Video Card HDMI Out to Plasma TV

[subsang]

If I added a video card with HDMI/DVI output to my PC, connect to a plasma TV (42" Panny PV70 say) and play a DVD would it give a better PQ than using a standalone DVD Player with HDMI connected to the TV? I am thinking about normal DVD only not HD.

Similarily if I added a TV tuner card to the PC and connected cable TV decoder to it and run the Plasma as above, would PQ be better than connecting the decoder direct through RCA output? (we have only RCA output on the decoders provided by the local cable TV provider in UAE).

I thought like this because I have a Grundig CRT TV(100Hz digital)that is getting old but working well. Service for Grundig is no more available here. Thought of getting rid of the TV when it is working and go for a Plasma. But we do not have HD content on the local cable we get here. So connecting the present cable to a plasma would result in a poor PQ than my CRT as I gathered from the net.

As PC can give high resolution pics, would it with a good GPU act as video upconvertor?

Later maybe I could add a Blu-Ray DVD drive to the PC .

Thanks

Subbu

PC Config
Intel E6750, DG33BU Intel Mobo, 2GB 800MHz RAM, 500GB and 80GB HDDs,LG DVD writer, VISTA HOME PREMIUM OS

[admin]

If your DVD player already has HDMI, then I assume it is an upscaling one. I would say that the quality of your upscaling DVD player will be hard to match when connected using HDMI (unless it's one of those early generation models, but even these produced good quality). For more advanced upscaling, you will need to use ffdshow's resize filter, or Media Player Classic's VMR9 output mode (which can render the video like a 3D surface, allowing you to apply 3D effects like anti-aliasing to the video, as well as bicubix/bilinear resizing - your CPU should be able to handle the additional stress).

As for your TV tuner card, anything would be better than RCA output, so as long as your PC TV tuner card can accept your cable TV signal and decode that, it should look better through HDMI. The problem with bigger and higher resolution TVs is that they will show up the flaws in your input signals much better than your smaller CRT TV (which still displays the flaws, it's just that you can't see them clear enough). Perhaps your cable provider has an upgraded receiver that includes component or even HDMI output?

Blu-ray/HD DVD playback is certainly possible, as your CPU is fast enough even without GPU assisted decoding (although having a GPU that has advanced HD acceleration, like the 8600 GTS, 8800 GT, 8800 GTS 512 MB and all ATI Radeon HD cards, will help to reduce CPU usage quite a bit). I wouldn't bother with a high def writer drive just yet, they are too expensive and the blank media is too expensive. There are dual format reader drives that you can get for $100 more than the single format reader drive, so it might be worth the extra money to be able to play exlusive titles on both formats.

And of course, Vista Home Premium has the Media Center program built in, so that's another reason why connecting your PC to your TV is a good idea.

[subsang]

Thanks for the encouraging reply.

I still do not have a DVD Player with HDMI. Mine is the old version of Bose 321. I am keeping it for my daughter as she can operate it without any problem. Already the rack is full with amp and other gear. So adding a DVDP is not possible unless I throw out Bose. (I regret having bought that). That's also one reason of looking through the PC route. I thought as PC would have a dedicated GPU with good programs and processing power it would be better than an upscaling DVDP. Am I wrong?

The cable provider still provides a STB without even component output leave alone HDMI. It has only RCA. The cable itself cannot be connected to the TV Tuner. Here the govt company ETISALAT is the sole provider of cable TV. They give the hardware and we have to take it come what may.(channel packages are our choice)I wonder why they still stick with these old STBs when getting a decent CRT is a daunting task nowadays!!

The signal has to be routed through the STB only and TV card must have RCA IN to take that signal and output through the GPU HDMI. Would this worsen the situation as more components would mean more noise? Or the in-built upscalers in the Plasma TV should be OK?

I think only Pioneer KURO has been recommended for decent SDTV watching but is also 1.5 times costly as comapred to Panny or Samsung plasmas.

My mobo has only a D-SUB out so I think GPU is requried to get HDMI output.

Blu Ray / HD DVD is only when the prices come down not now. Maybe by then my proc would be outdated .

Thanks
Subbu

[admin]

Thanks for the encouraging reply.

I still do not have a DVD Player with HDMI. Mine is the old version of Bose 321. I am keeping it for my daughter as she can operate it without any problem. Already the rack is full with amp and other gear. So adding a DVDP is not possible unless I throw out Bose. (I regret having bought that). That's also one reason of looking through the PC route. I thought as PC would have a dedicated GPU with good programs and processing power it would be better than an upscaling DVDP. Am I wrong?

There are some cheapish standalone upscaling DVD players that have dedicated video processing chips that will rival anything a PC can do, and possibly exceeds it since PC upscaling software is not what you would call very mature (an open source player being the most popular way to go about it). Something like the Oppo DV-980H/981HD would offer excellent quality over HDMI, without the need to mess around with PC software configurations.

The cable provider still provides a STB without even component output leave alone HDMI. It has only RCA. The cable itself cannot be connected to the TV Tuner. Here the govt company ETISALAT is the sole provider of cable TV. They give the hardware and we have to take it come what may.(channel packages are our choice)I wonder why they still stick with these old STBs when getting a decent CRT is a daunting task nowadays!!

The signal has to be routed through the STB only and TV card must have RCA IN to take that signal and output through the GPU HDMI. Would this worsen the situation as more components would mean more noise? Or the in-built upscalers in the Plasma TV should be OK?

I think if you are feeding the signal through RCA out to your TV card, the signal won't get any clearer, as most TV card's RCA inputs are fairly sub-standard (and RCA as an input format is fairly sub-standard). You'd be better off just feeding it straight to the TV I think.

I think only Pioneer KURO has been recommended for decent SDTV watching but is also 1.5 times costly as comapred to Panny or Samsung plasmas.

My mobo has only a D-SUB out so I think GPU is requried to get HDMI output.

Blu Ray / HD DVD is only when the prices come down not now. Maybe by then my proc would be outdated .

Thanks
Subbu

If you're looking at 42" or below, then a LCD panel from Samsung or Sony might be worth considering. Anything larger, and plasma is the way to go, the Panasonic Viera range is worth considering. Using a HD panel will always show up the defects of RCA/SD signals, so it's best to avoid them, but if you can't, then they are not totally unacceptable. I occasionally even watch some recorded VHS on my plasma, and it's acceptable, although you don't want to be watching it all the time. It's a shame that HD DVD's future is in doubt, because you can easily pick up a $180 machine (about the same price as the Oppo) that comes with 10 free HD DVD movies and does very decent DVD upscaling. Blu-ray player prices are quite high, and most are not even Profile 1.1 yet and should be avoided (ideally, you want Profile 2.0 players, but none will be available for months). Only Blu-ray or HD DVD, along with HDTV, will really show off HD panels.

[subsang]

Thanks a lot for enlightening me. Perhaps I would have gone ahead implementing my 'theory' of using PC with HDMI out.

My consideration is Viera Plasma 42", but KURO has been launched last month here whose cost is prohibitive. Viera 50PV70 is same cost as KURO 428XG!!!

I was going to sit with my Grundig till ETISALAT provided HD. Then my boss was kind enough with a bonus good enough for a KURO .

Our major program source is ETISALAT and it's output is only RCA. So still in a dilemma if to buy a 'poor PQ' or live with GRUNDIG's excellent picture and Dolby sound till it is dead.

Thanks
subbu

[admin]

If you have a good collection of DVDs, a DVD upscaler would suffice for HD content until you can get real HD content. If you're going to a store, get the retailer to throw in a free upscaling DVD player as part of the deal.

I've had my 50" for 3 years now, and I've only just started using real HD content on it (Blu-ray and HD DVD), having relied on upscaling DVD for all this time (and not even a great upscaler as well).

[subsang]

I had been to Carrefour out here. Unusually they were playing a normal DVD with RCA output on 42 and 50 inches Plasmas - Panny PV70, PV7 and Samsung Q91 and C91 series. They all looked smudged. That salesman was honest to say that if I connected the ETISALAT STB with RCA it would not be much different from what I saw.

But he had 8 sets on the same RCA out. Maybe connecting just one TV would give a clear pic.

I think I would check out at Panasonic showroom if they can show just one TV on the cable before I take a decision.

We get a lot of movies (sub-continental and English on MBC) over the cable and this being the prime source my first input would be through RCA only.

We get DVDs on rent but not very often. Still as you wrote I might go for a good upscaling DVDP to enjoy watching DVDs.


Thanks again

Subbu

[mike0220]

Hi Guys,at present I have a vga cable running from my pc to a lg lcd tv,I only have the picture no sound ,only sound trough pc.I was wondering if I bought a hdmi card for my pc would it send the sound and picture to my tv ,I only use it to watch the football ,on a bigger screen.I don,t have a tv card in my pc I just use the the monitor output for my vga cable.I have vista on my pc 3gb ram pc only 1 yr old.I get a great pic with vga cable ,but I keep having to restart my pc everytime I plug in the cable in the tv other wise my tv won,t pick up the signal ,I have hdmi input on tv also rgb input.I hope someone can help me out
Mike

[UncasMS]

the latest ati 5xxx vga cards will transfer video AND audio through their hdmi ports, older cards dont iirc.

Another way might be to connect the soundcard output plug with a 3.5mm to cinch cable with a receiver that MAY be next to you tv in order to have the hifi play the "normal" sound if you only want football and not HD movies.

[admin]

I think the 46xx/48xx series (also the 4350/4550) also support HDMI audio output, but it's limited LPCM 7.1, so no bitstreaming, which is only available with the 5xxx series (thanks to the HDMI 1.3a support).

I actually just purchased a 4550 recently as a temporary replacement for my 4850 that went in for warranty repair (Asus one, fan broke). It's a passive card, with native HDMI output (so no more adapters), very good GPU assisted Blu-ray decoding, and all for under $50. And of course, HDMI audio output support (but no bitstreaming).

[mike0220]

Hi Guys thanks for the replys ,
I don,t have a clue what type of cards your talking about ,as I know very little about them ,could you put it in plain english for me
thanks again guys , sorry for late reply have been away from computer ,to busy at work
Mike

[admin]

They are the ATI Radeon HD 46xx/48xx/5xxx series cards, just search for ATI Radeon HD at newegg.com and it should show you the range of cards available. The cheaper cards are for home theater/light usage, while the more expensive ones are for games.

[Budreaux]

I've been using an Asus 4350 for the past year. It has an HDMI and it does output the audio through the HDMI.
Glad I read this thread, it reminded me to look at the new deals on upgrade cards for my HTPC.