VGA to Component Question

[Elfear]

I'm trying to use my old PC as a basic HTPC with my tube-style RCA TV. The PC has an old Athlon XP chip and integrated graphics. The TV has component and S-video inputs. I've perused this forum a bit and from what I can tell a simple VGA to component adaptor cable may not work.

Anyone have experience trying to get something similar to work? If this setup won't work, what is the cheapest route?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

So your TV is just an SDTV, right?

In that case, I'd say that a cheap way would be to get a simple videocard with s-video output and hook up that way.

 

[Elfear]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
So your TV is just an SDTV, right?

In that case, I'd say that a cheap way would be to get a simple videocard with s-video output and hook up that way.

Yeah, it's just an old CRT style.

Would S-Video look ok compared to component input? I know it won't make as big a difference as it would on a 720p or 1080p TV but would I notice much degradation?

 

[T9D]

Why would an adapter not work? Component looks nicer on Tube.

 

[Elfear]

Originally posted by: v1001
Why would an adapter not work? Component looks nicer on Tube.

Reading through some of the old posts, it appears that the video card has to be able to output a component signal through the 15-pin dsub connector. It also sounds like that capability is not all that common. I suspect my integrated graphics won't have it. I don't know a whole lot about this subject so I'm trying to find some answers from those members more knowledgeable than myself.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Elfear

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
So your TV is just an SDTV, right?

In that case, I'd say that a cheap way would be to get a simple videocard with s-video output and hook up that way.

Yeah, it's just an old CRT style.

Would S-Video look ok compared to component input? I know it won't make as big a difference as it would on a 720p or 1080p TV but would I notice much degradation?

S-video can give you a 480i signal, which is what your SDTV can do, so resolution issues are not going to be a problem. You might have to spend a bit more to get component output from the card. Depending on your budget and what your future plans are though, it might make sense to go with a component card.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Elfear

Originally posted by: v1001
Why would an adapter not work? Component looks nicer on Tube.

Reading through some of the old posts, it appears that the video card has to be able to output a component signal through the 15-pin dsub connector. It also sounds like that capability is not all that common. I suspect my integrated graphics won't have it. I don't know a whole lot about this subject so I'm trying to find some answers from those members more knowledgeable than myself.

Yeah, a normal VGA output into a VGA --> Component cable into a normal Component input on a TV will not work.

You either need the videocard to be able to transmit a component signal from the VGA output (like the Radeon 8500?) or you need to be able to change on your TV the kind of signal it's expecting to get through its component input.

The other way to do this would be through en external transcoder which would take the regular VGA signal from the computer and convert it into a regular Component signal for the TV (more expensive than getting a new videocard)

 

[Modelworks]

Get an old averkey from avermedia, I have the averkey 300
and it works great.

Its basically a box with vga in and outs, svideo out, composite out.
Adjustments for sharpness, zoom, overscan, on the box.

Its not component, but the output is very very good.
Much better than some video card outputs I have seen.
I like it because it will work with almost any video card now or in the future.


I've seen them on ebay for as little as 10.00
http://search.ebay.com/averkey...verkeyQQrprZ8QQxpufuZx

 

[Elfear]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I picked up an MX4000 for $9 shipped AR with S-video out. I'll see how that looks and if it's dumpy, I'll look into a transcoder. I could use a backup video card for my main rig anyway in case a bios flash goes sour.

 

[montypythizzle]

That 8800 didn't come with a breakout box or anything???

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: montypythizzle
That 8800 didn't come with a breakout box or anything???

This is his HTPC with integrated graphics

 

[montypythizzle]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: montypythizzle
That 8800 didn't come with a breakout box or anything???

This is his HTPC with integrated graphics

Oh, K
Check in the component input menu for anything about color spacing or some kind of RGB YPbPr setting. I know the RPROJ CRT in the living room has it, thought about hooking my server up to it many of times.
No tuner card or sound card though