[mrgreenjeans]

Setting up HDTV displays using nVidia’s Control Panel

To begin, I would round up all my manuals and research for manufacturers driver files for your equipment. Some of the newer sets actually have driver support as the vendors are realizing the impact the Home Theatre PC is having and will have on the future of personal computers.

One of the best pieces of advice I received when I initially undertook my project was to use a standard monitor set up as primary and set the TV as the secondary display. This way, if you do screw up you will have the primary available to wiggle out with. If you don’t have this luxury, make a note of the default key (F2 for nVidia) to load defaults on start up in case you lose the picture and need to reboot. Using the primary display, you can tweak and experiment with the settings for your HDTV while not losing the picture altogether. Once you become familiar with your equipment and what works and doesn’t, this need isn’t so critical, but as a newbie, you will be fiddling for a bit and find it invaluable.

To establish a starting point, I’m going to assume that you are aware of the multiple resolutions and formats available for your HDTV, 480, 720p, 1080i, and most recent popular addition is the 1080p format. The ‘p’ represents progressive scan while the ‘i’, interlaced, which apply to the method your TV applies the signal generated. The signal needs to be transmitted in one these formats for your set to receive and display it properly. If these terms are foreign to you, install the ‘google bar’ to your browser and use the cut and paste option to research further. Not trying to be a smartass, but I’m not a technician and my layman’s terms and lack of thorough explanation could lead to further confusion.






Unlike most of the monitors we’ve come to know and love, most of the current generation of HDTV’s are a bit more complex and exceed the ‘plug and play’ convenience of most “monitors” and can be sensitive to the inputs they will accept.
If you use the available VGA input some manufacturers provide for their screens, you will find your choices severely limited as to input. My Sharp will only ‘allow’ resolutions up to 1280 x 720, although the monitor’s actual pixel count is 1268 x 768 through the VGA input. The coaxial input limits further to a 480 horizontal count. That’s not what I purchased my equipment. Being incapable of 1080p resolution and 1080i too flickery (you’ll see what I mean as you experiment). I determined my best and most eye pleasing resolution would be in 720p category. For unlimited options I elected to use the DVI input not recommended by the manufacturer (unless authorized). There is also the HDMI input format which could ease some of the chores I’ve outlined. For all purposes, today I’ll deal with the DVI connection.

To attain 720p res, you need to configure a resolution above 480 but not to exceed 720 on the vertical axis. I dialed in a 1280 x 720 res using the standard slider. However, once I did this, part of my display ‘fell off’ the screen; this is ‘overscan.’ NVidia provides a tool just for dealing with this issue called the “underscan slider”



Next go to the advanced TAB, check underscan, and then use the underscan slider to set the exact pixel perfect display.



Note the resulting res, mine just happens to be 1216 x 684. I then, while still in underscan mode 'create' a new resolution of 1216 x 864; this is what eliminates that 50-pixel miss at the border, using the ‘create new resolution’ button.



Next,return to the underscan option turn it off and set to 'native'. reenter the display settings and choose your 'new' resolution , mine being a new 'native' res of 1216 x 684. Nvidia won't add a new resolution until you 'underscan' and let it know the monitor can support it. If you delete and then load new drivers, you will need to go through this process every time you upgrade, however, if you just ‘update’ drivers, nVidia will ‘remember’ your settings and carry them forward to the new driver set.

Now, if the display is great and you like, power down, disconnect the primary, swap connections and hook up the TV as the primary. Now when it boots it will probably default to the 720 x 480 but you can now go in and set it to your new resolution of 1216 x 864, or the resolution you’ve determined to be the best. If you don't have the luxury of the second monitor, just write down the default button for your GPU in case you 'lose' the picture and need to reboot to default settings and start over. Once you get it where it’s booting on it’s own and looking sweet, reboot your computer so nVidia will ‘remember’ your new settings. You don’t know how many times I’ve got it dialed in and started mucking around setting up a game and had a crash causing me to repeat the whole process only because I failed to ‘lock in’ my work by a simple restart.

Now I would do the same process for a 1080i res as there will always be a program or a game that just has to have a higher resolution. If you determine your desktop and general browsing to be a 720p res and want to run a game or other app in a 1080i, set it up in the nVidia application panel to switch res’s prior to launching the game as it avoids lock ups.

And for those fortunate enough to be running an SLI set up, complete these processes and set up in single GPU mode and once dialed in, enable the multi GPU mode. I’ve found this also helps when setting up games and other high use apps. SLI and big screens tend to disagree with each other at times.

And there you go, true 720p res with no real estate loss. I wish I was more versed in Powerstrip use but I would think it is very similar to nVidia's control panel.
Good luck!

[LandShark]

good write up!!