Author Topic: TV extremly fuzzy using computer (Read 3057 times)

cowguy · « **on:** August 18, 2008, 03:15:34 pm »

I finally got my arcade machine fully setup, but when I hooked up the tv using s-video everything is really fuzzy and you can't read any text. I'm not sure if it has to do with refresh rates or what. This is the first time I have ever used a computer with a TV so I don't really know a whole lot about this.

ahofle · « **Reply #1 on:** August 18, 2008, 03:18:09 pm »

I found that you really have to run everything at 640x480 when using a TV to minimize the amount of scaling/blurriness that comes with converting the PC output to 480i.

cowguy · « **Reply #2 on:** August 18, 2008, 03:23:36 pm »

I changed it down to 800x600 and that's the lowest I can go. It still looks fuzzy but better. I would be okay with the fuzzy picture because you can't really notice in games, but it makes me really sick reading any of the menus in gamex.

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #3 on:** August 18, 2008, 03:30:47 pm »

Try Powerstrip. You can probably force it to go 640x480

cowguy · « **Reply #4 on:** August 18, 2008, 03:43:16 pm »

Yeah I installed it, but I got really sick reading it and couldn't tell what I was doing.

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #5 on:** August 18, 2008, 03:46:40 pm »

You don't have a real monitor you could hook the PC into during the install?

cowguy · « **Reply #6 on:** August 18, 2008, 03:48:09 pm »

I do, it's just that it would be a long way to carry from the attic if I didn't have to.

ahofle · « **Reply #7 on:** August 18, 2008, 03:51:45 pm »

To do 640x480, you can right click on the desktop, select 'properties'. Go to the 'settings' tab, click the 'advanced' button, go to the 'adapter' tab, and click the 'list all modes' button. You can set 640x480 (true color, 60 Hz) there. For some dumb reason, recent versions of windows see fit to 'hide' that mode from you.

clickhea · « **Reply #8 on:** August 18, 2008, 03:58:12 pm »

also if you set all windows text to 120 dpi it makes it alot easier to read.

Jack Burton · « **Reply #9 on:** August 18, 2008, 08:20:50 pm »

Yep, everything that has been posted is correct. I would like to add that even though you set the mode to be 640x480 on your tv, it still will not look as sharp as it would on a pc monitor. The difference in dot pitch will mean that the tv will always looks sharper, but no worries, as this is actually more authentic to an actual arcade monitor and is something that is usually wanted.

MrMojoZ · « **Reply #10 on:** August 18, 2008, 11:47:46 pm »

Quote from: ahofle on August 18, 2008, 03:51:45 pm

You can set 640x480 (true color, 60 Hz) there. For some dumb reason, recent versions of windows see fit to 'hide' that mode from you.

It eliminates thousands of tech support calls every year. Yes, really.

ChicagoDave · « **Reply #11 on:** August 19, 2008, 08:42:29 am »

Does your TV support component video? Is so, I suggest that you switch to that. It made a world of difference for me. The text is much sharper and the colors are much better.

Turnarcades · « **Reply #12 on:** August 19, 2008, 10:16:07 am »

I had a load of similar issues when using an s-video tv for my first project. I had to change the software settings for my video card in Windows from 's-video' to 'auto-detect' to stop it coming in black+white! Once I solved this, I was fine with 800x600 but had to adjust the sharpness and horizontal moire settings on my tv (luckily it had those settings).

Stobe · « **Reply #13 on:** August 19, 2008, 11:03:08 pm »

Quote from: ChicagoDave on August 19, 2008, 08:42:29 am

Does your TV support component video? Is so, I suggest that you switch to that. It made a world of difference for me. The text is much sharper and the colors are much better.

How do you output component video from a PC? Can you use one of the old HD15 -> BNC cables used with macs and old monitors? Or do you have to hack a VGA cable?

ChicagoDave · « **Reply #14 on:** August 20, 2008, 08:03:42 am »

Quote from: Stobe on August 19, 2008, 11:03:08 pm

Quote from: ChicagoDave on August 19, 2008, 08:42:29 am
Does your TV support component video? Is so, I suggest that you switch to that. It made a world of difference for me. The text is much sharper and the colors are much better.

How do you output component video from a PC? Can you use one of the old HD15 -> BNC cables used with macs and old monitors? Or do you have to hack a VGA cable?

Most fairly recent video cards (especially ATI based) that support TV out will come with a component video out cable. The cable that came with my X800 Pro actually never worked correctly, so I ended up buying a DVI to Component Dongle. This worked great.

You should notice a huge difference. At least I did. Also make sure you set your icons to large size and also increase the size of your text. This also helps.

CodeWhite · « **Reply #15 on:** September 21, 2008, 11:02:00 pm »

Chicago,
Im curious as to what was the problem you were having with your x800 pro when you tried to connect it to the TV with the supplied adapter. The reason why I ask this is because the computer in my cab also has an x800 pro installed in it. I just recently tried to hook it up to my cabs TV component inputs using the adapter that came with the card (the one that fits into the DIN connector on the card) , and I get a clear picture but its tinted blue.

I tried setting colors using the cards adapter settings but no dice. It seems it has something to do either with the cables I am using or the card's output. I just wanted to know if your problem was similar and I should just buy a dvi to component adapter.

ChicagoDave · « **Reply #16 on:** September 22, 2008, 08:27:59 am »

Yes, I was getting a blue tint problem as well. Buying the DVI to Component dongle solved the problem. You can look at the details of my original post here:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=69922.0

CodeWhite · « **Reply #17 on:** September 22, 2008, 10:17:15 am »

Thanks for the quick reply man. My next question is: Did you buy your DVI to component dongle directly through ati? Or will a generic one work fine. Since the x800pro is discontinued it is a major pain in the rear to find any genuine parts for the thing.

I appreciate the help.

ChicagoDave · « **Reply #18 on:** September 22, 2008, 10:21:15 am »

Quote from: CodeWhite on September 22, 2008, 10:17:15 am

Thanks for the quick reply man. My next question is: Did you buy your DVI to component dongle directly through ati? Or will a generic one work fine. Since the x800pro is discontinued it is a major pain in the rear to find any genuine parts for the thing.

I appreciate the help.

I bought a generic one at Fry's and it worked fine.

Ummon · « **Reply #19 on:** September 23, 2008, 11:13:18 pm »

Or, you can buy this one, if it happens to be less (this is the one that's been passed around here for a while) : dongle


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