Panel Damage Risk/use of ffshow and powerstrip

[davidchurch]

Tried this post in media centre forum but got no answers . Can anyone here help?

As a user of a Win MCE PC, the suggestion there is that I might not need for a dedicated external scaler.

Looking into Powerstrip and ffshow raises a few issues. I have been looking at www. HTPCNews.com and the most scary thing is the warnings about risk to my panel if I try out the wrong settings.

Can any one give me specific information about this risk, how to avoid it and whether it is for real? Is there anyone using powerstrip with a Fujitsu 50 in plasma?

From the information I have seen, including forum threads, it is not completely clear that ffdshow will work within Win MCE. Can anyone help with this?

It is usual to use both Powerstrip and ffdshow/appropriate decoder?

Does powerstrip replace the driver that comes with my graphics card? And does it work with MCE?

Any help appreciated.
Dave

[poggs]

Originally Posted by davidchurch

Tried this post in media centre forum but got no answers . Can anyone here help?

As a user of a Win MCE PC, the suggestion there is that I might not need for a dedicated external scaler.

Looking into Powerstrip and ffshow raises a few issues. I have been looking at www. HTPCNews.com and the most scary thing is the warnings about risk to my panel if I try out the wrong settings.

Can any one give me specific information about this risk, how to avoid it and whether it is for real? Is there anyone using powerstrip with a Fujitsu 50 in plasma?

From the information I have seen, including forum threads, it is not completely clear that ffdshow will work within Win MCE. Can anyone help with this?

It is usual to use both Powerstrip and ffdshow/appropriate decoder?

Does powerstrip replace the driver that comes with my graphics card? And does it work with MCE?

Any help appreciated.
Dave

must have missed this in the mce forum. it is unlikely that you would damage a panel by displaying a resolution it cannot handle, as you would just get a blank screen. Maybe a too-high refresh might cook the panel if left on but...

Powerstrip creates custom resolutions that mce can use just fine. It just tells the video card what it can do. In MCE ffdshow/dscaler can be used to decode divx etc files only. DVD's will be decoded by whatever compliant mpeg2 decoder, eg purevideo or windvd you have installed. There is a way to get it to use ffdshow by using the mymovies plugin, but if ffdshow and dscaler is what you want for dvd's, its best just running the dvd from windows desktop and forgetting about mce front end.

However, saying all that, I would set the resolution at 1360x768 and let the mce handle the scaling. You will get the best picture possible that way. Sure use ffdshow for the divx and purevideo for tv and dvd. Please be aware that the fuji is not too friendly a panel for a media centre pc as it does not do 50hz at 1360x768. other option is to send a 1280x720p signal to the panel and let it rescale the image a second time. THat is the only way to get 50hz.

Good luck!