[Kenetix]

Hi,

I know this topic has probably been discussed a lot of times, but I have to ask you because I found contradictory info on the internet.

I would like to hook up one of my pc's to my LE40B550 but I am not sure about what cables i actually need.

I have an HD4870 1Gb with 2 DVI ports, and i was thinking of buyin a DVI-D to HDMI-M cable, but I read somewhere that DVI cables do not transmit sound (not sure if thats the case nowadays because the post where I read that were old).
So basically, if DVI's do not transmit sound, I would also need a 3.5mm cable that would connect my sound card to the tv's audio hole ? That simple?

Last but not least, I should mention that this PC is not close to the TV, so i would need 30ft long cables at least.

Thanks

[MarkTaylor]

With ATI cards there is often an included DVI->HDMI adapter that triggers the cards ability to deliver sound as well via HDMI.

That should solve the problem for you.

[HDMIHead]

Hello Kenetix,
Check if the box has the DVI to HDMI Adapter, we had the same issue some Manufacture do not include the adapter. I know 100% sapphire does.
For your reference
Product detail - DVI-HDMI ADAPTER

[Joe Fernand]

Also be aware that where you have a PC with a DVI port the PC will likely go into sleep mode if you switch away from it on the TV to view another source - this can make reselecting the PC a bit hit and miss as the PC will not receive the trigger to wake up from the HDMI port on the TV.

If you cant disable the sleep mode on the PC you may have to install an EDID grabber between the PC and the TV - that way the PC thinks its always seeing a monitor:

Gefen Inc. - HDMI Detective Plus

Joe

[Kenetix]

Originally Posted by Joe Fernand

Also be aware that where you have a PC with a DVI port the PC will likely go into sleep mode if you switch away from it on the TV to view another source - this can make reselecting the PC a bit hit and miss as the PC will not receive the trigger to wake up from the HDMI port on the TV.

If you cant disable the sleep mode on the PC you may have to install an EDID grabber between the PC and the TV - that way the PC thinks its always seeing a monitor:

Gefen Inc. - HDMI Detective Plus

Joe

I am sorry I really dont know what you mean? Well obviously i am not going to spend 129 on that thing, basically because I might as well get an external hard drive with the abitlity to play .mkv files.

So to keep it simple If i dont get that thing I will have a hard time trying to... what? Reconnect my PC display? see anything on the TV?

How can the PC possibly go into sleep mode if I am watching a movie with it? Instead of watching it on my 24 incher I am watching it on my TV, that's the only difference :S

Thanks.

[Joe Fernand]

'Without that thing' you may get on fine - then again you are connecting the DVI out of your PC to the HDMI In on your TV when the PC is expecting a DVI Input on a Display that gives it the correct EDID data back when it needs an instruction to come out of Power save mode.

If the HDMI Input on your TV is not designed for use with a PC its quite common to run into EDID issues when connecting a PC - Extended display identification data - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Without the EDID grabber you may find that every time you go back to the PC you have a blank screen and require to reboot the PC.

Joe

[Kenetix]

One question,


If i set up my HDTV as a secondary monitor, will i still have those possible EDID problems??

[Joe Fernand]

Its really a case of try it and see - if it all works as hoped then great; if not the EDID grabber is a good way to sort things out.

Joe

[Jamie]

My Samsung 32" has the ability to rename the HDMI inputs from a list of possibile options (Games, sat etc) Think your 40 will have the same options. Can't rememember but if you check your manual you may find a specific HDMI is recommended for PC use

If you change the name of the HDMI to PC it actually makes changes to the way that input is handles. Not tried it myself as I use VGA for mine but I know it changes the processing mode and I believe it changes the way the HDMI handles EDID

[Kenetix]

Originally Posted by JimBobVFR400

My Samsung 32" has the ability to rename the HDMI inputs from a list of possibile options (Games, sat etc) Think your 40 will have the same options. Can't rememember but if you check your manual you may find a specific HDMI is recommended for PC use

If you change the name of the HDMI to PC it actually makes changes to the way that input is handles. Not tried it myself as I use VGA for mine but I know it changes the processing mode and I believe it changes the way the HDMI handles EDID

So, because of such ability, you are not having issues with EDID and your samsumg, and you wouldn't in the event that you used HDMI?

I'll skim through the manual to see if there's any recommendation on which HDMI I should use for PC.

[Jamie]

I use VGA so no EDID anyway.
I've not got a PC with HDMI to try, just remember reading about the option in the manual and the thread covering my model TV on here. If you do suffer from the problems above it may help, even if you don't its worth doing as it changes the picture processing options to be more suitable for PC input I beleieve

[Kenetix]

Originally Posted by JimBobVFR400

I use VGA so no EDID anyway.
I've not got a PC with HDMI to try, just remember reading about the option in the manual and the thread covering my model TV on here. If you do suffer from the problems above it may help, even if you don't its worth doing as it changes the picture processing options to be more suitable for PC input I beleieve

I found the part in the manual where it suggest what HDMI port I should use. I hope it all runs smoothly when I get the cable :P

Thanks and will get back to you then !

[Joe Fernand]

Hello all

VGA>VGA - you'll have EDID; just not the hassles you get over HDMI

PC mode - will likely change the video processing to suit the PC where Black and White have a different electrical value compared with the video world.

Joe

[Jamie]

Originally Posted by Joe Fernand

Hello all

VGA>VGA - you'll have EDID; just not the hassles you get over HDMI

PC mode - will likely change the video processing to suit the PC where Black and White have a different electrical value compared with the video world.

Joe

Obvious really when a PC can recognise the make of monitor and resolutions available. Doh

PC mode defenitely changes the video processing as thats what I read. Hoping it might even help with any issues with the EDID. Having a HDMI as a dedicated (well switchable anyway) PC HDMI should presumably mean its designed for the job.

[Kenetix]

I am sorry but Im lost? lol

[Jamie]

Originally Posted by Kenetix

I am sorry but Im lost? lol

Just me and Joe being Geeky, you can safely ignore that last bit

[Joe Fernand]

Hello Kenetix

In the PC and Digital Video world a video signal is 'described' in terms of an electrical value across a range from 0-255.

In the PC world Black is 0 and White is 255 - in the Video world Black is 16 and White is 235.

If you connect a PC to a Video Input on a Display and play back a DVD on the PC the image will often look a bit grey or washed out because of the miss match in the Black levels.

If you can adjust the PC to output in Video mode or the Display to PC mode when working with a PC you can resolve the problem.

Joe

PS You'll be getting your level 2 Anorak fairly soon

[Kenetix]

So,

The HD movies from my PC that I'll watch on my TV will look washed out?

:S

[Jamie]

Originally Posted by Kenetix

So,

The HD movies from my PC that I'll watch on my TV will look washed out?

:S

Not if you use the correct HDMI and change its name to PC it wont

[Kenetix]

Hi,

I finally got the cable, but I am encountering some difficulties:
-No sound is transmitted even with the DVI-HDMI adapter provided by ATI, maybe i need to set up something I didnt.
-The TV does not stretch the image, there are borders everywhere, as if the image it was receiveing was smaller than the panel resolution, which is not, I am sending 1920x1080 24p.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

[Joe Fernand]

Is 24p supported in 'PC' mode on the Display?

Also look for any 'overscan' or sizing adjustments on the Display - ideally you will want to generate 1.1 Horizontal and 1.1 Vertical test patterns from the PC and dial those in at the Display so you have zero over/under scan or stretch at the Display.

Joe

PS Its never easy!!!

[MarkTaylor]

Regarding sound, you will need to select the ATI HD sound device as this is not the usual default setting.

Check your config panel sound options and you should see you have more than one sound device installed.

[Kenetix]

Hi again,

I finally got the sound and gaps around the image are gone. The thing is that whenever i hit info button on remote, it says 1680x1050 @ 60Hz. That's the resolution to which i set my 24 inch LCD, it's the only resolution that makes the gaps disappear. Shouldn't the TV read "1920x1080"?

Cheers !

[MarkTaylor]

As Joe suggested above, I think you are confusing matters by setting the TV to 'PC mode' then having the PC send an AV mode resolution.

Check your TV manual and see exactly which resolutions the TV supports in PC mode, very often they are not the same as the native resolution of the screen so it can be hard to get a dot-by-dot match.

[Jamie]

If you are using 1080P24 have you tried either using a none PC HDMI or switching off the PC mode that I advised you earlier to use

As MArk and Joe have already said this is not a usual PC resolution so may not be supported with the input set to PC.

Or you need to use a more usual PC refresh rate. I'm using 1920*1080@60Hz but via VGA

[Kenetix]

Hi again,

As i told you earlier, my TV read it's displaying a 1680x1050 resolution. Does it mean I am not getting full HD resolution, or it upscales the image to 1920x1080? Images look pretty crisp and all, and I am sure they wouldn't if they were in 1680x1050, because it's a 16:10 format, not 16:9.

[paddy01]

Kentix,

You'll be losing some of the information by running at 1680 x 1050 but the TV will be scaling to 1920 x 1080.

My guess is that (and I admit I've not read the whole thread here) that there is something not right with the dual monitor setup you're using.

Things I'd do :

1. As previously suggested, move the HDMI connection from the PC to TV away from any dedicated PC inputs on the amp/tv.

2. Make sure you're using the latest Catalyst drivers from ATI.

3. Go into the ATI Catalyst Control Center and look at the Displays Manager section. You want to make sure that you're not running in Clone mode as this will restrict you to the max of the monitor (1680 x 1050).

4. Make sure any size adjustment / overscan (I think under the Display Options section) is set to 0. I often found with ATI it was set at 15 or something by default.

Cheers

Paddy

[Joe Fernand]

If you have a 1920x1080 pixel array and the whole screen is full of image you are seeing 1920x1080 pixels - that's not the same as seeing a 1920x1080 source signal 'pixel mapped' one-to-one with no resizing at the display.

Forget about 24p for a minute and set the PC to Output 1920x1080p at 60Hz - I'm assuming you do have a 1920x1080 pixel array.

Next you need a couple of test patters to enable you to ensure the display is not resizing the image in any direction - see WalVisions - Full Field Test Patterns (look for the alternating pixels pattern).

When you have the image correctly centred and no image sizing on the display the image will 'snap' into focus and instead of seeing a grey screen you will see perfectly sharp stripes.

Once you get 1920x1080p60 sorted you can start to worry about 24p.

I found this with regard to some Samsung displays and a 'JustScan' feature - it may be relevant to you; Miscellaneous - Samsung Plasma TV FAQ

Joe

[paddy01]

Knew I was forgetting something. Joe is absolutely right, you need to get your TV set to 1:1 pixel mapping.

Googling the model and the term 'just scan' or '1:1 pixel' should let you know whether your set is capable of it and how to set it.

[Kenetix]

I'll try this and will let you know !

Thanks.