HDMI to Component conversion issues

[veerappan]

Hi Everyone,

I am new to the forum. Hope I will be able to get some help on this problem

Basically my parents have an HP laptop running Windows 7 and has HDMI output but not S-Video etc. (The computer information on my profile is for their computer). They have an older Sony Trinitron TV that has component input but not HDMI. So I went to TigerDirect's website and bought a Sabrent HDMI to Component (YPbPr) RGB Video and RCA Stereo Audio Converter. I got all of the cables hooked up and was set to start viewing... but it WON'T WORK!!! A message pops up on the computer saying the optimal resolution for the TV is 640x480 and Windows 7 only seems to go as low as 800x600. I even tried different things to get the computer resolution down to 640 but as soon as I try to extend the display it goes back to HD. I can see that the signal is going through to the TV but it comes up as garbage.

Has anyone else had this issue and know of any way to fix it??? Any help is greatly appreciated

[Cornucopia]

On a general note, you don't want to EXTEND the desktop, you want to SWAP the internal desktop for the EXTERNAL desktop (which would have been set to 640x480).

I'm not surprised the device is making you do that (change to 640x480), as old Trinitrons are at best full D1 Standard Def TVs (aka 720x480). With non-square pixels, that equates to 640x480. That's as high as you SHOULD go for that TV.
Plus, unless the TV were built to accept HD component signals, giving it anything other than 640x480 will ALWAYS result in garbage, just like you experienced.

Now, you should also understand that most recent HDMI graphics adapters (and/or converters) have been built such that, with copyrighted material, HD signals MUST (by law/contract) be downconverted to SD anyway.

However, I notice that your box is built to only supply component SD output 480p60, not 480i60, so this might not be the box for you anyway.

Scott

edit: Plus, it looks like Vista/Win7 only goes down to 800x600, no lower. Even attempts to "personalize" the output will result in it reverting back to a larger resolution. So you will either have to get that PC to dualboot into XP (and you will also need HDMI graphics card drivers that'll work with XP), or you will have to find a converter box that is more powerful and does a 1080/720->480 dowconversion internally.
Sure hope you can return the device!...

[veerappan]

Thanks for the response. Sorry I should have clarified, I was trying to duplicate the desktop not extend. I don't think it would even let me extend given the difference in resolution as you mentioned.

Interesting, so I would need a box that can output 480i60 eh? Does anyone know of a box on the market that will do that? (Hopefully not super expensive)

Or if there is another solution (other than buying a new TV as I have tried to convince them without success), I would love to hear it!

[Cornucopia]

Re-read to see what I added...

At this point, your CHEAPEST (and funnily enough, easiest) way out of this is to get a new TV.

You could try a USB 2.0/3.0 -> VGA adapter and then a VGA -> Component adapter or some other similar chain, but that's just getting a little Rube Goldberg-ish.

Scott

[veerappan]

Ah, as I suspected. That's unfortunate. I should be able to get a refund, but will have to pay a restocking fee of I think 15%. Oh well. It was worth a shot!!

Thanks for the information.

[jagabo]

HDMI to SD composite:
http://www.amazon.com/Sanoxy-HDMI-Composite-S-Video-Converter/dp/B0047PDBP0/

But SD video quality is very low for computer usage:
https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/283861-VGA-to-S-video?p=1756748&viewfull=1#post1756748

SD component would only be a tiny bit better. Best to get a new HDTV.

It's possible to get the desktop down to 640x480: Go to the Monitor tab of the Advanced Video Settings and disable "Hide modes that this monitor cannot display".



Then go to the Adapter tab and select "List All Modes". You'll see 640x480 settings there.



Be warned many Windows dialogs will not fit on a 640x480 display. It can be hard to close dialogs because the buttons will below the bottom of the screen.