Connect HTPC to RSP-1098 display

[thunderstorm77]

Hi

Since I'm getting my RSP-1098 soon, I keep firing questions in this forum...

How does the 1098 work with a HTPC? Will the screen look OK if I get a VGA->composite, or is the resolution way off? What is the screen resolution?

I would appreciate any help on this. Getting my HTPC on the 1098 would be awesome.

[Kevin D]

Since the display is limited to composite only sources, resolution is going to be less then 480. From the looks of it, I would say about 300 lines of resolution.

If you get a good scan convertor, it should be acceptable running the pc at a lower resolution. However, I don't think you would want to explore around windows with it, but your typical HTPC menu systems should look fine.

Most video cards today have a composite output on them. Should be able to run that and set up it's output in the video driver.

Kevin D.

[thunderstorm77]

If I use a VGA->composite adapter, will the resolution also be changed? Or is this why I might need a scan converter?

I guess the problem will be running two screens (LCD 1360 x 768 and the TFT screen) with very different resolutions. I want to use clone mode, not extended desktop.

[Kevin D]

The output of the converter resolution will be changed (since the maximum on composite is 720x480), but you would be able to leave the computer resolution as is. The TFT screen will resolve as much of the composite signal as possible.

I honestly haven't fooled with it much in a while, but not all converters are same. The cheap one's today may be equivalent to the expensive ones I used to mess with.

In any case I think you will be able to see what's going on, but don't expect to read web pages or scroll through a big list of MP3's. It might take some tinkering with text sizes to get something worth it on the TFT without huge text on the TV.

Kevin D.

[thunderstorm77]

The output of the converter resolution will be changed (since the maximum on composite is 720x480), but you would be able to leave the computer resolution as is. The TFT screen will resolve as much of the composite signal as possible.

I honestly haven't fooled with it much in a while, but not all converters are same. The cheap one's today may be equivalent to the expensive ones I used to mess with.

In any case I think you will be able to see what's going on, but don't expect to read web pages or scroll through a big list of MP3's. It might take some tinkering with text sizes to get something worth it on the TFT without huge text on the TV.

Kevin D.

Thanks. I'm hoping to use the MCE menus on the TFT, plus some easy operations (should be able to, for instance, start Music playback software and listen to music without using the TV).

[thunderstorm77]

Shouldn't this work with a graphics card that has TV-out?

[Kevin D]

Yes, and usually they have separate configurations for the two outputs. So you can set one up optimized for the TFT, the other for the TV.

Kevin D.

[PiDD]

Shouldn't this work with a graphics card that has TV-out?

Yep thats what I do ... the Rotel cant display the entire pic but its good enough.

[thunderstorm77]

Yep thats what I do ... the Rotel cant display the entire pic but its good enough.

Good to hear! What is your output settings to the TFT display?