I have had my computer connected to my 65" big screen for a few years using s-video and it looks... not as bad as you might think, but it's far from crystal clear.

My tv is 6 years old and only has component and RGB inputs (no DVI or VGA). I found a couple of converters and am wondering if these would work for me and if the increases in clarity would be worth it. Here they are:

http://sewelldirect.com/VGA-to-HDTV-Converter.asp
http://sewelldirect.com/VGA-to-Component-Video-Converter.asp

What do you guys think?

Sorry, don't have any experience with any of these. Have you checked to see if you can find a video card with component out?

Most of the newer video cards have good onboard scaling. I am using the onboard graphics of my new computer to upscale and it is very good.

Out of curiosity, what is the resolution of your tv?


Fred

The resolution is important. If it's SD (480), you won't likely see any improvement beyond what you're getting on S-Video.

If it's a 720p, you should be able to use the component inputs for a real improvement.

What does your video card output? On first glance, I'd think that a new video card would be a much better choice than either of those converters. The modest Gigabyte card I have comes with an adapter to go from its DVI output to component.

If your TV only has S-Video and composite inputs, you're screwed.

I've had my computer hooked up to my 56" Sammy for about a year now. It is awesome! I'm not an expert on hooking these things up so I had to hire someone to do it. He ran the computer through my AV receiver so that I have surround sound on my games and the picture quality is perfect.

My HTPC using TheaterTek DVD software, is connected via DVD/HDMI cable to my projector beaming on a 130" 2.35 screen. Having the Nvidia card matching the native 720p resolution of the projector brings you jaw dropping images.

My tv is 1080i, and yes it has component in but like I said no DVI or VGA or HDMI. I've looked for a video card with component out, but I haven't seen one yet. All I've seen are converters that go from either DVI or VGA to component.

Tomtuttle, do you mean the video card or the converter when you say if the resolution is 480 I won't see much of an improvement?

I just meant if you had a standard-def TV, that S-Video was going to be as good as it gets, anyway.

What's wrong with going from DVI to component via converter? Wouldn't you still get 720p?

I’m with tomtuttle on this one. If your present video card has DVI see if you can find a DVI to Component adapter that will work with your card. If not then I go with his suggestion to get a new video card with DVI that had the capability to use a DVI to Component adapter. That way you get the functionality you want and likely a better video card than you have now.

As long as your video card can output 720 or better 1080 since your HDTV displays 1080i then you will see an improvement by upgrading from S-video which is only 480. It’s best to send your display a signal in it’s native resolution which in your case is 1080. I use my HDTV as a computer monitor at 1080 and it is great. I use my 1080p HDTV as my primary computer monitor and love it. If you are presently sending your HDTV a 480 signal via S-video you should some nice improvement by sending it it’s native 1080 signal so it doesn’t have to upscale the image.

I'm not the most computer savvy guy, how do I find out if my video card does 1080i? It does have 3 outputs - DVI, VGA, and S-Video. I looked in the system settings but I couldn't find anything that said if it will put out 1080.

You would have to change the resolution in the video settings on your computer from whatever you have now to xxxxx X 1080. For example, say your currently set to 800 x 600, or 1024 x 768, then you would just bump up the slider until you see 1080 as the second number.

For me 1080 looks terrible with my Nvidia 6600GT higher end card on my 720p projector. It is best to match the native resolution of your tv. You my find a 1280 x 720 gives you better results, that is assuming you have a good video hard. My guess is if it has DVI it should be able to output higher resolutions.

If your on XP, right-click on your desktop, selecty properties, select the Settings tab, and at the bottom you will see where you can change your settings.

I think you're going to want VGA to component--analog to analog is just a matter of rewiring the cables. DVI to component will either be pulling from the analog portion of the DVI connector (if it has one) and will therefore be VGA, or it will be an expensive DAC. I have yet to see decent external video DACs for computer applications. Also, check your video card for ~1900x1080. You do want it to be widescreen, after all. I think the normal aspect number with 1080 would be 1400 or so--which you don't want.

What video card do you have?

I've seen 8800GTs and 9600GTs (you'll pay a premium for those) that have component out adapters. Many modern video cards with s-video outs will include an adapter to component.

I have a Radeon X300 series.

My current setting is 1024 x 768. I don't have the option go go xxxx x 1080, the closest I have is 1280 x 1024. I do have a 1280 x 720, does that mean it outputs 720p? That doesn't help me since my tv is 1080i right?

I have to admit that the picture is surprisingly good for s-video, but all that does is make me want to see how good component would look.

1280x720 would be your best option, probably.

I just looked up the x300 specs on the ati site. Looks like 1920x1080 is the only widescreen resolution this display will put out.

I wonder if you can get your card to output an interlaced signal? 1080i gives you 1:1 mapping to your display.

Fred

Hey Cameron, I bet your resolution is limited by your desktop monitor. I would wager that that card would run 1080i (1900x1080) just fine.

It doesn't give me that option though. It gives me the following:

1920 x 1440
1900 x 1200
1800 x 1440
1600 x 1200
1600 x 1000
1360 x 768
1280 x 1024
1280 x 800
1280 x 768
1280 x 720
1154 x 864
1024 x 768
800 x 600

BTW, thanks for all the help guys.

It won't give you 1920x1080 until it is hooked up to a capable monitor (ie the TV) as the primary display.


X300 specs

Cameron, keep in mind that if the "native resolution" of your TV is 1080, it'll scale any other resolution of incoming material to 1080 so that a full picture can be displayed. This doesn't mean, of course, that the resolution will actually be as good as if the material was originally 1080 from the TV transmission or disc, or whatever source.

Doormat, so what you're saying is that when I have it hooked up using a component cable then the 1920 x 1080 resolution will show up as an option on my settings?

JohnK, yeah I understand that. Since I'm using s-video right now 408i is the best I can do right? (or 480 upconverted to whatever).

So, does it sound like I could use one of those converters from my original post (VGA to component) and get 1080i resolution?

Doormat,

cool, I just noticed the specs for my video card (thanks!). It looks like I would have to be at 120 Hz for 1920 x 1080. I have seen that most tv's need 60 Hz so I wonder if this is a deal breaker.

If your computer monitor is not capable of the resolution your trying to achieve it won't be an option. A 1080i tv will generally also provide 720p, which is where HD starts.

I would think you could get a convertor for your video card to get to component, then you should be able to hook up to your tv.

I still think a new video card might be as cheap as a converter.

One of those converters in my original post is only 70 bucks, if I could find an HD video card that I could plug into my tv using component cables for that I would be all over it.

I'm wondering what the difference is between the converters in my OP (other than 100 bucks or so).

If the TV is set as the Primary display, then yes, it should. Sometimes the drivers can get pretty uppity about which monitor it sees as the primary if you have multiple displays (I use a laptop and projector and occasionally have to re-set it up).

As to refresh rates, I seem to recall something about it not really being relevant for LCDs, sort of a holdover from CRT days. Not entirely sure about that, so don't base anything on my say so for this.

$70?! For a VGA to component cable? This might do the trick.

My current video card has the same outputs as that card - VGA, DVI, and s-video so I would still need something to convert to component since that is all my tv takes. Thanks for the idea though, looks like a pretty cheap HD card that's for sure.

The card has the s-vid to component cable included.

"If the TV is set as the Primary display, then yes, it should. Sometimes the drivers can get pretty uppity about which monitor it sees as the primary if you have multiple displays (I use a laptop and projector and occasionally have to re-set it up)."

Hmm... that could be a problem because I need to use my regular monitor as my primary display. I can't figure out how to get the taskbar/start menu etc. to show up on my secondary display (which is the tv) without making my tv the primary display and then the taskbar is gone from the computer monitor.

Ahhhh gotcha kcarlile - and you think that would be a true 1080 i output going to the tv?

Possibly. I'm not sure about it. I've never used such a connector, but there it is.

As I understand it S-video is only capable of 480, so it would merely pass the 480 signal into component connectors, not send a 720/1080 signal. The S-video/component cable is only an adapter.

I have my laptop/projector set up in a Clone mode (nVidia card) with the projector set as primary and I get everything on both, although some of the edges are cut on the projector (not quite a perfect fit, proj: 800x600).

OK, did some digging and doormat is correct, s-video will do no more than 420 out.

Looks like no matter which connector you use to go out from your video card, you will need to convert, so pick your poison.

Try a google search on converter quality and see what you come up with. I'm sure someone out there has gone through the same deal as you and has posted somewhere.

Fred

I see that I'm busy being wrong here. VGA is not component in a different form... shows what I know. Hence the expensive converters.

If you are using Windows XP you should be able to just drag the task bar with the mouse from the primary monitor to the secondary and put it wherever you want it (bottom, top or side).

If it doesn’t move then the taskbar is locked. To unlock it - Right click on the taskbar > Deselect “lock the taskbar” and the check mark will disappear now you can drag it over to the secondary monitor and attach it to the bottom, top or a side.

Probably works with Vista but I don’t use that.

Sorry for the double post but the site went down before I could edit the last one.

As far as can tell not all X300 based video cards can output component signals with a simple adapter. This functionality is based on the card manufacturer not just the chipset. See these specs:

http://ati.amd.com/products/radeonx300/specs.html

You should check with the card manufacture to see if they have a simple DVI or other adapter based solution to your problem.

If all else fails you could try the ATI adapter. I doubt it will work as the X300 chipset isn’t listed as supported but it might work, or ATI could give you another option.

http://ati.amd.com/products/hdtvadapter/faq.html#2

One thing I noticed is that ATI says that with their adapter you can only run one display. So if your card’s manufacturer says that they have an adapter make sure it still allows another monitor to run at the same time or you loose the advantage of running two monitors. If this is the case you would still have to get one of those expensive VGA to component converters or better yet just get a new video card.

Another possibility, if your AV receiver will take a DVI input and convert it to component output you may already have a converter.

Grunt, thanks for the tip about the toolbar, I had no idea you could do that.

Thanks so much for all the info guys. It's amazing how much more help I received here compared to avsforum. Over there questions like mine are treated with annoyance at best.

It looks like I have a lot of research to do. It is becoming clear that my best bet would probalby be to get a new video card and make sure it does what I want.

I thought I needed a VGI to component converter, but I checked the back of my computer and it turns out I am wrong. The primary monitor is connected using the VGA output, not the DVI output like I thought which means I need a DVI to component adapter...like Grunt suggested, I wish I had a DVI input on my reciever. I have HDMI, but alas no DVI.

ooooooh... you've got HDMI on the receiver? DVI to HDMI is a fairly trivial thing, other than the HDCP thing. But you probably don't have to worry about that, since your source (the computer) probably isn't going to be hdcp protected.

My receiver doesn't convert HDMI to component (I'm pretty sure it doesn't anyway) so I can't input that into the tv.

d'oh.

Doh! Didn't even think to ask about a receiver. Now it will be simple. Just remember to run audio out from your computer into the receiver as well, as DVI dosn't handle audio.

You will see a real improvement in picture quality.

Let us know how it works out.

Fred

Unfortunately, it sounds like his receiver doesn't convert HDMI to component. I'd be somewhat surprised to find one that did.

I have mine connected with a DVI to HDMI 35 foot cable to my Denon 4308CI then a 10 foot Hdmi to DVI 65" rear projection as well as a 10 foot HDMI to HDMI for a 42" flat panel LCD. the picture is just as good as it is from my DirecTV HD DVR, I suspect the Denon AVR has allott to do with it although I haven't tried going directly to the monitors. But I read that over 17 feet of HDMI cable is the limit without a boost.

Just another thought. What type of HDTV do you have. I think most HDTVs accept 1080i over component cables but I’m not sure they all do especially older ones. If it accepts 720 you should still see an improvement over 480 but if it only accepts 480 then getting any adapter/converter is moot.

Actually could you post all of the models of equipment you are using, HDTV, receiver, and actual video card or motherboard if it’s integrated. This might help us find work-around more easily if there is one.

This is turning out to be quite the challenge.

Thats what happens when you get interupted while posting. The rest of the forum passes you buy... Sorta like technological advancements that left component behind.

Were back to a converter I guess.

Fred

Ok, here goes.

My tv is a Mitsubishi WS-65311. The back panel has the following 3 HD inputs:

first input: "DTV(YPBPR/GBRH V) 480i/480p/1080i"
2nd and 3rd input: "COMPONENT 480i/480p/1080i"

I have my HDTV Cable box hooked up the the DTV input (first input) and my progressive scan DVD player hooked upt to the 2nd input. I have tried interchanging these just to see what happens and it doesn't work. I guess there is two kinds of component in?

My reciever is a digital Panasonic, SA-XR57. It has 1 HDMI input and 2 component input. I read the manual and it cannot convert.

My video card is a Radeon 300 series with DVI, VGA, and S-Video output. Currently the VGA goes to my computer monitor and the S-Video goes to my big screen tv, leaving the DVI available.

doormat posted a link to the specs on my video card earlier in this thread. I tried copying that here, but it didn't work.

X300 specs

Thanks doormat. I just posted a thread over at avsforum to see what kinds of ideas they give me. I basically just asked what video card I should get instead of trying to figure out what to do with what I have.

I'm sure I'll get all kinds of rude replies but I figured it was worth a shot. What is it with those guys on that forum? So many of them act like it's such a hassle to help people... if you don't want to be bothered then stay the hell off the computer or at least stay off the forum...

Radeon X300 Series Users Guide for reference:

http://www.fujitsu-siemens.co.uk/rl/serv.../RadeonX300.pdf


Excerpt of the Radeom X300 specs from http://ati.amd.com/products/radeonx300/specs.html :





Unfortunately there is no way to check the internet to see if a simple adapter will work in your situation without knowing the actual video card or motherboard. If you know the card/motherboard manufacturer I would do as suggested above and contact them to see if it has HDTV adapter support.

If you can’t contact the card manufacture you could try this adapter and return it if it doesn’t work:

http://sewelldirect.com/dvivideoadapter.asp


If a DVI to component adapter doesn’t work then you are left with a few options only two of which I would consider.

1. Get a video card that has some native or adapter based support for component output. If you do go with one of these cards (sorry no suggestions since I’ve never researched them) note that they sometimes have display issues like over-scanning. So make sure to read reviews.

2. Live with what you have until you’re ready to get another HDTV.

I wouldn't waist my money on a VGA to Component adapter since for about the same money you could just update your video card.

It's possible that the s-vid port (since it's a 9 pin) does in fact support more than 480i/p/whatever. Many of their cards would seem to from the hdtv adapter faq on their site.

I was wondering the same thing but didn’t see anything but S-Video to Composite listed in the user guide. Couldn’t hurt to try it though.

Radeon X300 Series Users Guide for reference:

http://www.fujitsu-siemens.co.uk/rl/serv.../RadeonX300.pdf

@ cameron

There appear to be so many cards that will do what you want it’s hard to make a recommendation without knowing what all uses you plan for it and what it’s foundation (motherboard and processor) is. Here’s a start just to let you know there are some relatively inexpensive solutions if you don’t want a bleeding edge card.

http://www.nvidia.com/object/buy_now_results.html?id=7600GS

I’m sure ATI had as many selections if you are partial to them. Google just popped up Nvidia first.

I almost drove over to a Micro Center to buy a new video card, but I took a deep breath and counted to 10. I'm sure they would try to sell me a more expensive card than I need so I better do some online research first. Thanks for the headstart Grunt, and to everybody else for the help. I'm thinking by next weekend I should have it all figured out.

I was inspired by this thread to try hooking up my PC to my 1080P TV. I have VGA output from the video card (Geforce 7800GT) and the TV has a VGA input.
Supposedly, this setup should be capable of getting a 1080P signal on the TV from the PC at 60 Hz, but when I try that I just get a message on the TV saying "check PC signal".
720P works fine. I've got the resolution set to 1344x768 and playing BattleField2 is awesome! But I want to see if the resolution can be even better. Any ideas?

Not all TV's will accept a 1080p signal via whatever input; some early 1080p TV's wouldn't accept one AT ALL, and I am aware of several that will only accept that resolution via HDMI. Maybe check the TV manual for clues?

What Tom said. My Sony A2020 only accepts 1080 over hdmi and component. My onboard video does a great job of upscaling DVDs.

Fred

I have my HTPC connected to my 42" Sharp Acquos 1080P tv.

I have an older 9600XT video card that has video out. I output that to a Transcoder that then outputs via component which hooks up to my TV. I output 1080P from my pc to my tv. I watch all movies/dvd's via my pc to my tv. Picture looks fantastic! My pc has 2gb of ram and a 2.8ghz Intel CPU.

I was actually shocked that I could output 1080P. I was trying to do 1080i thinking my pc wouldn't be able to output it to my tv via component. But I gave it a try and much to my surprise, it worked!

I view all my dvd's, pictures, etc on my tv via my pc.