Can't find a S-Video card either!

[MPTech]

I did a Google, but haven't searched eBay yet.
I was guided to get an ATI 4mb PCI rage 128 card with s-video and RCA out.  I couldn't find 1 with Google.

Are there any other product suggestions?  (I'll be running it in a w98se machine).

[MPTech]

I should have looked @ eBay first.

Is this what I need?

[drumlogix]

Most new video cards have s-video out. I recommend Nvidia. try newegg.com or zipzoomfly they have good deal on them. my old mx card even had svideo out so did my nvid 5750 and my current 6800 gt.

[Scott84]

I reccomend getting a better videocard then that. You can find a cheap nVidia with SVideo out that is a way better card.

S-Video i find is better on a 64 MB then a 4MB.. no idea why.

[tray262]

I should have looked @ eBay first.

Is this what I need?  (ATI 3D Rage Pro PCI Video Card 4mb)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ATI-3D-Rage-Pro-PCI-Video-Card-4mb_W0QQitemZ8708906796QQcategoryZ40158QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I've got a nVidia 5600 and the s-video output is GREAT on my sony HDTV. But all s-video leaves something to be disired as far as a mame cab goes. I actually went out bought a 27" hooked it up with the s-vid. The next day I found myself driving to Delaware to Happ's to pick up the Vision Pro SVGA 27". No regreats except trying to use s-vid.

Good luck,
Ps. already have taken the 27" TV back.

[Bloinkxp]

You can also find a lot of Nvidia TNT2 Cards w/svideo or even GeForce3/Geforce4 cards for under $50 (if you don't mind used).  A great place for that stuff is the Anandtech FS/FT Forum.  I am a regular.  Just make sure you read the FAQ so a troll doesn't get you (very rare).
I am using a Geforce4 4200Ti ($45) and s-video is great.  The card also a powerful DX8 card for newer stuff.

Good Luck,
David

[elvis]

S-Video i find is better on a 64 MB then a 4MB.. no idea why.

The encoder chips on new-model cards are of much better quality.  It has nothing to do with the RAM. 

As with all things, quality goes up and price goes down over time.  Most video-out is Chrontel chips, with newer chips in newer cards (surprise, surprise).  Video out quality used to mean nothing to anyone, but with the ever-growing popularity of home theatre systems, it's now a very important part of any good video card.

[MPTech]

Ok, now I'm confused again.
Can someone make a specific brand/model recommendation?
I'd like to keep it under $40.

Thanks for the insight guys!

[elvis]

Any low-end AGP Nvidia GeForce or ATi Radeon card with S-Video out will suit you fine.  They all use almost identical 2D processors anyway, so make/model won't affect MAME performance greatly.  Let your budget be your guide.

You don't *NEED* ATi Rage cards.  There just tends to be a great deal of guides written by people using them, as they are common in second-hand systems and out of "dumpster diving" which is where many folks get their MAME gear from to save costs.

[MPTech]

The other How-to article I was reading recommended:
  nVidia GeForce 4 mx440 w/TV out.

Any suggestions?
I'd really like a specific recommendation.

thanks

[elvis]

Chipset isn't going to make much difference to you.  I can find 4 different GeForce2MX cards with 4 different TV-out chips onboard.

Let your budget be your guide.  Find something Nvidia or ATi, AGP and with SVideo-out that suits your wallet.  It really doesn't make much of a difference what you get, to be perfectly honest, so there's no point making an exact recommendation.

[MPTech]

I'd really appreciate a specific recommendation (I don't know what to search for on eBay.
I'm running an older PIII 500mhz (generic) with an AGP slot but I'm not even sure if it's 2x (I'll run a BelArc and post it in a bit).

[elvis]

For god's sake man!

ANY BLOODY GEFORCE OR RADEON WILL DO!

Search ebay for "geforce" or "radeon", filter for anything with svideo-out and within your price bracket, and start bidding.  You only want 2D, so the 3D capabilities don't matter.

Nvidia cards:

GeForce 256 SDR, GeForce 256 DDR, GeForce2, GeForce2 GTS, GeForce2 Pro, GeForce2 Ti, GeForce2 MX, GeForce2 MX400, GeForce2 MX440,  GeForce3, GeForce3 Ti200, GeForce3 Ti500, GeForce4 Ti4200, GeForce4 Ti4400, GeForce4 Ti4600, GeForce4MX, GeForce4 MX4000, GeForceFX5200, GeForceFX5200SE, GeForce FX 5600, GeForceFX5600SE, GeForceFX5700, GeForceFX5700LE, GeForceFX5700SE, GeForceFX5700Ultra, GeForceFX5900m GeForceFX5900SE, GeForceFX5900 Ultra, GeForce6200, GeForce6600, GeForce6800GT, GeForce6600 Ultra, GeForce6800, GeForce6800GT, GeForce6800 Ultra.

And that's JUST in AGP.  And probably another 20 I've missed.  Ditto for ATi and all of their radeon family.

ALL OF THESE WILL PLAY MAME JUST FINE.

So, once more, search ebay for "GeForce" or "Radeon", check if they have S-Video (which is card manufacturer specific, not chipset specific) and if the card is in your price range, then buy it.  Simple as that.

Telling you to go and find a "GeForce2MX" won't help, as there were three dozen different card manufacturers for that chipset, some of which had s-video and some that didn't!

[unix4hire]

This one looks good and cheap:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8715092832&ssPageName=MERC_VI_RSCC_Pr12_PcY_BID_Stores_IT

Haven't used one, keep in mind though.  This seller usually has them frequently,if you miss this auction check again later.

This one also looks spiffy:

http://cgi.ebay.com/PNY-FX5500-PCI-128MB-DDR-Dual-VGA-VIDEO-CARD_W0QQitemZ8716913331QQcategoryZ40161QQcmdZViewItem

[MPTech]

Not trying to be difficult, just don't know what to buy for this old mobo.