Hooking computer to the TV.

[Chaos68]

I have a spare 27in TV that I want to hook my computer up to. What cables do I need for this?  I have a ATI video card, I head something about a "S" cord?

[Boroda]

Originally posted by Chaos68
I have a spare 27in TV that I want to hook my computer up to. What cables do I need for this?  I have a ATI video card, I head something about a "S" cord?

S-Video (S-VHS) cable is better then co-axial composite cable (RCA jack). Check if your ATI card and TV have S-Video sockets. It looks almost like PS/2 mouse or keyboard.

[Gunslinger]

yes you can hook your TV up via S-video.  It can be kind of a PITA, make sure you use the ATI acvance controls to turn on this feature.

Myself I bought an ATI radeon 7000 off of Ebay for $25.  It has a regular video out on it and it works perfectly.  If your TV does not have an S-video in on it don't bother buying converters and what not because it will not work properly.  My expereience is that the ATI cards will only output a signal if it's properly connected to a TV and you wont get that by using a converter.

[BluKitty]

the normal "yelllow'" video jack always worked for me

looks like a Hi-Fi stero jack.... most modren TV's have a direct  yellow video jack-  if not, most VCR's and DVD-players will have a yellow video-in  as well.

Might be easier to use the yellow-jack as oppsed to the s-video.  I think all ATI cards have the yellow video out?

[Skilless]

Originally posted by BluKitty
the normal "yelllow'" video jack always worked for me

looks like a Hi-Fi stero jack.... most modren TV's have a direct  yellow video jack-  if not, most VCR's and DVD-players will have a yellow video-in  as well.

Might be easier to use the yellow-jack as oppsed to the s-video.  I think all ATI cards have the yellow video out?

The video cards I've seen with TV out only have S-video jacks.  I could be wrong (would like to be wrong).  The only thing holding me back from getting one is the fact that my aniquated TV doesn't have an S-video jack...

[Torque]

you can get a s-vid to rca plug adapter.

[Chairboy]

One thing: Set your expectations appropriately.  Your TV will never show a good computer picture.  If you're doing anything other than maybe playing a game or video, you'll be tremendously disappointed.  Your 27" TV is not a 27" monitor, it lacks (by an order of magnitude) the capabillity to display computer information with the sharpness to which you've become accustomed.

Be warned.

[Gunslinger]

Originally posted by Torque
you can get a s-vid to rca plug adapter.

it probably wont work with an ATI card.  With my 9600 I have to have the S-video actually plugged into a TV before I even get the option to enable the output.    Since my TV in the bedroom is using an external AV switch this didn't work.  That's why I went with the cheap ATI card with the RCA video out.  I spent a bunch of money on adapters and they didn't produce desirable results.  You can find a cheap radeon on Ebay pretty easily.

Blu most cards nowadays have S-video vrs. what you are talking about.

[Terror]

What about the DTVI or SDMI inputs for hooking the computer to the TV?  The video card I have does have a DVI output....

Terror

PS.  The TVs owner's manual does warn that the TV is NOT (bolded in the manual) designed to be used as a computer output device.  Any reason for that?

[Chairboy]

You definately don't want to sit as close to it as you do to a monitor.  You'll go blind trying to read text on it.

Also, you could conceivably damage your TV if you pass it a bad signal.

[Gunslinger]

Originally posted by Terror
What about the DTVI or SDMI inputs for hooking the computer to the TV?  The video card I have does have a DVI output....

Terror

PS.  The TVs owner's manual does warn that the TV is NOT (bolded in the manual) designed to be used as a computer output device.  Any reason for that?

not sure.  I can only assume that it might ruin the tube after long term usage.  I use mine to watch videos and what not so I can save on DVD costs.

Personally here's what I'd do.  Go look for a cheap PCI ATI 7000 or something similare that has the yellow RCA video plug on it.  This will save you in time, money, and cables.  As long as you have a free PCI slot and you are running windows XP you should be fine and setup should be pretty easy.  

here is one that will work perfectly for $32 + shipping.  
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814164047&CMP=OTC-pr1c3watch&ATT=Video+Cards

[Eden]

Need to be careful if theTV is used with the computer a lot.
The images on TV are in motion while PC can have the same screen up for a while.  THis could damage the screen itself (although more prevalent on projection style TVs).  The resolution on the TV is probably why they warned you not to use it.  Most text will not be readable and the images will look disappointing.  I have used a TV as a monitor before and found most applications unusable due to an inability to read text.  I was able to get some success using the TV in conjunction with a PC DVD player to watch movies.  Also, you will need to make sure you plug into the sound card to get sound.  Most sound cards have a mini plug output (like headphones).  You can get an adaptor that will make this into the more familiar red and white RCA adaptors.

[Torque]

Originally posted by Gunslinger
it probably wont work with an ATI card.  With my 9600 I have to have the S-video actually plugged into a TV before I even get the option to enable the output.    Since my TV in the bedroom is using an external AV switch this didn't work.  That's why I went with the cheap ATI card with the RCA video out.  I spent a bunch of money on adapters and they didn't produce desirable results.  You can find a cheap radeon on Ebay pretty easily.

Blu most cards nowadays have S-video vrs. what you are talking about.

as far as i know that has always been the norm for ati cards to recognize the tv output source. i have a 9800 pro with a s-vid to rca adapter connected to a digital receiver, and from the receiver to the tv, it works fine. from a comfortable viewing distance i never could see any discernible difference between a s-vid or a rca connection on a 27" tv. i have two machines in an office upstairs hooked up this way, one is rca and one is s-vid, both machines have their surround cards connected as well.

good for playing movies or dvds from the drives, or going surround when gaming.

[Gunslinger]

Originally posted by Torque
as far as i know that has always been the norm for ati cards to recognize the tv output source. i have a 9800 pro with a s-vid to rca adapter connected to a digital receiver, and from the receiver to the tv, it works fine. from a comfortable viewing distance i never could see any discernible difference between a s-vid or a rca connection on a 27" tv. i have two machines in an office upstairs hooked up this way, one is rca and one is s-vid, both machines have their surround cards connected as well.

good for playing movies or dvds from the drives, or going surround when gaming.

good for you I guess.  I know I had major head aches getting mine to convert right.  I wish I would have went out and bought the cheap 7000 to begin with.

[Torque]

the s-vid to rca adapter is actually from a three year old nivida broad, maybe it's your tv, were you using a shielded s-video cable?

i know when using a cheap s-vid i had alot of ghosting, as it lay in a myriad of power, sound and router cables.