HDTV Screen Resolution Explained

HDTV Screen Resolution Explained

Among the new things to consider with HDTV is the picture resolution. The terms 1080i, 720p, and 1080p are known as the “standard” HDTV screen formats. Let’s simplify the process for finding the best resolution for your PC tuner situation.

There are two schools of thought on the best way to maximize the picture quality using monitor resolution settings. The first is to use the native resolution of the monitor/HDTV. Keep in mind the minimum resolution for HD is 1280x1024 on a standard or 4:3 monitor/HDTV and 1280x720 on a wide screen or 16:9 monitor/HDTV. Check the documentation on your monitor/HDTV to determine its native resolution. Once determined, go into the display options in the control panel and select that resolution for your graphics card.

Here are some standard native resolutions:

720x480i (Analog & SDTV)
720x480p (EDTV)
864x480p (16:9 EDTV Plasma)
800x600p (4:3, PC)
1024x768p (4:3, most used PC monitor setting)
1280x720p (16:9 HDTV and PC)*
1280x768p (16:9 PC and older plasmas)
1280x1024p (4:3 PC)**
1366x768p (16:9 PC and most current Plasma & LCD-TV’s)
1440x900p (16:9 newer PC monitors)
1680x1050p (16:9 newer PC monitors)
1920x1080p (16:9 HDTV, some newer PC monitors)***

* standard setting for a 16:9 720p monitor
** standard setting for a 4:3 monitor
***standard setting for a 16:9 1080i monitor

The second “favored way” is to set the resolution to one of the standard HDTV formats. If you wide screen monitor can display 1920x1080 (1080i), use that resolution; otherwise, use 1280x720 (720p). For standard (4:3) monitors use 1280x1024.

Since beauty or quality is in the eye of the beholder, try both methods and see which one looks best to you. Make sure you watch some shows with plenty of action.

One thing to note, as you change resolutions, your Desktop icons will get larger or smaller depending upon the resolution chosen. However the HDTV screen size will not change. That is unless you enter a 4:3 resolution for a 16:9 monitor or visa versa. What you should see is a crisper picture at the higher resolutions, with less blurring on moving objects. This is especially noticeable on larger monitors and HDTV’s.

If you have a smaller 4:3 monitor (19” or under), I’ve been very pleased with the quality of a 1024x768 display, even though technically it is not a HD setting. It also doesn’t make your icons and print as small as the higher 1280x1024 setting.

For more information on monitors go here.