HDMI or Component: Which is Best?

You've just bought a new HDTV, complete with HDMI connector and are delighted that you had the foresight to buy a DVD player with HDMI interface a while ago, even though you couldn't use HDMI at the time.

So you can ignore those component outputs and inputs and plug an HDMI cable between your two favourite bits of home theater kit. After all, HDMI, being all digital, is bound to be better than component, isn't it?

Well, no, actually. Not necessarily. It's true that convering a DVD signal to analog, sending it over component video and then switching it back to digital in the TV will result in a slight degradation of picture quality. And it's true that HDMI removes this issue. However, the degradation in the signal over component is virtually imperceptable and HDMI does introduce a few problems of its own.

Firstly, although DVD players "up-convert" video from 420p resolution to the native resolution of the HDTV (720p or 1080i), the signal still has to be "re-clocked" in the television before it is displayed. Some experts suggest that this re-clocking introduces more artefacts than the process of digital-to-analog-to-digital conversion. And the quality of the processor in the DVD player doing the "up- converting" is important here, if it's not up to scratch that could have a negative impact on picture quality.

Secondly, any equipment with HDMI (or DVI for that matter) connectors must support an anti-piracy measure known as HDCP (High Bandwidth Digital Content Protection). This takes the form of a code which is embedded into the digital video signal when its sent from a content player, such as a DVD player, and must be de- coded by the HDTV or HD projector. This puts additional pressure on the TV's video processor with no benefit to picture quality and so could, potentially, result in a slight loss in picture quality.

Using component video connections means that no anti-piracy protection is necessary.

None of this means that you should avoid HDMI. However, it does mean that you shouldn't take it for granted that HDMI will always be better than component. The only way to find out which is best for your equipment is to try both and see which one you prefer.

Kenny Hemphill is the editor and publisher of The HDTV Tuner - a guide to the kit, the technology and the programming on HDTV.

Keep Your Computer Clean

Ever hear a strange noise coming from your computer. Maybe it sounds like a plane about to take off. That's the sound of a fan that needs to be cleaned. You may notice that your computer case has holes in the front and side. These holes allow air to pass through the case. Usually air is pulled from the front of the case over the hard drive past the motherboard and out the back of the case. Usually there are two fans that accomplish this. One fan is usually mounted on the back of the case and the other is in the power supply. There is also a fan that is located on top of the CPU's heatsink. The outer rim of the fans will eventually get a build up of dirt around them. This will cause the fan to wobble causing it to make noise or even stop.

The best way to clean your computer is with a can of compressed air. Simply take the cover off of the case and spray the inside with the compressed air. Spray the fans and make sure they spin easily. Check the heatsink and make sure you clean it well. If it is full of dust the system could start shutting down on its own or you will start to get blue screen errors. Make sure you clean the fan in the power supply. Don't worry about spraying air inside the main concern is to make sure that the fan does not stop because of dirt.

If you want you can also clean any add on cards contacts or even your memory contacts. All you need is a pencil eraser. Simply run the eraser across the card or memory sticks contacts. Make sure you clean off any loose piece of eraser left behind.

If you want to clean your keyboard try using a paint brush. You can use a little glass cleaner as well.

Finally a handy trick for cleaning the outside of your case is to use hand cleaner. You can find hand cleaner in most automotive stores.

About the Author
Evan Freedman is an author for The Computer Geek Web Design and for CSSZafco.com, distributor of computers and accessories. Evan has been diagnosing and fixing computer for over 25 years. Please visit the site to view a huge assortment of Computer Technology.