[mythtv-users] Phillips HDTV - xorg.conf - cannot see EDID

[Phil Bridges]

On Dec 17, 2007 6:37 AM, Brion Swanson <brions at usalug.net> wrote:
>
> On Sun, 2007-12-16 at 23:20 -0500, David Fishburn wrote:
> > On Dec 15, 2007 11:54 PM, Brion Swanson <brions at usalug.net> wrote:
> > ...
> > > Here's the relevant NVIDIA documentation for TV-Out Xorg settings:
> > > http://http.download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86/100.14.19/README/chapter-16.html
> > >
> > > And the section with all the options:
> > > http://http.download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86/100.14.19/README/appendix-b.html
> >
> > Brion, thanks for the help and the links.
> >
> > After much fiddling around I have come up with the following xorg.conf
> > that gets me a hell of a lot closer:
> >
> > Section "Monitor"
> >     Identifier     "Monitor0"
> >     VendorName     "Unknown"
> >     ModelName      "Unknown"
> >     HorizSync       30.0 - 110.0
> >     VertRefresh     50.0 - 150.0
> >     # Option         "TVStandard" "HD1080p"
> >     Option         "TVStandard" "HD1080i"
> >     # Option         "TVStandard" "HD720p"
> >     # Option         "DPMS"
> >     Option         "DPI" "100 x 100"
> > EndSection
> >
> > Section "Device"
> >     Identifier     "Device0"
> >     Driver         "nvidia"
> >     VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
> > EndSection
> >
> > Section "Screen"
> >     Identifier     "Screen0"
> >     Device         "Device0"
> >     Monitor        "Monitor0"
> >     DefaultDepth    24
> >     Option         "metamodes" "1920x1080 +0+0; nvidia-auto-select
> > +0+0; 720x480 +0+0; 800x600 +0+0; 640x480 +0+0"
> >     SubSection     "Display"
> >         Depth       24
> >         Modes      "1600x1200" "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600"
> > "640x480"
> >     EndSubSection
> > EndSection
> >
> >
> > Couple of items to note (using ASUS M2NPV-VM Mobo nVidia GeForce 6150):
> >
> > 1. Connecting via DVI - HDMI cable does not work.
> > (WW) NVIDIA(GPU-0): Unable to read EDID for display device CRT-0
> >
> > 2.  Using component cables does work (EDID).
> >
> > 3.  My TV is capable of HD1080P, but adding:
> >     Option         "TVStandard" "HD1080p"
> > - Results in a fall back to 800x600 or such resolution and washed out colour.
> >
> >     Option         "TVStandard" "HD1080i"
> > - Provides me 1920x1080 resolution
> >
> >     Option         "DPI" "100 x 100"
> > - It wanted 75x75 DPI, but I was able to up it to 100x100.
> >
> >
> > Running in "Unscaled" mode on the television results in a very
> > annoying line of the far left of the screen about 1 cm wide that
> > almost looks like the screen has wrapped around (though it has
> > different text in it).  Not sure how to get rid of that.
> >
> >
> > Some some final questions:
> >
> > 1.  Is the GeForce 6150 capable of powering a HD1080P picture?
> >
> > 2.  I thought DVI-HDMI (digital) was superior to Component (analogue).
> >  Is this true and should I be able to see a difference (assuming I got
> > it to work) between the two?
> >
> > 3.  Should I take up these problems (EDID with DVI and so on) with
> > nVidia on their forums (http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin)?
> >
> > 4.  If I am taking the plunge into HD content, was is a suitable
> > amount of RAM?  I currently only have 1 Gig, which I was planning on
> > increasing to 2 Gig.   I do a lot of transcoding (for the PSP and
> > xvid).  Should I make it 4 Gig?
> >
> > TIA,
> > Dave
>
> Hi Dave,
>
> I'd suggest trying Mark's solution first to see if that works for you.
> I can't really tell if the 6150 is capable of 1080p or not.  Searching
> for it returns mixed results.
>
> (seems to claim it can do it, but doesn't say how)
> http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=167
>
> (seems to suggest the max resolution is only 1920x1044 at 75hz)
> http://www.nvidia.com/object/mobo_gpu_features_benefits.html#gf6nf4
> ("300 MHz RAMDAC
> Blazing-fast RAMDAC supports display with high, ergonomic refresh rates
> up to and including 1920x1440 at 75Hz.")
>
> Another mixed forum (some say "probably" some suggest not)
> http://avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=601451&page=39
>
> As to your questions:
>
> - For that line on the left, you might try playing with the TVOverscan
> option.  I've not used it myself, but it might have some effect. "The
> "TVOverScan" option can be used to enable Overscan, when the TV encoder
> supports it. Valid values are decimal values in the range 1.0 (which
> means overscan as much as possible: make the image as large as possible)
> and 0.0 (which means disable overscanning: make the image as small as
> possible). Overscanning is disabled (0.0) by default."
>
> 1. Can't really tell, but for the moment it looks like "yes, it's
> capable but tricky to get working"
>
> 2. That's somewhat of a religious debate.  I personally see no benefit
> to DVI/HDMI over component aside from fewer cables (1 vs. 3).  In my own
> experience I got a richer picture out of component than DVI, but for
> some devices that have both (I'm thinking high def DVD players) only
> HDMI supports 1080p out, but that's usually an arbitrary limitation made
> by the hardware, not the cable.  From what I've seen online, component
> video cables are more than capable of supporting 1080p.  Over long runs
> (> 30' on average) component video wins over DVI/HDMI because line
> impedance causes too great of a signal loss on DVI/HDMI since the cables
> were seemingly designed with little regard in this aspect.  Here's a
> couple takes on HDMI vs. Component for your own edification:
> http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/09/13/hdmi-vs-component/
> http://www.bluejeanscable.com/articles/dvihdmicomponent.htm?hdmiinfo
>
> 3. Never hurts to check the forums and post your own questions.
>
> 4. The amount of RAM necessary depends greatly on what you plan on doing
> with the machine.  My desktop has 4G of RAM because I do a lot of video
> encoding and ripping.  My MythTV frontend connected to TV downstairs has
> 1.5 GB primarily for playback but I've gotten by with less - this
> hardware just seems to complain (stutter) when I have less than 1.5, I
> don't know why.  Another MythTV frontend upstairs has 1 GB and is
> running just fine for all playback (up to 1080i for me).
>
> Good luck and hope this helps at least a little.
>
> Brion
>

I can attest that my 6150 board handles 1080p-60Hz perfectly fine,
using both the VGA and DVI->HDMI outputs.  I'm using a Foxconn board.
There's 1G of RAM installed in this machine.