Cables - Hooking up TV / Stereo / Computer.

Just looking for some opinions. I have my computer hooked up to my stereo and I want to hook up my computer to my TV. I am searching for cables and I don't know what to go with... my computer has S Video and DVI and my TV has Component.

Wouldn't it be best to go from DVI - Component instead of Svid - Component?

I'm just trying to figure out what cables to buy to get the best possible setup without complaint. If anyone can help me get the best setup I can with my computer/tv/stereo please reply to forum and we'll talk.

 

if you are able to find a dvi cable long enough to reach the tv, go with dvi as it has better picture quality than s-video.

 

I would think that the DVI to Component would be much better too, but does it really matter if its gold plated or not? I was looking at an audio cable that was 2.99 and then another that was 15$ gold plated. Is there a big difference between these 2 cables?

http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-PureAV-AV20300-12-12-Foot-Audio/dp/B0001VWJ8Y/ref=pd_bxgy_e_img_b
http://www.amazon.com/RCA-AH910-Stereo-Hook-Up-Cable/dp/B00009W3C3/ref=pd_bxgy_e_img_b

And where might I find a quality DVI - Component cable approximately 10+ feet long?

 

DVI --> Component is a major NO!

Its not a simple connection change like S-Video into Component its a totally different signal. FYI in this case Digital into Analog so to do this you would have to purchase a decoder, and those are not cheap and depending not even all that good.

So unless its worth the money to you just stick with S-Video. I think it would be cheaper to get a TV card or something for your computer that has component out than to get a digital/analog converter and then you can customize it more via your software.

 

Maybe I'm confused, but I think you guys are the ones who are confused. Confused?

DVI to component is possible, as long as you're using DVI-A or DVI-I. DVI-D cannot go direct to component, it needs a converter box. S-Video to component is a no-go. S-Video carries color on one pin, and that can't be separated without a converter box.

Maybe you guys are thinking of composite, in which case, S-Video to composite is easy.

 

I've got a 8800 video card, so its a DVI-I if i'm not wrong. It came with a S-Video to component cable actually... but that doesn't make sense since S-video < Component. So will the DVI - Component work? -- Yes, I'm very much confused now .

And what about the audio cable question I mentioned above?
Thanks for help though.

I actually hooked up the svideo - component to test it out and it changed the resolution of my game when i came back on my monitor it was all wacked.

 

What color is your component?

 

Its YPbPr
message is too short blah blah

 

Yeah s-video is pretty low-resolution: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-Video

Get a DVI-I to component cable.

 

S-Video has HORRIBLE quality and a HORRIBLE resolution to go along with it.

 

OIE, yeah lotsa confusion.

A) the component out that came with it is NOT s-Video to component, the extra pin in the 's-video' connector are for the component connections, It's a trus component out if it's a 7-9 pin connector instead of the standard 4 pin sVideo connector.

B) DVI-> component will work, but make sure it's an adapter that's right for your TV, as there are 2 distinctly different types of component you want the YPbPr model not the RGB component adapters (which is actually better but limited support).

However IMO hook up your DVI that cam with the card to component cables and go with that first (should be cheaper than buying an adapter ontop of quality cables). You want quality cables for longer distances.

If it's just to your TV then the standard out mini-jack to RCA should be fine.

You have to make sure your settings match the resolution you have, you may need to adjust it in the advance settings of the control panel, also when switching back and forth your monitor often will maintain the resolution it was just using for your TV out so you need to refresh it manually. You can do this with a quick key (similar to F5) in your control panel.

 

1. Actually no, the sound will be going to my stereo as well. So it's like this:

TV Sound - Stereo

Computer sound - Stereo and Computer speakers (I don't think I can do this at the same time...but it would be cool , its not a hard switch, so its not bad)

Computer Video = Monitor and TV.

Games on Monitor - Movies on TV.

2. So basically I NEED to find the right setup so I don't have to switch stuff back and forth. So...The more knowledgeable you are on the topic, the better this will work .

3. Back to the audio: So will it make a difference between those two cables?

 

I would say use a good splitter set.

I use to do that with mine, you basically only need medium quality, but you want to make sure they are properly shielded. That way it will send audio out to both, and you will control it by selecting the input. Main thing you want to avoid is noise/transients, so if are going a longer distance you want higher quality. The least number of steps is also the way you want to go to.

So if the computer speakers use a 3.5mm jack then you want a 2 way splitter at the source, and then plug the speakers in there, and then plug a 3.5mm to RCA L/R jack into the second 3.5mm jack. You can do this simultaneously without a problem.

That should work and not make you change between outputs when switching viewing methods, just select the input on the remote for the TV.

As long a you don't input the audio back from the TV you won't have a feedback lopp issue.