AGP 6600 GT's with and without HDTV output dongles

[mdahc]

I'm still waiting for an AGP 6600 GT with an included HDTV dongle. Here are some pics of Gainward's (which I hope I'll end up getting around Xmas), Leadtek's, and some other brand I don't recognize, all of which include an HDTV adapter. I know that Albatron, eVGA, and Sparkle are also supposed to be including HDTV dongles with their AGP 6600 GT's. So why do some companies (i.e. XFX and BFG) choose not to include/implement HDTV output support? I mean, so many companies bundle games that surely cost more than the HDTV dongle, right? Another thing, I've noticed that AGP 6600 GT's that have dual DVI (again, i.e. XFX and BFG) don't include HDTV output support. Is there a connection here?

 

[Jeraden]

Yeah, I bought the XFX agp card already, but was disappointed to realize it doesn't come with the dongle. Anyone know if I get the dongle from somewhere else if it will still work with the card? If not, is there an affordable way to get component outputs from this card since its dual dvi?

 

[nubreed000]

Originally posted by: Jeraden
Yeah, I bought the XFX agp card already, but was disappointed to realize it doesn't come with the dongle. Anyone know if I get the dongle from somewhere else if it will still work with the card? If not, is there an affordable way to get component outputs from this card since its dual dvi?

Would a DVI-to-Component adapter work? Because ATI has an adapter like that at their online store.

I'm currently in the process of buying a new PC, but I really want a vid card with HDTV support (not just measly S-Video). I'm thinking of buying a BFG 6600GT and that adapter from ATI, but I'm a little worried that it may not work.

 

[mdahc]

Here's an interesting tidbit that an XFX rep did reveal. After I asked if XFX will be putting out an HDTV dongle for at least their 6600 GT's, the rep said they will be making one available for purchase, although he didn't say if XFX would be selling it directly or if it would be available through online resellers.

The adapter from ATI definitely will not work with the BFG card (or any nVIDIA card). It's a special transcoder built for Radeon 9500's, 9600's, 9700's, and 9800's (most x600's and x800's already include their own HDTV dongles), and it will only interface with ATI drivers.

The only component adapter that would work is a VGA to component transcoder like one of these guys. Given their high prices, I'd just wait until Albatron, eVGA, Gainward, Leadtek, or Sparkle release their AGP versions of the 6600 GT (I'm not too sure about Albatron, although Digitimes says theirs is supposed to include an HDTV dongle).

 

[Jeraden]

I sent them an email asking about the Dongle. Got an email back pretty quickly:

Dear customer:

Yes, it will be released in the future, and will be sold as an add-on product.

Sincerely,

XFX VGA Technical Support


-----Original Message-----
From: Jason Brobeck [mailto:jeraden@hotmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, November 28, 2004 6:34 PM
To: support@xfxforce.com
Subject: HDTV Dongle for 6600GT AGP card?

Hello,

I recently purchased an XFX 6600GT AGP card and had a question about the HDTV output. Included in the package was a cable to output to s-video, but from my understanding, the tv-out connector also supports YPrPb/Component output. Will there be a cable available from XFX to enable component output? If not, would a cable from one of the other 6600/6800 manufacturers still work over your tv-out port?

Thanks!

Jason