Computer Output on TV with component and s-video

[dheffer]

Quick questions, whats the easiest / cheapest way to output a computer to a tv? I just got a sony 27" tube and its the first tv ive had with s-video and component connections. I know that component is better quality but I only have s-video output on my video card. BTW, I have an x800xl, single dvi, single s-video out. Thanks

 

[tuteja1986]

s-video

 

[dheffer]

Yeah I kinda assumed that but was just making sure because I cant seem to find an s-video cable laying anywhere.

 

[MDE]

Easiest is S-video but component is much better quality.

 

[dheffer]

What would I need for component? What resolution would component output to? Thanks

 

[MDE]

I believe you'd need a DVI to component adapter plus the component cables. Component should do up to 1080p, but will definately do 1080i and 720p.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

To get component out, you'll need one of the "s-video" to component output type of connector for the X800 series.

I'm not sure if you have a 7-pin or a 9-pin card
http://shop.ati.com/product.asp?sku=2550138
http://shop.ati.com/product.asp?sku=2766464

I don't think the DVI to component adapter will work as it's designed for the 9x00 series and the AIW 8500. http://shop.ati.com/product.asp?sku=2537967
(I could be wrong though)

S-video is going to limit you to 480i output. Even if you can output 800x600 and get it to fill your tv screen, it's still going to be scaled down to a 480i signal even though everything is smaller.

Is this an HDTV or a SDTV?

With component you'll be able to send widescreen resolutions and higher res than s-video would be able to.
If you have an SDTV though, component might not give you much benefit.

 

[dheffer]

It's just an SDTV. I was wondering how much of a difference there would be really when its only an SDTV. I have it hooked up to s-video and its alright @ 800x600 but text is simply awful.
The thing that sucks about using component is I'm already using component on my dvd player, so I guess I'd have to switch out every time.
I know that s-video on my tube would be 480i, so what would component provide me?
I wasn't expecting much, really, and s-video isn't that bad, but if I can get a better connection by doing component then it'd be worth it.
Thanks for all the help everyone

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: dheffer
It's just an SDTV. I was wondering how much of a difference there would be really when its only an SDTV. I have it hooked up to s-video and its alright @ 800x600 but text is simply awful.
The thing that sucks about using component is I'm already using component on my dvd player, so I guess I'd have to switch out every time.
I know that s-video on my tube would be 480i, so what would component provide me?
I wasn't expecting much, really, and s-video isn't that bad, but if I can get a better connection by doing component then it'd be worth it.
Thanks for all the help everyone

With an SDTV, it's not going to help too much. You're still limited to an effective resolution of ~640x480 -- the TV just doesn't have any more phosphor dots, and doesn't have any way to take in a higher-resolution signal.

Any higher resolution is just going to be squished down to ~640x480 by your video card. This will, as you have noticed, look like crap.

 

[dheffer]

Thats fine. Ill just stick with s-video, it works for outputting movies just fine really. Thanks for the help anyway.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Try outputting 640x480 and see if text clears up a bit.

Yeah, component isn't going to get you much when you're limited to 480i by your set. SDTVs just aren't designed to be good for small text.