Help me save this XPS from a return to Dell (HDMI)

Not even 24 hours, I got everything set up, all looking good, except one thing....

The HDMI out to my Sony 40" Bravia LCD screen....
This is important to me, because I wanted to watch "ahem" Downloaded movies from time to time, wanted to be able to hook the computer up to it via HDMI and close the lid, use a Bluetooth mouse to activate the movie and sit back with some popcorn, simple enough? Nope.

I'm trying to get best resolution to my Sony, which is the 1360X768...however.....

When I use the Laptop's primary screen as the Sony's, it gives me the resolution options of 12XX-XXX all the way up to 19XX-XXXX. However, the sweet spot, the 1360X768 is not there. Now the 19XX-XXXX resolution fits the screen perfectly as well, however the colors are washed out, when I choose something like 14XX-XXX the colors are not washed out, but the desktop doesn't fit the screen. So close by yet....so far.

I got the latest Dell drivers, but still no go...
I have the 8400 gs Vid card.

Any help would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks,


Jeff

 

I think it's all the chips will not support the resolution on the M1330, no promises though cause I'm not positive but I think that's what it is. even though it has HDMI output on it, but I could be wrong though.

 

You can try a software powerstrip which lets you add custom resolutions

 

Interesting......, Do tell

 

I have the same problem as you but I am getting more and more sure that the computer is not to blame. My tv (brand "Andersson", kinda noname) is also native to 1360x768 but does NOT support this resolution through the HDMI port, only VGA. It can only handle 720p or 1080i via HDMI, this is clearly stated in the tv's documentation although I refused to believe it (since it's stupid).

My father's Samsung tv, also 1360x768 has no problem with this and shows the correct resolution instantly. In the documentation it is also clearly listed that it supports this resolution over HDMI. Conclusion is that it is not an issue with your m1330.

However, you might be able to get better quality over 1080i if you reduce the tv's sharpness setting. Don't ask me why, it works somewhat for me and has worked good for others. But most importantly, when I play a high quality movie (proper good Xvid and above, thus including of course DVD and HD) I get absolutely perfect image quality with 1080i. So the only drawback is that I cannot use the tv as a second monitor since text and such is unreadable, but as soon as I run a movie, the picture is perfect. You might want to adjust the size of the "HD desktop" to avoid cropping, this doesn't affect quality and can be easily done from the Nvidia control panel.

Edit: to get the sound to follow the HDMI is more of an issue for me though, any way to get this to work seamlessly with VLC, MPC, etc?

 

How do I adjust the size, because I would be fine with other resolutions, its just that the desktop doesn't fit the 40" screen, goes past the borders.

My God, that would be awesome!
Please tell me how!
+ rep for you when you tell me

 

Interesting that 1360 x 768 doesn't work while 1366 x 768 seems to work just fine.

 

As I don't have the HDMI cable plugged in right now, I don't see the option, but it goes something like this: right click your desktop, select Nvidia control panel. Make sure you're in advanced mode. When the HDTV is plugged in, you should see an option to the left named something like "Adjust the size of the HD desktop". Here you can customize the size of the desktop which should take care of the problem you have with a non-fitting desktop.

Let me know if that didn't make sense or work for you and I'll come back with a point-to-point explanation when I have access to my tv, good luck

 

I know the section you are talking about, however, I don't have the "Adjust the size of the HD desktop" option.

 

All you have to do is right click the sound icon in the system tray, go to playback devices, then set HDMI as default. You also have to restart any open programs in order for the sound to transfer over. Sound over HDMI works perfectly with VLC on my M1330.

 

I don't have the option for "Adjust the size of the HD desktop". Is it because I'm using Dell's drivers, should I be using Nvidia's?
Like I said, I'm running HDMI out from laptop, to HDMI In for the Sony 40" LCD Bravia.

 

What's the model number of your Bravia?

I have a Bravia and Both HDMI and PC inputs work just fine. My previous Sharp Aquos would not accept any PC input on HDMI, you could not get the resolution to work properly. Even powerstrip could not get this working.

 

I made a thread about something very similar to this.

Hope this helps : http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=231046

 

Ok, here goes, and this is translated from Swedish:

1. Plugin HDMI cable
2. Right click desktop, select Nvidia control panel. Make sure you're in advanced mode.
3. Unless your tv gets signal automagically, select "activate/manage/configure several screens" and click the "DualView" radio button and "apply". You should now have your extended desktop visible on the tv.
4. Now, on your left under "video and televsion", click "change size on the HDTV desktop". Under "2. When the desktop is showing on my HDTV..." mark the radio button next to "Change size on the desktop", then click "change size". This should bring up an interface on the tv which should easily help you configure the desktop.

This is how it looks for me: http://img380.imageshack.us/my.php?image=nvidiath6.jpg

If it doesn't for you, somethings a-miss, perhaps with your drivers/control panel? Try uninstalling it all, rebooting, reinstalling.

 

If I can somehow get this option "Adjust the size of the HD desktop" Im sure I'll be set....

But I don't have that in my Nvidia options..... Why not?!

 

I'm at work atm, but from memorry, when I switch to dual view and it picks up the Sony Automaticlly, I don't have the "change size on the HDTV desktop" option under the advanced settings....

This is the problem, I'm sure of it!
Thanks for the help so far....

 

First, do you have the Nvidia card? Or the Intel?

Second, you must be in "DualView" for the option to show up. If you're in clone mode, or doesn't have any image at all on the tv, the desktop resize option wont be available.

Edit: didn't see your last post before I posted this one. That sounds odd, so I guess as far as my limited expertise goes, try downloading the latest version of the Nvidia driver from Dell's support site. It was updated quite recently.

 

Ohhh you have to be in Dual View?
That gives me a seperate window to the left of my screen, where my mouse leaves one end of my laptops screen and then enters Sony's screen if I keep moving the mouse to the left....I don't like that as it's a different desktop...

/edit, I have the 8400 Nvidia card

 

I don't think you have to be in dual-view and, in fact, I would first use the hardware fn-f8 keys to switch to monitor (TV) only. Then do what you wish in the nVidia control panel. If you still don't have the settings available, try using a different version of the drivers from laptopvideo2go.com.

 

I'll try those drivers when I get home from work.
I'll keep everyone updated...
If it works, everyone who posted here will get a +rep from me and I'll make a tutorial about this.

 

Also, I seem to recall seeing in some nVidia driver Control Panels the option to set a custom resolution. I could be mistaken, though.

 

Yupp, think it's a new feature in the latest drivers. I tried it out on my set but it obviously didn't do no good since the set doesn't support anything but 720p/1080i. If it did support the correct resolution, it would most likely be available as a standard resolution anyway (as it is on my father's high end Samsung).

 

The latest drivers from that site gives an error saying it's not compatitable with my hardware, during install...Using, I'm DL'in the 32bit

 

You need to use the custom .inf file... for an explanation of what that means and how to do it, go to the gaming forum and look at the sticky threads up top, there is a thread with a guide on how to update video drivers.

 

I did it!!!!!
Well sorta....
I set the Sony as the Primary display....
I then got the HDTV settings, set it to 1080I....
Resolution was a bit messed, so I set it to the 1900 res and then resized the desktop!!!!

Thankyou, everyone!!!, It ain't goin back, thanks to you alll.
You made me a very happy man! I cannot thank you all enough.
The res, isn't 100% perfect and some of the ltettering is jagged, but this...this is awesome!

 

Awesome How is it when you play HD content (try a trailer from apple.com or something)?