Getting computer screen onto TV

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Starplay

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Ultimate Geek

Topic # 67906 10-Sep-2010 17:26

I recently purchased a VGA changer that allows you to have your VGA running on a composite. I understand that you need to have a TV enabled graphics card so I ensured that I did and my ATI said it did (and I can see that it does)....

This is the adapter

When I connect it to the TV and change the TV to the appropriate AV my laptop does not pick it up. You are obviously meant to click the TV and it will send out the TV signal but it does not pick it up at all.

This is what it has:

Is there something that I am missing? I thought that all that is required is to connect it and go onto the display settings and click TV. unfortunatly my TV does not have VGA so I cant connect it straight to VGA.

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Reply # 378634 10-Sep-2010 17:52

What model is your video card?

There are two types TV-out and TV-Out through VGA compatibility, it'll only work on TV-Out through VGA, if yuor card has an S-Video port next to the VGA, then it probably won't work

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

Starplay

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Ultimate Geek

Reply # 378635 10-Sep-2010 18:04

vinnieg: What model is your video card?

There are two types TV-out and TV-Out through VGA compatibility, it'll only work on TV-Out through VGA, if yuor card has an S-Video port next to the VGA, then it probably won't work

Okay... Thanks for that. Yea it does have an S-Video port down from the VGA. If I get an S-Video to the TV leads would it pick it up then? Is that the best option or is there a better method to getting my display onto the TV?

richms

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Reply # 378636 10-Sep-2010 18:05

Those cables seem to crop up everywhere, and I am yet to have someone say what they actually can be used on.

If there is no TV out, get one of these.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250637205670

Much better control over image size and postiion than any inbuilt tv out, which is great if you have an old TV with overscan problems.

Richard rich.ms

Starplay

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Ultimate Geek

Reply # 378639 10-Sep-2010 18:10

vinnieg: What model is your video card?

There are two types TV-out and TV-Out through VGA compatibility, it'll only work on TV-Out through VGA, if yuor card has an S-Video port next to the VGA, then it probably won't work

Would this work? http://www.trademe.co.nz/Computers/Cables-adaptors/Other/auction-315630378.htm

When it says S-Video does it mean Sound-Video?... Or am I being slow? I planned on using the 3.5mm audio jack anyway so its no problem... Just always though S-Video also emitted the sound signal. Thanks

richms

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Reply # 378641 10-Sep-2010 18:15

That cable _may_ work, not all converter cables are wired the same, some will connect to just one pair of pins in the svideo, some combine the 2 signals etc.

You will still have problems if you have an old CRT display that stuff gets cut off and the ATI tools to configure it are pretty average at best and dont handle widescreen properly.

Richard rich.ms

vinnieg

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Reply # 378643 10-Sep-2010 18:46

It should work actually, sorry didn't see teh screenshot before was on the phone, the Xpress 200M is compatible with S-video to RCA, so that 2.99 cable will do the trick, but honestly, don't expect too much S-video to RCA looks worse than non-Freeview TV and flickers a bit

For 2.99 worth the shot :) even if you play a few videos through it

As for the sound question, nah s-video is just video only, it's sort of like an early version of composite cables, just means separate video, meaning it separates the colour from the brightness. It's better quality than standard RCA, but no where near component or HDMI quality

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

Starplay

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Ultimate Geek

Reply # 378644 10-Sep-2010 19:07

vinnieg: It should work actually, sorry didn't see teh screenshot before was on the phone, the Xpress 200M is compatible with S-video to RCA, so that 2.99 cable will do the trick, but honestly, don't expect too much S-video to RCA looks worse than non-Freeview TV and flickers a bit

For 2.99 worth the shot :) even if you play a few videos through it

As for the sound question, nah s-video is just video only, it's sort of like an early version of composite cables, just means separate video, meaning it separates the colour from the brightness. It's better quality than standard RCA, but no where near component or HDMI quality

Cool! Thanks for all of your help. What is the best way to get a descent image onto my TV using this laptop (so obviously the Xpress 200M card)?

Thanks again :)

vinnieg

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Reply # 378659 10-Sep-2010 20:12

It depends, if yuo have a LCD or Plasma, then get a VGA cable for it, that'll be the best image

If you have an older CRT, then I guess the only way is either Svideo or RCA

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

Starplay

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Ultimate Geek

Reply # 378667 10-Sep-2010 20:38

vinnieg: It depends, if yuo have a LCD or Plasma, then get a VGA cable for it, that'll be the best image

If you have an older CRT, then I guess the only way is either Svideo or RCA

We have an LCD but it doesnt have a VGA port on it... So again is the only option S-Video/RCA?

richms

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Reply # 378684 10-Sep-2010 22:46

What ports does the LCD have? Every one I have seen has had VGA except some piece of crap philips that had RGBHV on seperate RCA sockets for some bizzare reason. But that was a philips so I was amazed that it was still working more than being interested in what inputs it had.

Richard rich.ms

bfginger

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Reply # 378690 10-Sep-2010 22:56

Please tell us what model of TV you have.

Quality from composite is bad and limited to 576i. S-video / Super-VHS cable is better but still 576i.

jtbthatsme

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Reply # 378691 10-Sep-2010 22:57

You should be able to get plugs to change from vga to an appropriate output i can assure that they are around just different cards make for potentially different cord needs. I have used many different options for getting a pc output on to a crt and also a lcd. Trademe is probably the best place to look.

If your trying to go from VGA to a red yellow white av setup on your tv your card would or could use either the svideo (and still get a decent picture) or just use straight vga to rgb. I had a setup that was svideo to the yellow video output which worked fine and another time i have had a need to use rgb cords where your only plugging the yellow cable into the blue for video to output correctly. A lot of older cards (and possibly) yours would not output if you had both the svideo and the vga plugged in at the same time. Others i have owned have not had this problem.

Basically search on trademe the cable you need will be there and quite cheap too. Ultimately if you buy the wrong one just try another setup.

Also I have found using the ATI Catalyst Control Centre often is able to force detection of some older tvs that are not always picked up (quite regular for CRT screens).

Good Luck

Starplay

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Ultimate Geek

Reply # 378699 10-Sep-2010 23:36

bfginger: Please tell us what model of TV you have.

It is a panasonic TV. Cant remember the exacpt model at the moment as im not at home. It has the composite plugs and that is it. It is quite an older model (had it for a while).

Starplay

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Ultimate Geek

Reply # 379014 12-Sep-2010 14:23

vinnieg: S-video to RCA looks worse than non-Freeview TV and flickers a bit

I just checked the TV and noted that it has an S-video port on it. If I connected my laptop via S-Viseo to the S-Video on the TV would I get a better quality image? Would a cable such as this be all that I need for the image? http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics-photography/TVs/Cables-aerials/auction-315738027.htm

- Also is my graphics card compatible for S-Video to S-viseo?

And... I am looking at upgrading TV's... What is the BEST option to get my computers image and sound onto it (e.g HDMi or VGA)? What would give the best results?

richms

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Reply # 379041 12-Sep-2010 15:14

svideo will be vastly better than composite, but still not HD, so you are going to not be able to read anything on screen unless you up the text size and have a low resolution.

What model is the TV?

Richard rich.ms

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