VGA to Component?

Hi guys, first post so be gentle!

From what I've been reading, and thanks to the unusual resolution, it's a bit problematic to get a good PC picture on the Panasonic TH-42PX80B using a VGA connection (Powerstrip and a lot of fiddling is required). The problem is a lot my HD viewing is from my PC (currently hooked up to a 720p projector) which only has a VGA output. Specs as profile and I've looked at the ATI website about the X1400 and it says "YPrPb component output for direct drive of HDTV displays" near the bottom. Does that mean a cable like this one should work?

VGA to Component cable

I'm assuming if I set the PC resolution to 1280 x 720 then will produce a 720p signal. Seems a lot simpler to me or am I missing something? I know they're both analogue signals but do I need some kind of convertor box as well?

Thanks in advance.

 

I am not super familier with your TV. I do have a Panasonic 42" Plasma, the model number of course is escaping me. Last years model 720p.

Link to your cable is not working. Regardless, most 720p TV's are not 1280x720. They are usally either 1024x768 (and stretch the pixels), or 1366x768. Have you tried to feed your TV either of these signals?

There are also quite a few video cards (and even laptops) that have a 9-Pin S-Video port on it. Why 9 Pins? Because it can also double as a component video port. With the right adapter/cable (video card should come with this).

I have been meaning to test this out on my setup. But my TV does a great job of down scaling. So per users over at the AVS forums, I send it the highest resolution my source can send (generally 1080p, do not send a Plasma 1080i, they usally have a hard time with interlaced signals), and let the TV do the work of converting it down to 720p. I guess what I should try, is take the HDMI out of my M1530 and send 1920x1080 to the TV and see what happens. Reason I am saying this on this thread, is maybe you should try something similar.

 

Thanks very much Tusin, I'm guessing your tv is the TH-42PX70. The PX80 is just an incremental improvement over yours.
I haven't actually got the tv yet as this situation is a bit of a clincher for me. my laptop does have a 7 pin s-video port which, after a quick google, seems to carry component. Or am I misunderstanding?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-Video

So I should be looking for an s-video to compnent lead or adapter I think?
If it makes a difference, heres the link for the VGA one.

http://www.tvcables.co.uk/cgi-bin/tvcables/component-vga-hd15-1.html

Sadly I never got a cable/adapter with the laptop.

 

Actually mine is the TH-42PX75U your model sparked my memory It almost looks like those 2 models you listed are UK only?

I could have sworn the S-Video to Compoment cable should have been 9-pins. But maybe not. What I do know is that S-Video is 4 pins. So if you have 7pins, that leads me to believe that you can go S-Video to Component,

That above cable should work. Component and VGA are actually the same, expect for Comonent carries sync on Green. Where VGA has it's own H and V sync. So you laptop has no HDMI or DVI I assume?

 

S-Video can only output SDTV resolutions, so if you want 720p, you will have to use another port.
The cable you have listed should work for connecting the VGA out on your computer to the Component in on your TV.

 

Budding, I think you missed what I am talking about. S-Video is 4 pins and can only support SDTV. But there are some video cards/laptops with (I thought was 9-pin, but could be 7) with S-Video/Hybrid ports. That with a adapter cable will convert it to component.

 

Thanks again Tusin, before you mentioned it I had no idea S-video was capable of such things. Sadly my laptop only has VGA and the 7 pin S-video output. I've done a bit of digging and this page explained it pretty well (Good old Wikipedia!)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-Video

It seems the 9 pin is for video in and out cards. I rang my friend and his card has this and an adapter like the one I'm after, but sadly it won't fit a 7 pin.

One concern is that a lot of places that sell the adapters say just because you have a 7 pin socket, doesn't mean you can output component!!!
Looking at the ATI website it seems the X1400 does though (towards the bottom) ........
X1400 specs

However......... *sigh* ............ on this page it has no mention of the X series cards!
Component adapters

 

Ok let me try to find something for you. My DV6000t that I used to have that the same port as you, and someone found a S-Video "port" to Component cable that worked for it for super cheap. Remember, S-Video it's self is not capable of anything other then SD. But a standard S-Video port will only have 4-pin sockets.

So, is this a laptop you are using or an actuall desktop, with a ATI Branded X1400 card?

 

Something like this should work http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/7-Pin-S-Video-to-3-RCA-Component-for-HP-DELL-Laptop-K17_W0QQitemZ290226652656QQihZ019QQcategoryZ3759QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

Tusin you're a star. Thanks very much for that!

Yeah, I have a DELL Inspiron 6400 with an ATI X1400 256mb. Really glad I upgraded to it instead of integrated graphics when I bought it, even though it was 2 years ago.
My only concern is I can't find confirmation anywhere that the 7 pin on the X1400 does component out. At that price it's worth a pun though! Thanks again.

 

I wish Nik73 posted their results with the adaptor.

Thanks to the link I've ordered one too, just to see if it works with an Acer 5672 with X1400.

I will let the internet know how it went when it arrives in the post...

I am in a similar boat. Im in Australia with a Panasonic Widescreen HD CRT.
I have a several thousand dollar Vista Media Center, but because it uses a GeForce 8600 there is no hope. The nVidia card will only output 1080 @ 60hz, not the 50hz that PAL requires!!

If this doesn't work, guess I'm off to score a Linksys DMA2100. I have heard these things output PAL 1080.

 

It didn't work. Atleast not with MobilityModder.net Catalyst 8.4 and Vista x32.

Now I'm about to try the stock Acer drivers...

 

Have you tried using Powerstrip?