Media Centre PC question please - regarding having Scart output and video input

wasc

wasc

wasc

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My dad wants to know if I can build him a media centre PC. I'm pretty happy with doing this but there are two questions.

1) In short, how can you provide SCART output from a computer with only DVI, D-Sub (VGA) and HDMI outputs???

I ask because his current TV is a large 32" widescreen CRT (quite an expensive unit when he bought it a couple of years ago). He is going to replace it with a LCD or Plasma in 1 to 2 years time but for the moment will be keeping the TV..

This means the TV supports a SCART input rather than any HDMI or DVI input you'd find on a LCD TV.

Therefore, how can I build a media centre PC with this sort of output? He did specifically say he wanted a HDMI socket on the media centre PC for when he gets the LCD so I was going to use the "Abit Fatal1ty F-I90HD ATI Micro ATX" motherboard as this has a HDMI socket (it also has a DSUB socket and a HDMI to DVI adaptor).

I know the TV probably supports RGB component cables (think it's sometimes known as Y Pr Pb) as well if this is any easier?


2) Second question, he'd like to use the Media centre pc to convert some of his VHS tapes to DVD. Therefore what is the best way of providing video input from a VHS player to a media centre PC. Idealy I would like it to be as easy to use as possible so if he can simply go into the Media Centre interface and watch the VCR playback in there just like a tv chanel that would be a bonus cause then he could simply press play on the VCR and then press Record on the media centre pc and record his video just like it were a tv program.
 
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either get a scart-> composite wire..... or if you have tv out wire that to tv as composite and have one of them little adpaters 3phono to scart use 3.5mm to 2 phono and you have working wire

Second one.... need either any analog tuner, with rf or some have composite or svideo
 
ukdave said:
1.

VGA to SCART:

http://tinyurl.com/37cvgf This one can do audio too which would be handy.

http://tinyurl.com/2649uy


2. I think you'd be needing a proper VIVO card for this. I think ATI have their AVIVO thing going on with a lot of their cards. Something like this should do the trick: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-062-HT&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=776

http://tinyurl.com/28prz4

Might need to get an RGB > SCART adaptor but other than that you should be good to go.
Click to expand...

wow, now thats an expensive cable!!!
 
Don't want to rain on the parade but it's completely pointless to use an HTCP with a TV set. You might as well drive a Ferrari on cobbled streets.....

The whole point of HCPC is (or was) high res progressive scan video + quality audio. (Eg I watch NTL TV @ 1990x1440 @ 75Hz, via analogue RGB capture -> DScaler -> VGA out to a 37" video monitor). TV sets only display interlaced video at very low scan rates (except for so-called 100Hz sets). Your Dad would be better advised to wait until he gets (ideally) a v. high res monitor (NOT LCDTV or PlasmaTV) and then gets an HTCP to drive it.

If he can't wait then just use a video card with standard TV out to a SCART via composite video. There's nothing you can do to improve on that unless the TV has component input.
 
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anto said:
Don't want to rain on the parade but it's completely pointless to use an HTCP with a TV set.
Click to expand...

No it's not.

Dual Freeview tuners + entire Music + DVD collection all in one place with a whole range of other stuff you can do perfectly at SD. The whole point of a HTPC is not progressive scan and HQ audio, though these are indeed two bonuses.

Your post is quite misleading IMO.
 
I think you missed the point there Phil. You're talking about a PC with TV out.

The Abit board's main +ve is 1080P + HD audio via HDMI with HDCP. If you've only got a telly to plug it into, what's the point?

Any decent PC will do what you want (as described). A decent Pentium 233Mhz can do it with an 8MB All in Wonder Pro and a Real Magic Xcard. Probably about 75 quid's worth second hand all-in. Quite a cost saving over unnecessarily sophisticated cutting-edge technology. Then a year or two later think again......... And by that time, no doubt the same money available now will buy an even better and more sophisticated system, which will be brand new to match the new display.

Makes sense to me...............
 
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just a warning re vga/scart adapter dont use it

something to do with synch on scart it may blow your graphics card

it did mine in plugged it in and pop

big long thread on avforums on this topic
 
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