Outputting to TV from my DVR/HTPC

[Yawgm0th]

I recently finish a nice, cheap little HTPC system for myself to watch and record TV from, but I need it to use the TV as its primary (only) monitor. I don't know quite as much about this particular aspect as I do about PC hardware, so of course this is where I've run into my problem. First, the specs:
Athlon XP T-Bred @ 1.67GHz (stock, 2000 isn't it?)
MSI KM4AM-V (mATX, onboard video, etc.; perfect for this use)
512MB of generic PC2100 RAM
Onboard S3 Unichrome
Antec Aria and its 300W PSU
Leadtek Winfast TV2000XP
Some old PCI sound card that works fine

I knew when I got it that the onboard video wouldn't be able to output to my TV on its own, so I got a VGA to RCA/S-Video converter off eBay for around $5 shipped as well as a 3.5mm to RCA converter. My TV is a regular old TV set (23''ish) with RCA and coaxial I/O. The adapter is just a simple cord; it's not powered or anything like that. I'm using the RCA as input from the PC for both video and sound. Sound works perfectly.

The video shows up, but it's not even remotely useable. It's black and white, and basically copies the image about six times across the screen. It's also fuzzy and you can't really tell what anything is. That's a really bad description, but I can say that it probably is much worse than I'm making it sound. I'd just say it doesn't show up at all, but the fact that it shows up just a little is in some way proof-of-concept, I'm guessing.

So is the adapter just no good? Do I need a powered one (or a video card with TV out, if I must)? Or, is there something else I can change? I was told at one point to check that it's outputting to NTSC and not PAL, but I've looked high and low in the S3 CP and motherboard's BIOS and can't find anything. Google isn't being very cooperative either. Viaarena forums are practically deserted, and I'd expect a support email would just get shot down since I'm using an adapter that didn't exactly come with the board.

 

[Bozono]

I don't think you'll have much look with that adaptor. Just buy a proper VC with a TV out, then you can plug straight into the RCA by way of the S-video out. The quality will still kinda suck though. It works best with a Tv capable of S-video in.

The reason for your problems is lack of proper software support and the fact that it's putting out 1024x768 or whatever your res. is set at.

 

[Yawgm0th]

Software support ought to be fixable, and I've tried changing the resolution to 640x480 with not luck. I don't think I've tried lower, though that's easier said than done anyway. Isn't there some way to fix both those problems? I'm really trying to avoid buying a card with TV out. If I spend any more money on this, I'll be making it into a gaming system as well, meaning I'll spend $30 to $50 on the video card.

 

[Yawgm0th]

Okay, so I ended up getting a GeForce 5200 with TV-out for pretty cheap here on the forums. Problem is (and I bought it knowing I would end up needing to work around it) it only has S-video and VGA output. Using my VGA to RCA converter gives the exacty same result as before. However, I figure there's either something I can do software-wise to fix this, or, if not, I can get an S-Video to RCA converter for $4.50 off eBay.

So, is there anything I can do to get it working with just the VGA to RCA converter, or should I go for the S-Video to RCA converter?

 

[Yawgm0th]

^

 

[Yawgm0th]

^

 

[kylebisme]

Its hard to say how the addapter you bought on eBay is supposed to work, you'd probably be best off asking the person you bought it from.

 

[Iron Woode]

I built an HTPC using a mATX ECS 741G board, XP2500+, 768mg DDR333, SB Live! 5.1, MSI FX5200 128, 40 gig HDD and an LG 16x dvd player. I installed an AC copperlite HSF and this setup is so quiet its almost scary.

I hooked up to my Toshiba 27" 27A50 TV using S video. This thing rocks.

You should get a reasonably cheap larger TV with S video in. Even a good used one.

 

[jgs007]

i'm using an s-video to rca adaptor cable on my crappy tv and it works pretty good. got it here:

http://www.svideo.com/svideorca.html

 

[Janooo]

It looks like your Leadtek doesn't have any video output. You'll need a video card with TV out.

 

[kki000]

What Iron Woode said, upgrade your tv/monitor. I think you could even find a 20in monitor for less than 100(used), should be a huge improvement over your 23in tv.
With just a composite signal, the detail will bleed all over the place even if you get the connection working.
Text will be nearly impossible to read unless you run at 640x which isnt a viable resolution anymore to do much of anything.

 

[Wellsoul2]

Originally posted by: Yawgm0th
Okay, so I ended up getting a GeForce 5200 with TV-out for pretty cheap here on the forums. Problem is (and I bought it knowing I would end up needing to work around it) it only has S-video and VGA output. Using my VGA to RCA converter gives the exacty same result as before. However, I figure there's either something I can do software-wise to fix this, or, if not, I can get an S-Video to RCA converter for $4.50 off eBay.

So, is there anything I can do to get it working with just the VGA to RCA converter, or should I go for the S-Video to RCA converter?

I would guess you can't get interlaced video from the vga port.

As an alternative some of the cheap old Hauppage TV cards have composite out and
tv tuners built in (also you get coax out if you have cable tv)

 

[Wellsoul2]

I'm not up on it but would 640x480 at 30Hz work on a tv?

Just curious.