Best option to do video or powerpoint to an LCD TV

[Jethro]

I have been trying to setup a LCD TV as an electronic bulletin board
system at work to have a continuous Powerpoint presentation setup to play.
We already have the TV which is a Toshiba 32' LCD wide screen TV will
all type of inputs at the back.

The PC I have tried to use is an older one with an old video card (GF4
Ti-4200) for proof of concept and never really got the results of a
decent, readable picture in a widescreen format.

One issue is that the TV and PC will have to be about 25 feet apart due
to security issues. (Tried a wireless option before and it was crap
too.) ALready have a 25foot s-video cable too.

So any ideas as to what the best solutions or recommended way to display
a proper widescreen picture from a PC to a TV?

 

[Barry Watzman]

You need to use a DVI connection to the TV, which may require a newer
video card and which may also preclude a 25-foot distance.

 

[Jethro]

The video card does actually have a DVI output but I didn't use it as I
didn't have a DVI cable.

Just wondering in general what is the preferred method of delivering
video from PC to TV?
The TV can take s-video, composite, component and even a 15 pin monitor
input from a PC but none seem to give the quality I was hoping for or
mostly be able to do widescreen setup.

jethro

 

[Barry Watzman]

It depends on what the TV has, but definitely NOT either composite or
S-Video. Either VGA or DVI should work, DVI should produce a somewhat
better image.

You should set the resolution on the computer to match the native LCD
panel resolution of the display.

 

[Jethro]

It depends on what the TV has, but definitely NOT either composite or
S-Video. Either VGA or DVI should work, DVI should produce a somewhat
better image.

You should set the resolution on the computer to match the native LCD
panel resolution of the display.

Do you think this cable might server my purposes then for distance and
video quality?
http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?cat_id=2030&sku=40292

Would there be a 'better' video card available than the current GF4
Ti-4200 that I used for testing of is the GF4 enough of a card anyways.

If I had to buy the whole thing from scratch (excluding TV) what would
be the best way to pump video from PC to widescreen LCD TV over 25ft away?

Thanks...

 

[Barry Watzman]

OUCH!!!

That is an outrageously expensive cable.

As to picture quality, yes, it's likely what you need. As to length,
it's not a given you can drive an HDMI input over a 30+ foot length.

Try this cable source instead, however:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10231

Same type of cables, 80% less money.
(look at product # 2753)

 

[Jethro]

OUCH!!!

That is an outrageously expensive cable.

As to picture quality, yes, it's likely what you need. As to length,
it's not a given you can drive an HDMI input over a 30+ foot length.

Try this cable source instead, however:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10231

Same type of cables, 80% less money.
(look at product # 2753)

I tried out a 6 foot HD15 (monitor cable) and the picture was not too
bad. I couldn't seem to the the 'proper' WXGA (1366x768) setting that
the TC is supposed to support.
Picture quality was not too bad. Best I've seen yet.

Is the 15pin monitor cable also a step down from the HDMI cable and
would the DVI output be able to do the 'proper' LCD TV resolution of
1366x768 or is that all a video card issue?

Thanks very much,
J

 

[Barry Watzman]

An HD15 monitor cable is still analog, and still subject to image
deterioration. Both HDMI and DVI are digital. There will be ZERO image
degradation, regardless of length or anything else, until (unless) the
signal is so distorted that it stops working at all. Also, the nature
of the "back channel" may allow you to setup the "proper" resolution.

yes, because it's analog instead of digital, the 15 pin monitor cable is
[significantly] inferior to HDMI and DVI, which are both digital.

 

[Jethro]

An HD15 monitor cable is still analog, and still subject to image
deterioration. Both HDMI and DVI are digital. There will be ZERO image
degradation, regardless of length or anything else, until (unless) the
signal is so distorted that it stops working at all. Also, the nature
of the "back channel" may allow you to setup the "proper" resolution.

yes, because it's analog instead of digital, the 15 pin monitor cable is
[significantly] inferior to HDMI and DVI, which are both digital.

Got it... DVI to HDMI cable it is then. Going to pick up a short one for
testing and then stretch it out to 30 feet.

Another Question: Since I'm just using the GF4 for testing, would a
proper TV out card make more sense and give a better more manageable
picture?
If so.. any recommendations?

Thanks very much...
J

 

[J. Clarke]

I tried out a 6 foot HD15 (monitor cable) and the picture was not
too
bad. I couldn't seem to the the 'proper' WXGA (1366x768) setting
that
the TC is supposed to support.
Picture quality was not too bad. Best I've seen yet.

Is the 15pin monitor cable also a step down from the HDMI cable and
would the DVI output be able to do the 'proper' LCD TV resolution of
1366x768 or is that all a video card issue?

If the LCD supports DDC then it should tell the video board what
resolutions and refresh rates it supports. If it doesn't (a
surprising number do not or if they do they report incorrect
information) then you may need to install a monitor definition file
from the manufacturer or if worse comes to worse use Powerstrip
http://www.entechtaiwan.com/util/ps.shtm or one of its competitors to
define a custom resolution. Note that Powerstrip (at least the last
version I used) is nagware--if you don't pay for it, it complains once
and only once each time it's loaded. If you need what it does it's
well worth the 30 bucks.