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Connecting my Dell XPS 410 to PT-AX200u

post #1 of 10
7/27/08 at 9:03am
Thread Starter 
Ok, by no means am I trying to have a dedicated HTPC. For now, I just want to connect my Dell XPS410 to my PT-AX200u (for Video) and Sony AVR STR-DE988 (for audio).

My Dell has a NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS along with a sound card that has S/PDIF connector on the back of the card (I am assuming this is for output of the sound). (This card has dual DVI outputs along with one Seriel)

My computer has MCE and this is what I want to do.

Again, not trying to do HTPC (I really only want to connect to my music library and an OCCASIONAL video that has been downloaded)

I am thinking for sound, this is pretty simple, I use an Optical TOSLINK cable.

So, how do I connect the video? It seems I have 2 choices.
  1. DVI to VGA adapter and connect to projector with VGA Cable
  2. RS-232C Serial Interface Cable with a ferrite core, type ET-ADSER
  3. DVI to HDMI adapter and connect to projector with HDMI cable

I have never done this, nor do I have cables to test...I want to buy cables soon. So which option is best in my situation? I am leaning towards option #2 only because I dont want to do HDMI switching just yet as my Projector already has both HDMI slots used. And option 1 seems like it will not produce good image quality.
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post #2 of 10
7/27/08 at 5:06pm
Thread Starter 
Need some help here... Anyone?
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post #3 of 10
7/28/08 at 9:31am
Thread Starter 
Anybody out there? Really hoping for an answer so I can order some cables...not sure what else to do at this point.
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post #4 of 10
7/28/08 at 10:21am
i've got the AE-900U which is the predisessor to the AX200U. All you have to do is hook up the pc to the projector with a DVI to HDMI cable.

set the desktop resolution to 1280 x 720, and then go into the menu of the projector and turn off overscan, doing this will then get you a perfect 1:1 pixel mapped image and you won't have to fuss with any custom video settings.

- Josh
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post #5 of 10
7/28/08 at 6:51pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by umdivx View Post

i've got the AE-900U which is the predisessor to the AX200U. All you have to do is hook up the pc to the projector with a DVI to HDMI cable.

set the desktop resolution to 1280 x 720, and then go into the menu of the projector and turn off overscan, doing this will then get you a perfect 1:1 pixel mapped image and you won't have to fuss with any custom video settings.

- Josh

Thanks for the input...perhaps I will just do that. Although right now I have my HDDVD and my Comcast HD Cable hooked up to each of the 2 HDMI input...but if I need to use my PC, I could unhook one of those and use an HDMI coupler to extend my PC HDMI connection straight to the projector.


So, will HDMI be a better picture from my PC than the RS-232 connector?

Thanks.
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post #6 of 10
7/28/08 at 7:24pm
Thread Starter 
Actually, I think I will invest in an HDMI cable as I need 25 ft and just use the DVI to HDMI Adapter. This way if I ever upgrade to a device on my PC that outputs HDMI, I will have a cable that is ready to go and not have to buy another.

So, from my PC, I will do DVI<->HDMI---25ft----HDMI(Coupler)HDMI---12ft----Projector.


That is a LONG run....this has GOT to cause an issue..right?
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post #7 of 10
7/28/08 at 8:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kezug View Post

Thanks for the input...perhaps I will just do that. Although right now I have my HDDVD and my Comcast HD Cable hooked up to each of the 2 HDMI input...but if I need to use my PC, I could unhook one of those and use an HDMI coupler to extend my PC HDMI connection straight to the projector.


So, will HDMI be a better picture from my PC than the RS-232 connector?

Thanks.

RS-232 aka serial isn't for video. It is for remote control, you can use third party home automation or touch screen control systems where it'll give you two way control of the projector via the RS-232 connection.

You could use VGA, don't see why you'd have an issue, the only thing is that you'd be doing a Analog to Digital conversion. Just easier to keep it all on the digital side of things.

Also not sure if VGA supports all the resolutions that DVI/HDMI can.

also doesn't hurt to check out www.monoprice.com and pick up a cheap HDMI switch. I'm actually running the 5 X 1 monoprice switch myself.

- Josh
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post #8 of 10
7/28/08 at 8:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kezug View Post

Actually, I think I will invest in an HDMI cable as I need 25 ft and just use the DVI to HDMI Adapter. This way if I ever upgrade to a device on my PC that outputs HDMI, I will have a cable that is ready to go and not have to buy another.

So, from my PC, I will do DVI<->HDMI---25ft----HDMI(Coupler)HDMI---12ft----Projector.


That is a LONG run....this has GOT to cause an issue..right?

why would you be running that long of a run? from the pictures of your setup, your AV rack looks like its less than 10 feet from your projector.

- Josh
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post #9 of 10
7/28/08 at 9:20pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by umdivx View Post

why would you be running that long of a run? from the pictures of your setup, your AV rack looks like its less than 10 feet from your projector.

- Josh

Good observation...however, at the opposite end of my basement is my office where my PC is located. Actually, the AV rack is pretty much centralized to my basement. I ended up ordering a 20ft HDMI cable.
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post #10 of 10
11/25/09 at 5:38pm
Thread Starter 
Wow, cant believe this is over a year old...

Help! I still am unable to get a full screen on my projected image at any resolution!

I am simply extending my desktop, choosing a resolution of 1280 x720 or 1280 x 768 and I still get a black border around my "Desktop" on the displayed image. I do have nothing set for overscan, its at 0.

Why!?

NOTE: no matter what resolution I set the "extended" monitor, the resolution does change, but the black border remains!
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