my friend has a zotac amp! 8800GTS and he was wonder if his video card supported 1080p. His package did not come with a DVI->HDMI adaptor like my 3870x2 did. His came with a composite cable instead. I am assuming his only option is  to connect his HDTV to the composite cable? Is 1080p even possible with composite cable? I cannot actually find any specs that the video card supports 1080p tv-out. Can anyone confirm this?
 
my 3870x2 has a DVI->HDMI so I just plug that to a 1080p tv and good to go? I am 100% sure that the videocard supports 1080p.  
 
I think they should call 1080p SuperHighDefinitionTV or something. I find this very confusing.

A DVI->HDMI converter should work.  They are identical signals (electrically) in a different interconnect.  I'm using an DVI->HDMI adapter for my computer (Athlon XP 2400+, 1GB, FX5200) to display 1920x1080 on my Panasonic TH-42PZ700U (42" 1080p Plasma).
 
1080p is considered "Full HD", BTW.  I know the naming convention sucks, but it's already set in stone pretty much, so we just need to deal with how stupid the naming is.

His probably came with "component" cables, which are reg, green, blue colored (composite is yellow with white/red for audio), and that can run 1080i and possible 1080p depending on the card and TV capabilities.  If he wants to use DVI or HDMI because of HDCP, then do what ^^^^^^ (person above) mentioned, get a $5 DVI->HDMI converter or a DVI->HDMI cable.  
 
Something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6812226015

 
OR
 
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6812226013

 
For the adapter:  Make sure the DVI=male and HDMI=female
For the cable:  Make sure the DVI and HDMI connectors are male
 
Good luck

Component is analog, and therefore does not look nearly as clear at an HDMI input (from personal experience).

DVI to HDMI is a pure digital interface, the only difference is that HDMI to HDMI also includes digital audio.  
DVI= Digital Video Interface.  
 
DVI to HDMI is how I connect my video card to my HDTV and it looks fantastic.

The TV might have a VGA or DVI input which would be a great way to hook up the pc to the TV.  This is the way I do it, and I really like using the PC to watch video files because it upscales them very well, much better than the my roommates xbox 360 or a regular DVD player.

only the ATI HD 3800s series have a true "HDMI" converter (Integrated HD audio controller with multi-channel (5.1) AC3 support and 1080p display). Nvidia can probably only do the 1080p display without the 5.1 audio.  
 
However, if you use a VGA to DVI converter or vice versa. You will have a resolution around 1360x768, but not 1920x1080. I haven't tried composite cables yet, but it worked for my friend's plasma tv at 1080p.
 
p.s. i have a ATI HD 3850 videocard with HDMI hooked up to a 52 inch sharp aquos widescreen LCD TV.

 
DVI->HDMI can include audio too, as demoed by the ATi HD series, just not on most GF8/9 series cards.
 

 
Neither DVI or VGA are limited to that resolution (don't even know where that weird resolution comes from [most are either 1280x720 or 1366x768, 1436x736 is off ratio neither 16:10 or 16:9 and not even 1.85:1]).
 
It's probably a default setting of his monitor or card if anything.
 
HDCP requirement wouldn't down-convert to that either.

 
okay, to make you happy. i tested the DVI to VGA converter and i got 1360x768, but that is the highest resolution i can achieve. i was just too lazy to list the exact resolution and test out the converter. so, i do believe you are limited by DVI and VGA.
 
i have the hardware to test this out. do you?

Sounds like something to do-with or wrong-with the interface/converter, because I can out put from both to 1080P on various displays, either that or an artificial driver limitation.  
It's not the output itself, it may however be the drivers however, as detailed by Cleeve in his review, the drivers on the HD2400P defaulted to a 1440x? resolution, but it's not a limitation of the interfaces;
http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/1 [...] page7.html

 
i don't think it's the drivers. i'm using the latest ATI Catalyst drivers 8.3 and i have a ATI HD 3850, not a low-end budget card ATI HD 2400.
 
it could be my TV's limitations for VGA input, but HDMI input can display a resolution of 1920x1080 for me. however, there is no DVI limitation. just VGA i believe.

OK you completely changed your post, so here's a second reply, the reply above was to your original post.
 
[quotemsg=1802303,10,62159]okay, to make you happy. i tested the DVI to VGA converter and i got 1360x768, but that is the highest resolution i can achieve. i was just too lazy to list the exact resolution and test out the converter. so, i do believe you are limited by DVI and VGA.[/quote]
 
No VGA and DVI do not limit them on their own PERIOD.
You may be limited by your drivers or by your Panel's features or by whatever 'converter' you're suing, but DVI and VGA can both output full resolution 1080P, especially @ 30 frames per second (reduced blanking required for higher colour DVI @ 60frame), and if dual-link DVI then both can also display at 60fps full colour too.
 
It's not the interface itself it's your setup that's limiting the resolution.

 
Yeah, and that could be the case too, as it's not the output that's the limiting factor, but the TV may treat all PC inputs the same based on how they achieve their '1080P' image.  
 
If it's displaying at 1366x768 it's probably only a 720P panel like the Aquos 43U, otherwise they're messing with your image quality twice, once by limiting your resolution, and then again by interpolating from the down-converted resolution to the full 1080P.  
 
Either way that would suck. Sounds like a non 1920x1080 monitor though if it's pushing you to 720P.

 
okay. here are my specifications.
52 inch sharp aquos widescreen LCD TV
Sapphire ATI HD 3850 + latest ATI Cataylst drivers 8.3
DVI to VGA converter + VGA to VGA cable --------> 1360x768 highest
HDMI cable ----------> 1920x1080 highest
 
i'm testing this right now man... i meant to say there is VGA limitation, not DVI.
 
 

 
ummm.. no. it only pushes me to 1360x768 when i use the DVI to VGA converter.
 
works perfectly fine with HDMI cable at 1920x1080.
 
i have one of the newest Sharp Aquos LCD TV models. you can search it online. LC-52D64U http://www.sharpusa.com/products/M [...] 20,00.html

I know my tv (Panasonic TH-42PZ700U 1080p) is perfect if you use the DVI at 1920x1080.  The limitation of the screen is 1280x1024 if you use the 15-pin VGA connector.  This is a limitation of the SCREEN, not any other hardware.  That being said, I'm going to side with GGA, not only because of personal experience, but because I believe he knows his stuff.
Edit:

Only if you mean the VGA input of the screen, but not the VGA interface itself.  It's (the VGA specification) limitation is 2048x1536.