Video Card Upgrade Help -- Please.

[ivanl3]

I am having trouble getting an acceptable picture from this PC:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834200004

to this plasma TV:

http://www.hdtvsolutions.com/Philips-42PF9956-37.htm

http://www.hdtvsolutions.com/pdf/42p...37_dfu_aen.pdf

I am using and HDMI cord (both ends). When I select the 720 screen resolution (actually 1280 x 720), the desktop appears on the plasma as expected, but the pictures is very "shaky". I was told this would occur when browsing etc, but would not be a problem once I start watching videos via Youtube, iTunes, Netflix, etc.. This held true, but the picture on the plasma does not fill the whole screen -- more like 1/2 to 2/3 at best. I was told that the only solution to this issue is to upgrade my video card.

So, my questions are the following:

1. Do you agree with this diagnosis?
2. If so, what Video card do you recommend?

This machine will NEVER BE USED FOR GAMING. It is for watching videos only.

BTW, if I put the resolution at 800x600, it covers about 90% of the screen but of course is at a lower resolution.

Thanks in advance.

 

[K3vBot6000]

Have you tried letting the television automatically set the resolution? If that is an option you may want to try that.

For your graphics card:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/272637-33-which-graphics-card-outputting-hdtv

In summation, if you are using an somewhat modern ATI card you should be fine in terms of power for what you need. It seems like the graphics card is a non issue unless your computer does not have one, or is using integrated, which even then may be sufficient.

 

[ivanl3]

I have tried adjusting settings on TV, but no luck. I am about to purchase this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125251&cm_re=4350-_-14-125-251-_-Product&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=

But are you sure this will solve the problem? This will be a lot of effort to install if it does not work. What is your confidence level that this will really do it? After getting the hardware installed, how do I configure things so the picture covers the entire TV screen at 1280x 720 resolution?

 

[K3vBot6000]

Do you know what graphics card is in your current set up?
Another thing to try is the zoom features on your television.

 

[ivanl3]

Do you know what graphics card is in your current set up?
Another thing to try is the zoom features on your television.

It is the following:

Mobile Intel(R) 965 Express Chipset Family

I will try again with the TV to be "triply" sure I cannot solve it that way.

 

[ivanl3]

I just tried with the TV again. No dice. When I have the resolution on the laptop set to 1280x720, it disables the ability to Zoom and make other screen display choices. It automatically changes to WIDE and I cannot modify it.


From page 19 of the users manual ( http://www.hdtvsolutions.com/pdf/42pf9956_37_dfu_aen.pdf ) , I found the following:

The HDMI IN connector allows
- the following TV and monitor display modes:

EDTV 640/720 x 480p
HDTV 1920 x1080i
VGA 640 x 480 60 Hz
SVGA 800 x 600 60 Hz
- uncompressed HD content
- encrypted or non encrypted signals.

So if I am interpreting this correctly, unless my video card transmits 1920x108i, I am out of luck. But I am really in uncharted waters here and may be misinterpreting.

I know I get 1080i and 720P via HDMI from my satellite receiver and the picture is awesome, so I am really lost here. It sure seems like my current chipset should work.

 

[K3vBot6000]

It looks like you are limited by your laptop GPU. The process of replacing it is lengthy, and probably unlikely. The card you found on Newegg is a desktop GPU, but you are using a laptop which unfortunately are not known for the graphical throughput. You should look into a new PC or perhaps a PS3 if you want Netflix, iTunes, etc. With the latter you have Netflix, a web browser that can get to Youtube and the ability to set up a media server that allows streaming of your music and videos in one convenient box. Plus, Blu-Ray if you don't have a player already.

If trying to upgrade your laptop graphics card interests you still check this out first:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/148909/upgrading_your_laptops_graphics_card.html

Good luck

 

[ivanl3]

It looks like you are limited by your laptop GPU. The process of replacing it is lengthy, and probably unlikely. The card you found on Newegg is a desktop GPU, but you are using a laptop which unfortunately are not known for the graphical throughput. You should look into a new PC or perhaps a PS3 if you want Netflix, iTunes, etc. With the latter you have Netflix, a web browser that can get to Youtube and the ability to set up a media server that allows streaming of your music and videos in one convenient box. Plus, Blu-Ray if you don't have a player already.

If trying to upgrade your laptop graphics card interests you still check this out first:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/148909/upgrading_your_laptops_graphics_card.html

Good luck

The NVIDIA GeForce Go 8400M GS graphics card was an option I could have selected when I purchased this machine 3 years ago. In theory, if I could find one and get it installed, would it solve my problem? ----- Never mind on that idea. I see there were lots of problems with that card; glad I never bought it.

 

[ivanl3]

look for updated drivers and try again if it's going to work.

Already confirmed all drivers are up to date. This situation is not looking good.

 

[ivanl3]

How about a 3rd party driver that is compatible/superior than Intel's stock driver? I am using the 965 Express Chipset Family.

 

[ivanl3]

never used one. I have always let win7 installer and windows update decide on correct drivers for me for things like this..

Me too. AS you can tell, I am getting desperate.

 

[ivanl3]

maybe should have gotten that nVidia upgrade... huh lol

Out of the frying pan into the fire.

 

[ivanl3]

so have we determined that the chipset (integrated video) can not be upgraded without a new board or does it have an add in slot.?

Cannot be upgraded without a new board.

 

[ivanl3]

look for the upgrade version of your board on eBay.
example:
I have a Dell Latitude D620 there is a better model the Dell D630.
Same size (physically) and all other dimensions are similar as well.
So if my board was to go out I would look at it as a time to upgrade and not just replace..
the video chip in the D630 is twice as good as the D620
make sense.?

in your model unit, look for the next step up.

There is exactly one board that fits this description. It is the nVidia GeForce 8400M GS. People who chose this device with their DEll XPS M1330 PP25L (my machine) had major problems. There were recalls and class action suits. Do a quick Google on it and you will see what a nightmare that was for them. Despite my situation, I guess I am glad I did not order it in the first place.

So back to the driver idea. Are there 3rd party drivers that might help the situation? I already have the latest form Intel installed.

 

[ivanl3]

I've already signed my unit up, it have the nVidia chipset too.
Gonna get paid in a few months or brand new unit...!

So back to the driver idea. Are there 3rd party drivers that might help the situation? I already have the latest form Intel installed.

 

[ivanl3]

looking into that but I'm not coming up with anything.
and the intel chipset control panel didn't have advanced options that worked.?

Is the control panel what I access when I adjust screen resolution, etc (right click on desktop running Windows 7 and choose screen resolutions)? If so, yes, that horse is sufficiently beat to death.

 

[ivanl3]

no.
the intel graphics icon in the notification icons (next to the clock).
have you tried there.?

Cannot find anything like that. I suspect it does not exist with my card/driver.

Wait, i found it. I need to go int the adjust resolutions page and the choose advanced. I have been there a lot -- no luck with any of those settings either.

 

[ivanl3]

sounds like yuor out of luck.
what does the unit manual say about external monitors.?

Don't have one

 

[ivanl3]

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/xpsm1330/en/om/RW4910P.pdf

Thanks but nothing in there helps me.