HTPC on Widescreen TV.

[Witchboard]

I wasn't sure if this should go here or in the Monitor/Video forum.  I've got a home theater PC hooked into a widescreen TV via S-Video.  Is there any way to get the desktop to 16:9 instead of 4:3?  I'v gone into the TV settings of the video card, but I don't see it as an option.  Thanks.

[IntruderAlert]

Via Svideo? I'm not so sure
Do you have a DVI, RGB, or component video connection available on your TV?
Powerstrip should let you configure a custom resolution for your TV

[Witchboard]

No, I only 1 DVI input shared with a component that's used by my DVD player, and another component input used by my PS2.  I don't think I have a third component input, but I'll double check tonight.  I don't have a component hookup for my HTPC anyway.  I haven't had any luck with Powerstrip before.  Probably because I've never run component but s-vid on this system.

[IntruderAlert]

I'm not sure if this will work with your particular video card but if this is a HTPC you should consider getting something like this:
http://www.ati.com/products/hdtvadapter/index.html

Everything should look a lot better than SVIDEO and will easily support your widescreen TV
you can get rid of the stand alone DVD player and use your PC to play your DVDs instead

[IntruderAlert]

It comes in either DVI or RGB
Here's link 4 ya on ebay to the RGB model
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=61396&item=5770951886

[Witchboard]

I'm not sure if this will work with your particular video card but if this is a HTPC you should consider getting something like this:
http://www.ati.com/products/hdtvadapter/index.html

Everything should look a lot better than SVIDEO and will easily support your widescreen TV
you can get rid of the stand alone DVD player and use your PC to play your DVDs instead

I'm not sure if it will work either.  It's not an option to remove my DVD player since this HDTV doesn't have one.  I stream media from my server over a wireless connection.  I mostly use it to play MP3's and MPEG, AVI files.  I'll see if I have another component in on my TV.  If not, I'll just live with what I got.  Thanks for the info.

[kcoleman]

I am not sure you can get a 16:9 aspect screen throught a svid connection.  I would check the forums at www.avscience.com in their HTPC section.  If you can get it to work it will probably be alot of tinkering with Powerstrip.

[Witchboard]

Thanks, I'll do a search over there.

[IntruderAlert]

I'm not sure if this will work with your particular video card but if this is a HTPC you should consider getting something like this:
http://www.ati.com/products/hdtvadapter/index.html

Everything should look a lot better than SVIDEO and will easily support your widescreen TV
you can get rid of the stand alone DVD player and use your PC to play your DVDs instead

I'm not sure if it will work either.  It's not an option to remove my DVD player since this HDTV doesn't have one.  I stream media from my server over a wireless connection.  I mostly use it to play MP3's and MPEG, AVI files.  I'll see if I have another component in on my TV.  If not, I'll just live with what I got.  Thanks for the info.

I'm not sure I understand.
Does your HTPC hava a DVD drive?
You said HDTV but maybe you meant HTPC
If you do have a DVD drive on your HTPC you can eliminate the stand alone DVD player and use it somewhere else.
And use the HTPC to play your MPEG, AVI, MP3 and DVDs through the component connection.

If you don't want to do that and you don't have an available component video connection you can buy a component switch box to get some extra connections.
Something like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=73390&item=5772554301&rd=1

[Witchboard]

No, my HTPC does not have a DVD drive.  When I said HDTV, I was meaning HTPC... too many acronyms. 

I could do the same thing with my reciever, meaning use the component inputs on it, but I've had trouble with the screen rolling during quick high contrast images are displayed, like lightning.  I watch way more DVDs than I do anything else on my home theatre system anyway and would rather keep my stand alone player.  I'll just stick with S-Vid and live with it.  Thanks for all the tips guys.

[rgecko]

what software are you using for your HTPC?  MediaCenter PC? MythTV? something else? and also what OS, these may help in opening up your options.
I had my HTPC (mythtv) setup to a 16:9 project via S-VIDEO for a while, until I could find a 15" VGA cable, and MythTV had a skin that changed it to 16:9, and I edited my setting for X11. 

[Katana Man]

Why not change your resolution to something like 1280x768?

[Witchboard]

what software are you using for your HTPC? MediaCenter PC? MythTV? something else? and also what OS, these may help in opening up your options.
I had my HTPC (mythtv) setup to a 16:9 project via S-VIDEO for a while, until I could find a 15" VGA cable, and MythTV had a skin that changed it to 16:9, and I edited my setting for X11.

I'm using WinXP Pro.  I just use VLC media player to stream video from my server.  I'm unfamiliar with the software you've mentioned.  I'll look around for MythTV and see what it's all about.  I'm also going to start reading through the AVScience forums to get a better understanding of the general technology.

Why not change your resolution to something like 1280x768?

Anything larger than 800x600 and you have to scroll around to see the desktop... if I recall correctly.

[IntruderAlert]

By the way. are there any big advantages to having the Playstation on component?
Maybe you could hook it up on SVIDEO instead?

[Witchboard]

The new Namco/Sammy games run progressive scan and to run prograssive scan you need component.

[IntruderAlert]

Did they ever get the Playstation2 to play DVD's in Progressive Scan?
I remember that it wasn't supported at first anyway.
You can probably guess where I'm going with this..

[Witchboard]

I don't think DVDs will play in Progressive scan.  At least not my model.  Yes, I know where you're going. 

[IntruderAlert]

I ran across this while I was looking for something else:
http://www.weethet.nl/english/video_pc2tv_ati.php

I think this might be what you want.

Check out the TIP BY TRANZY section at the bottom of the page

[Witchboard]

Thanks for the tip.    It's cool that you thought of this thread when you ran across that info.  I'm afraid though that you're under the misconception that I'm using an ATI graphics card.  This is a built in graphics card on a Mini-ITX system.  I will look for a similar option in my drivers though.  Thanks again.

[Navmaxlp]

Here's what I did for mine. My HTPC, DVD Player and High Def Cable are all hooked into my Sony Receiver Via component Video. The output is then connected to my TV via Component video. I got a device called a Slink-e to control the whole thing via infrared commands from my HTPC. It's great because I can cpnnect everything to the TV with one connection and still control them all Via one remote that controls the HTPC. This is another passion of mine and I've tried a million combinations for my HTPC. I'd be glad to give as much advice as you'd like  so feel free to PM or ask again here. Oh and the receiver I got was under $300 on ebay so it wasn't too big a pain in the wallet. Hope that helps

[Witchboard]

I used to do the same thing.  My receiver is a Sony as well, but I kept getting the below problem.  I think I'm just going to put it on the back burner.  It's not really a focus of my home theater and was just something I was tinkering with.  I'll get back to it eventually. 

I could do the same thing with my reciever, meaning use the component inputs on it, but I've had trouble with the screen rolling during quick high contrast images are displayed, like lightning.