cable: vga to s-video

[themaster1]

I have acquired a tv/retro projector recently and i'm about to consider buying such a cable, only problem is i don't know if that will work with my computer/graphic card.

My graphic card is an ati radeon xpress 200 series, so nothing special.It doesn't have a tv out option on the hardware level (like my previous graphic card) but on the software level it seems i could do it.See screenshot here.

My goal is to play movies on this tv/retro projector.

Also, if u got a good address to buy such a cable, let me know.

Thanks for your inputs guys

[redwudz]

Are you going to use the projector for Windows instead of a monitor, along with your video viewing? I mention this because text will be very hard to read with S-video. You can change the system font size to extra large and that will help a bit. It seems you will be blocking your VGA monitor output.

Is that a on-board video card? I don't see much about it, and nothing about S-video being available off the VGA connection.

You would likely be better off to just purchase a inexpensive video card for PCI slot, or whatever slot you have available. One such as this from Newegg is about $20US with a S-video connection and would still allow you to use your VGA for a PC monitor. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102552 Not necessarily recommending that card, just one option. Then all you would need is a standard S-video cable.

BTW, it would help to mention where you are located, as that has a major influence on what may be available or suggested for you.

[jagabo]

In case it isn't clear, VGA and s-video are completely incompatible systems. No simple cable can convert VGA to s-video. That said, there are some unused pins on the VGA connector. Some graphics cards use those pins to output s-video or composite video. But this is apparently a very small minority of cards.

Redwudz is correct, Windows is nearly unusable over an s-video connector. What you want to do is run both a monitor and the projector with a card that can output to both. Use the monitor for Windows, the s-video port for video. ATI card's have a "Theater mode" where whatever video is playing in a window on the main monitor is displayed full screen on the s-video port. Or you can use Mirror Mode where both screens show the same thing all the time.

[themaster1]

Yeah right after i have made this thread i have googled a bit and found out that vga to s-video is impossible.
What is possible is to use a vga to component (Y,Pb,Pr) cable and i have such input on my tv retro projector

see external link here

[jagabo]

Yeah right after i have made this thread i have googled a bit and found out that vga to s-video is impossible.
What is possible is to use a vga to component (Y,Pb,Pr) cable and i have such input on my tv retro projector :)

see external link here

No, VGA is not compatible with YPbPr. From the link you provided:

One note: before you order any component-to-HD15 cable, be sure that your devices will support this connection. Almost all devices which use an HD15 connector will support an "RGBHV" type signal, but not all will also accept, or put out, a component video (Y/Pb/Pr) type signal.

[themaster1]

Oh well it was late when i found this . You're right

I heard of a box converter that can transform vga into s-video i guess that's my best option, i need to snoop around and find one.Cost 100$ !

Or i could simply buy a new external hdd with direct display capability amongst other things.

[jagabo]

Is your computer a laptop? If not, a new graphics card (with s-video out) is the better solution. As Redwudz pointed out they can be had for as little as $20. Pretty good ones run around $75. If you're into cutting edge games you'll need to spend more though.

[Xylob the Destroyer]

there are even relatively cheap cards that support component output (some require a $25 adapter).