PC VGA output to either SVHS or RCA TV

snaps

Is it possible to convert the VGA (Monitor) output to either a SVHS or composite (Into my tv) without buying a new graphics card?

watty

yes, you can buy a box (try Maplin). They aren't too good and cost more than a non-gamer card with S-video (S-VHS is a recorder type that often has S-Video or sometimes called Y/C video on a mini-DIN or SCART connection).

snaps

Cheers Watty, i was hoping a simple adaptor would do the trick. Have looked at a few on the internet, but your right a basic video card with SVHS out is not to expensive. I would assume you disable the onboard VGA on the motherboard via a jumper switch? or would a video card just simply plug and play?

gamer

Say you get agp card , reboot,go to bios ,advanced settings,in menu, click,set agp as primary video source.No need to go near any jumpers,its plug and play.You,ll need an agp slot on the motherboard,its usually light brown, pci is white.make sure the card has svideo out,its a round slot ,got about 7 small holes in it.IF your tv hasnt got svideo in slot round, then buy a scart converter.Price 3euros, it has 3rca in, and svideo in ,plugs into scart,av1,or av2,click switch on top, to - input IN, to recieve pc signal.You may need to download ati, or nvidia winxp driver ,to use advanced setttings.Rightclick, desktop, grahics card advanced settings, click,tv out, turn on external tv display.When installing card,knock off pc, take out pc plug from esb socket.
Peats sell agp cards,45euro, make sure it has vga.AND S-VIDEO OUT.


SVHS IS A standard for hiquality video recording.

watty

Normally just pluging in the PCI/AGP/PCI express (check what your PC takes) works without changing anything. On rare occasions you may need to change the BIOS setting.

You may need to install driver that comes with card.

You may find you can have an extended desktop using both if desired.

The Cheap S-Video to SCART does convert to SCART. It either allows composite (which most SCART support) or a small number of TV & S-VHS have S-Video on SCART pins.

A true S-Video to SCART converts to Composite (Cheap €15) or converts to RGB (over €50 usually).


S-VHS is a type of tape and type of recorder. Not a video signal type.

snaps

very informative replys lads, i dont know much about graphics as all my PC building skills have always involved the onboard VGA graphics output with motherboards. The reason i ask this is that i have a spare desktop pc which im thinking of hooking up to the tv as a media center. I have all the spare parts to upgrade it (DVDRW, Hard drive, Memory, TV capture card) just the graphics out was the only tricky part.

I'll see whats around 2nd hand on ebay 1st and then look at buying new.

P.s the mother board that will be going into it has the standard white bus ports (3) and 1 red one. I actually thought they were either green or brown the slots for graphics cards?

watty

You can get graphics cards for just about any kind of slot. Consult you Mobo manual.

Even oldfashioned PCI is not much different to AGP x 4 in real life outside of special FPS benchmarks.

gamer

White mobo slots are pci slots.Look on adverts.ie or ebay ,for cards with tv out ,svideo out .You can get an svideo cable to connect into your tv,if your tv has svideo in,round slot ,about half an inch wide. Some shops in town,sell universal video kits ,with all svideo cables ,scart,composite cables,adaptors 12euro approx.You will need to install the driver,to activate tv out.Try get ati,or nvidia card,then go to website ,eg ati.com to download the drivers, look in legacy cards section.FOR best PICTURE match your resolution to standard tv res, i think its something like 576x720, i cant remeber exact tv resolution,to be honest.