Optimize GFX 5600U graphics quality on HDTV

[CP]

Hi all,

How come my Sony PS2 graphics quality (using the low quality composite video cable) is much better than the PC games with GFX 5600 Ultra video card, using S-video output at 1024 x 768 resolution on my HDTV? How can I optimize the graphics quality to that comparable to the Sony PS2 on the same TV? The image is a bit blur from the PC signal, and the text is unreadable. In contrast, the PS2 graphic is much better, and text at same font size is still reading fine on the HDTV. Does anyone has any idea how to fix the PC graphics quality on my HDTV?

Thanks

 

[SynthDude2001]

It's my understanding that you're not actually getting a real 1024x768 signal over an S-Video cable; it's pretty much limited to 480i (some one correct me if I'm wrong).

Your text is unreadable because it's basically smashing a 1024x768 signal into a 640x480 one. S-Video output at 640x480 is actually pretty acceptable (relatively, anyway).

With that said - you have an HDTV, what kind of inputs does it have? You might be able to hook your computer up to it over DVI or Component (or possibly even VGA/D-sub), which totally blows S-Video and Composite out of the water.

 

[CP]

My HDTV only has Component, S-Video and Composite input. My video card has DVI, S-Video and VGA output. I installed the latest nVidia 71.84 driver, and set the resolution to 1024x768 for TV output. When switch to 640x480 the text on the TV is bigger, but still blur. But you maybe right, the signal out of the S-video might be downgraded to some point but how can I verify this?

I had tried this to convert the DVI into component signal for the HDTV but it doesn't work (no image on TV), maybe the DVI-Component adapter does not work on my GFX 5600 Ultra card. What else can I try? I even consider upgrading my video card, but afraid might end up the same thing, since my Sony PS2 with the lowest end cable still outperforms my PC with decent graphics card+ better cable on HDTV in term of graphics. I suspect the bottleneck is not on the cable / video card itself...

Another sad point is that the relatively low end ATI card such as Radeon 8500 still has HDTV support through this adapter, but my Asylum nvidia GFX 5600 Ultra... sigh... kinda sad

What else can I try? Please advice...

Thanks

 

[VirtualLarry]

The problem is that the TV-out quality on most NV-based cards is garbage. My ATI R9200's TV-out is fine, and text is readable at default font sizes, at 1024x768 res, over only a standard composite video cable. Granted, it's not easy to read, but it is readable. That's really pushing the boundries of what a composite NTSC signal is capable of though.

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: CP
My HDTV only has Component, S-Video and Composite input. My video card has DVI, S-Video and VGA output. I installed the latest nVidia 71.84 driver, and set the resolution to 1024x768 for TV output. When switch to 640x480 the text on the TV is bigger, but still blur. But you maybe right, the signal out of the S-video might be downgraded to some point but how can I verify this?

I had tried this to convert the DVI into component signal for the HDTV but it doesn't work (no image on TV), maybe the DVI-Component adapter does not work on my GFX 5600 Ultra card. What else can I try? I even consider upgrading my video card, but afraid might end up the same thing, since my Sony PS2 with the lowest end cable still outperforms my PC with decent graphics card+ better cable on HDTV in term of graphics. I suspect the bottleneck is not on the cable / video card itself...

Another sad point is that the relatively low end ATI card such as Radeon 8500 still has HDTV support through this adapter, but my Asylum nvidia GFX 5600 Ultra... sigh... kinda sad

What else can I try? Please advice...

Thanks

That ATI adapter you tried just doesn't work on Nvidia video cards (I asked specifically about this when I was about to buy a 6800GT last summer).

There are some 6600GT's that have native component output though, that would be your best bet if you are thinking about upgrading your video card. Especially when you consider that a VGA->Component transcoder type of device will run you over $100 anyway...

 

[gwag]

if you want good out put you might try a card that has HDTV component out, like a 6600 or 6200.

 

[CP]

In term of considering my future video card, which card has better 3D graphics quality + game play performance on HDTV (ATI or nVidia)? Something affordable as I am not a 1st-person-shooting game type of gamer. Something that can give me decent graphics quality + performance for game like Battle for Middle Earth will do...

Back to present, so there is nothing I can do with my GFX5600U then? Will VGA-Component Video cable help in this case?

Thanks

 

[Mingon]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
The problem is that the TV-out quality on most NV-based cards is garbage. My ATI R9200's TV-out is fine, and text is readable at default font sizes, at 1024x768 res, over only a standard composite video cable. Granted, it's not easy to read, but it is readable. That's really pushing the boundries of what a composite NTSC signal is capable of though.

Actually the problem is that its very hit and miss. I have used numerours cards both ati and nvidia my last 2 were, for example, an ati 9800 AIW and my current card a galaxy 6800 with soft mod. The 6800 is so much better its not funny and with nvdia card you get less of an irratating border around the outside of the screen. The main isssue with the 5600 is that it was the first nvdia card that had all of its tv-out capabilities built into the gpu die and not via a tv-out chip. as such it a little buggy. Have you tried adding sharpness through the desktop manager? this can help. Also I would suggest trying tvtool which is very good for keeping all required settings in one place.