Black & White TV-Output on T42

fbrdphreak

Lifer
Apr 17, 2004
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The topic says it all. I've got a Thinkpad T42 and using the S-Video->RCA adapter that was supplied with an old nvidia video card and when I hook it up to a TV the output is B&W only. Does this have something to do with the adapter? Any suggestions? Thanks!
 

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Moderator<br>A/V & Home Theater<br>Elite member
Aug 6, 2001
31,204
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This might be your problem.

How many holes are on the laptop jack and how many are on the adapter you're using?
 

fbrdphreak

Lifer
Apr 17, 2004
17,555
1
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This is the S-Video side of my adapter

The S-Video connector on the T42 looks to be the same pin arrangement. This adapter worked with my Ti4200 and now with my 6800GT on the desktop just fine, but it only does B&W with both my Thinkpad and a buddy's HP laptop that also uses an ATI graphics card. I assume there is some connection here.....
Just using a standard cheap s-video cable with the adapter that came w/my Ti4200

Thanks in advance!
 

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Moderator<br>A/V & Home Theater<br>Elite member
Aug 6, 2001
31,204
45
91
fixed link if anyone else wants to look...

I know my ATI card has more pins on it. A regular s-video cable will fit in it fine and work perfectly, but my RCA adapter uses the other pins to get the RCA signal.

I'm not really an expert on this at all. Do you have to select anything differently when you use RCA mode with the nvidia cards, or does it just work?
 

Peter

Elite Member
Oct 15, 1999
9,640
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The graphics card should auto-detect that you're using only one wire, and switch to Composite mode. In case this auto-detection comes up with the wrong result, you can force the ATi driver to the right mode from its control panel. Deeply buried, though. Right next to it, there's the setting for the video norm. This obviously needs to be on the right country or norm, else you won't get color either.