laptop connection to LCD TV problem with fonts

[miki69]

Hello,
I have Vaio Z (1600x900 screen res) and Bravia LCD (1366x768 screen res). I have connected them via HDMI cable (dual screen mode) and it's working "fine".

However, when I view my Explorer/Firefox/Word.. on TV screen (using TV screen instead of laptop) fonts are jerky and hard to read. In Firefox fonts are jerky as well, however images are totally ok, also smiley icons in this forum are perfect :D.

But everything related to text is messed up/blurry/difficult to read.

I have tried following: in nVidia control panel set TV res to "native" 1366x768 but no changes.

Any idea how to resolve this issue?

EDIT: just occurred to me, as my laptop and TV native resolutions are not the same, should I lower laptop resolution prior connection to LCD?

Cheers,
Miki

 

[fishnbanjo]

Make sure the TV frequency is right, i.e. if it is supposed to operate at 59 Hz make sure it's set for that in Windows, I don't have any issues using a Vizio 37" @ 1920x1080 running @ 59 Hz and it even knows the model in Windows 7, Vista 64 however does not.

 

[miki69]

Thanks, I'll try that. This should be under nvidial control panel settings, right?

 

[smarteyeball]

Thanks, I'll try that. This should be under nvidial control panel settings, right?

Correct.

Is your dual view setting "cloned" (both screens show the same) or is "extended" (two separate screens)?

To be able to independantly configure the screens like fishnbanjo suggested, they must be "extended", otherwise the resolution for both screens will be the same, giving you the problem you currently have.

 

[miki69]

I've tried Dualview (extended) in order to avoid those res issues as my laptop and TV don't have same res. I didn't lower my laptop res (left it in native res 1600x900) and I have changed TV res (in nvidia CP) to 1360x768, as I don't have 1366x768 option there. So that suppose to be "native" for TV as well. I will try to set that refresh rate later when I come home, however if I remember correctly max refresh rate in control panel was 30 Hz which puzzles me as my TV has 50Hz default refresh rate. But I'll try to bypass this with "custom res" settings.

What I have also noticed is, when viewing my desktop on TV, it's a bit cut-off, not fully shown (like 1/2 cm is cut from all sides) which makes quite difficult to access my taskbar icons. I have tried to change in Vaio HDMI settings (which pop up as soon as you plug cable) 720/768 settings but not much of a difference (still cut off)

Funny thing is as I said before, images look great while browsing, smilies as well, but text is totally blurry (webpages/menus/documents), ruining
experience/pleasure.

I also noticed, when I connect via HDMI, I get picture in AV4 "channel" (you know those AV1-5), not in PC input mode (which says "no connection")

Cheers,
Miki

 

[smarteyeball]

The cut off sounds like an overscan issue. It has been a while since I've navigated the nvidia Control Panel, so I couldn't tell you where the setting is.

As for the PC input mode, is that intended for a VGA/DVI connection?

Speaking of which, have you tried either of those cables?

 

[miki69]

As for the PC input mode, is that intended for a VGA/DVI connection?

Speaking of which, have you tried either of those cables?

I believe so.

No, I don't have other cables, just HDMI as Vaio Z has only HDMI option.

So this overscan (what ever it is) can be also adjusted in nvidia CP. I'll dig around.

Thanks

 

[JimJoe]

My tv has pc mode for input, but it requires the cable to be plugged into specific input jacks. If you are getting 'no connection' for the pc input on your tv, then the cable is not connected to the pc input.

I think the pc input on my tv is vga, instead of hdmi.

You might check your tv and see what it expects, the connector type, for the pc input. If it is a vga, the hdmi to vga adapter is fairly cheap and plugs onto the end of the hdmi cable. Hm... There may or may not be room on the tv to get the adapter plug in to fit.

AV inputs are more for dvd or video players, not PCs.

 

[miki69]

I have checked my TV manual and yes AV4 is HDMI connection port, and PC is like you said different chinch connector.

Do I need to have same res set both on tv and laptop or not?

 

[JimJoe]

Probably something similar in res. I doubt they have to be exactly the same.

Have you tried your pc on the tv pc input ?

 

[miki69]

I've tried to send 720p signal, and it's working ok (without changing my laptop res), however font is still kind of blurry, you cannot use it for browsing, reading documents... As I already said, movies are perfect, no problems.

 

[JimJoe]

Have you tried your pc on the tv pc input ?

 

[miki69]

no, Vaio has only HDMI out connection.

Another weird thing: when I setup my TV resolution in nvidia properties to 1360x768, it seems that my TV desktop is too small to fit (having those 1/2cm cut-outs from all sides). The only way to resolve this is to set my tv res to 1280x720 and then to "finetune" via TV settings (Display area). That really puzzles me, as my suppose to be native TV res is 1366x768. Any idea?