LCD TV being used as a Computer Monitor--HELP!!

01/14/2007 03:51:01 PM · #1

My girlfriend was so gracious this Christmas and got me an LCD TV with VGA hookups so I could also use it as my computer monitor... well..

I thought that was a great idea until I hooked it up to my computer..

I think this monitor is a victim of "crosstalk" or "ghosting" not sure which. But to the right side of every dark line or text against a light background, I can see a whiteish blurry repeat of the image and lines.. This is VERY annoying when browsing the web and trying to edit photos.

After looking around, I figured the VGA hookup (analog) wasn't too compatible with this monitor's resolution..

So I went to BestBuy and bought a $100 dollar video card that had VGA, DVI, and HDTV hookups.. My monitor doesn't have a DVI jack so I went and bought HDTV (Y, Pr, Pb) cables.. Well THAT DIDN'T WORK! It looked as if an entire color channel was missing, I hooked the cables up every whicha-way and it still didn't work..

So I am taking back the video card and cables...

My question now is this monitor does have a HDMI jack and I am thinking about looking around town for a HDMI video card.. Does anyone think this will solve my problems? And what do you think the real problem is in the first place? I have messed with the "auto" setting on the monitor and done TONS of setting alterations with no luck...

FYI: The monitor in question is the "Olevia 323V LCD TV"

Thanks for reading all this and any/all input is very appreciated!

Message edited by author 2007-01-14 20:51:36.

01/14/2007 04:04:26 PM · #2

Whats the Native Resolution for your TV?
Can you select that res with your video driver (what card do you have?)

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

01/14/2007 04:06:15 PM · #3

Originally posted by buzzrock:

Whats the Native Resolution for your TV?
Can you select that res with your video driver (what card do you have?)

I think its 1024 x 768 which I have it on.. but I have tried others..

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

01/14/2007 04:13:38 PM · #4

As an aside, once you get things figured out, only buy your cables from Monoprice.com. Literally a $75 cable (lets say HDMI) will be $10. The quality is every bit as good.

Anyway, check to make sure your TV takes an HDMI input from a computer. My Samsung has HDMI inputs (one from the DVD player), and my laptop has an HDMI output, but that does not imply they are compatible (they aren't). The TV manual specifically stated that an HDMI signal from a laptop would not work. I'm not sure of the reason why, but it bore out when I tried it.

01/14/2007 04:17:47 PM · #5

I t appears the native res is 1366 x 768 -- Pc input should be 1360x768@60 hz- I checked my video card and that widescreen res is available-- try that using VGA, but make sure you set your adapter to 60 hz also-- I know If I dont select 60HZ using my LCD Monitor I get garbage on the screen (DVI connection)

01/14/2007 04:19:52 PM · #6

Originally posted by buzzrock:

My on-board video card doesn't go that high.. The one I just took out and going to take back did, but that only introduced some new wavy blurry freaky problem using VGA

01/14/2007 04:21:50 PM · #7

My thought is that the Monitor refresh rate was set too high on that card/ did you make sure it was 60 hertz, I may be talking shit also-- but thats my thought

PhotoDave

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM II

01/14/2007 04:23:06 PM · #8

9 out of 10 your using the wrong resolution, it uses a wide aspect res at 1366x768, see if your current video card supports that. if not then you will prob have to find one that does.

Heres a link to the manufacturer specs for your LCD TV which google was gracious enough to provide :)

-dave

*edit*
ok a little late with the specs, but as the others have said check the refresh rate as that can do screwy things to the view...

Message edited by author 2007-01-14 21:24:45.

01/14/2007 04:25:19 PM · #9

Refresh rate is fine...60hz

Edit: The main question here is do you think HDMI with work coming from my computer and make the screen crystal clear?

Message edited by author 2007-01-14 21:26:03.

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

01/14/2007 04:32:32 PM · #10

It does not sound like a resolution issue to me. But, it does sound more like an issue of signal levels, set up, sync, or an imbalance of the component signals.

I would compare what the output signal of the computer is compared to what the input signal of the LCD display is expecting.

Something is not right.

Do you have any other source signals that work on the monitor, like a TV signal or a DVD? You will need to validate that the monitor is functioning as it should be first. Then, test other VGA source signals.

With regards to the resolution, it is a point of great confusion for most people. These displays have a circuit called a "scaler" that up-rez and down-rez the source signal to match the native rez of the display. There may be an issue with this scaler circuit. Check the store for more information or check with the manufacturer.

What power and TV standard are you on? NTSC/120v/60Hz? PAL/220v/50Hz? SECAM/220v/50z? There may be some incompatibility in this aspect as well?

Let us know what the problem was when you resolve it.

Cheers,
Michael

Tr3vWh0r3

Pentax *ist DL

01/14/2007 04:34:09 PM · #11

I got an ATI card with a DVI output that is HDMI compliant. I bought a DVI to HDMI cable for $13 off ebay and I have a wonderfully sharp picture. The ATI cards also have built in HD acceleration. I also output 1280x720 for my monitor so no scaling needs to be done by the TV itself.

01/14/2007 04:35:04 PM · #12

Originally posted by Morgan:

Thanks for the input.. I am going to break down and call Olevia soon..

And the problems not within the cable TV input, just the VGA input.. the TV looks ok..

01/14/2007 04:42:15 PM · #13

Q: I am using a PC, but I get no image, what should I do?

A: Olevia recommends connecting with computer monitor first to re-configure a resolution of 1024 x 768 @ 60 Hz and connects to Olevia LCD TV afterward. Anything higher, the LCD TV will not recognize.

I found this on the company's web site under technical FAQs. It sounds like the answer to your problem.

Cheers,
Michael

01/14/2007 04:42:16 PM · #14

I know my ATi card has this option--

I dont know if that would help in your case-- You might wanna call olevia like ya said..

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

01/14/2007 04:45:59 PM · #15

Originally posted by Tr3vWh0r3:

Your logic seems to be sound, but most, if not all signals still pass through the scaler circuits, so just because you are at native rez does not mean you are necessarily bypassing the scaler. The scaler can have a local oscillator that may not be locked to your source signal or other issues - line doubling, set-up, etc. that can still affect the image performance.

DVI and HDMI are the same, except that HDMI includes the audio. Also, they may be 2:1 interlace and any display that is 720 rez is set for progressive scan and not interlace. So, there are many challenges even with the scenario that you describe.

Set up is a common problem. Set up is an elevation of the colour by 7.5 IRE. Some displays accept it and others do not. RGB should not have set up, yet I have seen a few that permit it to be turned on or off, which is improper for NTSC.

Message edited by author 2007-01-14 21:50:07.

Tr3vWh0r3

Pentax *ist DL

01/14/2007 04:49:33 PM · #16

When I don't output at 1280x720 there are overscan issues and text is no longer crystal clear. Thats all I know! Truly not a whiz on resolutions, just an observation made with this setup.

01/14/2007 05:09:38 PM · #17

Originally posted by Morgan:

Have read this and tried this before, no luck..