Low quality over HDMI via HTPC to 1080p HDTV

[ZeroPenguins]

As title states, low quality over HDMI from PC to 1080p HDTV. Hmm I thought it always looked that bad on a 42" TV, but today I decided to try VGA and see how it looks, to my surprise it looked even better than HDMI which is odd. I did some research, seems like samsung TV gets the same issue and a few other brands/models as well, but so far none of the fixes for those TV works for my TV.

"The picture is very distorted and the colors are flattened a lot. The text itself is eye raper, but readable. Around all the text, is some sort of white marking. No matter what resolution I set it at, it remains and so do the bad quality."

http://www.tomshardw...nnected-quality

That guy sums up my issue very nicely (distorted as in what you get from pixelation). A simple google search of "bad image quality PC through HDMI" will come up with many similar results, but most of the solutions them don't work for me. On my tablet to the TV it doesn't suffer from the quality downgrading issues.

What I think the issue is, is the fact somewhere between the HDTV or PC it did some downscaling then upscaling hence the reason why I get such bad quality. Only problem is I got no idea how to fix it. I checked all the settings in my GPU control panel (AMD's one) and all the settings on my TV and still can't find the issue. Only reason why I want to keep on using HDMI is due to the fact my TV is hooked up to a 5.1 surround system and I don't want to use my PC sound since it only has 2.0 jacks.

I was hoping by posting here that someone who had the same issue can help me fix it. There isn't much settings I can change on the TV, so any programs or tools that can help me fix the issue on the PC side?

My TV:

Soniq L42D11A

http://www.soniq.com...lypage.tpl.html

GPU:

AMD Radeon HD 6450 1GB

http://www.gigabyte....spx?pid=3968#ov

PC Spec:

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300

8GB DDR3 1333MHz RAM

Asus P5G41-M LX3 motherboard

Edited August 16, 2012 by Ang3lofDarkness

[RikuoAmero]

I'd suggest going DVI to your TV (which can carry audio, it works for me, at least if you use a DVI-to-HDMI adaptor) and then for sound, get this

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16829126005

It has an optical out port, connect that your surround sound. I can't comment on the quality, but basically any PCI (NOT PCI-E, since you don't have a free PCI-E slot) sound card should work.

EDIT: Ignore my suggestion. I just read the specs for your TV and it doesn't have DVI input, plus I doubt that just going DVI-to-HDMI adaptor from GPU would actually solve the problem.

Edited August 16, 2012 by RikuoAmero

[ZeroPenguins]

I'd suggest going DVI to your TV (which can carry audio, it works for me, at least if you use a DVI-to-HDMI adaptor) and then for sound, get this

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16829126005

It has an optical out port, connect that your surround sound. I can't comment on the quality, but basically any PCI (NOT PCI-E, since you don't have a free PCI-E slot) sound card should work.

I have thought about that, but first I want to see if I can fix it. I read that DVI to HDMI adapter cannot carry sound and I also read that it can, now that just confuses me so much. I initially thought since HDMI and DVI are both digital they should be able to carry sound, but then people start posting about how it only carries video siginals I'm pretty much lost.

I might go with the sound card way, but I'm hoping I can keep on using the HDMI.

[lolrawr]

Yeah man I think I have the same problem. I can run 2048x1152 fine on my Dell monitor, but when I try to hook up to my Vizio TV which is 1920x1080, it looks horrible. Always have to go back to VGA. I have an ATI like you so that might be the issue.

[RikuoAmero]

Trust me on this, DVI-to-HDMI adaptor does carry sound, at least for me it does. If you want, I can record some video proof.

[ZeroPenguins]

Yeah man I think I have the same problem. I can run 2048x1152 fine on my Dell monitor, but when I try to hook up to my Vizio TV which is 1920x1080, it looks horrible. Always have to go back to VGA. I have an ATI like you so that might be the issue.

Hmm lol I don't about that, I heard nVidia has the same issues. I probably would bet my money on the TV companies doing something awfully wrong with PC to HDMI.

Trust me on this, DVI-to-HDMI adaptor does carry sound, at least for me it does. If you want, I can record some video proof.

Lol it's ok, I trust you. But what's your setup? HDMI to DVI? That's the only way I can think of it getting sound.

[RikuoAmero]

Yeah man I think I have the same problem. I can run 2048x1152 fine on my Dell monitor, but when I try to hook up to my Vizio TV which is 1920x1080, it looks horrible. Always have to go back to VGA. I have an ATI like you so that might be the issue.

Hmm lol I don't about that, I heard nVidia has the same issues. I probably would bet my money on the TV companies doing something awfully wrong with PC to HDMI.

Trust me on this, DVI-to-HDMI adaptor does carry sound, at least for me it does. If you want, I can record some video proof.

Lol it's ok, I trust you. But what's your setup? HDMI to DVI? That's the only way I can think of it getting sound.

The adaptor plugs into the DVI out of the graphics card, on the other end, I plug in the HDMI cable, which runs to the TV. With that, I've got sound. I don't know if it carries 5.1 sound, as I don't have a surround sound speaker set that connects to TV, but at the very least, my setup does carry stereo sound.

EDIT: Basically, this is what I have
/>http://www.amazon.com/SANOXY-Plated-Female-DVI-D-Adaptor/dp/B0035B4LJM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1345143951&sr=8-3&keywords=dvi+to+hdmi

Edited August 16, 2012 by RikuoAmero

[ZeroPenguins]

Yeah man I think I have the same problem. I can run 2048x1152 fine on my Dell monitor, but when I try to hook up to my Vizio TV which is 1920x1080, it looks horrible. Always have to go back to VGA. I have an ATI like you so that might be the issue.

Hmm lol I don't about that, I heard nVidia has the same issues. I probably would bet my money on the TV companies doing something awfully wrong with PC to HDMI.

Trust me on this, DVI-to-HDMI adaptor does carry sound, at least for me it does. If you want, I can record some video proof.

Lol it's ok, I trust you. But what's your setup? HDMI to DVI? That's the only way I can think of it getting sound.

The adaptor plugs into the DVI out of the graphics card, on the other end, I plug in the HDMI cable, which runs to the TV. With that, I've got sound. I don't know if it carries 5.1 sound, as I don't have a surround sound speaker set that connects to TV, but at the very least, my setup does carry stereo sound.

EDIT: Basically, this is what I have

http://www.amazon.co...rds=dvi to hdmi

Oh ok, thanks. It might be GPU related, I'm not quite sure. I guess I have to try it out to see if it works or not.

Here are some images from the HDMI:

https://www.dropbox....17 03.13.08.jpg

https://www.dropbox....17 03.13.22.jpg

https://www.dropbox....17 03.13.44.jpg

https://www.dropbox....17 03.14.15.jpg

https://www.dropbox....17 03.15.19.jpg

https://www.dropbox....17 03.15.48.jpg

https://www.dropbox....17 03.16.06.jpg

https://www.dropbox....17 03.16.49.jpg

As I was saying you notice the white behind the text and the disorted/jagginess of the text, icons and images, bad contrast, quality, etc

VGA:

https://www.dropbox....17 03.19.22.jpg

https://www.dropbox....17 03.19.30.jpg

https://www.dropbox....17 03.20.42.jpg

https://www.dropbox....17 03.21.02.jpg

https://www.dropbox....17 03.21.11.jpg

https://www.dropbox....17 03.21.32.jpg

https://www.dropbox....17 03.21.40.jpg

https://www.dropbox....17 03.21.43.jpg

https://www.dropbox....17 03.21.58.jpg

https://www.dropbox....17 03.22.17.jpg

As you notice here, the images are more better, less pixelated, colours are correct, contrast is correct, texts are more clearer to read, no white behind text, etc

Edited August 27, 2012 by Emotional Outlet

[Koby]

I had the same issue initially, but I managed to fix the problem and run HDMI fine now.

One thing, make sure your resolution is changed to the right resolution.

Oddly enough 1080p looked funny, but switching it down to 900p fixed a lot of the issue.

Also, you can mess around with your settings to make the text look fine too.

Compare contrast to your monitor and adjust it accordingly too.

[dark4yoyo]

A simple thing but have you ever tried changing the HDMI cable ? It may simply be the cable that's not working properly anymore.

I've never had any problems like that with hdmi to my 1080p projector (and I've connected like a dozen different PC's to it with 5 different cables).

About sound over DVI, it can carry sound and it can probably handle 7.1 like HDMI.

[ZeroPenguins]

I had the same issue initially, but I managed to fix the problem and run HDMI fine now.

One thing, make sure your resolution is changed to the right resolution.

Oddly enough 1080p looked funny, but switching it down to 900p fixed a lot of the issue.

Also, you can mess around with your settings to make the text look fine too.

Compare contrast to your monitor and adjust it accordingly too.

Unfortunately, the issue persists with every friggin resolution, and don't mind me asking what text settings? There is a few I can think of, but I don't think it will do much to fix this issue. I can change the contrast but still won't look as good over VGA.

A simple thing but have you ever tried changing the HDMI cable ? It may simply be the cable that's not working properly anymore.

I've never had any problems like that with hdmi to my 1080p projector (and I've connected like a dozen different PC's to it with 5 different cables).

About sound over DVI, it can carry sound and it can probably handle 7.1 like HDMI.

The cable seems to work fine over other devices, so I don't think it is the cable.

Yeah, you think DVI sound will work off my GPU? http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3968#ov

It's one of those low powered GPU with no heatsinks.

[dark4yoyo]

Yeah, you think DVI sound will work off my GPU? http://www.gigabyte....spx?pid=3968#ov

It's one of those low powered GPU with no heatsinks.

I believe sound over DVI works since the HD 4000 or at least HD 5000, your card being of HD 6000 gen it should work.

Also, if the cable works for other sources, maybe the issue is the hdmi port on your graphic card that's broken.

Edited August 17, 2012 by dark4yoyo

[ZeroPenguins]

Yeah, you think DVI sound will work off my GPU? http://www.gigabyte....spx?pid=3968#ov

It's one of those low powered GPU with no heatsinks.

I believe sound over DVI works since the HD 4000 or at least HD 5000, your card being of HD 6000 gen it should work.

Also, if the cable works for other sources, maybe the issue is the hdmi port on your graphic card that's broken.

Alright thanks for the info, then something like this should work? http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Converter-Adapter-HDTV-24-1-pin-DVI-Male-HDMI-Female-M-F-Plug-8717-/280905639286?pt=AU_CablesConnectors&hash=item416747e576

[dark4yoyo]

Alright thanks for the info, then something like this should work? http://www.ebay.com....=item416747e576

Eh I can't see the item, ebay doesn't allow it to show on french internet I guess. And anyways i have no idea what kind of adaptators work, I've never had the need to do it.

Try checking some forums for it but my guess is that any dvi to hdmi converter works, as the only thing being changed in the adaptator is the connector, the digital signal is left untouched.

Edited August 17, 2012 by dark4yoyo

[DesertPlanet]

Couple issues with hooking up PCs to "TVs". Yes TVs are basically big monitors but its a little more complicated than that.

First, you must make sure your GPU is outputing the correct resolution: your tv's native resolution, in your case 1920x1080. Although rare, some GPUs get bad EDID info from the TV and scale whatever you chose as a resolution to something else. Your TV should be able to verify what signal format is being sent.

Check your TV to make sure it is not scaling. Even a tiny bit will throw everything off. Most TV's, even very expensive ones, default to "overscanning" just a bit where they crop the image slightly (resulting in say a 1900x1060 picture) which is then scaled. Look for a setting called "naitive", "1:1", "full pixel" or something like that.

The other thing that can go wrong between PC and TV is signal format. TVs like to talk YCrCb (4:4:4, 4:4:2, 4:2:2 etc). PCs like to talk RGB. Either signal can be Video level or RGB level. A good TV should accept and correctly display anything but most trip up with certain combinations, some might not even display certain ones at all. If your GPU lets you chose try changing from RGB to 4:4:4, or vice versa.

[† Mute point]

Coming in with the barely tech literate fix here... Does the resolution setting on the TV match the setting for the computer? If not... Try matching it and see what happens.

[ZeroPenguins]

Alright thanks for the info, then something like this should work? http://www.ebay.com....=item416747e576

Eh I can't see the item, ebay doesn't allow it to show on french internet I guess. And anyways i have no idea what kind of adaptators work, I've never had the need to do it.

Try checking some forums for it but my guess is that any dvi to hdmi converter works, as the only thing being changed in the adaptator is the connector, the digital signal is left untouched.

That's the adapter I'm planning on buying, I think it should work.

Couple issues with hooking up PCs to "TVs". Yes TVs are basically big monitors but its a little more complicated than that.

First, you must make sure your GPU is outputing the correct resolution: your tv's native resolution, in your case 1920x1080. Although rare, some GPUs get bad EDID info from the TV and scale whatever you chose as a resolution to something else. Your TV should be able to verify what signal format is being sent.

Check your TV to make sure it is not scaling. Even a tiny bit will throw everything off. Most TV's, even very expensive ones, default to "overscanning" just a bit where they crop the image slightly (resulting in say a 1900x1060 picture) which is then scaled. Look for a setting called "naitive", "1:1", "full pixel" or something like that.

The other thing that can go wrong between PC and TV is signal format. TVs like to talk YCrCb (4:4:4, 4:4:2, 4:2:2 etc). PCs like to talk RGB. Either signal can be Video level or RGB level. A good TV should accept and correctly display anything but most trip up with certain combinations, some might not even display certain ones at all. If your GPU lets you chose try changing from RGB to 4:4:4, or vice versa.

Actually this TV prefers RGB I believe, so I set my GPU to RGB, but it also works on YCrCb. I'm sure the GPU is outputting at 1080p, since I checked it on the TV info and it says 1080p as well. I wish there was those settings for native "1:1" or whatever but there isn't any. The TV software is so freakin user friendly that I believe they didn't put enough settings into it. >.>

Coming in with the barely tech literate fix here... Does the resolution setting on the TV match the setting for the computer? If not... Try matching it and see what happens.

Hmm I wonder how many times was I told that? LOL, but thanks for trying to help out.

-------------------------------------

I think I will give up, I basically threw away the HDMI cable (now using it for a monitor) and using VGA now. I also got rid of my 5.1 speakers and put in place 2.1 speakers (this speaker goes through my PC not TV), the 5.1 speakers were originally for my main PC so it goes back to it. I never use it on my main PC since I use my headset, such a shame, they were good speakers. I thank everyone who posted in this thread and if you have any more suggestions I be more than happy to read them.