TV converter box question

[DataWest]

Im using a CRT TV to be put in my cabinet and I had a couple questions. Im using straight s video out from the computer into the TV. It just looks OK. Would either of these convertors allow me to go VGA to component (RGB) into my crt tv with the result of it being nearly arcade monitor quality?

http://cgi.ebay.com/VGA-PC-Component-Ypbpr-TV-LCD-AV-Converter-Splitter-/300496288998?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45f6f97ce6#ht_2133wt_1141

http://cgi.ebay.com/VGA-TV-RCA-S-video-Converter-USB-Remote-Controller-/280638023360?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item41575466c0#ht_1848wt_1141

[M.Lanza]

If your t.v. has a component video connection, you shouldn't waste your money on the first product you listed.
Instead, you should waste your money on a graphics card that supports component video.
You'll probably get off cheaper that way.

If your pc is already connected to your t.v. via s-video like you stated, then the second product you listed isn't
going to do anything your current graphics card isn't already doing.

Lets just say that the easy way, would be to use one of mame's artifical scanline effects.
In most cases if setup right, it will make the games look better, but will eat up some processing power.

The hard way would be to figure out how to get your pc to display 240p on your t.v. through s-video or component.
 

[DataWest]

Ok I definitely need to do something...it just doesn't look all that great.

Any links to detailed tips about making it better?

[DataWest]

The more I look into it the more I think I need to use advanceMAME. Looks like a b*tch to configure.

[mgb]

You can always do a video card with a DVI output and use a DVI-to-Component adaptor, check Tiger Direct or NewEgg
From what I've read, it looks like you typically should use advanceMAME when using tvs, but personally I'ved neved used it so I may be wrong.

[lilshawn]

a videocard with component out can be had for cheap cheap. less than $50

[DataWest]

a videocard with component out can be had for cheap cheap. less than $50

So this is the way to go? Advancemame is no good? Does anyone here use advance mame?

I ask because Im avoiding any modification to my pc, it's a laptop and I imagine changing the videocard would be a pain.

[lilshawn]

And we finally come to the center of the shrubbery maze.

Laptop.

Well, some laptops have alternative means to hook up projectors and other whatnots, google up yourself a manual and see if there is/was an adapter for the "svideo" port. Sometimes they are designed with extra pins to be able to use an adapter to output "component" as you call it (actually called "YPbPr")

Google up "video in video out" or "VIVO"
For a description of the port and the adapters used.

[mgb]

If you have a vga output from your laptop (although it sounds like you may only have s-video out?), maybe something like this will help.
http://www.ramelectronics.net/audio-video/video-converters/vga-rgb-hv-to-component-video/audio-authority-convert-vga-signal-to-component-video-9a60/prod9A60.html

[DataWest]

Well I think I finally figured it out. My laptop DOES have a 7-pin S-video plug. I appreciate the comments. Looks like with this cable,   http://www.svideo.com/7svto3rca.html   I'll be looking at a much better looking monitor.

Thanks everybody.

[lilshawn]

Be sure to Consult your laptop user manual to see if any particular cable is compatible. You may need a manufacturer specific or a proprietary one.

[DataWest]

Be sure to Consult your laptop user manual to see if any particular cable is compatible. You may need a manufacturer specific or a proprietary one.

Ok will do.

Has anybody else here done this though? It seems suspect lol. Too easy. I do hope it turns my tv into a monitor though.

[lilshawn]

Component will look better than svideo.

[M.Lanza]

You should check to see if your laptop can even output component video before you spend any money.

The main factors to consider are the age of the computer and the type of graphics adapter it has.

Anything fairly recent should be able to output component video.

Here are the dongles you will need depending on the type of graphics adapter you have.

Nvidia: http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=nvidia+component+dongle&client=opera-portal&channel=portal&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=1024387280143303825&sa=X&ei=F3uPTYbiDMaw0QHzg7C8Cw&ved=0CGIQ8wIwCg#

ATI: http://www.kpsurplus.com/abit-component-output-video-cable-dongle-amd-ati-cards.html


However, You can improve the viewabillity of s-video by going into display properties, selecting your graphics adapter,
and adjusting your sharpness and contrast settings.

Though you will see an improvement from s-video to component video, you still may not get the games to look exactly how
they are displayed on an actual arcade monitor.

Graphics card manufactures generally don't try too hard to allow you to connect your standard definition television through component video.
The capability is there, but it's a pain in the ass to get working. In short: component to HDTV = easy, component to SDTV = difficult.
It's not that they don't want you to connect your graphics card to your SDTV through component video, it's just that they don't think that
enough people try it to make it worth their time to make it easier.

Another thing is that if you do get your pc connected to your t.v. through component video, your graphics card is going to scale everything
to around 480i, so the games still wont look exactly how they would on an arcade monitor.

If you can get your graphics card to output 240p through component video, you can get most classic games to look very close to, if not
exactly how they would look on an arcade monitor, but those resolutions are more than likely not supported by your graphics adapters software.

From there, you can check to see if a program like soft 15khz will force your graphics adapter to output at those lower resolutions through
component video, but it's a crap shoot.

 

[DataWest]

Well after looking at my laptop and trying to contact Hp  (Im out of warranty so they wont even talk to me) I found the service manual on the net. Here is a pic of the S-Video details.

http://img838.imageshack.us/i/screenshot20110327at444.png/

Nowhere on the internet can I find any details of a HP/ Intel graphics card specific dongle. Hoping this will work.

http://www.svideo.com/7svto3rca.html

Thoughts??

[ark_ader]

Get yourself a Component to VGA cable, but make sure your Source output provides both VGA and Component.

I know that some modern mobility laptops can kick out component through DVI, and maybe through VGA too. 
 

[lilshawn]

Well after looking at my laptop and trying to contact Hp  (Im out of warranty so they wont even talk to me) I found the service manual on the net. Here is a pic of the S-Video details.

http://img838.imageshack.us/i/screenshot20110327at444.png/

Nowhere on the internet can I find any details of a HP/ Intel graphics card specific dongle. Hoping this will work.

http://www.svideo.com/7svto3rca.html

Thoughts??

that dongle will look worse than the svideo you are currently using.

hierarchy goes worst to best...something like this:

RF Modulation (coaxial TV aerial plug )
Composite (yellow RCA connector)
S-video
VGA
Component video (called YPbPr)
DVI
HDMI
SDI

 

[DataWest]

Well after looking at my laptop and trying to contact Hp  (Im out of warranty so they wont even talk to me) I found the service manual on the net. Here is a pic of the S-Video details.

http://img838.imageshack.us/i/screenshot20110327at444.png/

Nowhere on the internet can I find any details of a HP/ Intel graphics card specific dongle. Hoping this will work.

http://www.svideo.com/7svto3rca.html

Thoughts??

that dongle will look worse than the svideo you are currently using.

hierarchy goes worst to best...something like this:

RF Modulation (coaxial TV aerial plug )
Composite (yellow RCA connector)
S-video
VGA
Component video (called YPbPr)
DVI
HDMI
SDI

 

Oops. Wrong link I meant this one

http://www.svideo.com/7svto3rca.html

Get yourself a Component to VGA cable, but make sure your Source output provides both VGA and Component.

I know that some modern mobility laptops can kick out component through DVI, and maybe through VGA too. 
 

I have a VGA plug. No DVI as far as I know.

My laptop is a HP DV6326US