Hot damn, I finally figured out to use my TV as a monitor.

[Jasonkhowell]

Sure, there are a few kinks in using Windows, but gaming sure beats the hell out of paying $10 more for a 360 game. Granted, the best I can do on the TV is 1024 x 768 without it being distorted, but it still looks and plays better then on a PC monitor. Now, all I need is a wireless USB keyboard, and I would be all set...

[RyanGamerGoneGrazy]

Congradulations, mind me asking, did you tv already have a moniter input, or did you use some other type of device, such as a moniter to tv converter(if such a thing exsists)


Also i assume, you have an lcd tv?


Ryan

[Jasonkhowell]

Eh, all it is a S-Video cord running from my graphics card to the TV. Problem was configuring the settings on the computer to read the TV, and finding the right display mode to use it on. I tried out Oblivion and Prey, and they run far better and look somewhat better on the TV due to the lower resolution, although I need to change the brightness so I can see it.

[madhatter256]

800x600 is the highest resolution you can play via standard SVideo input. Playing PC games on TV like that does make it look a lot better and just like playing a console game sitting comfortably on your couch :)

[Jasonkhowell]

800x600 is the highest resolution you can play via standard SVideo input. Playing PC games on TV like that does make it look a lot better and just like playing a console game sitting comfortably on your couch :)

Are you sure it is 800x600? I have a 30 inch TV with a 7800GT graphics card in the computer, and the highest it will allow is 1024 x 768. Any higher and the screen has to scroll for the HUD in games. Granted, having a powerful PC sure beats spending 60-80 for the Xbox and 360 versions of Half Life 2 and Oblivion.

[madhatter256]

Well on my TV its 800x600. ITs a 31inch Sanyo. It cuts out anything higher than that.

[XerdoPwerko]

How do you make games that go "full screen" select the second monitor as a default?

I've never been able to do that, and I'd love to get my Unreal Tournament 2004 fix that way (and, of course, try other things, like emulators and such)

Does anyone know?

[Alchy]

800x600 is the highest resolution you can play via standard SVideo input.

That's a limitation of your PC's output device, nothing to do with the S-Video standard (which is standard NTSC/PAL resolution).

How do you make games that go "full screen" select the second monitor as a default?

I've never been able to do that, and I'd love to get my Unreal Tournament 2004 fix that way (and, of course, try other things, like emulators and such)

Does anyone know?

Can't say I do for sure, but I've found that having the shortcut/executable double-clicked when it's in the second display usually does it (drag the box over to the second display, run the). Alternatively run the game, window it, drag the window over and maximise. You'll find that emulators still don't look quite right (for Megadrive, NES etc) unless you're running them at their native resolutions, which most VGA cards don't support.

[Jasonkhowell]

That's a limitation of your PC's output device, nothing to do with the S-Video standard (which is standard NTSC/PAL resolution).
Can't say I do for sure, but I've found that having the shortcut/executable double-clicked when it's in the second display usually does it (drag the box over to the second display, run the). Alternatively run the game, window it, drag the window over and maximise. You'll find that emulators still don't look quite right (for Megadrive, NES etc) unless you're running them at their native resolutions, which most VGA cards don't support.

Personally, I think the Sonic 2 beta runs pretty well on GENS when I play it on the TV. It's the N64 games emulated that looks a bit off.

[GaijinPunch]

You'll find that emulators still don't look quite right (for Megadrive, NES etc) unless you're running them at their native resolutions, which most VGA cards don't support.

Some are getting okay. The Arcade VGA supports 256x240... the latest version of ZSNES displays 256x224 w/ 8 lines on top, and 8 on the bottom. Non-interlaced of course, and looks absolutely fantastic. I challenge anyone to take the Pepsi challenge discerning emulation and the real thing (for most games, of course). You bastards in the UK can appreciate it with much less pain then us yanks. We may rule the world, but I'd rather have RGB at my fingertips.

[Alchy]

I had no idea ZSNES was able to run at that low of a resolution, my last experience with that emulator was a while back and I'm pretty sure it didn't then (I seem to remember finding some blurred interlaced option that looked passable, if not ideal). If it runs in the proper resolution, or close to it there shouldn't really be much to separate the real thing from the emulated version.

[GaijinPunch]

With the latest WIP release (5.something) there's a custom resolution option in the .ini file. Set it to 256x240, then set scanlines to 25% for some reason (doesn't work w/o this). and you've got a 256x240 progressive signal, w/ 8 lines on bottom, and 8 lines on top of the screen (the AVGA doesn't support 256x224, actually).

FYI, the next release of Magic Engine is supposed to have a similaf feature. Waiting anxiously.

If it runs in the proper resolution, or close to it there shouldn't really be much to separate the real thing from the emulated version.

Considering it's damn near impossible for us yanks to get RGB, assuming you have an RGB monitor + emulation, the results are generally better looking that what you grew up with.

[Alchy]

Thanks for the info.

What is the deal with America and RGB? Presumably new HDTVs support it, through component or whatever? I guess I don't understand why we got it but you didn't.

[madhatter256]

Thanks for the info.

What is the deal with America and RGB? Presumably new HDTVs support it, through component or whatever? I guess I don't understand why we got it but you didn't.

The component input in HDTVs isn't really RGB as far as it getting a pure red, green, and blue signal to the TV like VGA/PAL-RGB gets.

[GaijinPunch]

Right -- what madhatter said. That's Digital RGB. To get good old fashioned analogue RGB, you've got VERY few options.

1) Import a multisystem TV from Europe (easiest, but pricey)
2) Get a C64 or Amiga monitor - easy and cheap, but small in size. Not worth it for me.
3) Sony PVM monitor - they show up in military auctions for almost nothing (a set of 4 for $50 or so) but they use some bullshit 20-pin connection. In other words, you have to make your own RGB cable, or have someone else do it.

I went with option 3. There's a local guy that makes cables for them. There's a thread about it in the Off Topic section here as well. Search for posts by me for "PVM" and you should find it.

In short, the RGB situation in North America is ass.