Videoless in Vancouver
February 22, 2006 11:05 AM
What do I need to connect a VGA-out only laptop to a component-in non-HD television?
I've done searches on Google and AskMeFi, but can't seem to find answers specific to this direction. I've seen a lot of discussion of transcoders for modifying the signal from a device outputting a component signal so that it can be displayed on a VGA monitor, but do I need a transcoder in the opposite direction? I'm imagining that I would since I'm going from a digital signal to an interlaced analog television. Is a VGA to YPrPb enough?
I've done searches on Google and AskMeFi, but can't seem to find answers specific to this direction. I've seen a lot of discussion of transcoders for modifying the signal from a device outputting a component signal so that it can be displayed on a VGA monitor, but do I need a transcoder in the opposite direction? I'm imagining that I would since I'm going from a digital signal to an interlaced analog television. Is a VGA to YPrPb enough?
A VGA signal is actually analog RGB.
You'll need a box like this one to convert it. There are other VGA to component boxes made for HTPC types but they usually require a very specific combination of resolution, refresh, and timing. I actually have one of the grandtec boxes. It is quite flexible and can take many resolutions, but the quality isn't that great. I got it because I wanted component quality, but it's really no better than bad S-Video. If your TV accepts S-Video, getting an adapter would probably be cheaper.
posted by zsazsa at 11:32 AM on February 22, 2006
You'll need a box like this one to convert it. There are other VGA to component boxes made for HTPC types but they usually require a very specific combination of resolution, refresh, and timing. I actually have one of the grandtec boxes. It is quite flexible and can take many resolutions, but the quality isn't that great. I got it because I wanted component quality, but it's really no better than bad S-Video. If your TV accepts S-Video, getting an adapter would probably be cheaper.
posted by zsazsa at 11:32 AM on February 22, 2006
Well, my television will take composite/S-Video and analog component YPrPb. What are some of these "cheap devices" that will convert VGA to composite or s-video and is this done passively?
posted by Big Fat Tycoon at 1:05 PM on February 22, 2006
posted by Big Fat Tycoon at 1:05 PM on February 22, 2006
Actually, for me, the confusion is how adapters like these would be able to do any conversion -- it just looks like a cable with the appropriate plugs, but based on the information on this page it seems like there is some basic signal processing involved.
posted by Big Fat Tycoon at 1:16 PM on February 22, 2006
posted by Big Fat Tycoon at 1:16 PM on February 22, 2006
D'oh. I see that in those eBay auctions that you need TV-out capability from your video card before you can use them. So I guess the answer is that I'd need some kind of conversion unit.
posted by Big Fat Tycoon at 1:18 PM on February 22, 2006
posted by Big Fat Tycoon at 1:18 PM on February 22, 2006
This looks like it'll do the trick for you.
VGA to Component cabling
posted by nkeown at 1:55 PM on February 22, 2006
VGA to Component cabling
posted by nkeown at 1:55 PM on February 22, 2006
The above cables only work if the video card can be set to output Y/Pb/Pr on the VGA connector. The laptop in question most likely cannot.
posted by zsazsa at 2:16 PM on February 22, 2006
posted by zsazsa at 2:16 PM on February 22, 2006
You can only do this passively (like with nkeown's cable) if the TV has specific support for progressive scan video and/or the laptop has a special interlaced video out mode. Most don't.
These are the kind of convertor boxes I was referring to. Make sure you buy one that goes the right way round (VGA to TV, not TV to VGA). It's not always clear from the descriptions which you're getting.
posted by cillit bang at 3:10 PM on February 22, 2006
These are the kind of convertor boxes I was referring to. Make sure you buy one that goes the right way round (VGA to TV, not TV to VGA). It's not always clear from the descriptions which you're getting.
posted by cillit bang at 3:10 PM on February 22, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
VGA to YPrPb on its own is not enough if the TV only accepts interlaced component (VGA is progressive).
Basically, you need to find out a lot more about exactly which formats the TV will accept.
posted by cillit bang at 11:26 AM on February 22, 2006