question about component ins/outs YPbPr connections

[phonicphile]

Hi all,

I have some newbie questions here that hopefully u guys will be able/willing to answer.

With YPbPr component connections, how is all the HDTV resolution stuff (480p, 1080i...) related to it? I mean, I have a non-HDTV (a NTSC TV yes?) TV that has component ins, but I can't just plug an HDTV source into that can I?

With regards to Audio Authority's VGA to YPbPr switch box and/or ATI's new DVI->Component/VGA->Component Dongle for their Video cards, would those work on a non-HDTV TV?

basically I've been playing around with the TV out (S-Video) on my computer to my TV, and the DVD playback looks decent on my TV, but I'm wondering if A) it's possible to connect the PC to TV using components, B) is it even worth bothering with cause my TV isn't HDTV, and C) if it is possible for components, will the quality be near/same as a standalone DVD player?

Thanks in advance,

Joe, n00b of Newberia.

[snowmoon]

Can I attach 1080i to a SDTV( Standard Definition ) with componient?

No, your TV must support the higher scanning rates or have a built in downscaler ( very unlikely )

Can I attach a PC to a TV using composite?

Yes, but you need a componient transcoder ( check eBay ) and a video card that can do SDTV scanning rate of 640x480 interlaced at 29.97 fps. It will probably look marginally worse than a standalone since most DVD players use 10bit per channel processing and most videocards use 8 ( ATI's use 10 for DVD ).

Componient is just another method of carrying a video signal. Think of it like a VGA cable, just because it plugs into a 13" VGA monitor does not mean that you can send 1600x1200 to it. The same is true for HDTV, it just signifies that the TV can handle and show a higher refresh rate than just 480i 16khz it can also show 480p 32khz 1080i 36khz and possibly 720p 45khz.

Cheers

[phonicphile]

Thanks! The VGA/Monitor analogy helped out!

Does the SDTV 640x480 @ 29.97fps = 480i 16khz?

I have been able to output to the TV a 800x600 screen over S-video. Is that still a 480i signal?

TIA again,

joe

[snowmoon]

Scan rate is completly rependant on the scanline * refresh rate so 720x480 interlaced @ 29.97 is also SDTV.

If you output over s-video at 800x600 then you video card is using a buffered TV signal. The buffer takes a screen ov video and down codes it to 16khz since 800x600 @ 60 ( probably what you had ) is a scan rate of 36khz. This signal also needs to be physically altered to show on the TV so you are loosing alot of information.

Cheers.