For those with fullscreen video problems on TV..., An Example: Incorrect aspect ratio Options

[ant]

Since http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=17158 and many other forum threads are getting really long and old, I was told by Moderator Amorphous to start a new forum thread about this NVIDIA issue. He wants to know our full details since the old threads are too long and confusing. I told him about these two issues people are seeing (might be more, so please kindly post those related ones too):

1. Why isn't there a fullscreen TV overlay option in 8xxx NVIDIA video cards when connected to a TV. We know the PDF manuals and KB say this is not allowed, but WHY? how come ATI/AMD can do it just fine even if it violates MS' requirements?

2. How come the aspect ratio on fullscreen video screen on TVs are incorrect. Everything is squished narrowly. For example, people look thinner and taller.

Here's my detailed issue since I do both gaming and watching videos (pretending to be a PVR too): http://alpha.zimage.com/~ant/antfarm/about/computers.txt is my detailed computer configuration (primary Windows machine). I am using Windows XP Pro. SP2 with all critical updates (IE6.0 SP2), DirectX 9.0c (March 2008), etc. It doesn't matter what video players I use (e.g., Media Player v6.4 and v10, Media Player Classic v6.4.9 from latest K-Lite Codec Full Pack, latest VideoLAN Client Media Player, PowerDVD). They all show the aspect ratio problem on my old TV. I already tried uninstalling, using those tools to remove every NVIDIA video drivers, and reinstalling. I am using an EVGA NVIDIA GeForce 7950 GT KO (512 MB; PCIE). I have it hooked up to a 19" LCD monitor (1280x1024 resolution) with VGA connection (connected via an old KVM) and to an over a decade old 20" CRT TV (composite; NTSC; via a VCR). It is not the KVM and VCR since others don't have those to have this problem. I am tried clone mirror and other options in NVIDIA's control panel. Desktop resolutions and outputs are fine on both displays. It's the fullscreen TV output with the problem (aspect ratio for me). In NVIDIA's control panel, there's an option called "Modify full-screen video options" and you can configure it do fullscreen or not for videos from software players (e.g., Media Player) if you didn't know.

V8x.xx driver worked fine from what I read on the forums. So, it is probably something in the newer one that causes this. I remember having no problems with the older drivers before year 2007.

I will have to upgrade my video card again in less than a year since I need a faster video card for newer games, but the fullscreen TV part is a problem so I might need to go to ATI/AMD video cards which I really don't want to do (slower performances too).

This post has been edited by ant: Apr 20 2008, 07:58 AM