vga to composite or vice versa ?

slasherx · 03-02-2004, 08:02 AM

I have a few lcds that are composite only, and I'd like to hook up a pc. As it stands, the picture looks poor (as you all know, somewhat readable). Is there a device that allows the conversion of vga output to composite input that gives better quality? Basically are any of these devices out there true? I'm aware of the differences of composite and vga of course. I don't want to invest in any new lcds yet. It's about 5am so pardon my lack of words.

barb3tta · 03-02-2004, 08:13 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by slasherx

I have a few lcds that are composite only, and I'd like to hook up a pc. As it stands, the picture looks poor (as you all know, somewhat readable). Is there a device that allows the conversion of vga output to composite input that gives better quality? Basically are any of these devices out there true? I'm aware of the differences of composite and vga of course. I don't want to invest in any new lcds yet. It's about 5am so pardon my lack of words.

I think you have to change lcd.
VGA is VGA, composite is composite.

There are many schematics and commercial products out there, but the quality is poor.
Anyway, I think you can get the best quality with the composite output of your vga card and a monster cable or similar... But you still need a lcd with vga input if you want read chars on your monitor....

bye!

ukchris · 03-02-2004, 09:03 AM

As another twist to the same topic, is it feasible to run composite and VGA? I have a PC in the front of the car and was considering two composite screens in the back for playing DVD's, is it viable to play DVD's on a "remote" composite screen?

The back of the car has no need for VGA, just video.

Chris.

kami333 · 03-02-2004, 09:22 AM

Yes, you can run two or more screens (depending on the video card).

You can convert VGA to composite but not vice versa. If you only have a VGA output and don't want to change LCDs, your main option is a scan converter. The higher end ones can actually give better quality composite out than the onboard composite tv-out of video cards but the downside is that the good ones cost $100 and up, at which point you might as well get a new LCD that has VGA inputs or a video card that has tv-out since you probably won't notice the difference on such a small screen anyways.

ukchris · 03-02-2004, 09:27 AM

It's intruiging, I am usin onboard VGA though and have only two PCI slots, both of which I am currently using. A bigger issue seems to be that different graphics adaptors seem to take issue with running video on a remote and primary screen, I've seen this a lot with laptops where the video only displays on one of the connected screens, the other one sees all the windows desktop, just no video.

I think that if I opt for cheaper composite screens in the rear then I may as well hook up a regular DVD player and forget about the PC connection. If VGA screens are as cheap as composite at that time then obviously that would be even better.

Thanks for the tips.

Chris.

kami333 · 03-02-2004, 09:42 AM

Scan converters also support VGA pass-through so you can attach both a VGA and composite LCDs (or multiple composite LCDs using y-splitters) so you can set it up so both screens will be viewing the same image. Though yes, it would be cheaper just to get a portable dvd player and hook it up.

It's really funny that video cards have had tv-out for many years now but manufacturers still haven't implemented overlay and VMR correctly (though Windows is the major culprit). Matrox had it close to perfect with the G400 but then they had to go and change it.

slasherx · 03-02-2004, 04:12 PM

Actually I'm willing to pay for a scan converter. Which are recommended? Will it actually make the text readable? Or will something like an ATI All-in-wonder do it justice.

hardware_dave · 03-04-2004, 06:33 PM

Some of the nvidia chipsets support 'dual head' with comp. and vga , although your dvd software may only work on the vga output. (hacks may be available on the internet). I seem to remember the geforce 4 mx 440 (from memory) worked ok for me.

slasherx · 03-04-2004, 08:05 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by hardware_dave

Some of the nvidia chipsets support 'dual head' with comp. and vga , although your dvd software may only work on the vga output. (hacks may be available on the internet). I seem to remember the geforce 4 mx 440 (from memory) worked ok for me.

that video card would give good output on a composite screen (yes i know all aobut composite and vga)? as it stands now, mp3car works fine, and is very much readable. would an ati all in wonder make text even more readable? my options right now are an ati all in wonder or a scan converter. so if you guys could chime in and tell me what would be better, i'd very much appreciate it.

i also don't expect a miracle, making it vga quality, but just enough to be readable. thanks

hardware_dave · 03-05-2004, 02:40 PM

You are hitting the limitations of comp. video , I doubt one card would be much better than another , its just I have used nvidia in the past and had few problems.

P4_2.66GHz · 03-05-2004, 03:33 PM

I also would suggest using a stand-alone converter device.
I tried "TVAtor" external adapter a while back and the quality was decent. I tried it on TV, though.

The only thing is, it requires its own power.

eatyummypuppies · 03-05-2004, 03:42 PM

I'm think I'm going to use the s-video out on my video card and convert it to composite right before my LCD. But I have no idea if this is going to make any discernable difference.

slasherx · 03-05-2004, 04:37 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by hardware_dave

You are hitting the limitations of comp. video , I doubt one card would be much better than another , its just I have used nvidia in the past and had few problems.

Well the thing is I remember my nephew used an ati rage all in wonder and he says he was able to read text pretty ok.

P4_2.66GHz · 03-05-2004, 04:44 PM

I talked to a knowledgeable person about limitations of the composite connection, and he came to a conclusion that in the given frequency range you can get a very high resolution. The weakest link in this case would be the source or the screen.

slasherx · 03-05-2004, 06:53 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by P4_2.66GHz

I talked to a knowledgeable person about limitations of the composite connection, and he came to a conclusion that in the given frequency range you can get a very high resolution. The weakest link in this case would be the source or the screen.

Yes and I've heard extremely good things about the ATI All in Wonder.