Solved Generally speaking of course

[idahjo]

Does using a video card offer any meaningful improvement over the motherboard native video for watching blu-ray videos on an HDTV?

 

[AddRAM]

Depending on the card, I would say yes, definitely. But MB`s are getting better all the time.

 

[Boozad]

Personally I wouldn't have thought so but I could certainly be wrong. I've never played DVDs or Blu Rays through my PC, just games.

 

[idahjo]

May have to try and see?

Here is what I have. Thinking I may have to take time to 'marry them up' and see what happens. I was looking for the opinion of someone with a keen-eye for blue-ray videos as my ole eyes ain't what they used to be

Motherboard:GIGABYTE - Motherboard - BGA FT1 - GA-E350N-USB3 (rev. 1.0)
PCIe video card:MSI Global ? Graphics Card - R4550-MD1GH
55" Vizio HDTV (1080i):M550SV | VIZIO

 

[Mark Phelps]

Depends on the graphics chipset on the motherboard -- of course!

My 2-year-old motherboard has an AMD HD4290, one of those relegated to "legacy status" by AMD -- but it plays Blue-ray videos through Nero 12 without any problems.

 

[idahjo]

I spent the time setting it up and I believe it was worth the time. Colors seem to be brighter and I think it is more intense and sharper. Now all I have to figure out is how to correct the fact that there is about a two inch black all around the picture... resolution is correct; need to expand the whole picture.

 

[Boozad]

If you go into Catalyst Control Center you'll find an Overscan option, you can manually adjust the display size to fit your screen.

 

[idahjo]

If you go into Catalyst Control Center you'll find an Overscan option, you can manually adjust the display size to fit your screen.

Thanks BOOZAD for prodding me forward. I changed the HDTV from NORMAL to WIDE and it was almost a full screen. The Catalyst driver I found from MSI did not have the Overscan facility available in it. I poked around more and found a ATI Catalyst Control Center and there it was! All 'more better now'
Thanks all for the help...

 

[Boozad]

You're welcome. Sorry I couldn't offer more detailed directions for overscan at the time, I was at work and my resources are severely limited there.