Basic S-Video Help Needed

Cairnsey

Cairnsey

Cairnsey

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Joined
2 Jan 2007
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2,305
Location
England
Hi,

I have an old projector that I'm trying to hook up to my 8800GT (via s-video) under windows 7. I've bought a 10m s-video cable, plugged it in both ends, downloaded the latest nvidia drivers and I can't get the NVCP to recognise the projector. Could it be that the cable is DOA?

Cheers
 
There used to be a force s-video option in the nvidia drivers for this issue not sure if its still there but it worked a treat when i had this issue
 
Yeah, there's a "rigorous Display Detection" option but it doesn't pick it up. Any ideas? I have no means of testing the cable with other hardware...
 
Have you got 3 leads plugged into the card? Some cards will only do two outputs at once , so if you have vga + DVI and are trying S-vid it may not work.

You can't get a DVI to s-vid adaptor, they are incompatible. You could possible get a convertor, but that may cost a not insignificant amount of money. To check the cable you really need a multimeter, or another device of known quantity that works with s video (like a vcr or something)


also you say the projector is old, could be the projector?

presumably you've checked the pins etc as svid cables are pretty easy to break due to the flimsy pin out arrangement

try telling the card/drivers to use composite, sometimes that'l make it work as well.


Man I'm glad thigns are all hdmi these days. The days of S video and composite hookups sucked hard.


edit oh jus to check as well, it IS as S-video port on the card, and not one of the combined s-vid / component ports, that require a breakout box , these usually have 6 holes instead of 4 I think.
 
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Do you have another device with Svideo to check the cable with? A Sky+ box and some of the first Sky+HD boxes come with Svideo.

my 8800GT has an S-Video port on it so I'd say his probably does too.
 
I believe Nvidia use a 7 or 9 pin "svideo + other" connector, which allows them to support component video in addition to s-video. A standard 4 pin to 4 pin cable will physically fit, but wont actually get a signal to your TV.

Pretty sure you need a 7pin to 4pin cable.

(Its also possible that my 4 pin cable was just a dud) :)
 
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Cairnsey said:
Yeah I'll try that. In the meantime, where would I get the adaptor that I need? The manual mentions a vivo connection?
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Yeah. They look like a S-Video / Mini-Din plug. The cable splits it to Composite/Component/S-Video. Graphics cards used to come with them. I bet most the people here (myself included) would find one amongst all their old PC junk!
 
I had the same problem with an nVidia s-video cable and contacted the card manufacturer direct (PNY????). They sent me a new one free of charge, definately worth a shot.
 
After some 7-pin mini din pinout googling, I've decided that my 4pin s-video cable should work in the 7pin socket (but doesn't)...
 
snail1 said:
I had the same problem with an nVidia s-video cable and contacted the card manufacturer direct (PNY????). They sent me a new one free of charge, definately worth a shot.
Click to expand...

Leadtek sent me one many moons ago, had a ti4200 and said i had lost the cable and would it be possible to purchase another and they just sent me one foc.
 
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