How to improve S-Video....

[DataWest]

Using an old CRT tv with a 4 pin S-Video cable in and out of my laptop. The picture is just OK.

As far as improvement, I've heard many things, from using scanlines to sharpen the picture, to using Advancemame.

My laptop has a 7 pin S-Video out plug. Would using a 7 pin to component (YPbPr) improve anything?? Isn't the signal still being encoded for an NTSC tv?

I cannot find a tutorial for building advancemame .exe's ANYWHERE. Does it actually improve the video quality?

In short, would using advancemame improve my image quality? And if not, how to I improve my S-Video quality?

[JoeyJoeJo]

If memory serves, S-Video is only 4 pin. The 7 pin connector your referring to can act as S-Video, but there is probably an adapter that will also have either component, rca or both. This adapter will of course use all 7 pins. Here's a pic

[BobA]

YPbPr (component video) will give you an improvement over s video.  Component video separates the signal differently so that it displays more clearly on a TV that can display it.  Since your TV only has s-video input you will have to change it to make use of component video.

Imho you can play around with many effects to alter your s video signal but it will never really get any better.

[Howard_Casto]

IF it's component.  Usually a 7-pin connector is Svideo and composite, not component.  And before you ask, no I don't have a clue why they don't use a 6 pin adaptor instead. 

[BobA]

Howard is right Svideo and composite are the most common on a 7 pin.  But you will have to check your laptop manual to see if your connector can provide component.

This is a non standard 7-pin mini-DIN connectors (this variant is called "7P"). These are used on computer equipment (PCs). A 7-pin socket accepts and is pin compatible with standard 4-pin S-video plug.[5] The three extra may be used to supply composite (CVBS) or an RGB or YPbPr video signal, or an I²C interface. The pin out usage varies between manufacturers.[5] In some implementations, the remaining pin needs to be grounded to enable the composite output (or disable the S-video output on some of those implementations).

[VanillaGorilla]

In short, would using advancemame improve my image quality? And if not, how to I improve my S-Video quality?

No. If the input on the CRT is 4-pin, nothing will appreciably improve it.

Component input, however, should improve things DRASTICALLY. You only have a 7-pin out on the laptop? No VGA/DVI? Do you have a 7-pin to YPbPr cable?

[DataWest]

In short, would using advancemame improve my image quality? And if not, how to I improve my S-Video quality?

No. If the input on the CRT is 4-pin, nothing will appreciably improve it.

Component input, however, should improve things DRASTICALLY. You only have a 7-pin out on the laptop? No VGA/DVI? Do you have a 7-pin to YPbPr cable?

I have a VGA port but a VGA to component convertor is expensive. I've since decided to use an LCD screen. I can't find anywhere if my computer will out put YPbPr so I am gonna assume no LOL.