m1530 HDMI output - can't get the res right

So I decided to try playing some 720p video on my Sanyo 42" LCD HDTV (native res 1366x768). I assumed it would be as easy as just connecting an HDMI cable and setting my m1530 to clone desktop.. I couldn't have been more wrong.

After doing some research it appears that LCD HDTVs aren't as flexible as regular LCD monitors with respect to HDMI input. No matter what I do, the screen always appears cropped around the edges on my TV.

What I've tried so far:
1) Setting a custom 1366x768 resolution in the nVidia control panel.
2) Tried setting my hdtv as primary monitor and setting the res.
3) Used Powerstrip (program) in an attempt to force a 1366x768 res (not sure if I'm doing this entirely correctly, I'm a little confused over what the correct advanced timings should be).
4) I hear this issue is called "overscan", so I looked through my TV menu for any overscan or zoom/image scaling options but couldn't find any.

I'm using the 179.28 Nvidia driver.

I'm running out of things to try, does anyone know how to make this thing work?

 

Have you tried setting the resolution to the maximum? I'd try it on my tv but I dont have an HDMI cable handy. Also don't have a Dell anymore, but the principle should be the same.

 

I have a Sanyo 42 inch tv also and it can clone my desktop(wxga) without cutting off the edges. I have an ATI hd3200 so the setting are different and i won't be able to help you with the nvidia stuff. You might try displaying on only the TV and see if it will play better.

 

I spent some time trying to figure this out as well, with custom resolution I could get it to work but only at 30hz, I eventually gave up as anime looks anyways... fonts and the Windows environment look terrible though

 

What resolution is your M1530?
If is 1440*900, you will be able to clone the laptop monitor to the TV but if it is 1280*800, you need to disable laptop monitor and use only TV monitor as output for the simple reason that the Tv resolution of 1366*768 won't fit your laptop monitor. Through HDMI, my M1530 can easily display 1920*1080 on my BraviaTV. But you'll perhaps needs to resize your display area for 1920*1080 in the Nvidia control panel(didn't have to do this for 1366*768).

 

I am indeed using 1440x900. I kind of got it to work. First I disabled my laptop monitor, then I was able to slide the res of the hdtv in the nvidia control panel to either 1360x768 or 1368x768.. I think is because the screen size is requried to be a multiple of eight, not sure. Anyway, then a "Resize HDTV screen" option came up in the nvidia control panel, and I was able to use that to get rid of the overscan.

I'm guessing this is the best I can do (be off by a couple pixels). The text on the screen is still a little blurry though.. hmm

 

Don't try and clone the desktop, use extend instead. Each screen can then have an independent resolution

When you want to watch a video, drag the player to the TV and then maximise/full screen it

I've got a 1920x1200 LCD in my 1530 but only a 720p panel in my TV. Both are pixel perfect

I can also plug and unplug the HDMI cable without it affecting the laptop

 

Oh, cool I'll try that. How do you go about playing games on the extended screen though?

 

Use Fn-F8 to disable the internal panel. Your main desktop will then be on your TV.

Once you have finished playing your game use Fn-F8 again to cycle back to dual display

 

I'm fairly certain this is right. I don't know much about HDMI, but I have seen that neither Windows XP or Vista seem to take kindly to this particular resolution. If you find a trick to make it work and not be blurry, I'd definitely like to know it.

 

The M1530 will do 1360x768 through HDMI

I've attached a screenshot of the Display properties on Vista.

However, this is plugged into a Samsung TV that has a special PC compatible HDMI socket