Using my TV as a computer monitor

[Ikari Warrior]

AN tech-heads, Shadowcast needs your help!

As the thread title indicates, I want to use my TV as a computer monitor.

For the sake of clarity, I use "RCA" as the Red-Yellow-White connection. If this is incorrect, I apologize for confusion, and ask for the correct nomenclature for future reference.

Here is my situation:
I have a TV with only coaxial connection in the back. However, I bought a coax - RCA adapter, so, RCA connection is an option.

I was wondering if any of the following exist:

VGA to RCA cable
VGA to RCA adapter
VGA to Coaxial adapter
Video card with RCA out

I am really not trying to buy a new video card, so if I can find a 50-60 dollar cable or adapter, that'd be great. If any of the above things exists, please tell me of a chain store or an online store that carries them.

Thanks a bunch!

[superplough]

i think a new TV is a good idea, e.g one with S-Video because most computer's have S-Video out these days

[HSaabedra]

AN tech-heads, Shadowcast needs your help!

As the thread title indicates, I want to use my TV as a computer monitor.

For the sake of clarity, I use "RCA" as the Red-Yellow-White connection. If this is incorrect, I apologize for confusion, and ask for the correct nomenclature for future reference.

Here is my situation:
I have a TV with only coaxial connection in the back. However, I bought a coax - RCA adapter, so, RCA connection is an option.

I was wondering if any of the following exist:

VGA to RCA cable
VGA to RCA adapter
VGA to Coaxial adapter
Video card with RCA out

I am really not trying to buy a new video card, so if I can find a 50-60 dollar cable or adapter, that'd be great. If any of the above things exists, please tell me of a chain store or an online store that carries them.

Thanks a bunch!

It'll look like crap going through an RF demodulator and you'll need software or hardware to adjust PC overscan to sync up with the TV's native resolution and refresh rate.

1. No
2. No
3. :blink: no.
4. Yes, but expect to pay $100+

[Suiko Eiji]

Actually, without a video card that already has coax on it, I think you're SOL and you're going to have to purchase either a new car or a new TV. Even a fancy-smancy video card with coax ports on them are going to be cheaper than a whole new television, probably even when compared with deep-discounted Wal-Mart prices.

I recommend ATi's All-in-Wonder series; this is a Radeon X1300:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage.asp?Image=14%2D102%2D661%2D08% 2Ejpg%2C14%2D102%2D661%2D02%2Ejpg%2C14%2 D102%2D661%2D03%2Ejpg%2C14%2D102%2D661%2 D04%2Ejpg%2C14%2D102%2D661%2D05%2Ejpg%2C 14%2D102%2D661%2D06%2Ejpg&CurImage=14%2D102%2D661%2D08%2Ejpg&Description=ATI+100%2D714600+Radeon+X130 0+256MB+DDR+PCI+Express+x16+All%2DIn%2DW onder+2006+Edition+Video+Card+%2D+Retail

Retail specs listed at $119.99 at NewEgg

[Ikari Warrior]

I found this video card, how well would this work? I understand it's a GeForce 2, but I don't think I'd be getting rid of my monitor, so I could still use my GeForce 4 to play computer games. The majority of my games are on consoles, though.

http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi?page=proframe&prod_id=2175970&AK=1

[Suiko Eiji]

So, it might work; I'm not sure what the yellow RCA-looking port is for and I believe that is an S-VIDEO port right next to it. However, there's no direct coax port.

[HSaabedra]

So, it might work; I'm not sure what the yellow RCA-looking port is for and I believe that is an S-VIDEO port right next to it. However, there's no direct coax port.
Thats composite video.

[Tiran]

BTW. you may want to look at what your video card can actually output on that S-VHS socket. I am lead to believe that the NVidea drivers (and if they can, I guess ATI too) can output various formats from there, though I havn't ever tried personaly.

[Gray]

My TV only has Coaxial as well. But you see, my VCR(Yes, i still have a VCR) Has RCA Inputs on it. My graphics card on my computer, has a Video Out built right into it though. Yea, there are cables that will convert VGA to RCA, at least im pretty sure since i own a RCA to VGA Adaptor. But, they are not cheap at all. Mine was around 100 Dollars.

[Old Ape Face]

i would think the image quality wouldn't be so good, as it's resolution doesn't exceed past 1280 X 1040 pixels and the tv screen could be much bigger then that.

[Ikari Warrior]

^Agreed. I hadn't bought anything yet. As it turns out, my GeForce4 has an S-video port, but I do not know if that's in or out. Sorry in advance for not mentioning this sooner, and being too much of a doofus to actually check :lol:

So, seeing as how my TV does not have an S-video port, I still have a problem. I suppose my next question should be, what should I look for in a new TV?

[dark_horse]

Okay, you are in luck on the video card with the S-Video Out. The Vcard should have came with software and you may set up the svideo out to be a second desktop monitor or a clone monitor to watch dvds on your tv while still surfing on my main computer monitor (that is what I usaully do as well as use my AverMedia TV card to watch TV on my TV ...........uhh anyway v_v ) However, this TV you are describing is a little inadaquate. Now, you may try Radio Shack or some electronic store and get a SVIDEO to RCA adaptor and then you will need the modulator for video to RF (cable plug) in on the TV. Or just buy a new TV with RGB Component/SVIDEO in. ^_^

[RPGQueen]

Coaxail to optical exists in music stores.

[HSaabedra]

Coaxail to optical exists in music stores.

Why would he need to go from coax to optical?

[Hybrid Shock]

1: your "RCA" is what we call Composite. From now on, i intend to use Composite because there's another 3 RCA plug set called Component that your TV doesn't have (since red & white are composite audio, yellow is composite video and Red + Blue + Green is Component Video)

2: Straight VGA to Composite cables don't exist. VGA to Composite adapters do exist but are expensive (http://www.blackbox.com/Catalog/Detail.aspx?cid=1578,1587&mid=1944)

3: The chances of finding a graphics card with Composite out is extremly rare. last time i personally saw one of them is on a Trident PCI graphics card, somewhere in my room =/. that GF2 does have composite out though.

4: Since you've got S-video on your graphics card, you can easily get s-video - compositie converters at your local radio shack. a GF4's drivers should output to TV fine (Someone on AN sent me a GF2 Ultra, and that did fine with Detonator 44.04 drivers)