Multiple Monitors resolution issues

[dlrisley]

I have a Samsung LCD 720P HDTV 32" that I have been using as a secondary
monitor. I just bought a new computer (HP Elite M9060N) with vista on it and
a Geforce 8500GTS NVIDIA card (factory installed). When I try to extend my
desktop onto my tv (using Dualview) it doesn't fill the entire screen. It
leaves a black ring around the outside. I've tried adjusting the resolution,
but it doesn't work. In addition to the ring, the resolution on the tv looks
horrible. I have the refresh rate maxed out and tried flip flopping which
monitor is my primary but just can't seem to get it to work. I'm also using
a Samsung LCD 20" monitor and connecting my extra monitor with an HDMI
cable. I would appreciate any help...thanks


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http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/co...osoft.public.windows.vista.installation_setup

 

[RalfG]

The resolutions for each display need to be set separately in Windows. I'm
not sure about what Dualview is, not being an NVidia user, but it sounds
like you haven't set the TV and monitor to their respective native
resolutions in the Windows' Display Settings. That's where extended desktop
mode is typically enabled as well. If Dualview is some sort of NVidia clone
mode you will get anomalies like this when the two displays are not exactly
the same native resolution. In extended desktop mode the wallpaper will be
at the resolution set for the primary display. If the secondary display is
at a lower resolution than the primary the desktop image will be full screen
but cropped around the edges to fit the display size. If the secondary
display is higher resolution than the primary the desktop image can be
smaller than the screen size, unless the video card or the TV itself
stretches the image to fill the screen. Image quality often suffers when the
image is stretched to fit or is full screen at any resolution other than the
native resolution.

Set the video card to output the specified native resolutions for the
Samsung and your monitor. I've seen many TVs advertising HDTV specs (i.e.
720P, 1080i) yet the actual resolution of the screen differs from that
standard. Instead of 1280x720 pixels (720P) the TV 's actual resolution may
be somewhat higher. 1366(H) x 768(V) progressive scan @ 60Hz is a common
native resolution for 720P LCD TVs. Depending on the video signal input
source the output resolution from the computer might be limited to something
lower, like 1280 x 768 over a VGA connector.

Refresh rate isn't a factor in the image quality or desktop size. If you
don't have display driver support for each monitor (i.e.. relying on MS
generic drivers) it is possible to set incompatible refresh rates that can
damage the monitor. TV is typically 60Hz or less, 30hz interlaced, lower in
PAL regions. As an LCD display the Samsung might be compatible with some
higher refresh rates at certain resolutions but it wouldn't make a
difference in this situation anyway.

 

[RalfG]

Just had a peek at one Samsung HDTV owners manual (LN-T3232H) and it
suggests there are only 5 resolution settings available over the HDMI/DVI
inputs. In IBM mode there are only 2 low resolution settings, 720x400 @70Hz
and 640x480 @60Hz. VESA mode has 3 possible settings, 800x600, 1024x768 and
1360x768, all at 60Hz. Only the last one would suffice for 720P, the others
being more or less as you described your problem. There is also a Home
Theatre mode setting in the TV itself to enhance PC mode picture quality, if
that applies to the TV you have.

 

[dlrisley]

Well...NVIDIA has three options for using two monitors. Clone, single and
dualview (which means they are configured independently from one another),
basically extending your desktop with a fancy name. No matter what
configuration I've tried, I still have the black box surrounding my screen.
When I set the resolution to 720p the screen is too large for my TV,the
resolution looks great, but still has the black ring and the picture is
huge? With my old laptop, i was able to use the resolution you mentioned
below successfully with the extended desktop option, but it seems like Vista
is causing issues/or my video card? Also, it doesn't stretch the image at
all, but the resolution is still horrible? Whenever I used the laptop I used
a VGA cable and now I'm using HDMI? could that be the issue? I would think
it works in reverse. Any more ideas?

 

[RalfG]

Without seeing your setup it is hard to guess what is really going on. Some
sort of zoom function maybe? There could be display adapter settings or TV
settings that need to be tweaked. I've got a regular TV hooked up to mine,
over S-Video, and the video card is ATI not NVidia, but I haven't noticed
any difference in the video behaviour between XP and Vista. I still think
you should switch from Nvidia's DualView if possible and just use the
Windows Display settings to enable the extended desktop.

From what I read in the Samsung manual, assuming your TV is similar, 720P
doesn't seem to be a legitimate setting for the HDMI input. I think you
should be using 1360x768 from the video card, or as close to it as you can
get. The other thing about 720P is that unless the TV or video card
stretches the image to fit the screen there will always be a small black
ring around the image because 720P is only 1280x720 pixels, which leaves 86
horizontal and 48 vertical pixels on the TV with no image data to display.

 

[dlrisley]

I think you're probably right. My old card was ATI. Thanks for all the help.