[irkuck]

We are located in Europe and we got two Panasonic 50" plasmas

to our lab, with one additional DVI input board.


To our surprise the leaflet of the DVI board says that maximum

resolution supported is 1024x768. No mention at all about any 16:9

resolution


We tested with Matrox and Radeon graphics adapters and Powerstrip

software and indeed we can only display 1024x768 via DVI. Picture is then

fantastically good but it is 4:3 and there are black bars on sides.

There seems to be no way of getting native 1366x768. Whenever we

set this resolution we are still getting 1024x768 and we can only slide

the 1366x768 picture within it.


I wonder if this is really so and could Panasonic be providing DVI for only

4:3 format on the 16:9 display? And the DVI can not use the full screen???


Maybe some tricks we are no aware of can solve this problem?


Any comments are appreciated before we start banging Panasonic.

 

[rogo]

Welcome to the bizarro universe of panels with pixel-perfect inputs where getting pixel-perfect resolution is as simply as neurosurgery. This is the dumbest phenomenon in plasma (see Fujitsu, NEC).


CALL PANASONIC.


Mark

 

[Esben]

Do you have an NVIDIA card you can test it with?

 

[Phire]

So I guess it isn't normal then? my display didn't come with a DVI input, do you have to buy a different 50" model for this? or can you upgrade?

 

[ericbee]

European pannys have the DVI input, US versions currently do not. This is of no surprise. Panny makes the Fuji glass and the Fuji cannot handle native DVI either so, what made anyone think the Panny would be different?

 

[d4lions]

The only one that will do 1:1 that I know of is the Pio's


Buyers beware, and do your home work...


-a-

 

[irkuck]

Quote:

Originally posted by ericbee European pannys have the DVI input, US versions currently do not. This is of no surprise. Panny makes the Fuji glass and the Fuji cannot handle native DVI either so, what made anyone think the Panny would be different?

Right, the DVI input on European Pannys seems to be brain-damaged.

I wonder why they provide DVI at all when it can not even display a

full-screen picture? We will try to get Panasonic accountable for this.

 

[Joe Fernand]

Hello all


Just picked up on this thread and later today Panasonic Business Systems UK will be running a test on a TH-50PHD30BX with the Pixel Perfect Graphics card outputting DVI to the panel.


Will report back ASAP.


Regards


Joe

 

[Esben]

Quote:

Originally posted by Joe Fernand Just picked up on this thread and later today Panasonic Business Systems UK will be running a test on a TH-50PHD30BX with the Pixel Perfect Graphics card outputting DVI to the panel.

Very interesting.... especially since DVI only support horizontal resolutions which's a factor of something x 8. Eg. 1360, 1368 etc.


But perhaps they're running 1368x768 with the pixel on each side cut off.

 

[Brett]

Hi friends,


Any news as to whether Panasonic will be releasing a new DVI input card to enable full panel native rate? TIA.

 

[irkuck]

Please note that there is Panasonic DVI card available in Europe

which does not enable full native rate.


I am trying to get information from Panasonic what can be done about this, but no answer yet.

 

[Joe Fernand]

Irek


Finally got word back from Panasonic that yes indeed the current Panasonic DVI terminal board TY-42TM4D will only support the three 'standard' 4:3 resolutions; 640x480, 800x600 and 1024x768.


I believe that whenever the next upgrade to the panel arrives there will be a new board that will handle additional resolutions - currently there are no release dates for a new display or new board.


I have asked for clarification re any new board and the possibility of it being retro fitted to the current model or not - I will let you know as soon as I have a reply.


Best regards


Joe

 

[rogo]

Plasma makers and DVI support are clearly the gang who couldn't shoot straight. The whole idea of a digital interface is a pixel-perfect feed from the source and a noise free perfect match on the display.


So we have NEC, Fujitsu and Panasonic all producing DVI-capable displays that don't allow this without major machinations, if at all.


Moronic.


Mark

 

[Brett]

Hi folks,


These Panasonic "Euro" commercial versions are still probably quite worthwhile on several bases:


- top notch image characteristics with most inputs

- excellent noise performance (ie fanless or quiet)

- very competitive pricing


NOT TO FORGET expandability! The very existence of a slot means that there is also a fair chance (sure, I know, no guarantees) that the next DVI input card made for the slot will handle full resolution DVI.


As of today, I'd give it a shot with an empty slot, fully enjoying its image quality which should be enough to hold me over for 6 months to a year until a new DVI card is out.


In the light of other manufacturers trying to herd buyers and sellers alike into overpriced business models like so many milk cows, Panasonic's product offering and accompanying warranty is looking better and better by the minute. Yippee!

 

[cheridave]

I have a 50" Panasonic, and I for one will not even consider upgrading until Panasonic gets their act together-


1. No fans - unless it is auto sensor like the Pioneer.


2. DVI- compatable with what ever the CP standard may be.


3. Has to be upgradable for future who knows what.


All they have to do is go to their local A/V Dealers and demo the Fuji and Pioneers and they will see how far behind they are falling.


I do love the picture- ISF'd can't be beat!


Dave

 

[irkuck]

Quote:

Originally posted by Joe Fernand Irek Finally got word back from Panasonic that yes indeed the current Panasonic DVI terminal board TY-42TM4D will only support the three 'standard' 4:3 resolutions; 640x480, 800x600 and 1024x768. I believe that whenever the next upgrade to the panel arrives there will be a new board that will handle additional resolutions - currently there are no release dates for a new display or new board. I have asked for clarification re any new board and the possibility of it being retro fitted to the current model or not - I will let you know as soon as I have a reply. Joe

Thanks Joe for your effort.


From what you write I guess that the current DVI board CAN NOT be upgraded by software, and one will need a 'future' new board for the

upgrade. Is this true? If so, I consider the board totally unusable and

will return it.


Now it remains only to contemplate how on earth they could make an effort

of providing separate DVI board without supporting native resolution?

In the display manual it is written clearly that it should not be used with

the 4:3 format for extended periods of time. One is wondering thus for

what reason the 4:3-only DVI board is provided then - to damage the screen?

 

[irkuck]

Quote:

Originally posted by Brett Hi folks, These Panasonic "Euro" commercial versions are still probably quite worthwhile on several bases: - top notch image characteristics with most inputs - excellent noise performance (ie fanless or quiet) - very competitive pricing NOT TO FORGET expandability! The very existence of a slot means that there is also a fair chance (sure, I know, no guarantees) that the next DVI input card made for the slot will handle full resolution DVI. As of today, I'd give it a shot with an empty slot, fully enjoying its image quality which should be enough to hold me over for 6 months to a year until a new DVI card is out.

I would temper your optimism a little: You can't give the Panny a shot with

an empty slot. There are no input connectors on the panel AND separate

slot. An input board MUST be in the slot. So you need to buy it with an RGB

board now and then buy another DVI board, replacing the RGB.


We have at present both RGB and DVI boards for the panel. Both

have also computer monitor input. But DVI is clearly unusable so only

buying RGB makes sense now. Buying DVI in the future makes additional

expense and leaves unused RGB board.

 

[oferlaor]

I also heard that the pixel perfect boards ( www.imaginegraphics.co.uk ) might be able to resolve this.


they claim http://www.imaginegraphics.co.uk/pro...xelperfect.htm that their output is native rate at 16:9 (this includes NEC, Fujitsu, Pioneer and Panasonic plasmas).

 

[Brett]

Hi Irkuck,


Thanks for specifying this - I thought it had onboard inputs for analog sources.


Don't mind ordering the other input card, even though it is a shame it would wind up in a drawer...with a bit of luck.


Even without DVI input the 42" Panny has been a front-runner among the smaller displays. Nothing to feel bad about as long as you go in with your eyes open. Sorry you had to discover the situation after the fact.



Oferlaor,


Forgive my ignorance if this is incorrect: my impression was that Pixel Perfect only sold "Output cards" for PC type devices which feed a Plasma display, and not "Input cards" for these displays. Apparently the problem with the Panasonics is not feeding it the correct signals as much as having a card in the slot on the receiving end which will transmit this signal to the full array of pixels.

 

[oferlaor]

Yes, that's correct,


They do make output cards. However, the signals of the DVI outputs for their boards are supposed to work in Native resolution.


This would work with any display that ALREADY has a DVI input. If it does not, you have to drop down to RGBHV.