HDTV for a monitor
 

I have a HTPC running windows XP PRO and I want a change. I have seen that there are a few Linux distros designed specifically for multimedia use but I cannot get them to boot properly. I have an ASUS P4P800-VM motherboard, Audigy 2-ZS sound card with 7.1 surround speakers, and an ATI Radion All-In-Wonder card. But is seems that the piece of hardware that is causing the trouble is the 42inch plasma HDTV that I am using as a monitor. When I run a live CD everything seems to be loading but I end up with a completely blank screen at the end. My comp is connected with DVI at the video card and HDMI at the TV. So far the only distro that works at all is Ubuntu 6.06 (6.10 won't work either).

PLEASE HELP Before I break down and buy another Windows product!

well, I have a HDTV with an nvidia card hooked up via a DVI cable and it is working correctly, but it was a big pain to set up.

Did the live CD work for you from the beginning or did you have to do any special settings?

Take out the ATI card and use nVidia. nVidia supports HDTV signals in Linux.

Your sound card sucks. Buy a sound card based on VIA ICE1724HT. The sound quality is execellent from this chip. I have an Audiotrak Prodigy 7.1 that is based on VIA ICE1724HT.

First of all I'm not going to replace a $200 video card just for a chance to tinker with Linux. Second I'm not going to replace a $100 sound card that is working under Linux.

I have found tried Dreamlinux and Mediainlinux, both have ATI drivers and I believe the problem is using the TV as a monitor. When I plug in a regular monitor instead they work fine.

As electro pointed out, ATI doesn't support HDTV well at all. Nvidia has much better support.

I can't tell that much difference between different sound cards, you should be fine.

Maybe somebody else around here has an ATI card working with a HDTV.

OK but I have been using this video card with this TV under Windows XP for a year now and the card has no problem recognizing the tv (even that it's a Philips) under Catalist.

Great, and that is a good indication that it will work with Linux. Look into your xorg.conf after you install and make sure you have the correct modelines set for your monitor, It should be set to 1366x768 for a HDTV.