Windows MCE PC and HDTV via DVI

[BOB IROC]

I recently re-did one of my computers with Windows MCE 2005. My dad purchased a computer with that OS on it and I thought Hey!, I have a Computer with a tuner card, that would be nice for my computer. So Purchased a copy of Windows MCE 2005 and installed it on my computer. The specs are below

P4 @ 3.06GHz
1GB PC2700 DDR Ram
40 GB Harddrive (for OS and Apps)
80GB HardDrive for Data storage
DVD-ROM and DVD-RW
SB-Audigy Platinum Sound
ATI All-In-Wonder 9700
Windows MCE 2005

The graphics card has DVI out and my Mitsubish TV (Model WS-55315)has a DVI input in the back. I understand the warnings about hooking up a computer to a projection TV because of the screen burn and stuff, but that is not what concerns me. I guess I want to know of any settings or utilities that may be helpful. My TV can display 480i, 480P, and 1080i resolutions. While searching the internet for helpful information (which kind of confused me) I heard the mention of a utility called PowerStrip. Do I need this? I went to http://www.entechtaiwan.com/ which is the homepage for the powerstrip utility and I couldn't even download it.

Sorry, I didn't know where to post this question. I thought that since it was PC related it would be relevent to WinDrivers

[confus-ed]

..My TV can display 480i, 480P, and 1080i resolutions..

So all you want really is something that'll let you switch between those resolutions ?

The '.net' versions of ati's catalyst drivers let you do that using profiles .. Enough ?

[BOB IROC]

Thats what I thought, but many things I read on the net kept saying that other pieces of hardware or software may be required. I just thought connecting the DVI out from the video card to the DVI in on the TV and setting the resolution profile would be enough. I am using the latest catalyst drivers. Thanks. I hope it all works out.

[confus-ed]

Always try the free ideas first methinks ..

Let me/us know how it goes anyways as it helps the next guy !

[BOB IROC]

I will definately post the outcome. I have to pick myself up a DVI cable so I can make the connection. I just installed Windows MCE last night and got all my drivers installed and got the ATI remote to work with the media portions. Next step is to connect it all to the TV.

[ngc4414]

how would someone with an nvidia card accomplish this?

[Kenteth420]

http://www.svideo.com/hdtvaiwr8500.html this is what I used with my 9600. Just an FYI, if they didnt fix it in Mce 2005 you need to ditch the 40 gb drive, there was no way in 2004 which am still running to record to drives other than the c drive.

[BOB IROC]

Well I connected the PC using the DVI out on the ATI card at it appears to be running stable at 1776x1000 resolution. To me that sounds odd, but it was one step lower than 1920x1080 which worked but the whole windows desktop did not show. I tried it on 1280x720 and the display shrunk so there was a black border around the whole thing. The two resolutions that worked were 848x480 and 1776x1000. The video doesn't look any different at the higher resolution, so I may drop it down to the 848x480 for performance reasons because it seemed to skip a little at that high res.

I also have this cable http://www.svideo.com/97009800hdtv.html that came with the 9700 that I may try just for comparison as this may support the 1080i resolution. So far I like MCE 2005. It makes it simple to make a PC for playing video, audio, and pictures on your TV.

how would someone with an nvidia card accomplish this?

I would think you could take a similar approach depending on the nvidia card you have. I did this because the picture through standard RCA is so crappy even though it displayed at 1024x768.