Tom's Hardware > Forum > Graphic & Displays > TV/Video Cards > PC to TV
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jdj143   08-20-2008 at 06:03:39 PM

I got done building my PC a few months ago. I have an 8800 GT video card and tried hooking up to my TV via S-Video. This came out really poor quality and just not good. What would be my best option for getting a good solid HD input from my computer? Do I need a different another card? Would I also need audio out? Here is my current set-up:

-Thermaltake Soprano DX VE7000BWS Black 0.8mm SECC Chassis/ Aluminum Front Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
-Ultra X-Finity 600W
-ASUS P5N32-E SLI Plus nForce 650i Socket 775 ATX Motherboard
-Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Conroe 2.66GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor
-Thermaltake CL-P0401 V1 110mm Full-Range Fan CPU Cooler
-Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3160815AS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
-Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
-OCZ SLI-Ready Edition 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2N800SR4GK
-EVGA e-GeForce 8800GT Superclocked 512MB 256-bit DDR3 PCI-E 2.0 Video Card
-DVD Drive
-Lite-on DVD/RW 20X
-Rosewill All In One

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skittle   08-20-2008 at 06:14:31 PM
- 0 +

Well, what other inputs does your TV have? What resolution? Also how long was the S-video cable.

------------------------------ macgirlfriend:
"Hey I don't get you people, the people on insanely mac were so much nicer"
 Reply to skittle
Nik_I   08-20-2008 at 06:21:19 PM
- 0 +

what you should do is use the breakaway cable that comes with all video cards and connect to your tv through component. or, if your tv has an HDMI input, buy a DVI-HDMI cable and connect that way.

Reply to Nik_I
knotknut   08-20-2008 at 06:21:20 PM
- 0 +

It's not your PC its your TV.
If your TV dosent have VGA, DVI or HDMI input forget about getting any good video out of the TV.
If your card has a SPDIF connector you can get sound,via jumper, through a DVI or HDMI interface.

Reply to knotknut
szwaba67   08-20-2008 at 06:21:22 PM
- 0 +

First of all, S-Video is still standard definition. I think the highest res is 480i on that. You'll need to use an HD input such as Component RGB or YPrPb, DVI, HDMI or VGA.

Reply to szwaba67
firemist   08-20-2008 at 06:23:07 PM
- 0 +

You will not be able to get a HD signal to your TV using the S-video input.

S-video and composite connections can handle resolutions of upto about 800x600. Above that you need relatively high frequency pixelclocks which the cables can't handle that well (leads to a lot of signal loss).

Also, when you connect using the s-video connection your video card outputs is 720x480 (NTSC) or 720x576 (PAL) no matter which resolution you specify in your card setup, it a TV-Out compliant signal. The image is scaled to fit into this view.

If you want high resolutions for tvout (HDTV) you need to use either component or hdmi/dvi connections. If your TV does not have these connections you are out of luck.

Reply to firemist
jdj143   08-20-2008 at 06:28:34 PM
- 0 +

I have a 42" Samsung HD with the following ports:

3 composite
3 S-Video
2 component
1 DVI
1 HDMI
2 RF inputs

I am not looking to use the S-Video option. Just looking for recommendations on how to get a good signal out to my TV. Is there a PCI card that I can get for this? Maybe even a tuner card as well?


Message edited by jdj143 on 08-20-2008 at 06:32:05 PM
Reply to jdj143
knotknut   08-20-2008 at 06:40:34 PM
- 1 +

Then all you need is a DVI cable or an adaptor DVI to HDMI.

Reply to knotknut
Wolfshadw   08-20-2008 at 06:44:09 PM
- 0 +

Use the DVI out from your graphics card to the DVI in on your TV. You won't need any additional hardware unless you want to watch TV on your PC's primary monitor (other than the TV).

-Wolf sends

------------------------------ System Specs:
Gigabyte EP43-UD3L Intel Core2Quad Q8400 8 Gig RAM
NVidia Geforce 8800GTS-640/Creative X-FI Extreme Music/Dual-Boot XP-64&Server2008
 Reply to Wolfshadw
knotknut   08-20-2008 at 07:12:10 PM
- 0 +

If your card is like this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130319
you wont be able to get sound through the card, no jumper for SPDIF.
You will have to use the MB sound with remote speakers.

Reply to knotknut
jdj143   08-20-2008 at 07:20:47 PM
- 0 +

Ok yeah that is my Graphics Card. Thanks for the info guys....

Reply to jdj143
skittle   08-20-2008 at 07:41:58 PM
- 0 +

Yup, use either component, DVI, or HDMI.

------------------------------ macgirlfriend:
"Hey I don't get you people, the people on insanely mac were so much nicer"
 Reply to skittle
blackhawk1928   08-21-2008 at 03:18:01 AM
- 0 +

Definatly use DVI, it the best signal you can get (entirly digital)!

Reply to blackhawk1928
MZGAME   06-03-2009 at 08:58:52 AM
- 0 +

I HAVE HD TV MY PC HAS S-VIDEO SLOT AND RED,YELLOW , WHITE CABLE IN THE BACK OF PC BUT MY TV DON'T HAVE A MONITOR HOOK UP. HOW CAN GET MY TV TO BE THE MONITOR.

Reply to MZGAME
leon2006   06-03-2009 at 05:17:21 PM
- 0 +

Options to connect to HDTV is below. Both will enable you to operate at 1080P resolutions including watching Blue_ray, HD-DVD movies. I have verified these connections to work on different video cards including 8800GT 512 OC.

I have an 8800GT connected to HDTV through DV/HDMI-converter connected to the HDMI input of the HDTV. This is the best setup.

If you want to use the analog-connection using the analog-expansion cable that came with the video card.

Here's a reference document from BFG on how to connect HDTV using the

video card extension:
ANALOG Connection using SVIDEO and COMPONENT:
http://www2.bfgtech.com/CMDocs/BFG [...] _flyer.pdf

SVIDEO wont & can't support 1080P... Not recommended:

COMPONENT video with 3-cables for video works at 1080P without any issues. It work on 8800GT and GTX 280.

You can try the support site of the vendor of your nvdia-card and you should get guides similar to BFG on how to make your connections.



I'm using hauppage dual-hybird TV Tuner 2250. It works well with Windows Media Center & cable/satelite box.

http://www.hauppage.com/site/produ [...] r2250.html

------------------------------ Q6600: Maximus Formula: Zalman 9700LED8GByte: Crucial Ballistics 4-4-4-12: PC6400; Vista Ultimate-64BFG XOC 4890; Disp: 70 Inch HDTV: Hauppage 2250 HDTV Tuner1.4TByte: 2x750Gbyte; RAID0; Case: Antec 900: PS:Antec Quatro 850
 Reply to leon2006
MZGAME   06-03-2009 at 09:46:24 PM
- 0 +

I HAVE HD TV MY PC HAS S-VIDEO SLOT AND RED,YELLOW , WHITE CABLE IN THE BACK OF PC BUT MY TV DON'T HAVE A MONITOR HOOK UP. HOW CAN GET MY TV TO BE THE MONITOR. I have 1080i with hdmi 3 slots but no monitor hook -up. Do I need to buy what and step by step hook-up please . javascript:%20validform(this);

Reply to MZGAME
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