VGA-To-TV redux

[dsbw]

In the "adequate motherboard" (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=883191) thread, I'm advised to not worry about analog outputs, since it limits my motherboard choices (very true) and you can just hook up the VGA to an analog TV (less true).

As I understand it, TV-Out through VGA is not a given. Even though both signals are analog, I'm guessing that NTSC/PAL isn't quite the same as a computer VGA signal.

This sort of begs the question: How do I tell what mobo is going to actually have a compatible TV-Out signal?

Or do I just give up on the onboard video and go for a card with digital and analog?:confused:

[nigel502]

I ran into the same issue on my first myth box on ubuntu 5.04. I wound up talking to the guys who were in charge of the AV department at the university and got line a VGA to RCA converters.

I've since updated my display equipment to a large LCD TV that takes VGA & HDMI inputs - but if you're connecting to a traditional TV, and don't want to change the Mobo or mess around with your video card drivers (if it even has video out) I'd sugest just spending the $40 for one of these:

http://sewelldirect.com/pc-to-tv.asp

It gets powered from a USB bus, and can display resolutions up to 280 x 1024 @ 60 Hz. Never had a problem with the unit, which I think my brother still has running on his setup.

[laga]

You can also build your own cable if your TV has a RGB capable SCART port: http://www.sput.nl/hardware/tv-x.html

But it requires some experience and a video chipset which can do interlaced modes. Also, don't fry your TV :)

[dsbw]

I've since updated my display equipment to a large LCD TV that takes VGA & HDMI inputs - but if you're connecting to a traditional TV, and don't want to change the Mobo or mess around with your video card drivers (if it even has video out) I'd sugest just spending the $40 for one of these:

http://sewelldirect.com/pc-to-tv.asp

It gets powered from a USB bus, and can display resolutions up to 280 x 1024 @ 60 Hz. Never had a problem with the unit, which I think my brother still has running on his setup.

Yeah, I was looking at that, too. How does it look? Were you using a HD TV?