Is there a way to connect a TV to a PC and _only_ output the video data?

[clancy688]

Um, the following:

When I connect a TV to my PC, I do it usually via "extending desktop" - the TV is simply a second monitor to my PC. To watch videos in fullscreen I have to play the video file in my media player, put the player's image on the second monitor (TV) and make it fullscreen.

Now I was wondering if there may be another solution. Is it possible to connect the TV and send ONLY the video data to it?

Sort of like all BD/DVD players are doing. Or for example those hardware media players.

I was envisioning the following:

TV is connected to the PC. There's no signal and/or the TV is simply showing a black image.
Now I'm starting a nice little app/player (which hopefully does exist) and using it to open a (for example) 720p video file. It uses my installed filters and splitters, decodes the video file and sends a videostream (RGB...?) to the TV. Either the app itself upscales to 1080p, or the TV does after receiving the stream. Anyway, the result will be a moving, fullscreen image on my TV.
And the audio data preferably goes to the PC sound card.


Is this possible? In my opinion it has to be, or how are all those BD/DVD/media players out there in the wild working...?


What I hope to achieve doing things this way:

- possibly better TV-internal image processing (MotionFlow etc.)
- fewer problems (I have several annoying issues regarding tearing and stuttering...)
- easier playback


I don't have the hardware (or the space) for a dedicated HTPC, so the (possible) solution has to work on a normal PC which's also used for work and games.

[Asmodian]

The best I have been able to do is simulate this using a three monitors at once desktop image and Zoom Player w/ MadVR exclusive mode + Reclock. With the really wide desktop image I can use a solid black screen on my plasma TV without using a solid black desktop for the rest of my screens.

I have Zoom Player set to full screen on the TV so the TV is always just a black screen until I go into full screen mode in Zoom Player. I can also still drag windows onto it, of course. MadVR + Reclock keeps the TV happy without drops or judder.

I know this isn't really what you want but I don't think you can do that without another video out card, and something besides a standard video card at that. I get what you really want from the HDMI out of my Black Magic capture card but that just mirrors whatever video is being captured and I don't know if it is possible to use it as a video out for any video file. I imagine not?

[CWR03]

I haven't dealt with an ATI video card in a while, but there USED to be a setting that sent any full-screen video to the TV output.

[clancy688]

there USED to be a setting that sent any full-screen video to the TV output.

TV output as in "S-Video"? ^^;

I'm using the HDMI-Out, but I do have an ATI card (HD 6870).

[Asmodian]

I think I do remember that setting but as it is now there really isn't a difference, as far as the video card drivers are concerned, between a TV and a monitor.

[CWR03]

TV output as in "S-Video"? ^^;
IIRC, it could be set to send the video to whichever display you wanted, it didn't care if it was a TV or a computer monitor.

[Maccara]

IIRC, it could be set to send the video to whichever display you wanted, it didn't care if it was a TV or a computer monitor.

It's called "Theater Mode" in ATI drivers.

Probably only works with overlay modes, not VMR9/EVR etc (at least it didn't use to).

[clancy688]

Hm, I'm using Windows 7. Is there a way to activate such an overlay mode in MPC-HC or PotPlayer?