Anyone got a HTPC hooked up to the 34XBR800?  

[I posted something similar in the HTPC forum, but haven't really gotten much help. I'm hoping people here (a lot of whom obviously have the 34XBR800) can help.]


I'm expecting my new Sony 34XBR800 to be delivered on Friday, and am now in the process of setting up a very basic HTPC.

What I am looking to do is merely a little gaming (UT2003), using it as an MP3 server and displaying the Serene Aquarium screen saver.

I have an old Dell P3 1Ghz, with a Soundblaster Live and a generic GeForce 2 (without tv or DVI outputs). I intend to keep the Soundblaster and hook it up to my Audio Receiver via analog RCA cable. I don't intend to use the HTPC for DVD playback or HDTV viewing. I already have a nice PS DVD player and am really trying to wait for the Directv/Tivo HD receiver to be released.

My confusion arises with the best way to hook up the video to the tv. I don't intend to have a monitor in the entertainment area, so the tv will have to serve as the only display. Right now I'm considering 2 options (although I'm open to suggestions). First, would be getting a new video card with an S-Video output. The second would be staying with the current video card (or maybe getting a cheap GeForce 4 4200) and then getting a VGA to component converter like this one.

I have a couple of questions though.

(1) I understand the best resolution I can get using s-video is 640x480. Is that right? If so, then using the tv out on any video card isn't going to get me a widescreen image. Right? Or is there a way (other than using the zoom/stretch modes on the tv)?

(2) If I get the VGA to component converter what settings will work in powerstrip. I've looked at Karnis's thread here but am not sure what settings (resolution and timings) will work with the 34XBR without overscan (or too much underscan). And what about a monitor driver? Which one should I use with Win 98se?

(3) Is there any trick to getting Unreal Tournament to display in widescreen?

Thanks a lot for any information. And btw, I know the tv has a DVI input, and I could get a new video card with DVI output, but I intend to use the DVI connection for the Directv/Tivo HD receiver, and don't want to have to rewire everything in a year.

Thanks for the replies.

Kharvel,

Unfortunately, after spending $2,400 for a new tv, plus about the same again for a custom built cabinet, I don't think I'll be buying a huge computer monitor anytime soon. Thanks for the link though.

Moore,

Glad to hear the AA transcoder works. I may end up going with that and a new $100 or so video card. I don't plan on using this as a real computer - no typing - just as an MP3 server and occasional gaming computer. So the poor text quality shouldn't be an issue.

Any opinion on video cards? I'm torn between the G4 4200 and an ATI maybe 9500.

Bump.

Someone has to have done this. Please.

:)

Thanks Kharvel. If only money (and space) was no object. :)

I'm still hoping someone can give me some powerstrip settings that they have working with the 34XBR800.

Wow!

Been there, gotten no answers to my posts. Have looked at the various threads on general powerstrip settings and read through the "do-it-yourself dongle" thread as well.

But, I ain't going with ATI anymore since I've now bought the Audio Authority VGA to Component Converter. So at this point I'm planning on just hooking up my old GeForce 2.

But the question remains...what powerstrip settings will work best for desktop and gaming.


How? Do you mean in the normal user accessible setup menus? If so, which ones? And can you make changes to just a single input (I don't want to scr#w up my normal DTv/DVD watching inputs)?

Or do you mean in the service menu?

What about the settings other than resolution? I'm hoping to get timings, "front and back porch" (???) adjustments. Basically I'd like some step by step guide to the MANY MANY powerstrip settings (or at least the ones I will need to change to get a nice stable desktop and gaming image).

And unfortunately, I haven't gotten any 34XBR800 specific information over in the HTPC forum either.

Thanks for any information.

I have it set up and working well.

Here's a picture of it (the computer is in the back of the cabinet).

http://thebettertons.com/_images/misc/cabinet.jpg

It's running a Win Media Player visualization.

The computer video output runs from the GeForce2 to an Audio Authority VGA to Component converter and then to input 6 on the 34XBR.

I'm running Powerstrip at one of Karnis' resolutions (I use the ones he's specified for GeForce cards and specifically the progressive scan ones since the interlaced don't work for me with my card and drivers). I forget the exact settings but its about 860x460. After getting it working with an old monitor, I was able to do the fine tuning in PS with the tv hooked up. It works well with almost no over or underscan.

I've had higher resolutions running in Serene Screen Aquarium and with custom settings under Unreal Tournament 2003, but I'm generally using it for an MP3 server and to show caller id info when the phone rings. So I don't care as much about getting super high resolutions for things like DVD playing.

Yeah, there are a bunch of programs at download.com, including several free ones. You do need a caller Id capable modem. If you go to the websites for some of the caller id programs, they will list models which will work. I just got lucky that an old modem I had sitting around from a Dell machine worked.