Technical question

[su27killer]

I know I can hook up PS2 to my CRT 17" monitor to play GT4 using my GF6600GT VIVO card, but can I play it in HD mode if I buy bigger screen which supports 1920x1080 resolution?! 21/22" CRTs are around $100 used and I would like to do such combination.

Sorry if similar was posted before but I really coudnt find it.

Edit : Tourist Trophy supports HD or not?!

 

[CRXnut]

nope, your videocard doesn't support high definition (on the input side)

 

[su27killer]

Erm, so it would work if I change it for newer card(7600 for an example)?

 

[CRXnut]

no, I actually don't know of any card that is capable of HD input. They all only seem to have HD out.

 

[wfooshee]

However, if you get a monitor that has PC VGA inputs AND component inputs, you can play HD GT4 (and Tourist Trophy) simply by switching the source on the monitor, not even using the video card. I have a 17" LCD screen that has VGA, DVI, and S-video inputs, and it sits on my desk in my bedroom, ready to display the computer or the VCR I use as a tuner to watch TV. The game console used to go into the VCR (by S-video) also. Sound goes through a receiver for the VCR and game, sound card on the PC feeds the receiver, too.

Don't expect such a display (HD and VGA capable) to be inexpensive.

BTW, are you on the North American version of the game? That's the only one that has 1080i.

 

[su27killer]

Yes I have that version, but how you can play 1080i on LCD 17" when it doesnt support that res?!

 

[Digital-Nitrate]

Yes I have that version, but how you can play 1080i on LCD 17" when it doesnt support that res?!

Fixed pixel displays (LCD, DLP, LCoS, Plasma) will scale what ever the incoming source material is to the native resolution of the display regardless of the resolution of the source. CRTs are completely different as they have no fixed resolution, but are also limited to a max resolution as determined by both the size of their tubes and circuitry.

Ideally you want to feed a FPD the exact same resolution as its native resolution (aka pixel matching), so that the scaler is never used. However, this was more important in the old days. Modern video scalers, even basic designs, are so good at what they do, the artifacts they cause are often very difficult to notice.

Keep in mind all displays are limited to a maximum resolution they can accept before scaling it to match the native resolution of the display. So for instance, many displays cannot accept a 1080p signal, but can accept a 1080i signal. "Maximum Resolution" is a standard specification included with every display. If a 1280x720 17" LCD monitor has a max resolution of 1080i, it will accept a 1080i signal and scale it down to 1280x720 for display.

It is easy to get confused over "native" resolution and "maximum" resolution, as the manufacturers do not go out of their way to clarify the distinction. This is most likely because it looks like they can actually display a higher resolution by advertising the "maximum resolution" specs.

I hope this was helpful, and didn't add to any confusion.

 

[su27killer]

Oh thank you very much for the response, and what about ATI HDTV Tuner which costs ~$200?! I guess it could do the job, so it would be $300 for HDTV setup, cheapest LCD which supports it is around $500 I think, and I like the colors of CRT.

 

[CRXnut]

Actually ...
I'm not an HDTV expert, I don't even have HDTV at home, but from what I'm reading even that card won't help you. It's really picky about the HDTV source.
I still think it would be easier to buy 20" LCD TV for $500

 

[panjandrum]

Actually ...
I'm not an HDTV expert, I don't even have HDTV at home, but from what I'm reading even that card won't help you. It's really picky about the HDTV source.
I still think it would be easier to buy 20" LCD TV for $500

Yes, but, don't forget it is now possible to purchase HD-compatible Projectors for about $800 on sale if you hunt around, sometimes less. Yes, you have bulb replacements to think about (I go through about 1 bulb per year), but I tell you what, there is NOTHING quite as cool as GT4 in 1080i mode projected 6-feet wide and about 5 feet in front of your face. Talk about being there! Just remember that whatever you get it needs to have the "old" component "analog" HD inputs, be 1080i compatible AND that same input must also support standard resolutions unless you want a cabling nightmare, because GT4 only used the 1080i mode when in a single-player race (or in LAN mode). I kind of lucked out in some ways in that my existing projector worked perfectly, except that the input for 1080i is separate from my other inputs. This meant I had to do some fun splitting with "y" connectors, and hook up my PS2 to 2 inputs on the projector simultaneously. The projector then auto-switches the input when one drops out and the other picks up. A pain to setup, but works great in the end.

You could even go with a used projector as long as it is cheap enough (remember bulb costs, and you'll often find that used projectors don't have much bulb-life left in them).