Tv Tuner Card for PS2/3

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jacli

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#63577 30-Jun-2010 13:19

Whats a good TV Tuner Card I can use in my computer?
Specs:
Dual core
6gb ddr2
512mb gpu

Basically, I just want to be able to plug my PS2/3 RCA cables into it and have a smooth gameplay through a computer monitor.
Not looking to spend too much.
Thanks.

Nety

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#346645 30-Jun-2010 13:43

Sorry but it is a bit unclear what you are trying to do. You say you want smooth gameplay through a computer monitor but I cannot see how that requires a tuner card.

Maybe describe exactly what you are trying to achieve.

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dontpanic42

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#346647 30-Jun-2010 13:49

In my experience, most of the TV Tuner cards that have AV inputs tend to introduce a considerable amount of lag, which generally makes most games unplayable.

Do you have a PS2/PS3 Component video cable? If so, you could match it up with this - http://www.rapalloav.co.nz/product/24/AV-Cables/VGA-to-Component-Cables/ - cable (maybe with a few extra adapters to suit). That way you could just hook it straight into your monitor.

Nety

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#346649 30-Jun-2010 13:52

Having another look I take it you are wanting to display the image from a PS2 and or PS3. If so then the PS3 is easy IF you have a DVI connection on the monitor. Just use a HDMI to DVI plug.

For the PS2 it is somewhat more difficult. In theory you could use a tuner card but you are adding layers and layer of complexity to something that just needs a TV. You may well also find it unworkable as there will be a delay due to the PC needing to process the image.

I use a TVGo external tuner to act as a tuner for a LCD screen however I looked recently and it seems you cannot get any external tuners in NZ now. The tuner is just a small box that has inputs and a VGA output. It does not use a PC.

Nety

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#346651 30-Jun-2010 13:56

dontpanic42: In my experience, most of the TV Tuner cards that have AV inputs tend to introduce a considerable amount of lag, which generally makes most games unplayable.

Do you have a PS2/PS3 Component video cable? If so, you could match it up with this - http://www.rapalloav.co.nz/product/24/AV-Cables/VGA-to-Component-Cables/ - cable (maybe with a few extra adapters to suit). That way you could just hook it straight into your monitor.

dontpanic that cable is not going to work. It will allow you to plug a PC into a normal TV not the other way around ie plug a component feed into a monitor.

dontpanic42

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#346657 30-Jun-2010 14:08

Nety:
dontpanic42: In my experience, most of the TV Tuner cards that have AV inputs tend to introduce a considerable amount of lag, which generally makes most games unplayable.

Do you have a PS2/PS3 Component video cable? If so, you could match it up with this - http://www.rapalloav.co.nz/product/24/AV-Cables/VGA-to-Component-Cables/ - cable (maybe with a few extra adapters to suit). That way you could just hook it straight into your monitor.

dontpanic that cable is not going to work. It will allow you to plug a PC into a normal TV not the other way around ie plug a component feed into a monitor.

It should if you tack this

http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/en/product/P6655
and this
http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/en/product/XH0671

on to each end.
Although it does rely on the monitor being able to 'sync-on-green' - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Component_video_sync

But that's a much better idea regarding the HDMI-DVI adaptor for the PS3.

jacli

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#346689 30-Jun-2010 15:55

Right, basically I'm in my new flat.
Our TV is downstairs with the PS3 hooked up to it, so getting that on my computer screen has less priority than the PS2.
For the PS2, I just want to clear up a couple remaining games so I can get rid of it.

The reason I wanted a TV Tuner was so I didn't have to unplug (unscrew) the VGA cables to the monitor whenever I wanted to switch between the PS and computer.

I was considering VGA boxes, however, most of the ones I can find on ebay/trademe are very, very cheap and many do not have a method of producing the sound from the PS.

If a TV Tuner card is not a good idea, would something like this work?

So that way, the VGA cable from the computer can connect to the screen, as well as the RCA cables from the PS?
Only problem with that I can think of is sound, as my monitor has no speakers, and VGA does not even carry sound.

Edit: Just realised... how would I even switch from computer to ps, vice versa on the monitor anyway with this..
So it probably won't work, haha.

Edit2: I've got something like the VGA to RCA cables you mentioned, dontpanic, and they are 3 females aswell, so I could try those out, but they're with a friend right now. Would still be rather annoying having to change cables whenever I want to switch back to using a computer or something though.

dontpanic42

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#346694 30-Jun-2010 16:21

I guess another question is... what do you currently use as your computer sound? Some sort of 2.1 unit? You should just hook in to your current PC sound system. Maybe get an AV switch so you can switch between the PC and the PS2.

Also, check out the inputs on the back of your monitor to see if you have both DVI (the white connector), and VGA (the blue connector) inputs. If you have both, why not use DVI for the PC, and the custom VGA-component cable for the PS2. Because lets face it, the video coming out of the PS2 is analog only, so you might as well keep the DVI for the PC.

jacli: ...I've got something like the VGA to RCA cables you mentioned, dontpanic, and they are 3 females aswell, so I could try those out...

You need to make sure that the cable you have is a VGA-component cable. You will also need to have the PS2 AV Multi Out component cable... this - http://www.noelleeming.co.nz/games-gaming/playstation-3-ps3/playstation-3-accessories-ps3/playstation-3-madps3comp-mad-catz-playstation-3-component-cable/prod95810.html

Hope this helps... nothing is every easy is it

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jacli

32 posts

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#346707 30-Jun-2010 17:02

If I get an AV switch, I will need two of these right?

One from computer to switch, and another from switch to monitor.
And then I plug in the RCA from the PS multi out into the switch.
If so, that should be simple enough.

How would I put the RCA audio in my speaker, which I am using now for sound?
And how much should I spend for a switch?
Should I just find a cheap one from trademe?
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Gaming/PlayStation/Accessories/Cables-leads/auction-300311262.htm

Just hoping the switch won't burn out the monitor when I'm switching between PS and computer, like when I had a screensaver that kept flashing - it ended up making the monitor darker, and eventually something burned out and it would only stay on for a couple seconds before turning off.

Thanks a lot.

jacli

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#347594 4-Jul-2010 00:57

Can anybody confirm whether it will work if I use an AV Switch, by connecting two of these ^
One from computer to AV Switch
One from monitor to AV Switch
And the RCA cables from PS to AV Switch

How much should I spend for one, and what is the likelihood of an AV Switch damaging my monitor in the long (or short) term, as such dead pixels, or burning out caps fast?

dontpanic42

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#347677 4-Jul-2010 14:02

Sorry, I forgot to reply to your last post.

It's hard to give you a definite answer as to whether this will work or not.
For starters, it really depends if your monitor supports SOG (sync-on-green).

What type make/model of monitor do you have? If it's even slightly new it will usually have both DVI and VGA inputs, and you may not even need a switch. Post back with the make and model of your monitor.

jacli

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#347717 4-Jul-2010 17:20

It's a 19" HP L1906

dontpanic42

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#347724 4-Jul-2010 17:50

jacli: It's a 19" HP L1906

OK, so unfortunately it looks like you only have 1xVGA 15-pin D-sub connector. So I guess that's why you are looking at the switch option.

The VGA - 3xRCA cables/adapter should theoretically work, but only if your monitor supports sync-on-green. Or even if it doesn't support sync-on-green, it might somehow be smart enough to interpret the Horizontal and Vertical frequencies, therefore the image would display correctly. But being that this is an unknown, you really just have to try it and hope for the best.
Looking at the spec sheet of the monitor, it says something about TTL seperate sync. I actually have no idea what that means. I couldn't find any info saying that this monitor explicitly supports sync-on-green, but that doesn't mean it won't.

The VGA (blue connector) is pretty much just component video signal, but with extra pins/signals that tell the monitor what the horizontal and vertical frequencies are. Because the PS2 outputs component video over only three RCA connectors (i.e. 3x video connectors; 1xRed, 1xGreen, 1xBlue, with one red and one white for audio - so 5 in total), it has to integrate the sync frequency info over the green connector. All TVs that have component inputs are able to decode this extra info on the green connector, but only some PC monitors can.

BTW, because the switch only has 3xRCA connectors per channel, you may have to get two and then switch them simultaneously to allow for the right audio source to get to your sound setup.

Hope that helps.

xpd

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#347726 4-Jul-2010 17:55

I used to use one of these with my monitor and PS2 - http://www.trademe.co.nz/Computers/Peripherals/Other/auction-160885185.htm

Dont see them around much tho.....

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richms

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#347746 4-Jul-2010 18:45

jacli:

Can anybody confirm whether it will work if I use an AV Switch, by connecting two of these ^
One from computer to AV Switch
One from monitor to AV Switch
And the RCA cables from PS to AV Switch

How much should I spend for one, and what is the likelihood of an AV Switch damaging my monitor in the long (or short) term, as such dead pixels, or burning out caps fast?

No, there are a huge volume of various VGA and HDMI to someother plug cables for sale on trademe because some idiots are bringing them in from china. There is no standard for the pinouts when passing a composite, component or whatever signal over a vga or hdmi plug, those cables will only be any use with the device they were sold with.

If you want to switch the monitor between PC and something else, get a KVM switch, which will properly switch the video between 2 devices. Get a powered one so you dont have to have the PC on to use the playstation.

VGA tuners/video in boxes often have switching built into them so get the box first and see if you need something to switch the VGA from the PC. Last time I looked there were heaps of them on trademe, but recently now I want one to feed some analog video into my VGA monitors I cant find one. Otherwise look to deal extreme. - one of these http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.22845 may be good enough - check the output resolution etc are ok for your screen. I have found the handling of widescreen to be crap on a box I tried before so you may have problems still even if the res is supported.

Richard rich.ms

Nety

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#348350 6-Jul-2010 11:50

Well I just brought a new TV for the bedroom so the TVGo tuner I have is now surplus to requirements.
It will take Composite OR Component OR Svideo and convert it to VGA. If you are interested PM me otherwise it is going on Trademe.
I will have to have a look but I THINK it is able to do VGA passthrough (looking at the manual implies it can).