The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    T400 to Analog/Tube TV

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by KUNFUCHOPSTICKS, Jun 18, 2009.

  1. KUNFUCHOPSTICKS

    KUNFUCHOPSTICKS Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    185
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Hello,

    I'm trying to connect my T400 (Integrated Graphics) to a tube TV with only AV ports. The TV doesn't have VGA, so I bought this: http://www.monoprice.com/products/p..._id=1040113&p_id=2509&seq=1&format=4#feedback VGA to AV splitter cable.

    This cable only works if the graphics chipset support TV Out function. So does the integrated graphics of T400 do TV Out?

    Which chipset is the integrated graphics?



    Thanks.
     
    KUNFUCHOPSTICKS, Jun 18, 2009
    #1
  2. Th1nkpad

    Th1nkpad Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    34
    Messages:
    213
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    The Integrated Graphics solution on T400s are Intel 4500MHDs. Those support HDMI output, so TV Out should be fine.
     
    Th1nkpad, Jun 18, 2009
    #2
  3. jonlumpkin

    jonlumpkin NBR Transmogrifier

    Reputations:
    826
    Messages:
    3,240
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    NO. The VGA port on the T400 does NOT support TV out. This requires a GPU that can output in both RGB, YPbPr, and/or composite/S-Video. This is NOT the T400 (or any current ThinkPad [or other brand to my knowledge]).

    You will need an ACTIVE SCAN CONVERTER ( like this one). There will be a loss of quality, but this is unavoidable.
     
    jonlumpkin, Jun 18, 2009
    #3
  4. Th1nkpad

    Th1nkpad Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    34
    Messages:
    213
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Guess the answer would be no then. Even getting the docking station with DVI to HDMI wouldn't work since it's a analog TV. My bad.
     
    Th1nkpad, Jun 18, 2009
    #4
  5. KUNFUCHOPSTICKS

    KUNFUCHOPSTICKS Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    185
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Thanks reply, luckily:

    I just found out it's actually the Radeon 3400. This support TV out correct?
     
    KUNFUCHOPSTICKS, Jun 18, 2009
    #5
  6. KUNFUCHOPSTICKS

    KUNFUCHOPSTICKS Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    185
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I can't seem to find the catalyst control driver for the card. On the ATI site, there isn't 3400 series under Mobility Radeon, only under regular Radeon. and for video driver form the Lenovo website, I DLed the latest driver but it doesn't come with the catalyst control panel.

    You guys with T400 have Catalyst control panel?
     
    KUNFUCHOPSTICKS, Jun 18, 2009
    #6
  7. jonlumpkin

    jonlumpkin NBR Transmogrifier

    Reputations:
    826
    Messages:
    3,240
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    Regardless of GPU, the VGA port on the T400 does NOT support output to a TV w/o an ACTIVE SCAN CONVERTER. You need to buy a device similar to the one I linked to above (a simple adapter that remaps pins from VGA to component or S-Video will NOT work).

    This same info applies to the x200[s/t], x300[1], SL(3/4/5)00, R400/500, T500, w500, and w700. I believe it also applies to the x6x, T6x, and R6x machines as well. The last ThinkPad with a S-Video port was the T43 (or maybe R50).
     
    jonlumpkin, Jun 18, 2009
    #7
  8. KUNFUCHOPSTICKS

    KUNFUCHOPSTICKS Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    185
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    OK so even though the GPU chipset support TV out analog, the VGA port doesn't.

    Thanks for this info!
     
    KUNFUCHOPSTICKS, Jun 20, 2009
    #8