HDTV wont show 1280x800 resolution correctly

I have a dv6500t and I'm using my HDTV as a monitor. I'm connecting it with an HDMI cable, and for some reason the highest I can get my resolution is 1024x768, 1280x800 will show but it's a little grainy looking. This is confusing me because with my old desktop I had my resolution at 1600xsomething. So any ideas why 1280x800 wont show correctly.

This pic is with 1280x800 res. you can see what I'm talking about in the middle, but its actually like that all over, the camera just wouldn't catch it.


This is it with 1024x768 res. and how it's suppose to look.


Sorry for the large images.

 

It's a limitation of your HDTV, not your graphics card/laptop. I also have a 42" HDTV, which will accept 1280x800 - but like yours, functions optimally at 1024x768. The quality is so good that I don't even notice.

 

If your TV is 720i/p instead of 1080, 1024x768 will be closest to native.

 

Is there anyway to get my TV to show in 1280x1024, even though my laptops resolution is 1280x800, because my desktop shows 1280x1024 fine? If not I'll just put up with the 1024x768, it'll just take a little getting use to.

Also do you think it could have anything to do with the quality of the cable, I have a $5 HDMI cable from new egg, but it seems to work fine.

 

The quality of the cable is negligible; unlike other cables, which transmit in analog (where cable quality matters to minimize interference/distortion), HDMI transmits in digital, so no 99 dollar cable will make the slightest difference. I also use the 5 dollar cable.

 

Does your video card have a 1280x720 res option? That'd match the 720p your HDTV wants (assuming your TV doesn't handle 1080p). My desktop's 7950GT offers that option.

If your HDMI cable is long enough you could be having signal degradation issues but it's unlikely. I prefer the cables monoprice.com sells, very high quality and also cheap.

 

What's the native resolution?

I've used Intel GPUs from the GMA900 to the GMA 3100 with 1366x768 (native res of most 32-42" panels) and 1920x1080 without any issues.

Recent ATI GPUs didn't have any problems, and nVidia worked most of the time, but some drivers insisted on doing some "overscan" BS.

This is all assuming that the TV provides correct EDID information. (Some don't.)

 

hmm my hdtv has a resolution of 1024 x 768 (XGA resolution). does that mean my hdtv only supports resolution of 720p, or will it support 1080 also? i am worried i'll have the same problem as the TS as i also have dv2500t with max 1280x800 rex...

 

You're TV is technically not even 720. You need 1280x720 to be considered 720.

 

hmm so what's gonna happen if i plug in my dv2500t with my tv using hdmi port? what will i have to do to get the best display on tv?

 

Your T.V. will only display the max resolution it can dispay. You said you're TV is 1024x768, then that's the max amount of pixels it can display. Your laptops native resolution is 1280x800, so that's the max it will support. You're TV will not support 1280x800 because it's native resolution, as you stated, or your manual is 1024x768, so that's the max it will display, not matter what type of cable you use (basically). What brand and model is your TV? Maybe that would help us out a little. Goodluck.

 

hmm it's pioneer PDP-435HDG. yup. it's weird cos i remember my tv's native resolution to be 1024x76 but in the manual it says it can support computer resolutions upto 1280x768. yeah...