Aspect ratio video problem

[sub]

Edit: Forgot to add that GBPVR refused to start on the plasma, it resolutely starts up on the LCD/PC monitor which is set as the secondary display, no matter what I put in NV settings etc.

Did you remember to untick the 'start on second monitor' setting in the config app when you switched the monitors?

It doesnt play a part in this, since you had the plasma as primary at the time, but for future reference - the 'start on second monitor' sett

Sorry, I dont really know why switching monitors didnt help for you. Normally with either VMR9 Custom and VMR9 FSE, you get great performance on the primary monitor (since it uses hardware acceleration), and crappy performance on any other monitor (since all the direct3d stuff is done in software in off screen buffers and slowly copyed to the secondary monitor). This is also the main reason why other Direct3D based PVRs like MCE etc only support the primary monitor.

[adspence]

The 2nd monitor flag was already unchecked. I hadn't been using it.

I tried using the plasma as the primary monitor without any other attached. Unfortunately that didn't work at all it just wouldn't even display the windows login screen. (I initially thought this was something to do with the HDMI switcher box I have to use - but it happened on a direct connection too). So I gave up. It wasn't likely to be viable long term - too much pain with window placement, and keyboard/mouse usage (the PC is more that just a HTPC).

So now I'm back to having to use manual methods (VLC, WMP, PowerDVD, Media Player Classic etc) for source files that exhibit this issue (which is quite a lot). :-( Sounds like no PVR will ever work in this config. I'm likely to have a lot more grey hair before Nvidia fix their drivers, hell will probably freeze over as well.

Do you think turning of OSDs completely would help? Can this be done?

[stustunz]

what do mean by no pvr will work with hdmi and nvidia fixing their drivers (well not for single display use so i guess yes they suck )
its not the drivers or nvidia
it will be to do with something in the way you have connected

i use hdmi from my nvidia card to my pojector and it all works fine only time i have had the problem you are talking about with a blank screen is when i ran 20m cable and there was to much loss in the cable

change your pc so it logs on automatically
the screen is probably not able to show what the computer is trying to send
or the computer may not be detecting anything is connected

[adspence]

automatic login with no password - no way.

[sub]

Do you think turning of OSDs completely would help? Can this be done?

From memory, disabling hardware acceleration in your video decoder helps. With this disabled VMR9 shouldnt have the problem. Other wise you can run in the 'full' aspect ratio where everything is stretched to fullscreen regardless of aspect ratio.

[stustunz]

auto login to get it working then change back

i had problems a while back when the login screen wouldnt show up on my projector but once you disable it you can change the resolution to the one you want then apply the login screen again

when the plasma worked on the second what was the resolution setting you had
You could try taking note of the setting then apply that to the first monitor setting then restart with auto login with only the plasma connected

im wondering if the card is putting out a resolution when you start left over from when you had you monitor connected which would be way to high i would say for your plasma hence the plasma just say NOway

[adspence]

I've tried various combinations of resolutions and settings now, and nothing is reliable as yet. I'm back having plasma as 2nd monitor for now as life is too short to keep messing with this. Might have more time tomorrow. Even if it works for these files having the Primary monitor as the plasma is just too painful in the long run...so I'm not sure its worth the effort. This PC has to be more than just a HTPC.

[stustunz]

fair enough
i had problems with my normal tv through component getting it right
i ended up adding heaps of extra aspect ratios in the config file
and over sizing the resolution so i just keep pressing the button till im happy
can change from program to program

good luck

[adspence]

the failure to start on the plasma as primary might have something to do with the custom rez I use to compensate for overscan on the HDMI input of the plasma. The custom rez is 1216x684 (weird huh), and maybe that can't be accepted at boot time - its fine when used as 2nd monitor though.

[sub]

Did you try the disabling the hardware acceleration in your video decoder so that you could try use different aspect ratios with VMR on your second monitor?