Getting S Video Out to work

[Leyton]

Hi all,

I'm new here and am after a bit (a lot) of help. I currently have a basic Mesh pc with a GeForce MX integrated video card.

I'm hoping to use my tv as a display whilst playing movies. My pc didn't have a s video out port so I contacted MESH to ask if I could use a pci card that I had seen on ebay (see ebay item no. 6777167641) with my pc. They told me that it would work provided I had a spare pci slot.

I bought the item and have fitted it but can't for the life of me get it to work. Not even sure how to check if the card is working. After fitting it I did not see a 'found new hardware box'. Has my computer not recognised I have installed it?

Please let me know how I can get this to work. I guess you may need more information about my setup to be able to help me. Please let me know if this is the case.

Thanks for your help.

Leyton

p.s. I have scoured the internet for how to guides but can find none. If you know of one please point me in the right direction.

[edDV]

Usually you set up in dual monitor mode with the S-video as the second monitor. NVidia and ATI usually have instructions in their downloadable manuals.

[junkmalle]

You may have to disable your onboard graphics card in the BIOS? No that doesn't make sense. Try changing the resolution to 800x600 or less? And the refresh rate to 60 Hz.

[Leyton]

Hi,

Thanks for your advice.

I can get my monitor to go black but nothing happens on my tv. I've adjusted the resolution and the frequency (although my tv will display 100Hz).

What do I need to do with my BIOS? Is there a way of checking that my s video card that I bought from ebay is working? I've looked for downloadable manuals but can't find a bit that helps.

Thanks again for all your help.

Leyton

[junkmalle]

The reason I suggested reducing your resolution and frame rate is because there are many cheap external boxes that convert the VGA connector's RGB output to composite or s-video. But many are limited to 640x480 (sometimes more) and 60 Hz.

You mentioned using a PCI card but the ebay auction you referenced was an AGP card (it says so in the text and the picture is obviously an AGP card).

Usually with onboard video, when you plug an AGP card into the slot, the onboard video is automatically disabled. Is this is why you mean when you say you can get the "monitor to go black"?

If you really have a PCI card, there is a setting in the BIOS that lets you select which video device to use. It takes the form of a priority: "use PCI video card first", or "use AGP video card first". There may be a third setting "use onboard video first".

The card pictured in the ebay listing doesn't appear to have a VGA connector (although I can't say for sure because of the angle). I'm not sure how it's supposed to work.

I'm just giving you some general information...

[Richard_G]

From the description in the ad, it looks like the card should work. As you have onboard video, you may need to enable the AGP slot in the BIOS somewhere. You should then see the Add New Hardware box when it detects the card and it will then ask you for a driver. Have you loaded a driver? Does it appear in Device Manager? From your description, it looks like it isn't working because the PC doesn't know it's there.

[Nelson37]

I agree. If this is an AGP card, you will either have to prioritize it in the BIOS or disable the built-in one. The system has not yet detected the new card.

Don't think I've ever seen a card with S-video but no VGA.

[Richard_G]

You don't want to disable the onboard or you'll get no monitor display (unless that's how it's supposed to work, S-Video out or monitor but not both at the same time?). I would assume that this card somehow piggy backs itself onto the AGP bus in addition to the onboard. The onboard graphics will be on the AGP bus anyway. Did any instructions come with the card? If not, go back to the supplier, he's sold a few of these so it must be possible to make it work.

[Leyton]

Hi All,

Thanks for the great response. Apologies for my lack of knowledge PCI/AGP etc.

I've tried contacting the seller. He just said I had a faulty card and sent me a new one (FOC). I've told him I think the problem is my end but haven't heard back from him.

Since installing it my computer has not had the 'found new hardware' box so I think I have to get the card itself working by 'enabling my AGP slot' (thanks Richard G). Everything I read says the computer will automatically recognise it but it doesn't.

Any ideas?

Thanks again,

Leyton

[junkmalle]

Have you checked your BIOS yet? When you boot your computer press the ESC key or DEL key to access the BIOS setup. What key to press depends on what computer you have, usually ESC or DEL. Sometimes you'll see a message onscreen "press X for setup" as your computer starts up.

[Heywould3]

also make sure you have your tv on the correct channel.. 00 i think to use svideo.. might be different on yours.. also under display under advanced. look for a place to activate another display.... might need to update graphics drivers.

[Nelson37]

You can only have ONE AGP device. The onboard video is almost certainly AGP. Having this enabled turns off the AGP slot that your new card is in. This is almost certainly why it does not detect.

SFAIK, it is not possible for two AGP units to co-exist, "piggybacked" or otherwise.

You must pick ONE. This could be a problem if the new card is defective.
Most BIOS have a "return to default" setting. Memorize this so you could hit it with no display. Would be a good idea to have a second video card available for just such an event.