Please help :) HP Computer (Windows XP) to Sony TV

[ray_kalm]

I am trying to connect my computer to my Sony TV, but I'm unsure of what to buy. My computer doesn't have a S Video port, but it does have a VGA port. My TV has no VGA port, but it does have a S Video port. So, should I get a cable as such as this one?

http://www.amazon.com/NEW-CONVERTER-.../dp/B000S675JU

And if so, are there any out there with extended length?

Thanks.

When I go and check my Video Card through Device Manager, I get this said twice:

Intel(R) 82915G/GV/910GL Expres Chipset Family

Would the VGA to SVideo cable work with this card? Does it have TV-Out capability?

[ray_kalm]

Hoping for a reply.

[jagabo]

I am trying to connect my computer to my Sony TV, but I'm unsure of what to buy. My computer doesn't have a S Video port, but it does have a VGA port. My TV has no VGA port, but it does have a S Video port. So, should I get a cable as such as this one?

http://www.amazon.com/NEW-CONVERTER-.../dp/B000S675JU

Did you read the small print:

Please, check your PC & Video Card manual or manufacturer to make sure that your VGA card has TV-Out function capability through the VGA connector... the adapter work with above G400 and NV6 serires graphic card which have TV out function

Unless you have one of those cards (and they are something like 20 years old) it will not work. You will need a VGA to s-video scan converter:

http://www.amazon.com/Computer-Presentation-Converter-Converts-Composite/dp/B0036V5KBO/

And keep in mind the resolution of s-video is close to 640x480 so you will not get a nice clear picture on the TV. It will look something like the image in this post:

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/283861-VGA-to-S-video?p=1756748&viewfull=1#post1756748

That's OK for watching youtube videos but not for desktop applications.

If you have an HDTV with component, DVI, or HDMI inputs you can get a much better picture with that and the correct scan converter. It will cost a lot more.

[intracube]

My computer doesn't have a S Video port, but it does have a VGA port. My TV has no VGA port, but it does have a S Video port. So, should I get a cable as such as this one?
http://www.amazon.com/NEW-CONVERTER-.../dp/B000S675JU

When I go and check my Video Card through Device Manager, I get this said twice:
Intel(R) 82915G/GV/910GL Expres Chipset Family

Would the VGA to SVideo cable work with this card? Does it have TV-Out capability?

I'm not sure. I found this page on Intel's site:
http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/category/graphics/intel915g/instl_confg
After clicking 'View All', and scrolling towards the bottom I can see a 'TV-out troubleshooting' link:
http://www.intel.com/support/graphics/sb/CS-004653.htm

Can you follow the instructions and see if there's any mention of TV output on any of the menus.

*The page covers a number of Intel producst, so I don't know if your specific card supports TV out.

I haven't heard of graphics cards that do S-Video over VGA before - so unless you're confident that your card does do that, I'd hold off buying the adapter.

[jagabo]

The previously unused pins of the VGA port were defined to pass EDID information in the mid 90's. So no modern computer or laptop outputs composite or s-video at the VGA port.

The Intel 82915G chipset supports TV out but if the vendor of the notebook chose not to implement it (ie, there's no composite or s-video connector) there's no way to use it.

[ray_kalm]

Thanks for the replies.

I think my graphic card is mentioned there (as supported) but as Jagobo said, I'm unsure if my vendor chose to support it. I don't have a notebook btw.

How do I make sure of this? I'm willing to by the scan converter, but I need to be sure if my graphic supports TV out.

[jagabo]

No modern graphics card has composite or s-video on the VGA connector. Look for an s-video (4-pin DIN) or composite (yellow RCA) connector on your computer. If you don't have one you'll need a scan converter.

[edDV]

Thanks for the replies.

I think my graphic card is mentioned there (as supported) but as Jagobo said, I'm unsure if my vendor chose to support it. I don't have a notebook btw.

How do I make sure of this? I'm willing to by the scan converter, but I need to be sure if my graphic supports TV out.

If video were supported you would have a composite, S-Video or "TV Port" (4-9 pin DIN) connector on the computer. Cheap models usually leave this off. If this isn't a laptop, you can probably add a display card with video out. The type of card depends on the type of display slot in the computer (e.g. PCI, AGP, PCIe, etc.). The manual should explain adding a display card.

A scan converter will be more expensive and have inferior image quality vs adding a display card. Better option is to get a newer TV with VGA in.

[ray_kalm]

Thanks for the replies.

I think my graphic card is mentioned there (as supported) but as Jagobo said, I'm unsure if my vendor chose to support it. I don't have a notebook btw.

How do I make sure of this? I'm willing to by the scan converter, but I need to be sure if my graphic supports TV out.

If video were supported you would have a composite, S-Video or "TV Port" (4-9 pin DIN) connector on the computer. Cheap models usually leave this off. If this isn't a laptop, you can probably add a display card with video out. The type of card depends on the type of display slot in the computer (e.g. PCI, AGP, PCIe, etc.). The manual should explain adding a display card.

A scan converter will be more expensive and have inferior image quality vs adding a display card. Better option is to get a newer TV with VGA in.

A scan converter CAN work for a computer (non-laptop) though, right? And as per the Amazon link Jagabo posted, scan converter looks pretty affordable. My computer has no S-Video port, I'm unsure what a TV port is, should it have both to be able to support TV out capabilities or just one of the two? And may I get a amazon link linking to a display card?

[jagabo]

A scan converter CAN work for a computer (non-laptop) though, right?

Of course, that's why they make them. You may have to reduce the resolution you run at though. The cheaper scan converters will only handle up to about 1280x1024.

I'm unsure what a TV port is

Composite video is an RCA connector. Like the top-most connector on this card (composite, s-video, VGA):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814139065
I'm not recommending that card, just using it as an example of a card with a composite connector.

You need composite or s-video to connect to your TV. S-video is the better of the two.

[lacywest]

Would be really be helpful if you provided what model your HP PC is ... then I could look at the actual PC and see what can be added on.

Best thing you could do is add a video card to your computer.

Here is the cheapest one on Ebay for the Nvidia Geforce 7600GS ... >>> http://cgi.ebay.com/BFG-Technologies-NVIDIA-GeForce-7600-GS-BFGR76512GS-/270739557392?...item3f0955cc10

It is not a PCI Express card ... it is APG 8X ... which might be what your looking for.

I've got a bunch of ... PNY versions ... but they are PCI - E.

And it has HDTV out ... look at the picture ... do you see the S-VHS connection ... notice their are extra holes there ... compared to a regular S-VHS connection.

Those extra holes will connect to a HDTV Video Component Dongle ... not very big ... about 5 - 6 inches in length and allows the PC / video card to connect to a HDTV through the ... component video connection on the back of HDTVs.

Unless the TV you have is a older TV and only has S-VHS ... picture will look lousy ... I've been there and done that.

I have a Sony TV ... but it is a Bravia 31" LCD HDTV and I use it as my monitor ... picture quality is fantastic.

[edDV]

A scan converter may take 1280x1024 in but the out will be 480i @ approx 640x480 resolution.

TV ports look like these

[jagabo]

A scan converter may take 1280x1024 in but the out will be 480i @ approx 640x480 resolution.

I pointed that out earlier but it bears repeating. And the higher the resolution you feed the scan converter the worse the s-video picture will look. Text on an 800x600 desktop will be more readable than text on a 1280x1024 desktop. And text on a 1920x1080 desktop (if you can find a scan converter that allows VGA input that high) will look even worse.

[lacywest]

edDV has the picture to show you what the HDTV dongle looks like ... it is the one on the bottom of the picture.

If your PC can allow you to put in a video card ... I chose the Geforce 7600GS because it is light on power supply requirements.
It is a PCI Express video card and if your TV is new enuff to allow ... video component input connections ... your good to go.

The one showing on Ebay is not PCI-E .... it is a AGP 8X video card.