PC to HDTV troubles

[mattaggie]

I've got a strange problem.

I use a Toshiba HDTV w/ PC input (d-sub) as my monitor. Complete specs for it can be found here;
http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/televisi...?model=17hlv85

I am using this ASUS motherboard, with VIA chipsets and VIA DeltaChrome on-board video
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...143&Tpk=m2v-mx

For a PC to work on the TV, the screen resolution has to be correct. On my last computer, a Dell Dimension 2400 (circa 2004), it worked perfect when the settings where on 1280 X 720 with a 60Hz refresh rate. No other setting would work. Any other setting, and the screen was blank.

But on my new build, the option 1280 X 720 does not exist. The screen does come up on some other resolutions (this did not happen on old computer), but it puts the widescreen resolution into a 4X3 screen (so the sides are blacked out).

Right now my settings are 1280 X 768, 60 Hz. So Windows is at that resolution, but the viewable area is a is the standard 4 to 3 monitor ratio. So the sides are cut off. Top and bottom is off a little. I can get the window and the viewable area to fit, but not in any widescreen format. Any widescreen resolution I select is placed onto the regular 4X3 ratio.

In my manual for my TV, it gives the following display modes, all that 60Hz refresh rate:

VGA 640 X 480
SVGA 800 X 600
XGA 1024 X 768
WXGA 1280 X 720
WXGA 1280 X 768 (this is an option, but as I said above, it is shown in a 4X3 area)

In another forum, I was told that the on-board video didnt support widescreen, so I bought a video card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130285

But the same problem persists. So is 1280 x 720 just not an option anymore as a resolution?

I would appreciate any input, even guesses. Is my tv/monitor just too old for new video technology? Is there software/device that will allow me to use another input, like the HDMI, s-video, or composite cable connections? Using this new video card, I tried these going from DVI to HDMI and using the s-video, but neither worked.

[Gen.Ben]

Update your video drivers then restart your computer.

If that doesn't work, with this program you can manually set your own resolution http://www.download.com/3000-2086_4-10395724.html If that program can't do it, it can't be done!

[mattaggie]

I downloaded the latest driver from EVGA and now I have the 1280 X 720 option. So it works now. Can someone explain why the picture at 1280 X 720 (filling up the widescreen) is not not as clear and sharp as when it was on 1024 X 768 (filling a 4 X 3 area)? Vista has lost its visual sharpness now that I am at 1280 X 720. I probably just need to get a monitor that can handle Vista better.

[Lespaul20]

My guess is that the 1024x768 was pixel for pixel match. The monitor you have has a resolution of 1280 x 768 so using 1280 x 720 is going look bad because the picture is stretched to fit the vertical resolution.