Best way to send S-Video signal to TV from PC? (NEED HELP!)

[Baron Aloha]

I have a laptop that I've connected directly to a Sony Trinitron TV using an s-video cable.  The picture looks like crap.  No scanlines, colors bleeding, etc.  I'm using Mame, if that matters.

I have done some reading on this and other forums and I believe the issue is that the output from the PC is 480i instead of 240p.

I need some way of forcing the s-video on the laptop to 240p or I need to insert something between the PC and the TV to convert the signal (which I assume is 480i) to 240p.

The laptop has Intel-integrated graphics... so I am guessing a software based solution, like Soft15Hz is a no-go - but if I am wrong please let me know.

What do I need to buy to put between the PC and the TV?  And if you have links to actually purchase said item, all the better.  I've searched many threads and every link I've checked takes me a defunct product page or other dead-end.

I have also scoured Craigslist for weeks/months for a similar sized TV (27'') that accepts component (I know the model numbers and everything) and I have had no luck, so I need to basically make what I have work.  I've been putting off my project for months now because of this issue.

I would really appreciate any assistance you all could provide on this issue.

[nitrogen_widget]

Did you try a different video cable?
What resolution is your desktop at?

SVIDEO is limited to 480i reguardless of what's outputting it.
If your desktop is not set to the same resolution then you are scaling your output to 480i and that's what you see on the TV.

[pbj]

I've got one of these and get pretty good results with it:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Computer-VGA-to-TV-RCA-Composite-Converter-Adapter-S-Video-Box-PC-Laptop-Mac-LCD-/381266701699?hash=item58c5442d83

[Hoopz]

I've got one of these and get pretty good results with it:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Computer-VGA-to-TV-RCA-Composite-Converter-Adapter-S-Video-Box-PC-Laptop-Mac-LCD-/381266701699?hash=item58c5442d83

I tried that one within the last two weeks and couldn't get it working on two different TVs.  Not saying it won't, just that my experience is different than Jimmy's.  YMMV.

[Baron Aloha]

Thank you for the replies.  I have tried 2 cables, both give the same result.  My computer will only go down to 800x600.  I had a feeling it was 480i regardless though, which is why I thought I would need to buy something to go between and convert the signal to 240p.  I will check that item out.  If anyone else has suggestions please share them!

[Hoopz]

My situation lately is very close to yours with one noticeable difference. I had a desktop PC not laptop. I was finally able to buy a used ATI 4200 card to go in mine. It's a salvaged i5 with PCI-e slots. My old PC for the cabinet had an AGP slot and I used an ATI 9600 Pro.  Both the old and new cards have s-video and that's what I wanted. I dont recall now but I think the Catalyst drivers with the old one would allow me to set my resolution at 480x320.

The new one doesn't but I have it at 800x600 and the TV does fine with it. I haven't played with integrated graphics in awhile but you may look for custom resolution settings.

I tried a few different apapters and converters like pbj posted. No luck with any and I tried multiple TVs. I did get this TV at goodwill and it takes component. Keep trying that if you can.

[MonMotha]

The S-video output on most PC video cards will re-scale basically anything you feed it to it's notion of TV 640x480i usually EVEN IF IT'S ALREADY TV COMPATIBLE.  They are a great way to get "something" on a TV quickly.  They are not good if you want any real control over the timing of the video signal or the best quality you can get out of a given TV.  Your best bet is usually either to poke around with various 640x480p options for the input to the scaler and see if you can find something that it doesn't touch too badly or to just crank things up to whatever the scaler input maximum is, typically 1042x768, and live with it all being (at least) double scaled.

The "VGA to composite" and "VGA to s-video" and even "VGA to component" cables that you'll find for $5 are all passive cables that assume the source device is capable of handling generating the proper electrical output or input on that connector and just needs a cable adapter.  They're intended for some laptops and projectors that actually handled YPbPr component or S-Video over their HD15 "VGA" connectors with special settings.  They won't work unless you have hardware designed for them which you probably don't.

If you have a TV that supports S-Video as its best option and want to have low-level control over the graphics timing, your best bet is to find a non-scaling RGB to S-Video adapter and use any one of the normal "hacks" to get 15k scanrates out of a PC.  The adapters vary but cheap ones are typically about $15 and seem to all be the same design from China with different names and based on the Rohm chip.  I personally think the Analog Devices AD725 is a little bit better, but both work fine.  The results are typically not bad, but you'll still be limited by S-Video's limitations.  240p IS possible over S-Video, and most TVs will happily accept it.  480p S-Video can be meaningfully generated electrically, but most TVs won't work with it (480p composite is NOT meaningfully possible electrically).

[nitrogen_widget]

Thank you for the replies.  I have tried 2 cables, both give the same result.  My computer will only go down to 800x600.  I had a feeling it was 480i regardless though, which is why I thought I would need to buy something to go between and convert the signal to 240p.  I will check that item out.  If anyone else has suggestions please share them!

Can you post a picture?
Did you boot the laptop with the TV hooked up?

I've had older laptops with intel & ATI graphics and both just worked with a TV at 800x600 when I booted them up attached.