Hooking PC through Television?

[timebomb]

Seeing as I'm now enabled for broadband I thought it might be an idea to move my PC back into my tiny bedroom. Seeing as it's so small I was thinking of hooking it up through my widescreen TV. I've done a few searches and came up with nothing, has anyone tried this out? I know the refresh will probably not be the best but I'm only wanting it to try out a few games.

The Pc's been sitting unused and unloved for a while, would it be worth trying out?

Cheers.

[SuperBeatBoy]

yes. but it depends on if your graphics card has tv out support, what is it btw?

[Lyris]

It's a tough one, you really just have to see for yourself and decide whether or not you like the look or if it's just a novelty you'll get bored of. I have an ATI Radeon 9800 and the TV-out picture quality is acceptable enough on Composite Video, but the S-Video picture is terrible (this is probably a one-off though, and could even be fixed with newer drivers... there is a horrible 'diamond' pattern over the whole image).

Also there's the issue that any frame rate has to be converted to that of either PAL or NTSC. On my Radeon, this is handled very smoothly so looks OK. Other cards however might look worse and result in very jerky motion.

I imagine also that converting Component video to RGB SCART isn't possible (at least not within a sensible price range anyway) so S-Video is probably the best you're going to get unless you happen to have a TV with Component video inputs.

[demon9k]

Download the new 4.9 Drivers with the Catalyst Control Centre from the ATI website.

http://www.ati.com/home/online/CatalystCCCdriver.html

The new control centre has a lot more features for people who want to use dual monitors and things. One of the main things is that it lets you set your TV out resolution to TV standard. Although you can't get widescreen through the TV out. If you have component input through your TV you could get:

http://shop.ati.com/product.asp?sku=2537967

or if your graphics card doesn't have a DVI output

http://shop.ati.com/product.asp?sku=2550138

I have never used either but the image quality should be improved greatly. Also I don't know if you can get widescreen through this.

[Lyris]

Although you can't get widescreen through the TV out. If you have component input through your TV you could get:

http://shop.ati.com/product.asp?sku=2537967

http://www.svideo.com/hdtvaiwr8500.html has this in stock and will ship to the UK, unlike ATI.

Edit: I'm just reading through the DVI-to-Component adapter manual:

http://lib1.store.vip.sc5.yahoo.com/lib/videoware/compvidad.pdf

and the adapter seems to have a switch for 16:9, so it seems that at least on this it's supported.

[demon9k]

I can't see a widescreen resolution though, so that it doesn't stretch the picture, maybe it would become avialable if you use the DVI output.

[Lyris]

Ah, I figured it out - it seems like it IS possible on Component, all is explained here:

http://www.ati.com/support/faq/hdtvuserdefinedmodes.html

[demon9k]

Good job!

I am going to get one now when I have some free cash. Its the damn cables that will be expensive, I will need like 7-8 metres of the stuff

[Lyris]

Don't look at me the wrong way (this seems like a real no-no in the AV world), but I used el cheapo RCA Video, Left Audio and Right Audio cables in place of the 20 pounds (which isn't TOO expensive, granted) Profigold Component ones I bought and could see no real difference with the picture... maybe you could use these if you have any lying around at least while you wait for better ones?

[demon9k]

I didn't realise they worked! However I don't have any lying around. I will prob just buy these:

http://www.cableuniverse.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=885

When I get round to buying the convertor. How long did Svideo.com take to deliver and what shipping method did you use?