computer to tv hardware question

kaml20 · 11-08-2004, 06:43 PM

Hello,

I have just gone down to radio shack (like an idiot) and bought an s-video cable (12 ft 22 bucks) thinking that my tv (1995) has svideo in, it doensnt and i still want to watch my computer or be able to play/write papers on my tv. My question is this where can I get a pretty cheap s video cable that is relatively long (and exactly what is the rate of degredation with respect to length) as well as a s video to male composite video adaptor for relatively cheap and still good quality

please keep in mind when answering this quesiton that
I may wish to get a new tv or watch my computer output on my tv at home (which is 35 inch/has svideo input)

I have checked froogle and pricewatch I just want to make sure its good quality

Is there a benefit to getting an svideo to female composite?

i tried to search the forums cant find anything, maybe there is a website that has the info i need, if you guys can help it would be awsome. if this topic has been posted im sorry (no sleep in last 1.5 days)

THANKS!

DarkFury · 11-08-2004, 06:57 PM

Honestly, I never could get my Video card to work with one of those S-Video to TV RCA adapters.

The only way I could get it to work was in using a TV that did have S-Video jacks and even that was flakey unless I unplugged my monitor from the computer before starting it up.

Well good luck on trying to make it work...

Hoser · 11-08-2004, 07:43 PM

S-video has a separate connection for the chrominance (color) and luminance (intensity). Composite has them both mixed together. If you had a video signal connected to a TV using both connections and switched between them, you would notice a difference.

Here's what you're looking for: http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp...-VIDEO&cat=CBL

A lot of video cards included these for TV output. You may have friends that have these and aren't using them.

I've gotten my video card to output to a TV, but the quality will not even be close to a monitor's quality. A normal TV will have problems with 800X600 resolution. 640X480 is somewhat acceptable. Just for info - the resolution of a DVD is 720X480. I've played DVDs from a computer using s-video output and the quality was almost as good as my DVD player (which is hooked up using s-video to the TV). If you want to get really fancy, you can connect your video card to a HDTV using DVI (Digital Visual Interface) for the best possible signal.

Agent Plissken · 11-08-2004, 07:51 PM

I have an HD TV and text and stuff still looks like crap when I hook a computer up to it. My advice, forget about it and stick to your monitor.

Jeffbx · 11-09-2004, 05:45 AM

The only thing a TV is good for is streaming video to it - text & graphics will look like absolute crap. The native resolution of TV is rediculously low, like 320x200 or something like that.

kaml20 · 11-09-2004, 06:20 AM

then would it be cheaper to get a dvd player that plays divx?
if its going to look bad then f it id rather play my xvid movies on a dvd player

i spent about 50 bucks on wires and stuff...

SmokeyDP · 11-09-2004, 08:58 AM

I bought a RF converter box at radio shack for $20. It hooks up to the TV using the normal cable coaxial wire. It has RCA inputs and a Svideo input and you just turn the TV to channel 3. It works alright and I use the TV next to my computer as a second monitor to play videos on it while online. The quality isn't great, but the TV is also a old 15"

EDIT: Its $30.

Go to radioshack.com and do a search for "RF Modulator". I tried linking to it, but its not working.

Bires · 11-09-2004, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaml20

then would it be cheaper to get a dvd player that plays divx?
if its going to look bad then f it id rather play my xvid movies on a dvd player

i spent about 50 bucks on wires and stuff...

I have the DVD player (something 640) that playes DIVX (and sometimes XVID). It works great when you want to burn AVI's and MPGs to a DVD and watch video clips. It will also play MOST DVIX, but not all, and it has a lot of trouble with XVID. Just so you know. Worth $60, but don't completely discount the HTPC.

bachviet · 11-09-2004, 09:21 AM

Once you go the HTPC route, you have to have a TV with at least S-video.

DarkFury · 11-09-2004, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmokeyDP

I bought a RF converter box at radio shack for $20. It hooks up to the TV using the normal cable coaxial wire. It has RCA inputs and a Svideo input and you just turn the TV to channel 3. It works alright and I use the TV next to my computer as a second monitor to play videos on it while online. The quality isn't great, but the TV is also a old 15"

EDIT: Its $30.

Go to radioshack.com and do a search for "RF Modulator". I tried linking to it, but its not working.

Personally, I couldn't get one of those to work on mine..

All I would get was the "blue" waiting screen on my TV... as if the signal coming from the PC wasn't getting through.

11-08-2004, 06:43 PM	#1
kaml20 Lieutenant Junior Grade Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 60	computer to tv hardware question Hello, I have just gone down to radio shack (like an idiot) and bought an s-video cable (12 ft 22 bucks) thinking that my tv (1995) has svideo in, it doensnt and i still want to watch my computer or be able to play/write papers on my tv. My question is this where can I get a pretty cheap s video cable that is relatively long (and exactly what is the rate of degredation with respect to length) as well as a s video to male composite video adaptor for relatively cheap and still good quality please keep in mind when answering this quesiton that I may wish to get a new tv or watch my computer output on my tv at home (which is 35 inch/has svideo input) I have checked froogle and pricewatch I just want to make sure its good quality Is there a benefit to getting an svideo to female composite? i tried to search the forums cant find anything, maybe there is a website that has the info i need, if you guys can help it would be awsome. if this topic has been posted im sorry (no sleep in last 1.5 days) THANKS!

11-08-2004, 06:57 PM	#2
DarkFury Secretary of the Navy Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Chillin' N Da 'Hood Posts: 34,997	Honestly, I never could get my Video card to work with one of those S-Video to TV RCA adapters. The only way I could get it to work was in using a TV that did have S-Video jacks and even that was flakey unless I unplugged my monitor from the computer before starting it up. Well good luck on trying to make it work... __________________ DarkFury's Pimptopia - Don't Hate the Playa, Hate the Game! Home of the Original OG Pimp (accept NO imitations)

11-08-2004, 07:51 PM	#4
Agent Plissken Commander Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Montgomery Posts: 1,264	I have an HD TV and text and stuff still looks like crap when I hook a computer up to it. My advice, forget about it and stick to your monitor. __________________ Dyin' ain't much of a living, boy

11-09-2004, 08:58 AM	#7
SmokeyDP Lieutenant Commander Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Middlesex, NJ Posts: 541	I bought a RF converter box at radio shack for $20. It hooks up to the TV using the normal cable coaxial wire. It has RCA inputs and a Svideo input and you just turn the TV to channel 3. It works alright and I use the TV next to my computer as a second monitor to play videos on it while online. The quality isn't great, but the TV is also a old 15" EDIT: Its $30. Go to radioshack.com and do a search for "RF Modulator". I tried linking to it, but its not working. Last edited by SmokeyDP : 11-09-2004 at 09:01 AM.

11-09-2004, 09:21 AM	#9
bachviet What's Da Pho*? Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SoCal (714) Posts: 13,296	Once you go the HTPC route, you have to have a TV with at least S-video. __________________ Dell Dimension 9200 \| Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (2.4GHz) \| 4x1GB DDR2 \| 256MB nVidia GeForce 8800GT Dell Studio 17 \| Intel Core i7-720QM (1.6GHz) \| 2x2GB DDR3 1066MHz \| 1GHz ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 Intel P4-C 3.0GHz \| ECS 865PE-A \| 3x512MB PC3200 \| 128MB PNY GeForce 6600GT

11-08-2004, 07:43 PM	#3
Hoser Commander Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Omaha, NE, United States Posts: 1,275	S-video has a separate connection for the chrominance (color) and luminance (intensity). Composite has them both mixed together. If you had a video signal connected to a TV using both connections and switched between them, you would notice a difference. Here's what you're looking for: http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp...-VIDEO&cat=CBL A lot of video cards included these for TV output. You may have friends that have these and aren't using them. I've gotten my video card to output to a TV, but the quality will not even be close to a monitor's quality. A normal TV will have problems with 800X600 resolution. 640X480 is somewhat acceptable. Just for info - the resolution of a DVD is 720X480. I've played DVDs from a computer using s-video output and the quality was almost as good as my DVD player (which is hooked up using s-video to the TV). If you want to get really fancy, you can connect your video card to a HDTV using DVI (Digital Visual Interface) for the best possible signal.

11-09-2004, 05:45 AM	#5
Jeffbx Fleet Admiral Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Michigan Posts: 9,390	The only thing a TV is good for is streaming video to it - text & graphics will look like absolute crap. The native resolution of TV is rediculously low, like 320x200 or something like that.

11-09-2004, 06:20 AM	#6
kaml20 Lieutenant Junior Grade Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 60	then would it be cheaper to get a dvd player that plays divx? if its going to look bad then f it id rather play my xvid movies on a dvd player i spent about 50 bucks on wires and stuff...

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