HP z555 Upgrade Project - Page 16

@marvod. I had a similar problem. I had run my HP by HDMI through my Integra 9.8 and it works fine until I use anything HD and then switch inputs on the Integra. Blank screen and then I tried something. I took the HP HDMI with blank screen through my Integra out and ran it directly to the TV without turning anything off or rebooting and I got an error message in simple text on the TV. It said something like what BW is talking about. It read some sort of problem with the display path and a violation of HDCP. Reboot and it works again but the problem comes back. My answer was to simply bypass the Integra and go directly to the TV. I also tried in the beginning when the phone rings to pause the HD movie and turn the TV off. When you come back the movie is stopped with a HDCP message. This entire HDCP thing is really bad for all of us. I've also read a number of people with complaints about HDMI cables so always make sure you've spent some good money on cables.

john

I kind of see a problem with this. It is HDCP compliant but it's not a device that will handshake and act as an end device like a TV. I'll bet anything you play into it 1080P from anything will not work unless you're watching the program on TV. While watching on TV if you switch to another 1080P device and then back you'll get a HDCP issue from the player and at least the movie will stop.

I think my Integra should be seen as an end device and allow multiple devices to play to it in 1080P and allow switching between them but I'm starting to think no. I'm waiting for the Sony 350 Bluray to come out and I'll get it and we'll see.
John

John

I had a similar problem with the MSI card. z555 connected via HDMI to a Denon receiver, receiver can output to either the TV via HDMI or the Projector via DVI (switchable within receiver). If I switch outputs while the PC is on I lose the picture from the PC - reboot and it will come back for either source, but is lost when switching again.

None of my other HDMI sources have a problem with this (Denon upscaling DVD player, 2 different Dish receivers), just the PC. I'd guess the MSI card doesn't retry the handshake after the switch.

I'm going to try running DVI from the PC into the receiver and see if that makes a difference (the Denon manual mentions that some HDMI sources won't like HDMI-DVI conversion), but I'm not optimistic.

Mike

I was told by monoprice that this should work. I have no issues with 4 other devices. I did have this problem with the orignal video card as well. So i'm at a loss.

I have a Yamaha RX-V1 so I wont be getting a new receiver anytime soon.

Mark

Sound Oddity on the HP Z560

On my z560 I have Vista & SP1 installed with a total of 3gb memory installed. The system runs great except for one minor glitch. It seems that I am having a bit of the problem with the volume control in VMC. I can turn it up or down but it doesn't do anything. The only way I can get the sound to increase or decrease is to adjust it via the TV. What gives with that? Any suggestions?

Den - I have the same issue on my z555. Haven't really tried troubleshooting it, but at least you're not alone.

I'll dig into this a little deeper. It could in fact have something to with the internal settings on the sound properties control panel. Or maybe it's a driver issue. Who knows?

I think the internal pc volume controls only work for the audio signal coming out of the analog 7.1 pre-out (8 rca) jacks. Any audio out of the SPDIF, optical and coaxial, can't be controled by the pc volume. I have a z555 still running XP MCE 2005 with the MSI 8500gt video card which allows SPDIF pass-through for audio though the HDMI port, and I can only control the volume with my tv or amplifier. Adjusting the pc volume does nothing. If you want to control the volume via you'll have to use the analog audio ports. Otherwise, I would recommend getting a universal remote like the logitech harmony remotes that can control multiple devices simultaniously for one activity like watching recorded tv or a dvd movie.

Thanks for the info...I see that I am not alone with this problem. As for analog outputs...I did hook my sound to those jacks. Still no difference. While this isn't a "Show Stopper" it just kind of bugs me that it not working correctly.

As for Logitech... I use a Philip's Pronto TSU 6000 programmable remote which pretty much is the same thing. I guess I'll just have to program the TV's volume control into the VMC panel on the Pronto.

Not quite and I've thought about this but I've never made much sense of it all. I have no analog connections on my z560 and in some cases the volume control works. It has something to at least from what I see as to what program I'm using and what is playing. If I'm using WinTV the volume change works through HDMI while watching cable. If I'm playing a DVD from PDVD it does nothing. I suspect it has to do with the output and if it's anything above 2 channel it doesn't work. This makes sense to me because if it's a DVD the PC is sending the output to be decoded by the next device but with the cable card it has to encode the signal ayway so it can change the volume. The mute button works always.

john

I remember reading somewhere - maybe it was the green button - of a little utility that allows you to control both analog and digital sound volume as one. I can't remember what it's called though. At the time I was using my digital out to a panasonic receiver and amplifier - and I was annoyed by this issue as well.

I think this is it: http://chrisnet.net/apps/VolumeTracker.zip

SF

Love my Z558. Glad I found this thread, I have a Xbox 360 HDDVD Drive that I picked up when they went to 50 Bucks. Wondering what I need to do to get it not to jump and skip. Now I know!

My wife hates it when I mess with the HTPC. She has nearly claimed it. We use our Z558 to the fullest daily. Best purchase I have made in a long time.

Trying to decide now if I should sell the Z558. Then buy a Z565 and throw a 8500 GT and this
http://www.pcclub.com/product_detail...temno=A1547213
in it ,or keep what I got and just get a stick of memory, and the card.

Does anyone think the stock 3.0 GHZ Processor, 1 more gb of memory and the 8500GT will be enough to run HD and BD? Or is the Proc upgrade nessacary?

BTW I am on the Z558 as I type this.

Z558, Onkyo, Vizio and a little SRV is all ya need.....


Even the Baby loves our Z558

As it turns it seems that ssterb is right. Although I'm not really using 7.1 I did try just hooking my stereo rca to the Front speaker port on the 7.1 setup. Now The Volume is controled in in media center. How strange is that? Well..Thanks go out to everyone for thier suggestions.

I tried it again tonight and in Vista MC using the HDMI connection my volume control works just fine with TV and analog inputs. It didn't work when playing a Bluray (Golden Compass). The S/Pdif (Toslink) also works exactly as the HDMI connection. The mute works always and when playing anything. I have no connections out of the PC analog in any way. I only use the HDMI and the Toslink. The HDMI to the TV and the Toslink to my pre/pro.

If your PC works differently than this is a software issue and not hardware. I can't imagine why the PC wouldn't have volume control over the S/Pdif connection anyway. It makes sense also that the volume control doesn't work when playing a DVD because the PC does no decoding and just passes the signal by S/Pdif on to the next device. In the case of analog it has to encode to digital so it easily can change the volume.

I don't know about the Pre-outs but I would think the volume control would work and this would give you the ability to use the PC without a preamp or pre/pro.

john

Same issue I think...

http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/thread/88246.aspx

Well I upgraded to Vista Ultimate and my problem has gone away. When I switch back to my Z560 you can clearly see the video card re-sync and the video pops right up. Must have been something with the XP video drivers.

Hello again. I recently upgraded my z555 by installing an extra 1 meg of RAM (bringing the total to 2 MB) and installing the MSI 8500GT graphics card. I haven't noticed much improvement, but I suppose that will be more noticeable after I install a Blu-Ray/HD-DVD drive and start watching High Def movies.

One problem just came up. The 8500GT DVI port appears to have failed. I was using a DVI-HDMI cable to connect the output of the graphics card to my Samsung 42" Plasma TV HDMI input. However, as of a few days ago this no longer works. Strangely, using the included (with the 8500GT) VGA-DVI adapter plug, I am able to connect the 8500GT DVI port to the VGA port on my Samsung TV. I'm not sure why this worked for VGA, when the same port didn't work for DVI! But, nevertheless, it does.

I also connected the HDMI port on the 8500GT to the HDMI port on my Samsung TV (using a HDMI-HDMI cable) and this worked as well. However, as I don't have an A/V receiver that has S/PDIF or optical connection, I didn't see any benefit of keeping the 8500GT connected this way. So, I'm using the VGA.

Anyone else run into this problem?

Also, I recall seeing where a few of you are using something called WinTV to record TV programs. Can someone tell me the benefit of using this over the MCE 2005 software that allows you to record TV programs? How does this interface with the MCE software?

Thanks!

I use WinTV to record from my Tivo because it has a one button record function and it saves as a Mpeg. I can hit the record button and it will record for the time or the program and then shut down so I don't need to babysit it. It also saves TV in Mpeg. I like to save content in Mpeg so I can watch the material using a network media player which is accessable throughout the house on a cable channel. Works well.
john

Regarding the HDMI losing lock, this weekend I changed the z555/8500 combo from HDMI connection to DVI connection - the video signal now stays locked when I switch from the receiver's HDMI out (connected to the TV) to the receiver's DVI out (connected to the projector) and back. PowerDVD halted playback when I switched the receiver from the HDMI-out to the DVI-out, but played right through the switch back to HDMI.

So, if you are having problems with the HDMI losing lock, try going to DVI.

BTW, I also switched the SPDIF from the HDMI to a direct feed into the receiver.

Cheers,

Mike

Thanks. I don't have TIVO, but I've wanted to find a program that will record a tv program in MCE and then put the z555 back into Standby after recording. I haven't had much luck with the MCE Standby tool, which supposedly does this. Perhaps I don't have it configured properly.

FYI, I have cable TV (without a set top box) connected directly to my z555 standard tv input. With the exception of the 8600GT and extra RAM, everything else in my z555 is original stock. (I just purchased a new, larger HDD and will do my first reinstall of the HP software on it shortly.) I also have a Linksys extender (the original version) in another room, networked through a Gigabit switch.

Yes, it's VERY WEIRD! The reason I'm not using the HDMI-HDMI is because, quite frankly, I've not realized a significant difference in the video. (Maybe I'm doing something wrong.) Additionally, when using DVI or HDMI with my Samsung TV I get an overscan problem that I don't have when using the VGA port.

FYI for those of you, like me, that have the Acrsoft TotalMedia Theatre software....

biz. yahoo. com/bw/080507/20080506005759.html?.v=1

Should see an update soon..

I'm using the MCE Standby tool, and it works for me. Double check your power settings in Windows XP's desktop utilitiy. My system dutifully goes to standby right after a recording finishes.

My only gripe re: the MCE Standby tool is that it wiped out my front panel display. It now always says "Shutting Down". Did you ever experience this?

The Overscan issue concerns me. I currntly go through VGA exclusively. I used the DVI to HDMI once and it was a very muddy and and had an overscanned image. Regardless of resolution settings. So I have been VGA ever since.

The concern is last week I bought a TV that has no VGA input. Assuming that I was about to upgrade to the 8500Gt with HDMI I was thinking it wouldn't be an issue just go HDMI-HDMI.

When I get and install the 8500GT will I have to deal with the Overscan issue again with HDMI-HDMI? I use MCE and the desktop equally as heavy. I still have a chance to cancel the panel order.

I have the 8500gt and use HDMI to my Samsung at 1080P and I have no problems at all. I've never used the VGA on the card. I do quite a bit with the desktop in Vista and it really works well.
john

Ok all, first post, but longtime z555 (stock) owner. I plan on doing the LG drive / MSI card / Rosewill SATA upgrade. I would like to also add another IDE HD (as I have a few laying around). My mobo appears to have only one SATA and 1 IDE port. I'm mainly concerned about power. Are there more power connections I cant find, or should I get some sort of splitter? Thanks in advance,
mike