Hi I currently own a Pioneer 383s (with progressive support), which only has analog outputs (s-video, component and composite).
I'm looking forward to buy a projector (mitsu hd1000u) or a PDP (probably 42" Philips 1024x768).
My question is, will the projector/PDP upscale standard definition DVDs and DivX, to 720p? Or do I need a DVD player with HDMI output and upscaler?

My other question is, will I be able to output 720p (x264) movies through a VGA output from a notebook to the projector/PDP?

Thanks in advance.

PS: I know the questions are quite lame, but I've read many contradicting stuff on the net, and just want to be sure, that my ideas are ok. My concern is that many people says that HD displays will only display in its native resolution if its connected with HDMI (with HDCP).

PS2: I've started reading a thread, which I find it very revealing.
thread number 477740 (can't post urls yet). I'll finish it reading tomorrow, in the mean time feel free to reply.

Hi I currently own a Pioneer 383s (with progressive support), which only has analog outputs (s-video, component and composite).
I'm looking forward to buy a projector (mitsu hd1000u) or a PDP (probably 42" Philips 1024x768).
My question is, will the projector/PDP upscale standard definition DVDs and DivX, to 720p? Or do I need a DVD player with HDMI output and upscaler?

All fixed pixel devices deinterlace (if necessary) and scale (if necessary) any supported input signal to their native resolution. You don't need any specific connection method or an upscaling player, but you may (or may not) get quality improvements by trying different combinations of gear.

Component will be better than composite or s-video. Whether HDMI is better than component is much disputed. They about the same ability to carry HD video signals; people sometimes prefer one over the other depending on how well the ports are implemented with their specific combination of gear.

My concern is that many people says that HD displays will only display in its native resolution if its connected with HDMI (with HDCP).


That's not quite right. A display always uses its native resolution. The issue is with the signal source. The industry is frustrating the use of HD signals over component as an anti-piracy measure. Vendors no longer provide upscaling over component for SD-DVD, so you are limited to 480i and 480p. You do need to use HDMI (which always has HDCP) if you want a 720p, 1080i, or 1080p signal.

Strangely enough, even HD-DVD and Blu-Ray players must not upscale SD-DVD over component, even though they can provide HD component signals for their HD discs. They industry has a way of turning this feature off, and threatens to do so in the future.

For people who have component displays without HDMI and still want to try upscaling players, there are firmware hacks available to remove the upscaling restriction. The Oppo 970 is a popular player here with such a hack available.

Looking here: http://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks?dvdplayer=pioneer+383&hits=50&Search=Search I don't see such a thing for your Pioneer, so you would be limited to 480i and 480p. Which may be just fine.

-Bill

Bill, thank you a lot.
Concerning to my second question, if I use a VGA output from my notebook, with a 720p x264 movie. Will the projector/PDP downscale the image to standard definition, and then do an upscale to fit the screen? Or it would directly show the image in hd as intended?
I think you have already answered that, but just want to be sure, before spending money in HD.

Bill, thank you a lot.
Concerning to my second question, if I use a VGA output from my notebook, with a 720p x264 movie. Will the projector/PDP downscale the image to standard definition, and then do an upscale to fit the screen? Or it would directly show the image in hd as intended?
I think you have already answered that, but just want to be sure, before spending money in HD.

I'd rather not give definite advice here because I have no experience with VGA from a PC or that video format. It's a question for the display menufacturer: given such a VGA signal, does the display scale to the native resolution? I would guess yes, but it's just a guess. I think some displays have different scaling options: for example you may want a reduced size 1:1 pixel mapped image, vs a full screen expansion. (That presumes the display is larger than 1280x720).

-Bill

Does anyone have any experience in connecting a VGA output at 1280x720, with a x264 720p movie in a high definition projector/PDP?