VGA Output - S-Video Output

Solid Lifters

Solid Lifters

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I bought my PC two years ago. I use it with a HDTV set. I ordered my PC with a S-Video output card for this purpose.

Now, I have a new HDTV set with a RGB input and want to use my PC via this input. But, there was a cover over the RGB-VGA output on my PC that I never noticed before. I took it off and tried to use the VGA-RGB output but no signal was getting to my set.

Am I screwed? How can I now start using my VGA output? Can I open up my PC up and take out the S-Video card and connect to the VGA output somehow? What do I need to look for?

Any help will be appreciated.
 
Is the S-Video card a pure S-Video card, or a standard graphics card with an S-Video output? If so, it should also have a VGA output you can use to connect it to your new TV. Does that help?
 
the Interceptor
Is the S-Video card a pure S-Video card, or a standard graphics card with an S-Video output? If so, it should also have a VGA output you can use to connect it to your new TV. Does that help?
Click to expand...

No, but that ain't your fault. I have no idea what the difference is between a "pure S-Video card" and a "standard graphics card with S-Video output." How can i tell which one I have?
 
Well, does it have other connectors than the S-Video output? If you've got a digital camera, a photo of the PCs back might help.
 
Solid Lifters
Now, I have a new HDTV set with a RGB input and want to use my PC via this input.
Click to expand...

There are two different kinds of RGB inputs. The important one is VGA aka RGB HV (red - green - blue - horizontal sync - vertical sync)

vga.jpg


VGA requries VESA-timings, meaning the hor. resolution must be divisible without remainder by 8.

Standard (the lowest) IBM and/or VESA-timings are:

IBM: 640x480 HorFr: 31,469 kHz/VerFr: 59,940 kHz/ 25,175 MHz
VESA: 640x480 HorFr: 37,881 kHz/VerFr: 72,809 kHz/ 31,500 MHz
VESA: 640x480 HorFr: 37,500 kHz/VerFr: 75,000 kHz/ 31,500 MHz

Look into the manual of your HDTV. You can find the supported RGB HV resolutions there. Most HDTVs support only two to five VESA-timings. I.e. my Samsung LCD only supports 1024x768 and 1360x768 (the panel sweetspot is 1366x768, but 1366 is not divisible by 8 without remainder).

Select one of supported resolutions and set the refresh rate to 60 Hertz.

And finally hope that your HDTV has a VGA-auto-adjust. Without you have to set things like phase manually, which can be really annoying. Especially (european) Toshiba LCDs have this problem. They are fantastic for HDTV, but not for connecting a PC.
 
the Interceptor
Well, does it have other connectors than the S-Video output? If you've got a digital camera, a photo of the PCs back might help.
Click to expand...

I'd show you a pic but the digital camera I own wont work with this PC. I'm telling, I bought a lemon. I also have audio input problems. Nothing will work with this piece of crap.

I just need a new PC, but thanks for helping.


RouWa
There are two different kinds of RGB inputs. The important one is VGA aka RGB HV (red - green - blue - horizontal sync - vertical sync)

vga.jpg


VGA requries VESA-timings, meaning the hor. resolution must be divisible without remainder by 8.

Standard (the lowest) IBM and/or VESA-timings are:

IBM: 640x480 HorFr: 31,469 kHz/VerFr: 59,940 kHz/ 25,175 MHz
VESA: 640x480 HorFr: 37,881 kHz/VerFr: 72,809 kHz/ 31,500 MHz
VESA: 640x480 HorFr: 37,500 kHz/VerFr: 75,000 kHz/ 31,500 MHz

Look into the manual of your HDTV. You can find the supported RGB HV resolutions there. Most HDTVs support only two to five VESA-timings. I.e. my Samsung LCD only supports 1024x768 and 1360x768 (the panel sweetspot is 1366x768, but 1366 is not divisible by 8 without remainder).

Select one of supported resolutions and set the refresh rate to 60 Hertz.

And finally hope that your HDTV has a VGA-auto-adjust. Without you have to set things like phase manually, which can be really annoying. Especially (european) Toshiba LCDs have this problem. They are fantastic for HDTV, but not for connecting a PC.
Click to expand...

I think you should look in this manual pdf. for my HDTV set. Owners Manual and then go to page 51.

This is the video card I have on my PC. It's the NVIDIA GeForce FX5100. The location is PCIbus 1.
 
Solid Lifters
This is the video card I have on my PC. It's the NVIDIA GeForce FX5100. The location is PCIbus 1.
Click to expand...
The FX5100 can be configured in a multitude of ways. From single VGA output to VGA + DVI + SVHS (With Composite for good measure) - So we need to know exactly what model you have ;-) (Make and Model)
 
Flerbizky
The FX5100 can be configured in a multitude of ways. From single VGA output to VGA + DVI + SVHS (With Composite for good measure) - So we need to know exactly what model you have ;-) (Make and Model)
Click to expand...

How can I find out? I clicked on Control Panel, then Display, then Appearance and Themes, then Settings, then Advanced, then Adapter, then Properties.
 
Solid Lifters
How can I find out? I clicked on Control Panel, then Display, then Appearance and Themes, then Settings, then Advanced, then Adapter, then Properties.
Click to expand...
Unless it's a card purchased seperately and you kept the box, you probably have to open the box up and look at the card. Or - Take a look at the back of the card and tell us what connections it has part from the regular VGA connector.
 
Flerbizky
Unless it's a card purchased seperately and you kept the box, you probably have to open the box up and look at the card. Or - Take a look at the back of the card and tell us what connections it has part from the regular VGA connector.
Click to expand...

The only connection it has is S-Video. That's it.
 
Solid Lifters
The only connection it has is S-Video. That's it.
Click to expand...
odd me thinks. Am I misunderstanding something, or is the only output from the PC a SVHS connection ?...

There's is no other video output ?....

[edit:] Your Device Manager - What's listed under Display Adapters ?....
 
Flerbizky
odd me thinks. Am I misunderstanding something, or is the only output from the PC a SVHS connection ?...

There's is no other video output ?....

[edit:] Your Device Manager - What's listed under Display Adapters ?....
Click to expand...

Nope, no other outputs; S-Video is the only output. VGA is there, but not on the "Card" I had them install. The VGA output had a plastic cover over it that I had to loosen two screws to make accessible.

Oh, and under Display Adapters is the same thing, NVIDIA GeForce FX 5100.
 
Does the VGA output work with a regular monitor ?...

If not, I think you're fubar. A new GFX card is probably the easiest way then. Something like a passively cooled 6600GT (as I use in my HTPC, unfortunately without the HD panel) which will support HDCP / HDTV / HDMI etc. etc. etc..
 
Flerbizky
Does the VGA output work with a regular monitor ?...
Click to expand...
I never tried it.

If not, I think you're fubar. A new GFX card is probably the easiest way then. Something like a passively cooled 6600GT (as I use in my HTPC, unfortunately without the HD panel) which will support HDCP / HDTV / HDMI etc. etc. etc..
Click to expand...

Replacing these things are relatively easy? I added my own memory modules.

Oh, and thanks for all your help. 👍
 
Solid Lifters
I never tried it.



Replacing these things are relatively easy? I added my own memory modules.

Oh, and thanks for all your help. 👍
Click to expand...

Very easy - Only thing that worries me is that you mentioned it's located in PCI slot 1 - And if the PC is 2+ years old, I doubt it's a PCI express slot... Actually, I don't think there was FX cards made for PCIe... So unless there's an AGP slot in your PC, you'll be pretty limited in options - I know they made the 6200 in PCI flavor, but I think that's about it. Unless you want to change the MoBo as well..

'Tis all I could find....
 
Even more than ten years old ISA (a standard before AGP) cards always had one VGA output. There is not a single card that only has an s-video out.

S-Video out (SVHS is a video tape standard):
svideo-photo-big.jpg


VGA (RGBHV) out
vga-photo-big.jpg


Your TV supports quite many VGA-resolutions (NOT S-Video):
gttvap4.jpg


640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1280x768, 1280x1024 and 1920x1080 (all @ 60 Hertz). Just download PowerStrip (freeware).
 
I have an old GF4 Ti4600 Vivo and it has a DVI - S-Video - VGA across the back in that order, and it will only let me use the S-Video if I install a certain bit of software first, maybe this could be the problem.
 
OK, I'm way too tired to properly deal with this right now. But, PowerStrip is NOT freeware according to what I found. It's shareware meaning free for the first 30 days, then I must pay $30. That's fine, if it doesn't cause me harm.

I see there's potential for me to cause harm to my HDTV set. No thanks. I'd rather purchase a new PC already setup to display on my HDTV set. Plus, all those settings I need to contend with... blah... This is why I hate computers. They're never "plug and play."

But, I'm still willing to give it a shot. So, because my PC didn't output to my HDTV set via HD15 cable doesn't mean I don't have a VGA input on my PC?

I think I'll just take it in to BB and let them check it out.
 
Maybe your TV has problems with the RGB sync. Try all four possibilities:

horizontal + (positive) / vertical + (positive)
horizontal - (negative) / vertical - (negative)
horizontal + (positive) / vertical - (negative)
horizontal - (negative) / vertical + (positive)

I don´t think you can damage a non-CRT with too high resolutions or refresh rates. The screen then simply remains black.
 
OK, I got things working great. Here's what happened.

Sick and tired of my problems, I decided to open up the computer to look around. I went on the net and found a labeled pic of my mobo. I knew what and where to look for, now. I found it.

It appears Compaq are a bunch of assholes. Here's why.

I ordered this PC from them over the phone. Of course, they didn't take my order they way I wanted it; they naturally tried to sell me a bunch a stuff I didn't want and need. So, I was getting a little upset and finally told them either sell me what I want, or I'll take my business elsewhere. What I wanted was just one add-on; a TV out card, and nothing else. So, when they added my TV out card, they blocked, on purpose, all other outputs on my card except for the S-Video connection. What assholes! That's not all!

They tried pushing a stupid floppy drive, and I said I didn't want one. They kept pushing me on it and that's when I gave them my ultimatum. Guess what? I have a floppy drive in my PC. And it's working, although the only floppy disc I have, a floppy from Peavey that came with my Wolfgang Special Custom Deluxe, doesn't work. I get a "ID ADDRESS NOT.... blah, blah, blah..." warning after it searches the disc for a while. Not a biggie... But, they blocked that, too. Again, what assholes.

Well, I finally exposed the VGA output connection on the rear of my PC, and connected the supplied VGA cable that came with my Sony Bravia KDL-46XBR2. IT WORKS! Holy mother-turds! Mother puss-bucket! Is this fantastic, or what?! I have 1920x1080p and it's glorious. Too bad the type is so small. I might have to use a different resolution setting because everything is so damn small. But, it's crystal clear; no fuzziness.

Well, that's it.

Thanks for the help, but a little investigating, a little tinkering and it's all working great.

Thanks again!

Solid
 
Nice to hear that it works. I wonder about one thing though: what do you mean with "they blocked it"? Did they put some kind of cap over the other connectors?
 
the Interceptor
Nice to hear that it works. I wonder about one thing though: what do you mean with "they blocked it"? Did they put some kind of cap over the other connectors?
Click to expand...

Sort of. What they did was put a cut piece of metal on top of the rear of the card that faces to the rear of the PC. That little piece of metal blocked the other ouputs. They did it on purpose. I never noticed it until now when I looked everything over.
 

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