Hi all... I want to hook up my video card to my Samsung HLR5656W. I've read that some HDTVs from around the time I bought it are HDMI 1.1 and can't accept the digital signal from the video card.

For now, I've ordered an S-Video cable from monoprice. I'm hoping it will at least let me see some sort of picture.

But do you guys know what version the 5656W is? If I get a DVI to HDMI cable, will it work?

You certainy don't want to use the SD 480i S-video interface.
A DVI to HDMI interface cable will certainly work, the information you have received is incorrect. Just make sure that you output a resolution over the DVI interface that your TV users manual says it will accept over HDMI.
You could also of course just use the standard VGA interface from your graphics card to the VGA interface on your Samsun TV. The PC chapter in your Samsung users manual has all the details on doing it.

Your TV has a DVI input, so just get a DVI cable, once linked, just set your PC resolution to 1280*720, your TV's native resolution.

You certainy don't want to use the SD 480i S-video interface.
A DVI to HDMI interface cable will certainly work, the information you have received is incorrect. Just make sure that you output a resolution over the DVI interface that your TV users manual says it will accept over HDMI.
You could also of course just use the standard VGA interface from your graphics card to the VGA interface on your Samsun TV. The PC chapter in your Samsung users manual has all the details on doing it.

I got an S-video cable, and it works. The picture is a little dark, but it works. Only problem is that it seems to have zoomed the desktop a bit. I checked the settings on the TV and on the video card. They're all fine.

Your TV has a DVI input, so just get a DVI cable, once linked, just set your PC resolution to 1280*720, your TV's native resolution.

It does have a DVI input, but it's the same as the HDMI input. That jack's already being taken up by my cable box. I'd have to get an HDMI splitter.

The "zooming in" you note is due to overscan.

You may want to ask any further questions of this type over in the "HTPC Gaming" forum, since it's usually gamers who are hooking their PCs to their HDTVs and thus have a lot of knowledge about the associated issues.

Use Component from your cable box you probably will not even notice any video quality degradation.
A DVI Y splitter will not work unless you disonnect the Y leg you do not want to use. You would need a DVI switch.
Again I suggerst that an even better solution would be to use VGA from your PC to your Samsung since then you will get no overscan. Read the PC chapter in your Samsung user manual for the details.

heck yeah.. if it has a VGA connector, I'd certainly be using it for my PC connection.

Use Component from your cable box you probably will not even notice any video quality degradation.
A DVI Y splitter will not work unless you disonnect the Y leg you do not want to use. You would need a DVI switch.
Again I suggerst that an even better solution would be to use VGA from your PC to your Samsung since then you will get no overscan. Read the PC chapter in your Samsung user manual for the details.

My manual doesn't have a PC chapter.

And VGA to the Samsung is no good. Like I said, there's only one input it can connect to. The HDMI/DVI, and that's already being used by the HDMI cable, which I'm not removing.

My manual doesn't have a PC chapter.

And VGA to the Samsung is no good. Like I said, there's only one input it can connect to. The HDMI/DVI, and that's already being used by the HDMI cable, which I'm not removing.

Then use an HDMI switch like this http://oppodigital.com/hm31/

You will never be able to enjoy a good picture using S video or composite as that limits you to pain old 480i.