GEForce 5200 - output to S-video with Vista

Mike C · Joined: 25 Feb 2008 Posts: 3

I am trying to output to S-video on this card. I can't seem to get it
to work on my tv. I have the input on the TV correct. Do I have to set
anything in Vista to select the DVI/VGA output vs. the S-video output?
When I look in the Nvidia control panel, I see only 1 monitor
displayed to choose from. I don't have anything hooked up to the VGA/
DVI port (I use VNC software to control this PC, not a regular
monitor).

Archived from group: alt>comp>periphs>videocards>nvidia

Mike C · Joined: 25 Feb 2008 Posts: 3

On Feb 24, 7:48 pm, Mike C wrote:
> I am trying to output to S-video on this card. I can't seem to get it
> to work on my tv. I have the input on the TV correct. Do I have to set
> anything in Vista to select the DVI/VGA output vs. the S-video output?
> When I look in the Nvidia control panel, I see only 1 monitor
> displayed to choose from. I don't have anything hooked up to the VGA/
> DVI port (I use VNC software to control this PC, not a regular
> monitor).

To add some more detail, I downloaded and installed the latest drivers
for Vista for this card. I also recently installed this card,
upgrading from onboard video (this is PCI). I didn't do anything to
disable onboard video, but it seemed to find and use the Nvidia just
fine.

Paul · Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 200

Mike C wrote:
> On Feb 24, 7:48 pm, Mike C wrote:
>> I am trying to output to S-video on this card. I can't seem to get it
>> to work on my tv. I have the input on the TV correct. Do I have to set
>> anything in Vista to select the DVI/VGA output vs. the S-video output?
>> When I look in the Nvidia control panel, I see only 1 monitor
>> displayed to choose from. I don't have anything hooked up to the VGA/
>> DVI port (I use VNC software to control this PC, not a regular
>> monitor).
>
> To add some more detail, I downloaded and installed the latest drivers
> for Vista for this card. I also recently installed this card,
> upgrading from onboard video (this is PCI). I didn't do anything to
> disable onboard video, but it seemed to find and use the Nvidia just
> fine.

One of the peculiar features of composite or S-video connections to a
video card, is sometimes the video card does not detect the connected
device.

For the VGA connector, for example, the RGB signals are 75 ohms. The
card can usually reliably detect that a 75 ohm load is connected.

TVs seem to be a bit different, and the load from the connection is
not always detected properly.

On some older control panels for video cards, there was a
"force detection" function. It allowed a human to tell the machine
that there was a TV connected.

Since this is Vista, and I don't have pictures of all the control
panels screens, it is going to be hard to guide you further. So
all I can do, is describe the basic problem, which is potentially
a detection problem.

Paul

Mike C · Joined: 25 Feb 2008 Posts: 3

On Feb 25, 5:04 am, Paul wrote:
> Mike C wrote:
> > On Feb 24, 7:48 pm, Mike C wrote:
> >> I am trying to output to S-video on this card. I can't seem to get it
> >> to work on my tv. I have the input on the TV correct. Do I have to set
> >> anything in Vista to select the DVI/VGA output vs. the S-video output?
> >> When I look in the Nvidia control panel, I see only 1 monitor
> >> displayed to choose from. I don't have anything hooked up to the VGA/
> >> DVI port (I use VNC software to control this PC, not a regular
> >> monitor).
>
> > To add some more detail, I downloaded and installed the latest drivers
> > for Vista for this card. I also recently installed this card,
> > upgrading from onboard video (this is PCI). I didn't do anything to
> > disable onboard video, but it seemed to find and use the Nvidia just
> > fine.
>
> One of the peculiar features of composite or S-video connections to a
> video card, is sometimes the video card does not detect the connected
> device.
>
> For the VGA connector, for example, the RGB signals are 75 ohms. The
> card can usually reliably detect that a 75 ohm load is connected.
>
> TVs seem to be a bit different, and the load from the connection is
> not always detected properly.
>
> On some older control panels for video cards, there was a
> "force detection" function. It allowed a human to tell the machine
> that there was a TV connected.
>
> Since this is Vista, and I don't have pictures of all the control
> panels screens, it is going to be hard to guide you further. So
> all I can do, is describe the basic problem, which is potentially
> a detection problem.
>
> Paul

It turns out that the cable I was using didn't get a good connection.
The cable works, but was a little loose for this card. Another cable
worked and I got it outputting to the TV.