Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Monitor/Video Forum => Topic started by: MPTech on December 19, 2005, 02:24:15 am

Title: Voodoo3 only displaying in B&W, PLEASE Help!
Post by: MPTech on December 19, 2005, 02:24:15 am
I'm installing a 3DFX VOODOO3 3000 w/S-Video into an older PC (P3 450mhz). I downloaded the latest video drivers (I think) for w98se. The driver name is: VooDoo3v3000-w9x-1[1].05.00.exe. Anyway, I loaded it and booted up the monitor just fine (display looked great!), but when I replaced the monitor with a brand new TV w/S-Video connection, the picture was Black&White and so poor that I could not read any of the desktop icons.

If anyone has advice, a good site, or better drivers.  I would REALLY appreciate your help fast!

I also tried the original drivers (on the CD) and sanother set of drivers I downloaded.  Monitor looks great, TV is still B&W.
Title: Re: Voodoo3 only displaying in B&W, PLEASE Help!
Post by: StephenH on December 19, 2005, 03:03:58 am
Have you tried adjusting the color control on your TV?
Title: Re: Voodoo3 only displaying in B&W, PLEASE Help!
Post by: Jess-- on December 19, 2005, 08:20:41 am
sounds like the TV is only getting the LUMA part of the signal from SVHS (Luma = Brightness / Chroma = Colour) I have had this in the past and I ended up having to splice the 2 pairs of cables in the Svhs lead together.

another possibility is that you have the wrong standard selected for the output (Pal / Ntsc) here in the uk we use Pal but cards always default to Ntsc resulting in a squashed image with no colour :(

please remember that you will NEVER get a TV picture to look as clear as a computer monitor, this is due to the resolution of a tv signal and the interlacing in use (you will notice it most with horizontal lines flickering)
Title: Re: Voodoo3 only displaying in B&W, PLEASE Help!
Post by: MPTech on December 19, 2005, 08:31:47 am
I tried this on 3 different TVs and same results on all 3 (I think that rules out Color Control).  I also tried multiple output standards (NTSC, United States, and several others), no color, but some did cause the screen to roll! (very bad).  As for the resolution, I'm building 2 Arcades (with a friend) and he is using the same TV, but different PC / S-Video card and his looks MUCH BETTER, not as good as a monitor, but quite a bit better.

Any sit I can go to on the Voodoo3 cards?  (I Googled, but came up short).

Thanks again!
Title: Re: Voodoo3 only displaying in B&W, PLEASE Help!
Post by: menace on December 19, 2005, 09:46:44 am
I had the same problem on my gforce card--it was defaulting to composite out and I was using s-video--once i forced it to output s-video the color came back--don't know if that is even a possible scenario with your card but just thought i would throw it out there
Title: Re: Voodoo3 only displaying in B&W, PLEASE Help!
Post by: MPTech on December 19, 2005, 10:31:02 am
Hmmmmmm, I tried the "Auto" selection and I tried manually forcing it to S-Video out.  I didn't see any other options.

Still looking for a resolution.

Thanks for the assitance, please keep them coming.
I NEED to get this fixed. 
Santa doesn't deliver B&W video arcades!
Title: Re: Voodoo3 only displaying in B&W, PLEASE Help!
Post by: MPTech on December 19, 2005, 10:34:09 am
OK fallback plan:
  Assuming I can't get this resolved, what video cards currently available can I get that are PCI w/S-Video and are relatively inexpensive? (something I can pick up at Best-Buy, Circuit City, Comp-USA, etc.)

Thanks again
Title: Re: Voodoo3 only displaying in B&W, PLEASE Help!
Post by: Jess-- on December 19, 2005, 12:17:55 pm
try splicing the leads together (svideo cables usually have 2 screened cables in the join the 2 center wires together)

or pick up an svideo to composite adaptor (svideo plug one end / phono socket the other)
Title: Re: Voodoo3 only displaying in B&W, PLEASE Help!
Post by: MPTech on December 19, 2005, 01:28:35 pm
I'll try to pick up an adapter (S-Video to RCA plugs).

Meanwhile, I'm still open to how to fix this problem with the card.
Title: Re: Voodoo3 only displaying in B&W, PLEASE Help!
Post by: SirPeale on December 19, 2005, 11:19:31 pm
It may not be the card; it may be the cable.

S-Video cables are notorious for being very fragile.  I benchtested a new TV a few months ago with my DVD player.  It was fine, so I put the TV in it's new home, and...B/W picture!  I was like, WTF.  Turns out I broke something in the cable.  Replaced it and all was well.
Title: Re: Voodoo3 only displaying in B&W, PLEASE Help!
Post by: MPTech on December 20, 2005, 01:36:57 am
I tried 2 different cables, with the same result.

I didn't want to spend days trying to figure the stupid Voodoo card out so I bought a new ATI card for $59 tonite.  Installed it and it booted up the TV in color and looks great!!!

I'm DONE.

Anybody want to buy a POS Voodoo card?  I'm VERY disappointed!  I heard nothing but rave reviews about these cards.  Sure wasn't my experience.
Title: Re: Voodoo3 only displaying in B&W, PLEASE Help!
Post by: elvis on December 20, 2005, 04:18:24 am
I tried 2 different cables, with the same result.

Maybe the physical output on the Voodo is broken?  Did you check the card for any damages or hairline cracks in the trace to the outout socket?