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I mean, I just bought a new tv, Protron PLTV-32 (not the C)
and Here's the Specs

32" viewable display area

• Analog TV tuner with coax input

• RCA component video input

• D4 component video input

• RCA composite video input

• S-Video input

• 2 RCA audio inputs

• VGA and DVI computer video inputs

• 1/8" stereo audio input jack for computer audio

• Resolution of 1366 × 768 pixels

• Wide viewing angle

• Large tilt angle

• Digital character smoothing

• Versatile, functional, and user-friendly On-Screen Display (OSD)

• VESA DPMS-compliant power saving—automatically turns off the display after a

configurable period of inactivity

• Windows 95/98/2000/XP Plug and Play compliant

• Conforms to VESA standards and supports the DDC1 and DDC2B specifications

Inputs

1 × component video (RCA)

1 × component video (D4)

1 × composite video (RCA)

1 × S-Video

2 × stereo audio (RCA)

1 × SVGA (15-pin D-Sub)

1 × DVI-D (single link)

1 × stereo audio line in, 0 dBV nominal (1/8" TRS)

Outputs 1 × headphone (1/8" TRS)

TV Tuner NTSC-M, CATV, 181 channels

TV Formats Supported

SDTV: 480i

EDTV: 480p

HDTV: 720p, 1080i



****************
Q1. I am trying to use this as a computer Moniter first, so... do I just buy a DVI to DVI cable and hook the DVI connection from my Video Card to the TV?

Q2. How do I get the best PQ for this LCDTV? I am currently Hooking the TV with Via S-Video...the text doesn't seem that great. Would DVI improve the problem?

Q3. Currently, my Video card don't have the setting of 1366X768, or I simply can't find it (FX5500), should I buy a new video card? Any suggestion? and would that help the PQ?

Q4. I have cable connection at home, so....what card should I get to record. I see the 150, 550, and divco for HD...there's just so many...I mean how can I watch HDTV? I don't mind buying more than 1 card. One for HD and One for recording... heck.. if I need a 3rd one for watching.. I am really open for suggestions here...

TIA

I know this is alot of stupid questions.. but I'm just so excited... I'm not even thinking straight right now...
My first Widescreen TV oh yea~!!

redcolours

heh, im the opposite - im looking for a good LCD HDTV myself...

1) yep, just plug a DVI cable straight to the DVI input coming from your graphics card DVI-OUT.

2)DVI WILL improve the pic, regardless if youre using a computer or a set-top cable or satellite box to your HDTV. S-VIDEO is the best you can do with analog signals. But to truly get a "computer-clear" resolution, use the DVI or VGA inputs.

3) dont get a new videocard (not just yet). use Powerstrip to unlock the widescreen resolution. As far as PQ, you can scale it down to 1280x720, which is really the same as 720p, the native resolution of most HD transmissions. At that point you know youre getting 1:1 ratio - no scaling required. But when i had my HDTV i maxed it out to 1366x768 for more screen space. always set it to 60hz only.

4)As far as getting an HD card, there are several options, but personally i advise to stay away from them for now. Youre going to be limited to unencrypted channels (OTA brodcasts only). Its not like you can plug your cable connection to it, and be able to record ESPN-D or DiscoveryHD, or The Sopranos in HBO-HD. Theyre all encrypted, and no HD tuner card i know actually can record them. Unless the card decodes QAM. i dont know if thats out now.
anyways, i digress. avsforum has more info about it.
so:
TO WATCH HD = just get an HD cable box, or ask your satellite provider for an HD box. Then plug that in your component or DVI inputs.
TO RECORD HD = use their DVR. a LOT less hassle than recording using an HDTV tuner card in an HTPC. Really, recording HD programming is a no-no, thats why they encrypted it so only cable and satellite set-top boxes and cable-cards can decode paid subscription HD channels (except OTA HD broadcasts). The movie and TV industry doesnt want their shows recorded in full uncompressed formats.

having said its a no-no, doesnt mean you cant.
I used the FIREWIRE outs on my HD cable box to record whats in my DVR onto my PC. i just forced a panasonic driver to recognize the motorola HD box, and voila! with a couple of programs, i just offloaded the programs onto the PC. again, go to avsforum. do a search. i think "chosenfool" contributed to it back then...

Of course that was circa 2004. when Video ON Demand and the premium channels were still unencrypted. Alas, even ESPN-D is now encrypted. im not sure if there has been a way to UN-encrypt them. I can only record HD onto my PC with those old network HD channels.
but that was over a year ago. im not sure if anythings been done to circumvent the encryptions. if there was, GOOD!

hope that helps....

__________________
there are pictures, but no,nothing happens on my site.

ArkiStan

I think if you want "computer-clear" text and graphics, you need to feed a signal that is of your TV's native resolution. Unless your video card supports 1366 × 768, you're gonna get the fuzzy text that you often see on LCD monitors that are not configured correctly. However, as a screen for watching movies, I think it'll be fine. Just make sure you use a good post-processor like ffdshow to upscale the video signal to as close as your native res as possible. Seach the HTPC forum at AVSForum.com for expert advice. There's so much info there it's intimidating.

Some people like to tweak, and thus enjoy the whole HTPC experience, but I really just wanted to watch movies. I personally got sick of configuring and tweaking with my HTPC, so I ditched the whole thing and bought an upscaling DVD player. I think the PQ looks the same as a fine-tuned DVD software package (i.e. theatertek + ffdshow, etc) if not better. But now I can just pop in a DVD and watch a movie without starting windows and without the computer fan noise. I'm so satisfied with my decision.

InfiniteNothing

I remember hearing about a tuner that had a cable card connection. That should be able decode whatever. I highly recommend investing in efficient quiet components for your box. As for me, a box dual booting win and a linux variant running MythTV for HDHDVR/DVD works like a champ for my needs. Here is my HD card: http://www.pchdtv.com/hd_3000_right_down.html I believe it has a QAM decoder but I'm not savy on the details. Here's another QAM compatible.
Quick warning: MythTV is not for the Techno unsavy/impatient

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I'll try the DVI cable route first, and see how that works out....

I can see this is going to be one long project....so I'll just take it a step at a time....

wish me luck