tv out(dvi to component) problem

[tseizaL]

So i own a BFGtech nvidia geforce 9800 gt(it has two DVI outputs) which has tv out functionality. S-video, Component, and HDMI are supported. And i have a standard def tv that has S-video and component inputs. so i bought a DVI to Component cable(a very cheap one, like $5) to use my tv as a second display. But the tv displays only purple horizontal bands of static. My drivers are all up to date. all the outputs and inputs work and the output resolution matches the resolution of the tv(640x480). And if move the mouse cursor onto my tv i can see the cursor on the screen(albeit very distorted). So i called BFG today and the guy told me it was the cable. So before i buy a new cable is there anything else it could be? and if it is the cable then what kind should i get?

[edDV]

So i own a BFGtech nvidia geforce 9800 gt(it has two DVI outputs) which has tv out functionality. S-video, Component, and HDMI are supported. And i have a standard def tv that has S-video and component inputs. so i bought a DVI to Component cable(a very cheap one, like $5) to use my tv as a second display. But the tv displays only purple horizontal bands of static. My drivers are all up to date. all the outputs and inputs work and the output resolution matches the resolution of the tv(640x480). And if move the mouse cursor onto my tv i can see the cursor on the screen(albeit very distorted). So i called BFG today and the guy told me it was the cable. So before i buy a new cable is there anything else it could be? and if it is the cable then what kind should i get?

Most NVidia cards have a 7 or 9 pin DIN TV port for composite, S-Video and analog component out. They don't use the DVI connector. You should have received a component cable or adapter with the card.

[tseizaL]

"Most NVidia cards have a 7 or 9 pin DIN TV port for composite, S-Video and analog component out. They don't use the DVI connector. You should have received a component cable or adapter with the card."

the only available outputs on this card are DVI, no 7 or 9 pin DIN outputs are present.

[edDV]

"Most NVidia cards have a 7 or 9 pin DIN TV port for composite, S-Video and analog component out. They don't use the DVI connector. You should have received a component cable or adapter with the card."

the only available outputs on this card are DVI, no 7 or 9 pin DIN outputs are present.

I've only seen Mac cards that lack the TV port. You are out of luck then. Maybe you can trade cards.

A DVI-D or VGA converter box will have fairly poor video quality. Better to use the money for a new TV.

[tseizaL]

"I've only seen Mac cards that lack the TV port. You are out of luck then. Maybe you can trade cards.

A DVI-D or VGA converter box will have fairly poor video quality. Better to use the money for a new TV."

the BFG dude told me that compatability is not the issue, haha and im not gonna get a new tv or a new card if theres a cord out there that works, why would they make DVI to Component cables if that kind of connection was impossible? Im asking how to get this working with my current setup, the card has tv out functionality for S-video, component, and HDMI and only has two DVI outputs. I doubt that the card manufacturer is lying, im asking what kind of DVI to Component cable to get, preferably one known to work, haha. Or should i get a DVI to s-video cable, do they even make those?

[edDV]

"I've only seen Mac cards that lack the TV port. You are out of luck then. Maybe you can trade cards.

A DVI-D or VGA converter box will have fairly poor video quality. Better to use the money for a new TV."

the BFG dude told me that compatability is not the issue, haha and im not gonna get a new tv or a new card if theres a cord out there that works, why would they make DVI to Component cables if that kind of connection was impossible? Im asking how to get this working with my current setup, the card has tv out functionality for S-video, component, and HDMI and only has two DVI outputs. I doubt that the card manufacturer is lying, im asking what kind of DVI to Component cable to get, preferably one known to work, haha. Or should i get a DVI to s-video cable, do they even make those?

All other 9800GT cards use the TV out DIN connector. Are you saying BFG makes a DVI-S-Video connector? Probably for an old ATI AIW or some Radeon cards. They switched between RGB and YPbPr through the DVI connector for some models. Call BFG.

A normal DVI-I connector only supports DVI-D and VGA.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Visual_Interface

Otherwise you need to buy one of those VGA to analog component converter boxes ($50-$200).

[jagabo]

why would they make DVI to Component cables if that kind of connection was impossible?

Those adapter cables are for specific devices which output component video on the DVI's analog pins. That is not a normal feature of most computer graphics cards (they only output computer RGB, or don't have the analog section at all). If you look carefully at the sellers documentation or advertising you'll see some small print that says something like "be sure your hardware is compatible with this cable." They're happy to make a few bucks off of you because you didn't read the small print.

[tseizaL]

"Those adapter cables are for specific devices which output component video on the DVI's analog pins. That is not a normal feature of most computer graphics cards (they only output computer RGB, or don't have the analog section at all). If you look carefully at the sellers documentation or advertising you'll see some small print that says something like "be sure your hardware is compatible with this cable." They're happy to make a few bucks off of you because you didn't read the small print. "


according to BFG this card should output component. if it didn't i don't think i would get any display at all instead of a distorted one. so that would mean its the cable right?

[jagabo]

according to BFG this card should output component. if it didn't i don't think i would get any display at all instead of a distorted one. so that would mean its the cable right?

Then, as others suggested, there may be settings in the graphics card's setup applet that let you specify component output (probably labeled TV or something similar) or VGA output. A standard definition TV in the USA will be limited to interlaced input at 29.97 frames per second (59.94 fields per second).

[edDV]

If you think this card supports video out but doesn't have a TV port, give us the exact card description and I'll call BFG myself.

BTW I have a BFG 9800GT (model BFGE98512GTE) and it does have the 9-pin TV port and came with all the necessary cables.
http://www.bfgtech.com/BFGR98512GTOCE.aspx
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143151&cm_re=9800_gt-_-14-143-151-_-Product

tseizaL probably bought this one.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ImageGallery.aspx?CurImage=14-143-186-S01&SCList=14-143-...20Video%20Card

"The EcoIntelligence version no longer requires a supplementary power connector from your power supply, yet still delivers the same great 9800 GT-class performance as previous versions"

I guess the deletion of video out contributed to the 30% power reduction.

[tseizaL]

If you think this card supports video out but doesn't have a TV port, give us the exact card description and I'll call BFG myself.

BTW I have a BFG 9800GT (model BFGE98512GTE) and it does have the 9-pin TV port and came with all the necessary cables.
http://www.bfgtech.com/BFGR98512GTOCE.aspx
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143151&cm_re=9800_gt-_-14-143-151-_-Product

tseizaL probably bought this one.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ImageGallery.aspx?CurImage=14-143-186-S01&SCList=14-143-...20Video%20Card

"The EcoIntelligence version no longer requires a supplementary power connector from your power supply, yet still delivers the same great 9800 GT-class performance as previous versions"

I guess the deletion of video out contributed to the 30% power reduction.

that is my exact card. but the tech dude believed that this would work, and its probably the cord. i think this place is the only place im gonna find real answers....

[edDV]

The model I have has the "TV out" connector
http://www.bfgtech.com/CMDocs/BFGTech/pro=202-9800GTOC_1GB.pdf
http://www2.bfgtech.com/CMDocs/BFGTech/HDTV_connection_flyer.pdf

Yours is lacking the connector. Maybe they have an on-board connection. Ask BFG.
http://www.bfgtech.com/CMDocs/BFGTech/pro=227-9800GT_512_EI.pdf

[tseizaL]

Part #: BFGR981024GTGE
thats the model number for my card
haha im soo confuzed
why does it say it has tv out functionality if i would have to buy a $50-$100 adapter to get it working?
my computer only has a 400W power supply, which is why i bought that card, and i don't think my comp can power a 9800 with the tv out connector.....

[edDV]

As I said before, better to spend that money for an HDTV that will connect VGA or DVI-D to HDMI .

Another option to drive an analog TV is a media player like the Western Digital WDTV at $75-$120.

[tseizaL]

As I said before, better to spend that money for an HDTV that will connect VGA or DVI-D to HDMI .

Another option to drive an analog TV is a media player like the Western Digital WDTV at $75-$120.

so edDV are you pretty sure that the setup im attemping isn't going to work without additional hardware?

[jagabo]

Have you tried using the graphics card's setup applet to force component output using the adapter cable you have?

And just in case your adapter is for a different card, one that has the component outputs on different pins of the analog RGB section of the DVI port, try plugging into only the green component connector on the TV. Try each of the three connectors of the cable plugged into the green input on the TV (don't worry about the other two for now). The green input is where the horizontal and vertical sync pulses are expected, along with the B/W image.

[edDV]

When you compare specs for the two cards the difference is

HDTV+TV out

And "included in box"

HDTV (component) breakout cable.

I read this as analog TV output is not supported by the Eco card.

[tseizaL]

this is what made me think this would work.

[tseizaL]

hmm?
its aware that its an analog display...

[tseizaL]

Have you tried using the graphics card's setup applet to force component output using the adapter cable you have?

And just in case your adapter is for a different card, one that has the component outputs on different pins of the analog RGB section of the DVI port, try plugging into only the green component connector on the TV. Try each of the three connectors of the cable plugged into the green input on the TV (don't worry about the other two for now). The green input is where the horizontal and vertical sync pulses are expected, along with the B/W image.

when i plug the red blue and green cables into the green slot on my tv i still get horizontal bands of static but they are just in black and white....

[edDV]

Have you tried using the graphics card's setup applet to force component output using the adapter cable you have?

And just in case your adapter is for a different card, one that has the component outputs on different pins of the analog RGB section of the DVI port, try plugging into only the green component connector on the TV. Try each of the three connectors of the cable plugged into the green input on the TV (don't worry about the other two for now). The green input is where the horizontal and vertical sync pulses are expected, along with the B/W image.

when i plug the red blue and green cables into the green slot on my tv i still get horizontal bands of static but they are just in black and white....

My guess is you are feeding VGA RGB into the TV Y Pb Pr.

You need to talk to BFG about this. Demand a higher level tech.

[tseizaL]

Have you tried using the graphics card's setup applet to force component output using the adapter cable you have?

And just in case your adapter is for a different card, one that has the component outputs on different pins of the analog RGB section of the DVI port, try plugging into only the green component connector on the TV. Try each of the three connectors of the cable plugged into the green input on the TV (don't worry about the other two for now). The green input is where the horizontal and vertical sync pulses are expected, along with the B/W image.

when i plug the red blue and green cables into the green slot on my tv i still get horizontal bands of static but they are just in black and white....

My guess is you are feeding VGA RGB into the TV Y Pb Pr.

You need to talk to BFG about this. Demand a higher level tech.

i just noticed this, any ideas?

[edDV]

Your standard def TV expects 480i Y,Pb,Pr on the green, blue, red jacks. It will not like VGA RGB.

I don't recall seeing an NVidia card that connected to Y,Pb,Pr that way.

[jagabo]

Turn on your TV connect the cables, then boot your computer.

Start Nvidia Control Panel, go to the Change Resolution page and see if there is a 480i option in the Resolution option:



If 480i is there select it. If not, try 480p.

Go to the Adjust Desktop Color Settings page and look at the Color Format pullodown at the bottom of this image:



If you see YPbPr or Component select it.

Finally, press the Apply button.

[tseizaL]

jagabo, there is no option for digital color format in my control panel.

[tseizaL]

so what now? if i call BFG again what should i ask?

[jagabo]

It wouldn't be Digital Color Format if you are using component output. It would be Analog Color Format. The text label that appears there would vary depending on whether the card is set to output digital or analog.

Did you find 480i in the resolutions section?

[tseizaL]

It wouldn't be Digital Color Format if you are using component output. It would be Analog Color Format. The text label that appears there would vary depending on whether the card is set to output digital or analog.

Did you find 480i in the resolutions section?

there is no 480i option, but the resolution is set at 640x480....

[jagabo]

Standard definition NTSC TVs will only accept 480i.

[edDV]

so what now? if i call BFG again what should i ask?

You simply ask for specific instructions for connecting this card to and analog standard def TV over S-Video or 480i analog component.

They should be honest with you. Demand a senior tech.