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stolitonic22 · 10:39 PM

i just purchased a Mac Pro 8 core 3Ghz with the nVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT 512MB graphics card.

situation/question - i tried using a dvi to s-video adapter to connect to a tv as my second "monitor". didn't have any success. is there an alternative for me? the tv has HD component connections, s-video and video inputs (wished the tv had and HDMI input - problem would have been solved)...

any thoughts, comments, recommendations?

anyone with success with dvi to component cables?

Simon · Jan 24, 2009, 02:15 AM

Your MP came with a DVI->VGA dongle. Attach a VGA->component cable to that.

tooki · Jan 24, 2009, 03:55 AM

Won't work. Stacking adapters to convert signals never works, because the adapters don't work by changing the signal, but rather just by asking the graphics card to please output the other signal type instead. No graphics card on a Mac supports component output, unfortunately, so unless the TV has a DVI, HDMI, or VGA input, you are out of luck and can't do it without a very expensive signal converter that probably costs more than a new TV that already has what you need.

Simon · Jan 24, 2009, 04:36 AM

What about these little boxes that convert VGA to component? They require nothing but a VGA signal and that's what you get when you attach the DVI->VGA dongle, right? But maybe that's a very expensive solution, don't know.

tooki · 03:18 PM

[Edit: Warning! This post was written in response to a post that the poster has since removed and replaced with a totally different one.]

That's not component video, it's VGA on BNC connectors. High-end computer monitors used to use BNC inputs, like the cable above.

VGA is straight RGB analog video with two sync signals (horizontal and vertical), producing what's also sometimes called RGBHV.

Despite using red, green, and blue plugs, component video is not RGB, it's luminance (with embedded sync), noted Y, and then two differential color signals (CbCr).

No American TV will accept RGB signals on any input other than its VGA input. (Some non-TV plasma monitors for industrial/commercial use have RGBHV inputs on BNC, but TV's don't.)

Some european TV's will accept an RGB signal on a SCART input.

Simon · Jan 24, 2009, 04:46 AM

Ah, ok I see. I used to have a screen with those BNC inputs and I thought that was component, I didn't realize there are two types of component.

So s-video it is then I guess.

stolitonic22 · Jan 24, 2009, 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by tooki

Won't work. Stacking adapters to convert signals never works, because the adapters don't work by changing the signal, but rather just by asking the graphics card to please output the other signal type instead. No graphics card on a Mac supports component output, unfortunately, so unless the TV has a DVI, HDMI, or VGA input, you are out of luck and can't do it without a very expensive signal converter that probably costs more than a new TV that already has what you need.

thanks for your help... sounds like you have first hand knowledge of this issue... i hope that my old hdtv dies, then new lcd or plasma with hdmi will solve my problem.

thanks again...

P · Jan 24, 2009, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by tooki

Won't work. Stacking adapters to convert signals never works, because the adapters don't work by changing the signal, but rather just by asking the graphics card to please output the other signal type instead. No graphics card on a Mac supports component output, unfortunately, so unless the TV has a DVI, HDMI, or VGA input, you are out of luck and can't do it without a very expensive signal converter that probably costs more than a new TV that already has what you need.

I know that my old nVidia board (7950 GT) came with a converter that plugged into the S-video port to get Component video out. Of course that particular model did not come in a Mac, but it's similar enough to boards that did. Most likely the hardware support is there, if you find an adapter. Note sure if that particular conversion requires driver support, however.

No American TV will accept RGB signals on any input other than its VGA input. (Some non-TV plasma monitors for industrial/commercial use have RGBHV inputs on BNC, but TV's don't.)

ObNitpick: They will accept DIGITAL RGB signals over HDMI, if you have that. (HDMI supports both RGB and YPbPr)

P · Jan 24, 2009, 11:56 AM

Originally Posted by tooki

That's not component video, it's VGA on BNC connectors. High-end computer monitors used to use BNC inputs, like the cable above.

Actually that IS component video, at least according to this page. Here's another. No special endorsement, I never heard of the companies or the products before they turned up in my search, but they seem to do that job.

tooki · Jan 26, 2009, 03:18 PM

After I wrote my response, Simon completely changed the post in question. My response was to a picture of a HD15->5xBNC cable for VGA displays that use BNC inputs.

mduell · Jan 26, 2009, 04:14 PM

The VGA adapter that came with your Mac Pro (or get another one from Apple for ~$20) plus this $60 box will get you there.

stolitonic22 · Jan 26, 2009, 10:50 PM

Originally Posted by mduell

The VGA adapter that came with your Mac Pro (or get another one from Apple for ~$20) plus this $60 box will get you there.

thank you... i have one on order - hopefully i will be posting good news in a few days.

stolitonic22 · Jan 28, 2009, 08:10 PM

update - didn't have much luck.

-mduell, did you have luck using this unit on a Mac Pro 8 Core?

looks like i will be returning the unit to newegg tomorrow.

Originally Posted by mduell

The VGA adapter that came with your Mac Pro (or get another one from Apple for ~$20) plus this $60 box will get you there.

tooki · Jan 29, 2009, 03:59 AM

What's the issue?

TVs aren't nearly as flexible with input signals as computer displays are. Try picking 1280x720 at 60Hz.

stolitonic22 · Jan 29, 2009, 02:38 PM

tried using various settings without any luck...

does it require me to plug the Y-VGA cable to my monitor? that was the only step, i didn't follow? am not sure why it requires this...

Originally Posted by tooki

What's the issue?

TVs aren't nearly as flexible with input signals as computer displays are. Try picking 1280x720 at 60Hz.

mduell · Jan 30, 2009, 11:52 AM

What's the TV model?

No, your monitor shouldn't be involved at all. Just the Mac Pro graphics card with the VGA adapter and then the box.

stolitonic22 · Jan 30, 2009, 06:46 PM

tv is an older HDTV from RCA - D34W135D

34 inch widescreen... it is currently connected to a dish network box... gets hd picture just fine via component cables.

Originally Posted by mduell

What's the TV model?

No, your monitor shouldn't be involved at all. Just the Mac Pro graphics card with the VGA adapter and then the box.