Sharp Aquos LC-37D90U - Mini wants to be NTSC ????

Question

Level 2

231 points

Sharp Aquos LC-37D90U - Mini wants to be NTSC ????

An Aquos LC-37D90U operates pretty much as expected in most modes, with a beautiful picture and nice sound. It delivers the expected full screen 1920 x 1080 (1080p) display when I use the Apple PowerBook G4 12”, connected into either DVI or HDMI ports on the Sharp.
••• But when using a Mac Mini (Intel) into either DVI or HDMI ports, with the computer set to 1920x1080, the desktop window only occupies about 80% of the Sharp’s screen (W and H). Even setting the Mac to 1360x768, shows up in the same space on the Sharp’s screen.
When the Mac Mini’s SystemPreferences/ Displays/ Options/ Overscan is selected, the screen fills. But that implies that the Mac is operating in NTSC interleaved mode, and scaled in size – hardly full 1920p operation. All of the available resolutions on the Mini are NTSC, whereas on the PowerBook all are pure progressive.

Any ideas for getting REAL 1920p from the Mini? It does give real 1920x1200 on a Dell 2404FPW.

G4/1.25DP FW800; Mini-1.66GHz; PB-G4 12; Pismo G3, Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Posted on Sep 22, 2006 1:29 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Sep 23, 2006 10:27 PM in response to Al Cellier

Have you tried toggling overscan on or off in the tv's menu system?

Reply

Answer 2

Al Cellier Author

Level 2

231 points

Sep 24, 2006 6:51 PM in response to Howard Chernin

Sure thing. With overscan ON, the screen fills. But progressive operation should not scale down then magnify up, which distorts. And does not NTSC imply interleaving is in use?!
The Mini works properly (progressive, full screen, not overscanning) with the Dell 2407FPW.
The PB 12 does not need overscan set, and delivers clean 1920 wide screen.
The Mini is simply not behaving properly with the Sharp.
... Al

Reply

Answer 3

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Sep 24, 2006 9:18 PM in response to Al Cellier

If I were in your shoes I would install SwitchResX and building a custom timing that was 1080p.

Reply

Answer 4

Al Cellier Author

Level 2

231 points

Sep 25, 2006 8:13 AM in response to BSteely

I have tried SwitchResX, plugging in the Sharp's EDD values, but the Mini refuses to "take" the changes.
... Al

Reply

Answer 5

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Sep 25, 2006 10:33 AM in response to Al Cellier

So with the mini connected to the Sharp, if you select 1920 x 1080 and then open SwitchRes X, what does it show for specifics of that timing? You can get to this by clicking on the "Active" tab and in the table of timings there should be a bullet next to the active timing. If you click on it once it should open into a window that has a "Details" button which should show all the details of the current timing. You should be able to tell from the pixel clock and scan rates whether it is running interlaced or progressive.

Reply

Answer 6

dwu

Level 1

15 points

Oct 11, 2006 3:51 PM in response to BSteely

I have a 1366x768 Sharp panel and had similar problems. When I first booted up, I only had resolutions available up to 1280x720. I installed SwitchResX and followed numerous guides I found on avsforums.com. All the SwitchResX modes I installed showed up as 4:3 or poorly scaled 16:9 when put in Stretch mode. Also, they all worked out to 57Hz instead of 60Hz.

I uninstalled all the SwitchResX modes and picked the default 1024x768. Then I switched the Input from Digital PC to Analog PC (while the mini was still running and connected). Screen goes blank. Then I switched back to Digital PC. The OS X background show up, but the windows don't appear for a couple seconds (this is apparently because the mini was redetecting the display). I go back into display preferences and have new display options that weren't available previously, one of them being 1360x768 60Hz. It works perfectly.

Worth a shot anyway.

Reply

Answer 7

ebudy555

Level 1

40 points

Oct 16, 2006 2:47 AM in response to Al Cellier

Try this

http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=3348720#3348720

Reply

Answer 8

elvisio

Level 1

0 points

Oct 28, 2006 3:49 AM in response to Al Cellier

At least you got it working... I have been trying to connect my mac mini to my sharp 37 LCD but only get black screen.

When i boot up , i see white screen with apple logo and says 1080i 50hz.

Then after a while it goes black.... Any pointers?

i am going to throw my mini, have been trying hard for weeks now. Before it was ok at 760 , but now seems i cant get it to work anymore.

Reply

Answer 9

Nov 7, 2006 4:47 PM in response to Al Cellier

Just to let you know, I have exactly the same problem with the mini.

mac mini Mac OS X (10.4.3) none

Reply