Resolution question, projector & HD DVD

I've got this projector, InFocus LP 640: http://www.projectorcentral.com/InFocus-LP640.htm

Native res = 1024x768

It works great with regular DVDs (running at 720 or whatever it is). My question - if I get a HD DVD drive which can output at 1080, will I see an improvement in resolution at the 720 level, or will it just look the same as a regular DVD?

Thanks, :bounce:

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Yes, you'll see a huge improvement.

Regular DVDs are 720x480, that means they are upscaled to fit your 1024x768 screen.

HD-DVDs are 1920x1080. They will be downscaled to fit the 1024x768 screen. Downsampling gives higher quality than upsampling, and it'll make better use of your resolution.

The long and short of it is, it'll look much sharper.

------------------------------ Cleeve
Hardware Editor, Tom's Hardware Guide
Reply to Cleeve

Sweet. I'm busy looking for some data on downsampling vs upscaling (will post), to see which one is better. I assumed scaling down will result in less image quality loss vs blowing the image up.

One thing to mention though - I've run some Apple trailers on the projector (the movie 300), at 720 and 1080, and I cannot tell the diffs (1080 maybe slightly brighter). If the software already efficiently upscales the DVDs I watch, then there probably wont be much of a diffs right?

Anyway, figuring it out. Thanks.

Movie 300 explanation - the reason I probably cant see the diffs is because the 720 stream I watch is raw 720, not upconverted 480. Still, diffs between watching a DVD and watching the 300 trailer in HD is also so small, I can hardly see it.

Is it really worth the cost to get an HD drive if you have a 1024x768
native res? Thanks,

Well, from personal experience, I find that HD-DVD's look MUCH better than DVDs do on my 1024x768 projector.

I should add that I'm running my projector in 1080i mode, and letting the projector downscale the image.

------------------------------ Cleeve
Hardware Editor, Tom's Hardware Guide
Reply to Cleeve

This projector's stats:

Native: 1024x768 Pixels
Maximum: 1400x1050 Pixels
Aspect Ratio: 4:3 (XGA)

Compatibility:
720p, 1080i, 1080p/60, 576p

If I set the resolution through ATI control centre, I can get the projector to show the max res 1400X1050 (use the remote to go to menu, and click source details or something, prints green letters on screen showing this res)

I've watched DVDs at both these resolutions (1024x768 and 1400X1050), and dont think there is any diffs.

Would I get the full benefit of HD if I set the res to the max, or will it inevitable scale down to 720 again (regardless of what my res on the projector is)?

Thanks,

cleeve, please post your projectors make and model. I wanna check out the specs to see if I would benefit from a simlar setup.

Note: Im running the DVD's through my PC, not a DVD player. Upscaling takes place through the use of software.

Found an excellent example of 1080 scaled down to 480, with the 1080 downscaled offering better quality than the RAW 480. This is quite significant (if no funny biz). Check link:
http://www.cornbread.org/FOTRCompare/index.html

The theory then holds true. Downsampling = much better idea, and one would see jump in benefit.

Cleeve, what cable you using? I have a regular SVGA to SVGA cable (25 ft, one dongle connecting to the DVI on my x1900xt). Can this cable carry 1080 (or downscaled 720)?

Message edited by fishboi on 11-29-2007 at 09:37:34 PM

Bump. Heeellooooooo THG, lol.

I'm using the component video cable output adapter from the videocard.

My projector is an Optoma 719 I believe. Used it in the "wall sized 3d" review.

------------------------------ Cleeve
Hardware Editor, Tom's Hardware Guide
Reply to Cleeve

It's fun talking to myself. ONE BIG FRICKEN PROB HERE - no ways this projector is HDCP compliant. Is yours Cleeve?

That would be a huge prob. DRM must be costing the companies millions. I wanna go out and buy a new HD DVD. Wait, my TV isnt HDCP compliant. Screw that, I will wait etc etc.

Anyway, can software get around this issue. $hit, while typing, just realized my x1900xt isnt HDCP compliant either.

Before I debate anything, is there software to get around this issue???????????

To take one more step back, does it even matter? If you hardware isnt HDCP compliant, it defualts to 720 right? If its going to be 720 anyway, that shouldnt matter right?

Any loss in image quality resulting from a downsample to 720, due to HDCP non-compliance, vs a regular downsampling from 1080 to 720?

A lot of B/S I know - screw these companies. I buy DVDs and games, but they are making it impossible to do it right.

HDCP compliant doesn't matter yet unless you want to use a digital output thorough a DVI or HDMI connection.

If your'e using analog VGA or analog component video, you can display full 1080 res from a protected HD-DVD or Blu-Ray without worrying about HDCP compliance.

(This may change in the future, as the movie companies have the option of making future HD-DVDs and Blu-Ray disks playback through a digital output only: but it's not retroactive and they haven't started doing that yet. Probably won't for a long time.)

Message edited by Cleeve on 11-29-2007 at 10:06:59 PM

------------------------------ Cleeve
Hardware Editor, Tom's Hardware Guide
Reply to Cleeve

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