Custom Resolution Guide for 1080i HDTV-HTPC-POWERSTRIP-RADEON - Page 8

I have no experience with the 05 and 07 models, but on the 09 and (I'm pretty sure) the 08 models, the VGA inputs supports 480p, 540p, and 1080i signals. I'm using the VGA input for the output from my AccessDTV card set to 1080i and the DTV input for the output from my Radeon 9500 Pro set to various resolutions from the list Karnis posted at the top of this thread depending on what I'm doing. I have also tested the VGA input connected to the 9500 Pro at the same resolutions (various 480p, 540p, and 1080i timings) and they all work.

Thanks GSR. I guess I was just assuming all the VGA ports had the same capabilities.

Tony

Karnis - Does the refresh rate affect how audio and video are kept in synch when playing a DVD?

I have no perceptable audio dropouts or artifacts of any kind when playing DVDs, but every now and then I can see the video jump forward a fraction of a second.

I'm running 720 x 480 at 540p timings with my scan rate at exactly 33.750 - but my refresh rate is at 59.947.

Do I need to get the refresh to exactly 59.940 - and will this make any kind of difference?

Karnis - in the Advanced Timing Options of Powerstrip - I can see buttons with + and - for Horizontal and Vertical under the Synchronization section.

Also, Composite synch and Interlaced (I know that the Interlaced does, but I have no clue as to Composite).

And several options such as 'lock total geometry' and 'lock scan frequencies'.

Any tips on the best way to use these features of PowerStrip?

not to digress, but has anyone found the best workable timing for playing counterstrike on the rptv?

Ok, this is pretty cool stuff.

I will be using a WS-55807 so I will need VGA to BNC with the RCA Adaptors.

Question is if I want to play PC games on my HDTV will they look good? How good, as good as a monitor? I thought I saw that it said the interlaced doesnt work with gaming?

Let me know!!!

not to burst your bubble, but you can't play a lot of good games onyour monitor because games like counterstrike will revert to regular monitor resolutions (640x480,800x600,1024x68,etc..) which won't work on you rptv.
you can get 640x480 to work but you'll have overscan and who wants to play in that resolution anyways. i haen[t found a way around this yet.

i just found out that matrix doesn;t work in either powerdvd, windvd, or cineplayer1.5., Kinda bummed out. It works fine on my stb. I'm having second thoughts on thiswhle hp thing. i had ihed i'd never put so much money into it, no it's too late to go back, might as well charge forward.

jlui,

I've gotten Medal of Honor, RTCW to work fine at HDTV resolutions. I've heard of others getting counterstrike and halflife working as well. You just have to enter the correct settings into their .cfg files.

Matrix plays fine on my system, but I understand your frustration. I finally have a totally stable system with no DVD stutters and smooth gameplay. It took a lot of time (which my wife wasn't too happy about ). Now I only wish I could get slightly higher vertical resolutions without going interlaced. I don't want to slow my gaming down by disabling memory tiling!

Tim

Why does Karnis (the creator of this guide) use a transcoder on his Mitsu 55819? Other posts in this same thread seem to indicate he could do several other (cheaper) options - use the VGA in for 480P/540P/1080i signals on the 9 Mitsu models
or
use a VGA breakout cable since the TV has an RGBHV input
or
use a the DVI (or VGA) to component video ATI dongle (I realize people have had problems with this setup though).

I have a Mitsu 55859 that I'd like to setup with my HTPC (currently a GF3 Ti 200 in it, but I may put a Radeon in it). What should I use in my TV? Transcoder, vga breakout, vga, or dongle?

Which is easiest?

Which is provides the best quality?

My goals would be to output a 1080i signal from the AIW 8500DV through the DVI->Component dongle to handle:
-DVD playback (and perhaps VCDs / DivX videos)
-PC Gaming in HD (is that possible? - what resolutions?)
-As a PVR for antenna (output to the same 1080i input on my TV?)
-Maybe eventually for use as a PVR w/ HDTV. I might eventually get a myHD card for doing this.

Thoughts? TIA,
--Kyle

I believe he's using the component-switching capabilities of his receiver, so he needed a YPrPb signal not RGB.

But otherwise you would be correct, you don't have to use YPrPb with the Mits, RGBHV works too.

Hey Mr. Pibb,
The Matrix issue is a known fact and is usually due to the decoders. This happens when it transitions from chapter 20 to chapter 21.
Probably going from one side to another?
What setup do you have, that will help debug my system.
I'm also having problems with Radeon's hardware acceleration, when turned on, i get green dashes across the screen, but doesn't happen when i use software istead.

Do you know where I can learn more about getting counterstrike to work in these resolutions? Thanks.

For more vertical resolution, have you tried, 1280x720p @ 45Khz, if your rptv accepts it.
(It's funny how pioneer calls their rptv a monitor...)

I watch the matrix several times a year and have never had any problems with it. Currently I'm using TT 1.5, which uses the Sonic filters.

Maybe your disc is bad, or your DVD-ROM drive doesn't like something about that disc. In the case of the latter you might want to see if there's a firmware update available for your drive, sometimes issues like this are addressed with new firmware.

Karnis,
Are you still recommending 1440x480 for viewing DVD's? What is your current favorite resolution for strictly watching dvd's? I have been using 1440x480 and enjoy it a lot. I can't see any difference in picture quality between 1440 and 720. What is the purpose of the 1, 1.5, and 2.0 dvd timings you list? Do different format DVD's look better with different timings? In other words would the matrix look good with one timing and lord of the rings look better with a different timing?

Note to Mitsubish owners! I read on another forum (home theatre spot) that the mitsubusihi RGBHV inputs are no different then the Component inputs becaus the Mits just converts the RGBHV to component video. Which seems lame. I am wonding if the VGA input is also converted to component video?

Thanks Jeff, I guess that makes sense. Would the transcoder be any easier to use than just an VGA breakout cable (in terms of setting up the resolutions, etc.)? Any better quality or more flexible?

And how does just VGA in compare if I'm able to get the 480P/540P/1080i signals through it?

i've used sonic 1.5, powerdvd, windvd, ati dvd and they all hang on chapter 21 whereas my stb doesn't. you could be right about my samsung SD-612B not reading it. I'm not sure I want to spend $65 on another drive just to check it out. I'm glad it's just me and not anyone else so i know there's a work around for this.

Karnis,
Can you please explain something that's probably obvious to everyone else except me:

You use 1800x540p (I'm assuming 45Khz scan rate) for your DVD viewing. If you're screen is 16:9, how does this work. 1800x540 is like 30:9. What mode do you watch your DVD's in (anomorphic, letter box, etc..)
thanks for this useful info.

I watched Bourne Identity of a few chapters on my htpc this weekend and it froze. I think it's because of the DXVA being enabled. So i reverted back to my STB. The STB has just as good a PQ but the color is not as brilliant.
Thanks for your reply.

Thanks for clearing that up for me.
My 530HD rptv can accept 720p at 45Khz but it converts that to 1080i internally. So do you think it's better to just feed it 540p directly?

Doesn't 1800x540p equate to 1800x1080i which is close to a 16:9 aspect ratio?

Ron

I've tried the 1800x540p and I didn't see much of a difference in PQ compared to 1080x480p.
540p cuts off some of the top and bottom of a movie which takes the entire screen while 480p fits nicely.
Karnis, So you use 1800x540p for watching DVDs which is good for anormorphic ones with black bars already, but what about the ones that fill the screen? Would you rather lose some of the info to use 540p instead of 480p. Please forgive my ignorance. Thanks, I'm learning a LOT!

I did a test this weekend (I was snowed in) and so I tested the vga input on the mitsubishi. THe picure quality of the component input blows away the vga input. I have no idea why is sucks so back but it is very noticeable.

What model Mistubishi and what are you using for cables on the 2 inputs? On my WS-65909, the picture quality on both inputs is excellent.

I'm on a MITS WS-65905 attempting 720 x 480 at 540p.

I can get 33.750 khz, but the other value goes to 59.947.

If I change to 54.94, the 33.75 is changed slightly - and the 59.94 ends up at something like 59.941.

As the 54.94 seems to be double the film frames per second - does this affect the problem where the audio is perfect, but the video jumps ahead a 1/4 second every now and then?

Should I be shooting for getting both of these values exactly on the money - or is one or the other more important?

If I do need them exactly on the money - which settings in PowerStrip should I tweak to get the exact values?

Karnis-
If we are using your 1440x480 timings then is it true that the aspect ratio will NOT be a problem?