Will any Video card do (HDTV) ?

SolarNexus

I've been thinking lately of upgrading my x800GT graphics card to something more current, and more HDTV like.

I'll soon be purchasing a HDTV and would like to play my computer games on it considering that it will be a substantially larger screen, and hopefully better quality as well.

So the question is, is any DVI-Output graphics card good enough to output 1080p (1920x1080 @ 30hz) or should I look around for an appropriately HDTV one. Maybe one thats got HDTV branded all over the box or something

andy1249

Mine is running on a 9600XT , I think thats a couple of generations back from your card and it works fine on a HDTV .
All the ATI cards are using the same catalyst drivers so should have the same utility that I used to set the cards output to match the TV over a straight DVI connection.

Likewise with Nvidia , nview is the utility used there.
I think the latest batch of HDTV output cards justs add a component out connection and to be honest you are paying extra for something video cards have had for a long time. ( i.e native HD resolution )

8T8

Most graphics cards out there can handle the resolution no problem of 1920x1080 but obviously gaming at that resolution is far beyond the capabilities of an X800GT but it will suffice for all other tasks.

If you want recommendations of a new graphics card the best idea would be to say how much your willing to spend.

Also many HDTV's now come with a dedicated PC VGA/DVI port that holds the resolutions for computer usage so mucking about with settings is increasingly a thing of the past. The HDTV will work just like a regular computer monitor, what is the make & model of the HDTV your looking at as often the manual will reveal it's features.


For those that don't act like the above, all the mojo is in the driver there is nothing generally* special HDTV wise required for a graphics card just plug it in and follow the wizard assuming the TV does not come with pre-programmed computer supported resolutions.

*There are two exceptions;
A) Certain NVIDIA & ATI cards come with a component out video adaptor useful if you were planning on using the component connection of your HDTV though only I would suggest if DVI/VGA/HDMI was unavailable.

Graphics cards are finally showing up with the HDMI connector which offers video & sound. It also offers HDCP compatibility which is required if you plan on turning your HTPC into a HD-DVD or Blu-ray capable player down the road.

SouperComputer

HDTV is fine on my FX5200, so its not a big deal. Just CPU intensive thats all. 2.8Ghz+ is a good way to go.

SolarNexus

I've recently been offered a contract, so for the first time in my life I've come into some money. Nice for my first job too.

As such, I'm willing to waste almost all of the first job, which amounts to €15,000 on a brand new entertainment system. Which includes couch, tv, xbox, ps3 etc. - this is it, I'm not spending a penny more for the forseable future bar the odd dvd or console game.

The TV I'm currently looking at is the massive 70" JVC HD-70ZR7 (720p) or HD70FH96 (1080p). So I'm willing to pay out for an appropriate graphics card. I am even considering building another computer just for that tv... maybe a nice dual core setup.

I was thinking of even making a video/slideshow and put it up on the web for those without the cash to drool, like I usually do.

GrumPy

SouperComputer wrote:

HDTV is fine on my FX5200, so its not a big deal. Just CPU intensive thats all. 2.8Ghz+ is a good way to go.

Jaysus :eek:

SouperComputer

Irish GrumPy wrote:

Jaysus :eek:

Jasus @ CPU needs or the FX5200? Im pretty sure I got HD 1024P to play with the onboard SIS651 graphics. Its not a big deal really, you just need enough texture memory to display the res.

8T8

SolarNexus wrote:

I've recently been offered a contract, so for the first time in my life I've come into some money. Nice for my first job too.

As such, I'm willing to waste almost all of the first job, which amounts to €15,000 on a brand new entertainment system. Which includes couch, tv, xbox, ps3 etc. - this is it, I'm not spending a penny more for the forseable future bar the odd dvd or console game.

The TV I'm currently looking at is the massive 70" JVC HD-70ZR7 (720p) or HD70FH96 (1080p). So I'm willing to pay out for an appropriate graphics card. I am even considering building another computer just for that tv... maybe a nice dual core setup.

I was thinking of even making a video/slideshow and put it up on the web for those without the cash to drool, like I usually do.

Impressive TV's : )

Those come packed to the gills with inputs assuming your leaning towards the 1080p model it has dual HDMI ports and a VGA port so you should have no trouble hooking up your current X800GT or anything else for that matter to the TV.

[Just in case you do know that's an American focused TV so it does not come with scart inputs so you will have to get converters to use anything that requires scart, I would guess JVC have a Euro version which you should probably seek out]

The 720p model comes with a VGA/HDMI port, component and 3 scart inputs so that is covered for PC usage as well.

Assuming you plan on getting a high end graphics card the only "high end card" available at the very moment that supports HDCP (over DVI but you can just use a DVI->HDMI cable) is NVIDIA's top of the line 7950GX2 which would certainly offer the performance for playing at the native resolution of the display.

ATI are launching in end of August/start of September a new X1950XTX which ATI claims will be even faster but couldn't say whether it will have HDCP support.

If you are building a killer HTPC/gaming PC then get yourself an Intel Core 2 system as well with an Core 2 Duo E6700 CPU along with 2GB of RAM.

SolarNexus

I'm thinking of renting the 720p model until I can get the 1080p model, which I'm assuming is just for the US at the moment. Either that or wait until something better comes along, which is doubtful as there arent many displays that size.

I notice that card's DirectX 9 - wouldnt it be better to wait for or get a DirectX 10 card?

TCP/IP

were the hell could you rent the tv from if you dont mind me asking

SolarNexus

TCP/IP wrote:

were the hell could you rent the tv from if you dont mind me asking

havent a clue... still shopping around before I have to worry about that. I assume that it'll be the same sort of place that nightclubs might rent their stuff from.

I do think its too specialist though, so I may have to buy it. I saw one of them, not sure which model, at Peats in Parnell Street for just a hair under $6K. Which considering the prices in the uk, is pretty bad pricing (€3500 and up from UK stores)

8T8

SolarNexus wrote:

I'm thinking of renting the 720p model until I can get the 1080p model, which I'm assuming is just for the US at the moment. Either that or wait until something better comes along, which is doubtful as there arent many displays that size.

I notice that card's DirectX 9 - wouldnt it be better to wait for or get a DirectX 10 card?

If you can wait it out DX10 would obviously be a better choice but at best it wont be till November for when you'll see DX10 cards from NVIDIA.

SolarNexus

Something just occurred to me... there might be some issues with HDCP.

If I ever get a blueray or HD-DVD player for the pc, wont there be some problem outputting to a display without an HDCP compliant card?

8T8

Yes in order for HD-DVD or Blu-ray to work on a PC you need a HDCP compatible graphics card & monitor plus playback software.

The monitor isn't an issue as obviously your HDTV will be HDCP compliant.

The graphics card "shouldn't" be an issue as I said prior NVIDIA's latest 7950GX2 is already HDCP compliant and the future high end parts will be as well. There are lower segment cards for example MSI has a HDMI+HDCP 7600GT coming out very soon and ATI will also be introducing such cards.

Playback software isn't currently available in retail only via OEM's (PC builders). Intervideo's HD-DVD/Blu-ray playback software is according to it's Japanese site going to be eventually on sale in retail in the next month or two. Native HD-DVD playback support is also being built into Windows Vista as that is the format Microsoft is siding with, Microsoft are also prepping a HD-DVD add-on for there Xbox 360 console if you plan on getting one of those (no HDCP required) it can use component out or VGA as the Xbox 360 does not support HDMI & hence HDCP.