First HTPC

[dfuze]

I setup my first HTPC (stuck an AMD2500, 30gb laptop hd, 512mb pc3200, tv card, 6200 video into an xbox) and connected it to my new 32" HP LCD HDTV. The desktop wallpaper looks beautiful, but when I navigate to a website, the words are a little blurry. What are the best settings to make the text as great as the images?

 

[flashbacck]

I assume the native resolution is 720p?

The only thing you can really do is increase the windows font size (display properties->settings->advanced->general).

edit: or increase the text size in your browser.

 

[dfuze]

Yes, the tv is 720p.

I'm at work now, but I'll give the font size a try tonight. Thanks.

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: dph1077
Yes, the tv is 720p.

I'm at work now, but I'll give the font size a try tonight. Thanks.

If you're really running at native res over DVI/HDMI, the text should be razor-sharp. Note that "720p" (1280x720) is not native res on most LCD HDTVs -- they are usually 1366x768. If possible, run at the native resolution.

If you can't run at native, you may want to enable ClearType (font antialiasing)... many people seem to think it helps quite a bit.

 

[dfuze]

I currently have it connected via 'S' video cable. I still have one HDMI port open on the tv. Would it make that much of a difference if I get a DVI-HDMI cable to use instead of the 'S'?
Initially I wouldn't think so as I am running BeyondTV on it and the TV picture looks nice and crisp.

 

[Pyrii]

s-video runs at 640x480-800x600 resolution and is an analogue signal which isn't great of clear pixel-perfect picture viewing. You need a digital connection like DVI/HDMI

 

[flashbacck]

yeah, definitely switch to DVI or HDMI. Regular standard def TV is only 640x480i, so it looks ok via S-video. But you will definitely notice a difference in DVDs or HDTV.

 

[dfuze]

OK, thanks for the advice. I just got in for an HDMI-DVI cable at Monoprice. Hope it doesn't take too long to get to CT from CA!

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: dph1077
I currently have it connected via 'S' video cable. I still have one HDMI port open on the tv. Would it make that much of a difference if I get a DVI-HDMI cable to use instead of the 'S'?
Initially I wouldn't think so as I am running BeyondTV on it and the TV picture looks nice and crisp.

...like everyone else said, yes. You are not running even 720p over S-Video... try 480i (640x480... even if you tell your computer to run 800x600 or higher, it's getting downsampled to 640x480i by the video card.) Your monitor is then scaling it up to its native resolution, which is why text looks blurry.

SDTV looks okay because SDTV is 480i (DVDs are 480p and will also look okay.) But if you watch 'real' HD content, you'll be downsampling it considerably, and things like your desktop will look fuzzy.