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How do I hook up a PC to an old TV?

hat

hat

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I have a really old tv (one of the ones that you need a VCR to add stuff on like a game console and such) and I want to hook it up to my computer. I already did this once with and older machine, which has an older ATI all in wonder card with a composite output. The computer I want to use now has a GTX260, with only 2 DVI ports. There's not even an s-video connector. Is there some sort of add on card I can get that will give me a composite output I can use to pipe out video to my tv?
 
The old ati card is agp ?
 
hat said:
I have a really old tv (one of the ones that you need a VCR to add stuff on like a game console and such) and I want to hook it up to my computer. I already did this once with and older machine, which has an older ATI all in wonder card with a composite output. The computer I want to use now has a GTX260, with only 2 DVI ports. There's not even an s-video connector. Is there some sort of add on card I can get that will give me a composite output I can use to pipe out video to my tv?
Click to expand...

They make DVI adapters that will do that. I have one that goes from
DVI to Component and Composite.

Use a DVI to VGA , then this hooked to the VGA.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000Y7T5UU/?tag=tec06d-20
 
Last edited:
My setup would look like PC > composite cable > vcr > tv. Looking into some of the options available to me now...
 
hat said:
My setup would look like PC > composite cable > vcr > tv. Looking into some of the options available to me now...
Click to expand...

that would be the best and easiest option IMO, as you said, the TV still needs a VCR even when connecting to a console. so I'm guessing not even RCA ports. If the VCR has composite. then use one like this
dvi-component-video-adapter.jpg
 
More than likely he will have to buy a converter to convert the DVI signal to coax/RCA
 
brandonwh64 said:
More than likely he will have to buy a converter to convert the DVI signal to coax/RCA
Click to expand...

yes cause its digital to analog. not sure if you could go with dvi to vga adaptor then just use VGA to RCA(yellow)
 
Cheapest way you can go to do that is a small DVI to Component adapter plug, along with a Component to Composite hub box. First runs only a few bucks, Second runs at least $40. Then of course, if you don't have them already, you'd need component cables to go from the adapter to the box, and a composite cable to go to the TV.

There's DVI/HDMI to Composite boxes, but they run $200 and up.


I question if ANY of these methods are worth it for such an old TV.
 
for what it will cost in cables and connectors you could just buy a new (or 2nd hand) screen :|
 
A friend of mine has the same problem.
He recently bought that amazon VGA-->composite cable, and the other connectors
He does now get an image on his tv, but it is far from watchable.

sorry for the bad explanation, but this is what he said to me about the image:
1. no colour, just black and white.
2. static, he saw an image, but there was much static.
3. multiple images, i don't know what he meant by this.
4. the multiple images kept moving across the screen.

I just asked him to see what kind of DVI-VGA adapter he is using, but it seems like boise49ers's way does not work:)
 
There are outboard free-standing boxes that convert digital video to analog video but they are expensive. It would just be easier--and less expensive--to find a video card that has an analog output and just replace your current video card with it. Many video cards can output analog output via a DVI port if they are designed to do so and come with the DVI to VGA adapter to do so. Converting VGA to composite video just takes a cheap cable.
 
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