HDMI quality on video cards?

I am looking at building a dedicated media centre to play my xvids.
I'll either be using a projector or a 42"+ LCD/Plasma screen for
viewing.

Can someone suggest the best method for feeding the signal to the
projector or screen? I am thinking along the lines of HDMI as this is
the newest technology. Can anyone vouch for the quality? Would the
image appear as crisp as it would, say, on an LCD monitor?

Thanks

Rats wrote:
I am looking at building a dedicated media centre to play my xvids.
I'll either be using a projector or a 42"+ LCD/Plasma screen for
viewing.

Can someone suggest the best method for feeding the signal to the
projector or screen? I am thinking along the lines of HDMI as this is
the newest technology. Can anyone vouch for the quality? Would the
image appear as crisp as it would, say, on an LCD monitor?

Thanks


Perhaps a forum like this can help.

"Clarifications on HDMI cables"
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=794088

The answer could be quite complex, depending on how much gear you own.
The math statement at the bottom of this thread looks to be a
reasonable one, from a theoretical point of view:

"HDMI Component S-video etc."

"Whats the Best Way to Connect All these Home Theater Components?"
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=829337

Paul

On Apr 10, 6:52 pm, Paul wrote:
Rats wrote:
I am looking at building a dedicated media centre to play my xvids.
I'll either be using a projector or a 42"+ LCD/Plasma screen for
viewing.

Can someone suggest the best method for feeding the signal to the
projector or screen? I am thinking along the lines of HDMI as this is
the newest technology. Can anyone vouch for the quality? Would the
image appear as crisp as it would, say, on an LCD monitor?

Thanks

Perhaps a forum like this can help.

"Clarifications on HDMI cables"http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=794088

The answer could be quite complex, depending on how much gear you own.
The math statement at the bottom of this thread looks to be a
reasonable one, from a theoretical point of view:

"HDMI Component S-video etc."

"Whats the Best Way to Connect All these Home Theater Components?"http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=829337

Paul


Oops. I think I may not have phrased my question properly. I simply
want to know the best way of outputting a signal from a video card (in
this case I am inclined towards NVIDIA hence my post in this NG) to my
projector/plasma screen.

In the past I've used the old s-video out and the quality's been poor
at best. I've seen slightly better results with scart out connections
on tv cards and still better quality on a direct vga plug into
projectors.

I have not yet witnessed the output from DVI or HDMI and was wondering
how it compared to its predecessors.

Rats wrote:
On Apr 10, 6:52 pm, Paul wrote:
Rats wrote:
I am looking at building a dedicated media centre to play my xvids.
I'll either be using a projector or a 42"+ LCD/Plasma screen for
viewing.
Can someone suggest the best method for feeding the signal to the
projector or screen? I am thinking along the lines of HDMI as this is
the newest technology. Can anyone vouch for the quality? Would the
image appear as crisp as it would, say, on an LCD monitor?
Thanks
Perhaps a forum like this can help.

"Clarifications on HDMI cables"http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=794088

The answer could be quite complex, depending on how much gear you own.
The math statement at the bottom of this thread looks to be a
reasonable one, from a theoretical point of view:

"HDMI Component S-video etc."

"Whats the Best Way to Connect All these Home Theater Components?"http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=829337

Paul


Oops. I think I may not have phrased my question properly. I simply
want to know the best way of outputting a signal from a video card (in
this case I am inclined towards NVIDIA hence my post in this NG) to my
projector/plasma screen.

In the past I've used the old s-video out and the quality's been poor
at best. I've seen slightly better results with scart out connections
on tv cards and still better quality on a direct vga plug into
projectors.

I have not yet witnessed the output from DVI or HDMI and was wondering
how it compared to its predecessors.


HDMI or DVI are digital. If there is a problem transmitting a signal, the
result is "snow" on the screen. But otherwise, the transmission method is
"lossless". The byte value calculated by the GPU, is exactly the same
when it is clocked into some digital circuit in your projector. So the
quality is not affected by the transmission method (up to the point that
the signal is no longer sufficient to be clocked by the receiver chip).
That is unlike the other, analog methods, as those will lose something
along the way, from video card to receiver.

When you use a VGA connector, especially at high resolution, the sharpness
of the image can be compromised. A video card with too much EMI filtering
just before the connector might only give a sharp picture at one of the
lower resolutions. A really long cable might soften the image as well.

S-Video has a bandwidth of about 4 MHz, which means text won't be readable,
even at 640x480.

So at least in my own case, S-Video would be my last choice. If VGA or
HDMI/DVI are options with the projector, I'd try those before using
S-Video. But with all the devices you have at your disposal, and the
limited number of inputs on the projector, you have to pick and
choose, which device will be using which port.

Paul

On Apr 10, 9:43 pm, Paul wrote:
Rats wrote:
On Apr 10, 6:52 pm, Paul wrote:
Rats wrote:
I am looking at building a dedicated media centre to play my xvids.
I'll either be using a projector or a 42"+ LCD/Plasma screen for
viewing.
Can someone suggest the best method for feeding the signal to the
projector or screen? I am thinking along the lines of HDMI as this is
the newest technology. Can anyone vouch for the quality? Would the
image appear as crisp as it would, say, on an LCD monitor?
Thanks
Perhaps a forum like this can help.

"Clarifications on HDMI cables"http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=794088

The answer could be quite complex, depending on how much gear you own.
The math statement at the bottom of this thread looks to be a
reasonable one, from a theoretical point of view:

"HDMI Component S-video etc."

"Whats the Best Way to Connect All these Home Theater Components?"http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=829337

Paul

Oops. I think I may not have phrased my question properly. I simply
want to know the best way of outputting a signal from a video card (in
this case I am inclined towards NVIDIA hence my post in this NG) to my
projector/plasma screen.

In the past I've used the old s-video out and the quality's been poor
at best. I've seen slightly better results with scart out connections
on tv cards and still better quality on a direct vga plug into
projectors.

I have not yet witnessed the output from DVI or HDMI and was wondering
how it compared to its predecessors.

HDMI or DVI are digital. If there is a problem transmitting a signal, the
result is "snow" on the screen. But otherwise, the transmission method is
"lossless". The byte value calculated by the GPU, is exactly the same
when it is clocked into some digital circuit in your projector. So the
quality is not affected by the transmission method (up to the point that
the signal is no longer sufficient to be clocked by the receiver chip).
That is unlike the other, analog methods, as those will lose something
along the way, from video card to receiver.

When you use a VGA connector, especially at high resolution, the sharpness
of the image can be compromised. A video card with too much EMI filtering
just before the connector might only give a sharp picture at one of the
lower resolutions. A really long cable might soften the image as well.

S-Video has a bandwidth of about 4 MHz, which means text won't be readable,
even at 640x480.

So at least in my own case, S-Video would be my last choice. If VGA or
HDMI/DVI are options with the projector, I'd try those before using
S-Video. But with all the devices you have at your disposal, and the
limited number of inputs on the projector, you have to pick and
choose, which device will be using which port.

Paul- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Brilliant. Thanks Paul.