LCD/Plasma/CRT/DLP - questions

[themanwithapc]

Right finally decided and placed an order for a Sharp 26GA6E A few questions about connections before I receive the TV, so that I can connect my stuff properly to it.

I need to connect a PS2, (modded), PAL GC (freeloader used often), and PC all to my new LCD, plus the upcoming 360 with component. Now the TV comes with (AFAIK):
Input 1- SCART (AV input, RGB input, TV output)
Input 2- SCART (AV input/output, Y/C input, AV Link)
Input 3- SVIDEO (Y/C input), AV input
Input 4- RCA pin (component)
Input 5- D -sub 15pin, 3.5mm jack (Audio)

Now what would be the best way to connect everything I want to my setup? My PC has a Radeon 9800 pro, which has a VGA and DVI output. The VGA is currently used for my LCD monitor, but I need to have both the TV and the monitor hooked up to the PC at the same time. Anyone able to help me here?

[sj33]

Right finally decided and placed an order for a Sharp 26GA6E A few questions about connections before I receive the TV, so that I can connect my stuff properly to it.

I need to connect a PS2, (modded), PAL GC (freeloader used often), and PC all to my new LCD, plus the upcoming 360 with component. Now the TV comes with (AFAIK):
Input 1- SCART (AV input, RGB input, TV output)
Input 2- SCART (AV input/output, Y/C input, AV Link)
Input 3- SVIDEO (Y/C input), AV input
Input 4- RCA pin (component)
Input 5- D -sub 15pin, 3.5mm jack (Audio)

Now what would be the best way to connect everything I want to my setup? My PC has a Radeon 9800 pro, which has a VGA and DVI output. The VGA is currently used for my LCD monitor, but I need to have both the TV and the monitor hooked up to the PC at the same time. Anyone able to help me here?

Get this Component switcher if you haven't already http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-...ch-70-3cb.html
(Other sites sell it too).

Then connect the PS2, GC and 360 with Component. PC into the D-Sub.
The DVI output on your graphics card is VERY likely to be DVI-I, which means it will output both an analogue and a digital signal. You can get a adaptor to convert DVI-I (analogue) to VGA for mere pounds. You may even get a cable with your TV, I did. My graphics card came with an adaptor too.

You'll only really want to use RGB Scart anymore for older consoles, and Freeview/Sky boxes.

[Nijo]

just a quick question, are 16:9 tvs still meant to have borders? When i play a dvd such as Lord Of The Rings, even though its widescreen and my screen is widescreen, it has borders. They are not as big as say, on a 4:3 tv and the characters do not look stretched, but there is borders. I assume its normal, however would like to make sure. And if they are meant to be there why? I thought having a widescreen illiminated the problem?

There's widescreen and there's widescreen. Take a look on the back of the DVD case for the aspect ratio that the film is recorded in and compare with the 16:9 (1.78:1) of your TV. If it says something like 2.39:1 then it's 'cinema' widescreen and will letterbox.

I think that's right anyway.

[SubparMario]

Aye, all about the different ratios.

[sj33]

There's a guide to aspect ratio's half was down this page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16:9

[themanwithapc]

Get this Component switcher if you haven't already http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-...ch-70-3cb.html
(Other sites sell it too).

Then connect the PS2, GC and 360 with Component. PC into the D-Sub.
The DVI output on your graphics card is VERY likely to be DVI-I, which means it will output both an analogue and a digital signal. You can get a adaptor to convert DVI-I (analogue) to VGA for mere pounds. You may even get a cable with your TV, I did. My graphics card came with an adaptor too.

You'll only really want to use RGB Scart anymore for older consoles, and Freeview/Sky boxes.

Thanks for all the help mate

I assume a D-sub is similar to a VGA slot (the kind you find on the back of normal monitors)? I've already got a DVI to VGA converter that came with the graphics card, but my only concern was the quality when using splitters (component) and adapters (DVI to VGA). Is there a loss of quality?

[sj33]

D-Sub is just another name for VGA. Same thing.

As for the converter... it's nothing more than a physical adaptor. Your graphics card has a DVI-I output, which basically means it can output both Digital (DVI-D) and Analogue (i.e VGA). For example, my TV has a DVI-I input slot - I have my Dreamcast VGA connected to it. There will be no quality loss because it's just a phyicial adaptor utilizing the analogue output on your DVI-I.

It's still VGA, essentially... just a different connector.

[themanwithapc]

D-Sub is just another name for VGA. Same thing.

As for the converter... it's nothing more than a physical adaptor. Your graphics card has a DVI-I output, which basically means it can output both Digital (DVI-D) and Analogue (i.e VGA). For example, my TV has a DVI-I input slot - I have my Dreamcast VGA connected to it. There will be no quality loss because it's just a phyicial adaptor utilizing the analogue output on your DVI-I.

It's still VGA, essentially... just a different connector.

Thanks. That's another few quid spent

[sj33]

In case anyone wondered about SD content on an LCD HDTV, here's a vid of my Dreamcast running...

http://mysticalliete.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Video11.avi

Sorry for the extreeeeemly shaky cam! Also remember my cam is ****, and it looks better in real life.

[Nijo]

Now I see where you get your name from.
Or does the camera have a rumble pack fitted?

[themanwithapc]

Heh, Shakey isn't the word

What TV are you using Jake?

[sj33]

LG 26LX2R, the 26" LG HD-Ready at Comet.

[segages]

I hooked up my DC for the first time yesterday and fired up Shenmue - looks great - well that and the games that support VGA connection did anyway. I didn't bother with scart.

For a laugh, I also dug out my PS1 and put GT1 on. It was over scart which is not the best on the Samsungs but it looked absolutely awful! Exactly what I expected! Since the PS1 outputs 320x240(?) alot of scaling was involved. The cars looked like boxes and I could harldy make out any turns I remember the day when I saw GT the first time and it had jaw-dropping graphics... how times change.

[Concept]

Out of the Samsung LE26R41B and LG 26LX2R, which would be the television to go for?

[sj33]

There's not much to choose between them at all. The LG arguably has an advantage in that it's got a DVI-I instead of a VGA - so you can use both DVI and VGA content as DVI-i is analogue compatible. I think you can get the Samsung with a built-in Freeview box though.

I chose the LG because at the time, there were tearing issues with the Samsung - this has since been solved with a firmware update.
I am actually taking back my LG because of a bug in the Component connection, though I'm sure that's just my set specifically.