Some TVs let you name each of the inputs and will then switch to settings appropriate for the connected device. For example, if the input is named "Computer" then it will switch to pixel-for-pixel mapping.

[kenna]

My 1080p Samsung has perfectly sharp display connected to my HTCP via HDMI. Just like a giant computer monitor.

Thats exactly how it should be and what im trying to achieve.
It least I know its possible, with yours at least

[kenna]

Tried re-naming and nothing changed.
I had a look on Nvidia`s site and they mention a tool to check the tv/monitor signal.
I ran it and it showed my screen size as a 1280 x 720!

Here is are the results:
Monitor
Model name............... Panasonic-TV
Manufacturer............. Panasonic
Plug and Play ID......... MEIA296
Serial number............ n/a
Manufacture date......... 2013, ISO week 0
Filter driver............ None
-------------------------
EDID revision............ 1.3
Input signal type........ Digital
Color bit depth.......... Undefined
Display type............. RGB color
Screen size.............. 1280 x 720 mm (57.8 in)
Power management......... Not supported
Extension blocs.......... 1 (Reserved - 0x00)
-------------------------
DDC/CI................... Not supported

Color characteristics
Default color space...... Non-sRGB
Display gamma............ 2.20
Red chromaticity......... Rx 0.640 - Ry 0.345
Green chromaticity....... Gx 0.291 - Gy 0.635
Blue chromaticity........ Bx 0.163 - By 0.093
White point (default).... Wx 0.288 - Wy 0.296
Additional descriptors... None

Timing characteristics
Horizontal scan range.... 15-68kHz
Vertical scan range...... 23-61Hz
Video bandwidth.......... 150MHz
CVT standard............. Not supported
GTF standard............. Not supported
Additional descriptors... None
Preferred timing......... Yes
Native/preferred timing.. 1920x1080p at 50Hz (16:9)
Modeline............... "1920x1080" 148.500 1920 2448 2492 2640 1080 1084 1089 1125 +hsync +vsync
Detailed timing #1....... 1920x1080p at 60Hz (16:9)
Modeline............... "1920x1080" 148.500 1920 2008 2052 2200 1080 1084 1089 1125 +hsync +vsync

Standard timings supported
640 x 480p at 60Hz - IBM VGA
800 x 600p at 60Hz - VESA
1024 x 768p at 60Hz - VESA
640 x 480p at 60Hz - VESA STD
800 x 600p at 60Hz - VESA STD
1024 x 768p at 60Hz - VESA STD
1280 x 1024p at 60Hz - VESA STD

Report information
Date generated........... 08/04/2013
Software revision........ 2.60.0.972
Data source.............. Real-time 0x7900
Operating system......... 6.1.7601.2.Service Pack 1
This would indicate an Overscan problem wouldnt it?

[kenna]

Also forgot to mention..there is no DVI/vga inputs only HDMI, scart and component.

[kenna]

No. I doubt if you can easily get a 39" monitor.


Now back to your topic. You had better check all the settings on your graphics card. They will control over-scan etc. The tv simply takes that signal over hdmi (subject, that is, to pixel-for-pixel mapping)

I have looked but cant see any Overscan options (Nvidia)

Update:
Changed over to my intel onboard graphics ...that too has the same blurry - non sharp text

[DB83]

Afraid I can not help you with your GPU. I have an ATi card and that has DTV(HDMI) options in the catalyst software.

Do not confuse screen size with pixel dimensions. You can always get a tape measure to confirm the measureemnts as reported. But if your tv really is 720p(with 1920*1080 support) it is not full-HD and will probably not support pixel-for-pixel mapping.

Have you tried a 1280 * 720 display setting ?

[kenna]

Well thanks for your answer.
I dont think it is the G/card as i have changed it to the intel onboard HD3000..and same results.

Im afraid i AM confused with screen size and pixel dimentions..

Its a 2013 Smart viera at £700!! So i would be a little annoyed if it was only 720 with 1080 support

But the results that i posted have got me a little worried as it did say 720

[DB83]

Unfortunately, at the end of the day it is a tv. Panasonic are not obliged to provide PC support for it. I would have thought that price equates to screen size etc.

Maybe you replied before my edit about 1280 * 720 from the PC over hdmi.

[jagabo]

Have you manually set the computer to output 1920x1080 at 50 Hz?

Can you see all of the Start bar at the bottom of the Deskop? If so, the TV probably isn't overscanning.

[kenna]

Afraid I can not help you with your GPU. I have an ATi card and that has DTV(HDMI) options in the catalyst software.

Do not confuse screen size with pixel dimensions. You can always get a tape measure to confirm the measureemnts as reported. But if your tv really is 720p(with 1920*1080 support) it is not full-HD and will probably not support pixel-for-pixel mapping.

Have you tried a 1280 * 720 display setting ?

yes tried the 1280x720 settings and all the windows, icons and text are just way to big.
Windows does say that its native resolution is 1920x1080p

[DB83]

But was the text clear ?

[kenna]

Have you manually set the computer to output 1920x1080 at 50 Hz?

Can you see all of the Start bar at the bottom of the Deskop? If so, the TV probably isn't overscanning.

Yes i have but at 60hz. Have tried 50 hz but no different.
The screen fits perfectly with taskbar and desktop edges..its just the bloody text is terrible.
As i type this im struggling to read it!...just looks smudged and un-even.

Jagabo, do you have Nvidia based card? I know your screen is a TV and you have no problems...thats what is driving me nuts


BTW thanks to both of you for your help. Tried to call Panasonic UK today, only to be directed to Czechoslovakia who are great at reading default responses and thats it.

[kenna]

It was more clearer, but then its really large. Still got a haze too it though.
The problem is reading text when its smaller.

[kenna]

Ill try and post a pic

[kenna]

im hoping you can see my issue, although it may look fine on your Monitor/Tv.
If you look at the text it looks crappy

[DB83]

Ill try and post a pic

[Attachment 17162 - Click to enlarge]

Did not come through here.

[jagabo]

The screen fits perfectly with taskbar and desktop edges..

Then it doesn't sound like an overscan issue.

Jagabo, do you have Nvidia based card?

It's currently an ATI card . But I've had Nvidia cards in the past with no problems.

im hoping you can see my issue, although it may look fine on your Monitor/Tv.
If you look at the text it looks crappy

Your image looks fine here. Perfectly sharp text. 4x point enlargement:



Make sure your computer is putting out RGB, not YPbPr.

[kenna]

Think ive come to the conclusion the set id to be returned
Maybe 39" is too big to act well as a monitor.

There is a 32" version or maybe ill pick another brand.
I hear it mentioned that "oh its because its a large screen", but there is still 1080 dots in an inch..large screens just have more inches.
So i cant understand why the quality would drop in relation to screen size.

Would a 32" monitor look better than a 32" HDTV if they are both 1080p?
Either way, i also need it to be a TV so monitors are out i think.

Thank you both again for your help and time.

[jagabo]

Maybe 39" is too big to act well as a monitor.

Mine is 46". Yeah, that's too big if I sit 18" away. But it's fine for anything over ~48" away.

Another think you might want to look at:

Does your TV have a sharpness control? If so, try turning it all the way down. If the computer is sending a perfectly sharp picture to the TV and the TV is sharpening it, you will get oversharpening halos.

Try turning off Windows font Cleartype font smoothing. It works by "burring" the text on a sub-pixel basis. This will show up as colored fringes around some text.

[DB83]

Well you could get the same issues with a 32" tv as the 39" one.

What you must ensure that any replacement - if you can get a working tv replaced - really is 'FULL HD' AND has pixel-for-pixel matching.

But what I ask is that do you really need the tv to act as a monitor ?. You have not gone into a lot of detail about your PC specs but if your GPU has dual outputs then a possible option would be to keep the tv to do what it says on the tin ie be a tv but with the added options that work for you and just get a monitor for normal PC work

[Khaver]

Ill try and post a pic

[Attachment 17162 - Click to enlarge]

You need to use a digital camera and take a picture of the tv screen. What you posted is a "print screen" of your desktop.

[jagabo]

Ill try and post a pic

[Attachment 17162 - Click to enlarge]

You need to use a digital camera and take a picture of the tv screen. What you posted is a "print screen" of your desktop.

Yes, but the BMP confirms the computer was running at 1920x1080 and the text was rendered sharply.

[kenna]

Thx for replies..I will post a pic with a digi camera later.
Still debating if to take it back or not.

Im looking at other TV`s but cant see any labelled pixel for pixel matching. Can it be called anything else?