Connecting PC to HDTV......

I am trying to connect my HTPC to my HDTV using the vga connection on the back of the tv. I currently have it connected with a s-video cable and it looks pretty horrible. If i could connect it with a vga cable I was thinking it would look a bit better. I have been toying with resolutions on powerstrip but i havent gotten any that work yet. Is it even possible to do this?

 

Have you read these:
http://www.digitalconnection.com/support/cliffnotes_17.asp
http://www.digitalconnection.com/FAQ/HDTV_4.asp

Most people either buy a video card with native DVI out (assuming your tv has that), or they use a transcoder (see above links)

Explore around on that site, and then come back and ask some questions, include some specifics on what components you have in the htpc, and what connectors your tv has.

 

I have a Radeon 9800 pro, with s-video, dvi, and vga out. I am running windows xp pro. I have a phillips hdtv (not widescreen) with a vga in, but no dvi. It does have the rgb connectors though. I am not to good with resolutions and what not, so I am a bit confused on which of the resolutions on the link you gave to put into powerstrip, and exactly where i put them in. Do I have to buy the transcoder or is it possible to use the vga on the back of the tv? I do get a garbled picture for a second using the vga input, and it changes a bit when i change resolutions but still no ditingushable picture, and the tv only trys for a second to display it, and then goes back to "press button when signal is ready ".

 

if you have VGA in, you are in good shape. All thats left is you gettings powerstrip setup with the correct timing.
Use this FAQ, it has specific instructions
http://www.digitalconnection.com/support/cliffnotes_17.asp

You will be. hehe Follow his directions, if you get stuck, ask specific questions.

 

I put the the resoulutions into powerstrip, but only the Desktop 4x3 one was accepted and its all garbled. The others I pasted and hit "add resolution" and it said it needed to reboot, so I did and nothing happened, it didnt get added to the slide bar and it wont apply. I was using the s-video connection to my tv to test though, I was going to switch to vga if I got a stable picture. should I use a monitor?

 

first off, sounds like you have the wrong driver version. Are you running the latest from the ATI's web site? Also make sure you have the latest powerstrip version, 3.57.

Over on the powerstrip forums, i saw a post where the guy was having problems with the pasting, and resolved it by keying in the numbers manually.

And heres some different timings to play with, if its the numbers that are screwy
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?threadid=206854

You should focus on getting the timing working for 640x480 (480p) and then work up from there.

You cannot use that svideo cable, thats a whole different thing. You need to use the VGA cable. Get the 4:3 working, then plug that into your tv and see where you stand, you might be closer than you think.