EVGA 8800gt export, S-VIDEO?

Hey all. Got a samsung 50" S1 1080p series plasma on the way and would love to export HD video from my computer. It's running an EVGA 8800gt. Here's what the reverse of the card looks like.

http://c1.neweggimages.com/NeweggImage/productimage/14-130-303-04.jpg
It says to use the s-video output as the HD output. There is a lot of conflicting opinions about this on the internet about whether to use the S-Video output or just use a DVI to HDMI adapter to connect to the tv. The card came with these component cables to connect to an HD capable device.

http://c1.neweggimages.com/NeweggImage/productimage/14-130-303-08.jpg

so what is everyone's opinion? I figured it would output higher quality to use a DVI-D dual link cable for stronger output.

DVI is HD, S-Video is not.

i was looking at this
IOGear DVI-D Dual Link to HDMI (http://www.amazon.com/IOGear-HDmi-Dvi-d-Plated-Adapter/dp/B0016BEN8C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1251131782&sr=8-1)

to convert to an HDMI signal and than use an HDMI cable to go to the TV. was thinking of going this way since i couldnt find a DVI-D dual link cable from monoprice.

The tv is about 40ft(going up and down a door frame and wall). with the dual link DVI connector and hdmi wire... is the signal going to be degraded when it gets to the tv?

That is not a standard S-video connection. That connection is used on many projectors and serves as a combination s-video connection and component connection. S-video has only 4 pins and the other pins are used for the component outputs.

If you have a DVI or HDMI input on the TV it may be a better way to go since it will be all digital, but the component video will give you a great picture as well.

i was looking at this
IOGear DVI-D Dual Link to HDMI (http://www.amazon.com/IOGear-HDmi-Dvi-d-Plated-Adapter/dp/B0016BEN8C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1251131782&sr=8-1)

to convert to an HDMI signal and than use an HDMI cable to go to the TV. was thinking of going this way since i couldnt find a DVI-D dual link cable from monoprice.

The tv is about 40ft(going up and down a door frame and wall). with the dual link DVI connector and hdmi wire... is the signal going to be degraded when it gets to the tv?
That should not be a problem for a digital connection.

so how exactly does this work?

you connect the tv to the comp and the tv becomes the second monitor... than just adjust the resolution in Vista's display properties or in the Nvidia control panel?

what resolution does it need to be set to?
how will i know if it is 1080p?

I'm looking for an answer to something similar as well. Thanks in advance.

so how exactly does this work?

you connect the tv to the comp and the tv becomes the second monitor... than just adjust the resolution in Vista's display properties or in the Nvidia control panel?

what resolution does it need to be set to?
how will i know if it is 1080p?http://www.tracker-analytics.com/track/img/3358/s09v0317fvxp/00.gif

so how exactly does this work?

you connect the tv to the comp and the tv becomes the second monitor... than just adjust the resolution in Vista's display properties or in the Nvidia control panel?

what resolution does it need to be set to?
how will i know if it is 1080p?Most likely the component connections will not allow for 1080p, although it might. You will just have to try it. DVI output will probably be what you would need for 1080p.

The TV could be the second monitor or the primary as you wish. The problem you may find using it as the second monitor is some of the video players will use overlays and that only works with the primary monitor. I use my 1080p HDTV as my computer monitor via component on one HTPC either at 720p or 1080i and DVI on another HTPC at 720p or 1080p. I can tell no difference between the 1080p and the 1080i.

Finally, the resolution requires will depend on your TV not the PC. Your manual should list the supported resolutions.

Most likely the component connections will not allow for 1080p, although it might. You will just have to try it. DVI output will probably be what you would need for 1080p.

The TV could be the second monitor or the primary as you wish. The problem you may find using it as the second monitor is some of the video players will use overlays and that only works with the primary monitor. I use my 1080p HDTV as my computer monitor via component on one HTPC either at 720p or 1080i and DVI on another HTPC at 720p or 1080p. I can tell no difference between the 1080p and the 1080i.

Finally, the resolution requires will depend on your TV not the PC. Your manual should list the supported resolutions.

I always can count on you for great answers. However, this what I want to tell him about EVGA cards and that 7-pin out with that dongle. This worked for a minute, but then my color was gone on my Toshiba 51H83 via that dongle that comes with the EVGA cards. I'm on bluray.com as blckman as well and this helped a great deal of people. I will paste the entire comment I made about that connection. I'm using the same set-up as rbinck via component, however, with a 9-pin out dongle I had laying around the house. Anyway, here goes:

Hello gang. I'm still here and reading your wonderful problems and fixes. So, I have an 9800GT, 512Mb Nvidia videocard. So, one day a couple of months ago when I attatched my 7-pin dongle to the video-card to my Toshiba 51H83 the screen would look a tad bit snowy and the color was purely black and white. I gave up for a while and just couldn't find the fix to this problem.

Fast forward to today. Two nights ago I tried it again and no fix. I tried everything in the book. Using the Nvidia control panel to change settings, changing the resolution, running the tv detection in the Nvidia control panel as well. I mean, just nothing worked. Then, I noted that I keep dongles from other video cards I had in the past. Note: Please try to keep extra gear here and there because you never know when you're going to need them.

I had this dongle laying around from another videocard:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10401&cs_id=1040114&p_id=2525&seq=1&format=2

I was using this 7-pin one that fitted perfectly and came with the 9800GT:

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


The advantage I had with the 9-pin one from monoprice.com is that it also had the S-Video and audio out all on the same dongle. Love this feature. Now, I put the 9-pin dongle in and noticed that there are nine full pins versus the ATI 7-pin. The problem here is it's an voltage/contact issue with the videocard pertaining to the extra two pins(7 + 2). Strange how the extra two pins some how gets the colors and display right. In fact, I popped in all of the Harry Potter HD-DVD's I have. I popped in I Am Legend Blu-Ray, The Dark Knight Blu-Ray. And boy-oh-boy, my problem was so fixed. In fact guys, you know how we say the black lines are our friends? Well, black lines on my television be gone. This is a 1080i rear projection set and only has component and one DVI input. If I tried the 7-pin connector at first I would get a more panoramic wide-screen picture. Once I put in the 9-pin dongle everything went to full screen. Even if the HD-DVD or Blu-Ray had a particular aspect ratio.

In summary, using the 9-pin dongle versus the 7-pin dongle can solve some of your issues in a hurry. I've read on MSI, Asus, EVGA, ATI, PNY, Leadtek, and some other videocard manufacturers forums about how many people are having problems with the 7-pin dongles to their perspective HDTV sets. My problem is solved and hopefully I have helped just a few of you with this growning problem so many PC users are having.


Note: Monoprice.com is rated right now one of the best places to get any type of cable for cheap. I've even visited the place to pick up a 25 foot component cable. Yes, I do reside near the place in Southern California. I don't lose any quality when I use a 25-foot HDMI to DVI cable as well. One last thing, Street Fighter IV on the PC in 1080i looks beautiful. Peace.....