finally upgraded TV from 21" CRT to 28" CRT (I am holding out on HD TV for aslong as possible as only watch SD). My HTPC has a scart output and with old TV i could get a great picture using scart to scart and the RGB AV mode. 28" CRT does not have an RGB AV mode so I have made use of an old VGA -> SCART lead with built in vsync (nvidia card). After a weekend messing around with powerstrip I have got a great picture using following timings.
PowerStrip timing parameters:xxx=960,88,64,160,540,23,9,55,20250,15
Generic timing details for 960x540:HFP=88 HSW=64 HBP=160 kHz=16 VFP=23 VSW=9 VBP=55 Hz=25
VESA detailed timing:PClk=20250.00 H.Active=960 H.Blank=312 H.Offset=72 HSW=64 V.Active=540 V.Blank=87 V.Offset=23 VSW=9
Linux modeline parameters:"960x540" 20.250 960 1048 1112 1272 540 563 572 627 interlace -hsync -vsync
I have no overscan whatsover. I have the following questions.
1) as i have no overscan - i presume there is no point trying to get 1024 * 576 working? i tried it but got overscan.
2) occasionaly i see a little bit of junk appear on very edges of picture (bbc news 24 at top). Should i use a litle bit of overscan to compensate for this? with bbc news 24, most of the time the picture fills the screen, but if the weather comes on there are thin black bars down the side of the picture - which i guess is just the broadcast? (its not 4:3).
3) My only issue is the bbc news 24 ticker is not completely smooth. which is either the 50hz issue or my freeview signal is not good enough. Media center only allows me to choose following refreshes.
60, 70, 72 and 75. As powerstrip is using 25 hz i figured setting VMC to 75 shoud work? I can't get a 50hz option to appear in VMC. Most of the time it just reports 960X540 widescreen.
I've tried the reg key "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion \Media Center\Settings\DisplayService" but no joy. Any ideas?
4) finally is there any way to increase the size of the mini guide? (text and window size). If I configure VMC TV settings and choose "built in display" then i get a zoomed in look and the mini guide appears much bigger but i am no longer getting 1:1 pixel mapping. Is there a reg key hack to do this?