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Enable Catalyst 4.5 Component Video Modes

5270 Views 46 Replies 23 Participants Last post by myraid, Jun 8, 2004

NightRain

Discussion Starter · May 20, 2004

CATALYST 4.5 (posted last week) had the following item listed in the release notes:

User Defined Component Video Modes

TheCATALYST(tm) 4.5 driver provides a new interface that allows users to define the optimized modes for their HDTV's. This allows for images to be properly centered on their HDTV. The interface allows users specify a mode through a test window. Once the user saves this information, it will be saved as a user defined preference.

It has come to my attention that this feature is not actually available in CATALYST 4.5. This is due to an oversight on our part for which we apologize. We will include this feature in the next WHQL certified version of CATALYST.

However, for those who do have ATI's component output dongle and are anxious to try this feature, I can provide the hack to turn this feature on. (Note: This is not recommended unless you are an advanced user)

To modify the INF file.

Open (for edit) file>>>>>> CX_15419.inf (This file name is unique to the MAIN CATALYST 4.5 driver ONLY) By default (after download) this file will be located at>>>>> C:\\ATI\\SUPPORT\\wxp-w2k-catalyst-8-01-040421a-015419c\\Driver\\2KXP_INF

2) In the section of the file labeled>>>>>>>>> [ati2mtag_SoftwareDeviceSettings]

3) Locate the following line>>>>>>> HKR,, DALRULE_DYNAMICMODESUPPORT, %REG_DWORD%, 1

4) insert the following line below the line located in step 3 >>>>>>>>>HKR,, CVRULE_CUSTOMIZEDMODESENABLED, %REG_DWORD%, 1

5) Save the file.

6) Re-install the driver by launching SETUP.EXE found at C:\\ATI\\SUPPORT\\wxp-w2k-catalyst-8-01-040421a-015419c

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1 - 20 of 47 Posts

Karnis

· #2 · May 21, 2004

A couple of notes:

The line in question is toward the end.

When reinstalling the drivers, do not overwrite the files when prompted or you will erase the file you just edited.

When you go to the YPbPr properties page, there will be a new tab "YPbPr advanced"...make sure you are already switched to a rez with lots of overscan, and click ADD. This will switch you to the test window where you can define a custom resolution.

Although I could make adjustments and add them to the list, I couldn't figure a way to switch to the new rez. Its not added to the list of Windows resolutions, and although it is in the Powerstrip list of rez, nothing happens when you select it. I suspect the functionality is still not complete with the above procedure...or I'm doing something stupid.

My first thoughts are this will be an easy way to get a good fitting interlaced resolution desktop (it didn't seem to work well when adjusting from 960x540p)....although many of the ones defined in my guide already work well, like 1600x900i or 1776x1000i.

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thiruvil

· #3 · May 21, 2004

I think I got it to work. I disable powerstrip then added 1776x1000 which I had a little bit of overscan. I went into the advanced setting then shrunk it down to fit to 1728x984. When I added it it was added as a resolution. You won't see this added resolution in your display settings if you have powerstrip enabled. I then selected the 1728x984 resolution and re-enabled powerstrip. Then I moved it with powerstrip to fit perfectly on the screen. Here was my timing. I probably did something you could probably so with powerstrip already but it fits perfectly for me with 0% underscan or overscan while 1776x1000 had a bit of overscan still.

1728x984=1728,138,40,294,984,52,10,79,74250,280

Here's one with overscan on the horizontal but none on the vertical

PowerStrip timing parameters:

1920x988=1920,88,40,152,988,50,10,77,74250,280

Tulli

· #4 · May 21, 2004

Thx NightRain. It worked easier than expected. Only "problem": the new custom resolutions were available only after RESTART.

jm9843

· #5 · May 22, 2004

Quote:

Originally posted by Tulli
Thx NightRain. It worked easier than expected. Only "problem": the new custom resolutions were available only after RESTART.

Tulli, after adding a customized timing in the advanced tab of the YPbPr page, you can switch to the new res via PowerStrip. The custom res will then be available in your regular display properties.

I now have a kick ass 1776x972

dice65

· #6 · May 23, 2004

man this works great ! but i do have 1 problem,I have a light green line running side to side that moves slowly up the screen, is this called the panning effect ? think i read about it somewhere before but cant find the thread, I'm new to this stuff so any help would be great ,thanks

dice

Knight 909

· #7 · May 23, 2004

Here's what I did:

Was on 3.10 cats.

Ran the exe to install the 4.5's. I let it unzip the files, then cancelled the installation.

Found the inf and modified it as described above, saved the file. Checked it by reopening the file to make sure the change I made was still there.

Removed 3.10 using add/remove: control panel first, then drivers.

Rebooted with internet connection unplugged.

Cancelled windows trying to install new drivers.

Ran the setup.exe for the new drivers from the c:\\ati\\support\\wxp...

It went ok, but when I goto the "advanced" tab under the ypbpr, the "add" button is greyed out.

I went back to the c:\\ati\\support\\wxp... folder and checked the ini file again and sure enough, the change I made was there.

Any ideas as to why the "add" button is greyed out?

Thanks,

Knight

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Trevorsplace

· #8 · May 23, 2004

I have the same problem the Add button is Greyed out. I am trying to get a 704x480 rez without overscan for my 4:3 HDTV. Power Strip is running is that a problem.

Knight 909

· #9 · May 23, 2004

I don't think so because I tried it, at first, without ps even installed.

I have now been messing around with power strip and the buttons are greyed out no matter what I do.

Also, I can't get rid of overscan with ps and when I try to use CTM, ps won't display its' default 1024x768 modes ( it tries, but I lose the picture "lose sync?" after

I guess I'm back where I started. (buying a nVidia card and forgetting about HTPC for gaming until I get a TV with VGA input).

Bummer.

Knight

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dice65

· #10 · May 24, 2004

guys,i added the line in the ini just like it said up top,just reinstalled the driver from the exe ,and let it run threw all the way,rebooted and all was well,hack still there and nothing grayed out !

Now if i can just get rid of the horizontal line that runs up my screen id be fine

dice

finlandia

· #11 · May 24, 2004

The hack works fine for me, except that it greys out the add button when I'm at a X x 480 resolution. Anything above that and I can click the button. Something screwy here or is that what's supposed to happen?

Knight 909

· #12 · May 24, 2004

You're one up on me...it's greyed out no matter what rez I have set.

Knight

nridis

· #13 · May 24, 2004

hi

Could I use this on a Radeon 9200SE ?

I would love to get component from VGA to the TV

Orangelo

· #14 · May 24, 2004

This is most excellent, NightRain

I used to perform colorspace conversion in FFDShow - output since I kind of preferred the results to those obtained when colorspace conversion was handled by the video card, but eventually had to give up because it was too CPU consuming. Now we have the option of sending component through DVI to our PJs (am I right in assuming that the hack works with the DVI port as well as with analog VGA?) and let the PJ do the work

I am dying to try the hack in a friend's Radeon...

Tulli

· #15 · May 24, 2004

nridis: no, you can't.

bton

· #16 · May 24, 2004

You have to enable CTM and apply it in order to have the Add button not greyed you

boiler11

· #17 · May 24, 2004

Quote:

Originally posted by Orangelo
am I right in assuming that the hack works with the DVI port as well as with analog VGA?

I don't think so. This interface is for use with component output. I don't know if you might be able to set it up with the dongle, then switch to DVI and still use the same custom resolution, but I doubt it. You can use powerstrip to define custom resoutions for DVI though.

nintari

· #18 · May 24, 2004

One problem I have noticed on the center timing mode is that most resolutions get foced in to a 16:9 timing with black bars t the left and right. 1280x960 is a perfect example of this. I have a 4:3 tv that can stretch the image full screen though and when I stretch ful screen I still have the black bards around

However I can make my own powerstrip timing that will fill the entire screen with almost no underscan at all.

Can you also put 480p resolutions in a 540p timing with this feature? I am not able to try this right now but am curious to see how this works.

Knight 909

· #19 · May 24, 2004

Man, there's some wierd stuff going on here. One guy gets greyed out buttons in X x 480 rez, and I get them greyed out all the time. When I use the CTM button, I get major underscan and the top 15% of the image is distored, like it's being pulled on the top right and streching like taffy.

I've been trying to get 1024x768 and 1280x1024 to fit right and get:

1) No CTM checked. Can't correct the massive overscan. I can get a lot of it corrected using the and ^v in PS, but not enough to see the HUD/stuff in games that I play ( Mech: Mercinaries and C&C Zero Hour ). "Add" button greyed out.

2) CTM checked. Major underscan and the top 15% of the image is distored. "Add" button greyed out.

*edit* Son-of=a....ok, I just checked again, and now the "Add" button is NOT greyed out with CTM checked.

I have a feeling this has something to do with the fact that I'm using the AIW round (looks like S-video, but it's not) adapter to y/pb/pr. Is anyone else getting good results with this adapter?

Thanks,

Knight

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Knight 909

· #20 · May 24, 2004

Ok, I just messed with the "Add" button. Here's what happens...

Enable CTM. I get major underscan and the top 15% of the image is distored. I call it the "taffy effect".

I hit the "Add" button.

If I ignore the distortion, just to see if I can adjust the size of the screen, I can't get rid of the horizontal underscan AT ALL.

Quote:

One problem I have noticed on the center timing mode is that most resolutions get foced in to a 16:9 timing with black bars t the left and right. 1280x960 is a perfect example of this. I have a 4:3 tv that can stretch the image full screen though and when I stretch ful screen I still have the black bards around

This I can do. When I try 1024x768, I get the results Nintari describes above. My black bars are only on the sides though. I'm using the "jump" feature of the tv that forces ALL images to be shown in a 4:3 ratio (it's a 4:3 TV after all). I wonder if that has anything to do with it. I wouldn't mind having an inch or so of underscan all around, but my horizontal underscan is about 5 inces on each side.

Quote:

However I can make my own powerstrip timing that will fill the entire screen with almost no underscan at all

This I CANNOT do. Nintari, if you have PS settings for 1024x768 and/or 1280x1024 that allow you to do this, will you share please?

Then again, even if I could get that to work, using the CTM gives me the "taffy effect", so...

Thanks,

Knight

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