PCI graphics card with composite output

[Cannon Fodder]

Was hoping someone could suggest a PCI express graphics card with a composite output that I can use in my cabinet as it's proving hard to find, not that there's not plenty I'm sure but modern cards don't have it and when looking on EBay or elsewhere for an older one it doesn't seem to be something they state?

[lilshawn]

composite is dead as the dodo...and looks like poop. anybody who has connected a computer via composite will tell you.

Your best would be looking for another TV to hook up to it.

should you REALLY require this method of connection, I know for sure the NVIDIA Quadro FX 1700 came with a NVIDIA HD component breakout cable (provides Component, Composite and S-Video outputs)

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3514467

hit up ebay they go for about $40

but seriously, consider changing your display first. you would be much happier using a higher resolution connection.

[MonMotha]

A lot of cards, especially older ones, have an S-Video output on them.  A passive dongle will readily combine it back into usable composite.  The driver sometimes has an option to generate "proper" (notched/combed) composite that will look slightly better.

Mind, it'll still look like crap, but the option is there.

[lilshawn]

even though they look like S-video, they may not be...

http://pinouts.ru/Video/nvidea_gforce.shtml

also ATI connections and NVIDIA connections are not the same and the adapter breakouts are not compatible

http://pinouts.ru/Video/allinwonder_pinout.shtml
http://pinouts.ru/Video/ati_video_pinout.shtml
http://pinouts.ru/Video/radeon_vivo_pinout.shtml

[MonMotha]

Most of the cards I see these days are either purely S-Video/Composite or are component/s-video on a connector that's physically compatible with s-video (the extra pins used by the component breakout dongle just go unconnected).  You'll want to avoid stuff from the 2003-2005 era unless you're sure of physical compatibility - that seems to be about when the physically incompatible breakout cables were showing up.  Obviously if you get an S-Video/Composite dongle with it, then it's not a problem.

I know I've got a couple HD2400 Pros, for example, with component output but where the dongle is physically compatible with s-video (and it "just works" if you plug it in unless you go to efforts to turn the TV out off in the drivers).

[pinballjim]

Been shopping around for a cheapie video card lately (ended up with some GTX 410 or something from Tiger Direct) and noticed quite a few of them still have S-Video.  I recall S-Video -> Composite being a rather simple conversion... in fact...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/EVGA-GeForce-9500-GT-Nvidia-1GB-DDR2-PCI-Express-Video-Card-Dual-DVI-S-Video-/230856031593?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item35c0177d69

and

http://www.ebay.com/itm/S-Video-Female-Jack-to-RCA-Female-Composite-Video-Adapter-Converter-/271068776882?pt=US_Audio_Cables_Adapters&hash=item3f1cf549b2

[lilshawn]

[Cannon Fodder]

Thanks to everyone who has replied to my post, it was my first one and I am gobsmacked at how much help I've received in such a short space of time.

Thank you

[rCadeGaming]

As others have said, composite is poopy.

What kind of display are you using?  If you're looking for composite I'm guessing it's an older tube tv.  You should be aware that a better tube TV with component inputs can be found on Craigslist for under $50.  If you go this route, you can send a graphics card's vga output to the TV using a VGA to component transcoder, which will result in a much much better picture.  This will also allow native arcade resolutions which will not be possible from a "TV out" port.

If you do have to stick with that TV and composite, I agree with lilshawn and MonMotha.