If i put connect a PS3 to an HDCP compliant widescreen LCD monitor,will it letterbox the picture or stretch it? I want it to letterbox the picture, so that it doesn't get distorted
HDCP is a content protection encryption protocol to ensure that protected digital content will stay protected between the PS3 and the monitor. HDCP doesn't have anything to do with negotiating the proper aspect ratio of the image being displayed. You're probably thinking of HDMI. Yes, if you connect your PS3 to HDMI, your monitor will display it as the correct resolution. HDMI specifications require that the PS3 and the monitor negotiate what resolutions are available on the LCD screen and then the PS3 only supports the ones that the monitor supports. So, if the monitor only supports 1080i, then the PS3 will grey out the 1080p option from being used. If the monitor only supports 720p, then the PS3 will only provide 720p and below to the LCD. However, your LCD monitor should have the ability to override the aspect from widescreen to 4:3 with a mode change on the remote. Although, the monitor should display the proper resolution unless you override that with your TV's settings. In other words, to answer your question, hooking your PS3 to HDMI will provide the proper aspect to your LCD screen and it will look correct. If your LCD monitor supports HDCP also (content encryption), then you will be able to view all content. If your LCD doesn't support HDCP, then some content may not be playable on your LCD TV. I believe most higher end LCD panels support both HDMI and HDCP to ensure maximum compatibility. HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) describes the type of connector and a protocol to describe all resolutions the monitor is capable of supporting. HDCP (High Bandwidth Digital Content Protection) is an encryption protocol to protect video content between the display device (computer) and the output device (LCD or Plasma TV panel).
