Laptop to old CRT TV

[Mark22]

Can I simple connect this cable (http://img.goglasi.com/img/94367373) from my laptop to old CRT TV with RCA. I only need VGA to yellow RCA for image, sound is not imporatant.
My laptop is Acer F5-571G-P5AM.

[jagabo]

Probably not. Few devices support composite video out at a VGA connector. But many companies will happily sell you such a cable because they know you won't bother returning a $5 item when it doesn't work.

And even if it does work for you, the picture will be very fuzzy. Something like the images in this post:
https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/283861-VGA-to-S-video?p=1756748&viewfull=1#post1756748

[Mark22]

It means that VGA signal and RCA signal are different?

[usually_quiet]

It means that VGA signal and RCA signal are different?

Yes. Both are analog but that is where the similarity ends. See the Wikipedia entries for Composite video and Video Graphics Array if you need an explanation.

You need an electronic device to convert from VGA to RCA Composite. Here are two examples:

https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Resolution-Composite-S-Video-Converter/dp/B001NXDQEK
https://www.amazon.com/Resolution-Conversion-Composite-S-Video-Converter/dp/B009WQVV60

[jagabo]

Yes, very different. It's not a part of the VGA spec but some devices provide composite video and/or analog audio on the same physical D15 connector as VGA. And some laptops can output composite video at the VGA connector instead of having a separate composite connector. But you'll have to check your manual or contact Acer for information on that. In theory most of the graphics chips can output composite video but it's not often supported in the drivers.

[Mark22]

Does S-Video and SCART have same signals?
I can connect my PC with S Video output to CRT TV with SCART input using this adapter (http://www.eyepartner.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/03_Scart2RCA.jpg)

[usually_quiet]

I can connect my PC with S Video output to CRT TV with SCART input using this adapter (http://www.eyepartner.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/03_Scart2RCA.jpg)

Nobody can tell you that without knowing more about the TV.

The SCART specification supports S-Video, with the S-Video signal carried on specific pins. Unfortunately not all devices with SCART connections accept S-Video signals as input. Some devices with SCART connections only accept composite video signals or SCART RGB signals as input. You will need to research the SCART connection on the TV to find out if S-Video is supported.

[JVRaines]

This Acer also has HDMI output. There are more converter choices for HDMI than VGA. But as jagabo warned, don't fall for one of those cables that just connects the wires with no signal conversion. They are pure ripoffs.

[Mark22]

Thanks for help, you are very fast and clear.

[pandy]

If your TV is equipped with SCART then VGA may be connected to SCART with proper cable (cable need to be able combine separate synchronization pulses from VGA to composite synchronization required by SCART). On your PC TV compatible timing mode must be selected.

[jagabo]

On your PC TV compatible timing mode must be selected.

And interlaced SD timing modes are usually not available in the drivers.

[pandy]

On your PC TV compatible timing mode must be selected.

And interlaced SD timing modes are usually not available in the drivers.

Please elaborate on this.

[Nelson37]

If this is an older TV without HD capability, it is going to look like crap and is really, truly, not worth the effort. S-video is best bet of connectors you have mentioned so far, but the VGA to s-video cable or converter far less than ideal. Laptop might have s-video out, which should be worth the cable you should be able to find for free as no one uses it anymore.

[usually_quiet]

1. pandy's solution requires a custom-built cable, not anything available at an electronics store or Amazon.

2. The manufacturer-supplied driver interface for Windows provided for many if not most video graphics adapters, particularly those in laptop (which the OP is using), does not provide access to the required settings. There is paid software that might provide access to the settings, assuming the video graphics adapter is supported by such software, but not every video graphics adapter is supported.

In other words, the chances that a non-techie newbie can use pandy's suggestion is very small indeed. pandy is infamous for pulling this kind of crap.

[usually_quiet]

If this is an older TV without HD capability, it is going to look like crap and is really, truly, not worth the effort. S-video is best bet of connectors you have mentioned so far, but the VGA to s-video cable or converter far less than ideal. Laptop might have s-video out, which should be worth the cable you should be able to find for free as no one uses it anymore.

...and the TV only has SCART. The SCART specification assigns pins for carrying an S-Video signal, but not all SCART-equipped CRT TVs accept S-Video signals. Some only accept SCART RGB or composite.

[pandy]

AMD, NVidia, Intel offers Custom Timing section for users (advanced) where custom video mode can be easily created - values for timing can be found in internet - Interlace mode is supported from SVGA times.

Custom cable may be required if Graphic HW is unable to provide composite synchronization or Sync on Green - converter is quite simple to build and nowadays when lot of non technical people are using Arduino and Raspberry Pi (or similar) even no soldering skills are required as such circuit can be build on breadboard.

Asked multiple time usually_quiet to avoid personal attacks - fact that you are lazy and not willing to learn doesn't mean that everyone is like you...
Buy a breadboard, premade cables - you are in privileged position living in US - such things are way more easier available for you than for others - being non technical is not explanation - people without technical background doing technical things simply connecting modules - no soldering required - it is rather lack of will to learn something new.
There is instructables or other similar pages where people can do something useful even without technical knowledge.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-use-a-breadboard/
https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/how-to-use-a-breadboard

[usually_quiet]

Every time you are asked for proof that this works for ANY graphics card and ANY OS someone might have, you suddenly nothing further to say. Show some screenshots illustrating that these settings exist for Intel CPU graphics in the user interface provided for Windows, because obviously others have not found them. I guess jagabo is also lazy, stupid, and unwilling to learn, since he has expressed the same doubts.

...but what should one think about someone like you who has lots of ideas and theories and even claims to have made something work, but won't provide concrete technical assistance? You promised to help the OP in another thread who had a similar issue, but if you provided any help it was never posted in the forum. https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/379702-Pc-to-Fairlight-CVI?p=2454483&viewfull=1#post2454483

[jagabo]

Oh, they exist:


[Attachment 39481 - Click to enlarge]

And I've seen similar dialogs for Nvidia an AMD. I don't see any obvious "interlaced" setting but it must exist somewhere because the device can output 1080i.

I have a general idea what each of the settings does but I don't know how to produce something and SDTV could display. And it's highly unlikely the OP will have any idea what to do with them. Screwing around with the timing on old CRTs has been known to fry them.

[usually_quiet]

They don't always exist, according to Intel. http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/graphics-drivers/000005540.html#HDGFX

Note Not all computers manufacturers have the Custom Modes/Resolution feature enabled in the Intel graphics driver. Older Intel generic graphics drivers do not enable this feature.

[Edit]...plus the Custom Resolutions/Modes feature has been removed from the Intel HD Graphics Control Panel, which is where I was looking for them. They have to be accessed though other means, assuming the computer has them available.

[pandy]

Every time you are asked for proof that this works for ANY graphics card and ANY OS someone might have, you suddenly nothing further to say. Show some screenshots illustrating that these settings exist for Intel CPU graphics in the user interface provided for Windows, because obviously others have not found them. I guess jagabo is also lazy, stupid, and unwilling to learn, since he has expressed the same doubts.

I said lazy and not wiling to learn for sure not about jagabo - i said about people saying that it impossible to do simple circuit being non technical - i believe it is not impossible even for people without soldering skills but buying simple solder (very fancy with temperature control etc) is perhaps 20 - 30$ additionally to this solder alloy and flux maybe 10$ on top - gaining new skills after bit of practicing - priceless...

...but what should one think about someone like you who has lots of ideas and theories and even claims to have made something work, but won't provide concrete technical assistance? You promised to help the OP in another thread who had a similar issue, but if you provided any help it was never posted in the forum. https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/379702-Pc-to-Fairlight-CVI?p=2454483&viewfull=1#post2454483

Because i may have limited capabilities to provide proofs - screen snapshots? You can claim that i use photoshop to fake them, finally i simple have no time to create guide (which is more or less what you expecting).

Oh, they exist:

And I've seen similar dialogs for Nvidia an AMD. I don't see any obvious "interlaced" setting but it must exist somewhere because the device can output 1080i.

Because available options depends on device capabilities - on your monitor interlace modes are not possible - EDID (DDC) tells computer what is connected to video output - if you select manually device without EDID (add manually display in HW device manager)

I have a general idea what each of the settings does but I don't know how to produce something and SDTV could display. And it's highly unlikely the OP will have any idea what to do with them. Screwing around with the timing on old CRTs has been known to fry them.

Yes but timing data are available, side to this at least on Intel timing can be add to registry.
CRT are sensitive but as long you follow general rules (negative sync pulses, sufficient front and backporch, horizontal and vertical frequency) then it is safe.

[jagabo]

the Custom Resolutions/Modes feature has been removed from the Intel HD Graphics Control Panel

I found it on both computers I have running Intel HD Graphics Control Panel.


[Attachment 39502 - Click to enlarge]

[usually_quiet]

I saw this instead:

[usually_quiet]

I'm not able to edit my post and keep the arrangement I want, so I have to add this in a new post.

To see Custom Resolutions Advanced Settings with any actual settings available, I need to go to Windows->System 32, search for CustomModeApp.exe and run that instead of the standard Intel HD Graphics Control Panel.

[jagabo]

I saw this instead:

Try clicking on Display in the top left corner.

[usually_quiet]

Every time you are asked for proof that this works for ANY graphics card and ANY OS someone might have, you suddenly nothing further to say. Show some screenshots illustrating that these settings exist for Intel CPU graphics in the user interface provided for Windows, because obviously others have not found them. I guess jagabo is also lazy, stupid, and unwilling to learn, since he has expressed the same doubts.

i said about people saying that it impossible to do simple circuit being non technical - i believe it is not impossible even for people without soldering skills but buying simple solder (very fancy with temperature control etc) is perhaps 20 - 30$ additionally to this solder alloy and flux maybe 10$ on top - gaining new skills after bit of practicing - priceless...

For a one-off task that can be accomplished by other means for less cost and without any risk of ruining an old TV, your idea is a waste of both time and money. Learning to build electronics or cables by hand is only priceless if someone anticipates a future need for those tools and skills, or thinks they will enjoy it.

Your insistence that people should be willing to learn do this is unreasonable. This would be like me thinking everyone should learn how to make an apple pie from scratch, because I can do it, and those who don't want to make the effort are lazy. The difference is that since I do not have a social IQ of 50, I realize calling these folks lazy is an unfair criticism, when there are almost certainly other demands on their time, and especially when there are ready-made pies, prepared crusts and canned fillings available at any supermarket that are often less expensive than making a scratch pie and certainly require less skill.

finally i simple have no time to create guide (which is more or less what you expecting).

You have no time to create a guide for this, and yet expect people with little technical expertise to devote many hours figuring this out on their own and acquiring skills that they do not presently have.

[usually_quiet]

I saw this instead:

Try clicking on Display in the top left corner.

I needed to do a bit more than click on Display, but that got me close to where I needed to be. Thanks.

[Mark22]

Does both SCART inputs on my SAMSUNG CRT (CW28C93N) is RGB?
I input yellow RCA with SCART adapter to both SCART inputs and work.

[pandy]

For a one-off task that can be accomplished by other means for less cost and without any risk of ruining an old TV, your idea is a waste of both time and money. Learning to build electronics or cables by hand is only priceless if someone anticipates a future need for those tools and skills, or thinks they will enjoy it.

So? You are such person and i can build such cable for you for 123$ - you are not interested - fine but why you always says that because you are not interested and because you can't build cable then everyone is the same like you?

Your insistence that people should be willing to learn do this is unreasonable. This would be like me thinking everyone should learn how to make an apple pie from scratch, because I can do it, and those who don't want to make the effort are lazy. The difference is that since I do not have a social IQ of 50, I realize calling these folks lazy is an unfair criticism, when there are almost certainly other demands on their time, and especially when there are ready-made pies, prepared crusts and canned fillings available at any supermarket that are often less expensive than making a scratch pie and certainly require less skill.

I can say that first if you like apple pie then learn to make what you like even if you have no intentions to become a chief in Michelin restaurant, secondly you constantly think that everyone is like you - well seem your ego leading you to this assumption. There is plenty of things not available on Amazon or Newegg or Walmart and fact that you can't buy them doesn't mean that they not exist.

You have no time to create a guide for this, and yet expect people with little technical expertise to devote many hours figuring this out on their own and acquiring skills that they do not presently have.

So why you suddenly begin to think that i will make work for them and side to this for free - if someone need such solution or he need to buy it or need to spent some time and personal effort - i can help to search or help to create configuration but for sure will not start applying for USA visa, later buying tickets just to proof that it is possible - personally i don't care what do you think - rarely you trying to be useful, usually limiting your self only to personal attacks.
And once again usually you are not quiet so your nick is highly confusing...

[pandy]

Does both SCART inputs on my SAMSUNG CRT (CW28C93N) is RGB?
I input yellow RCA with SCART adapter to both SCART inputs and work.

[Attachment 39509 - Click to enlarge]

Nope - only one of them (SCART 1) - second is probably only composite video - yellow RCA.

[usually_quiet]

You have no time to create a guide for this, and yet expect people with little technical expertise to devote many hours figuring this out on their own and acquiring skills that they do not presently have.

So why you suddenly begin to think that i will make work for them and side to this for free - if someone need such solution or he need to buy it or need to spent some time and personal effort - i can help to search or help to create configuration but for sure will not start applying for USA visa, later buying tickets just to proof that it is possible - personally i don't care what do you think - rarely you trying to be useful, usually limiting your self only to personal attacks.
And once again usually you are not quiet so your nick is highly confusing...

This website exists to offer free, concrete, technical help to those who need it.

Nobody asked you to offer help in person, but if you aren't here to help to others in writing for free, why do you come here at all? Go find something else to do with your time if you feel that putting any great amount of effort into answering questions should require payment.

Either that or don't offer solutions that will require a lot of technical expertise, when the person asking for help is clearly not very knowledgeable about video. The originator of this thread would need help and lots of it to do what you are suggesting.