Easiest Way to get Component Analog HD out for TV viewing

[JonoZee]

Some assistance is required:
A basic question towards building an HTPC. I want to continue to use my Phillips CRT TV which only takes Component Analog in, not HDMI.

Can I choose any Graphics card that has a D-Sub connector and then just use a simple "VGA" to Component RCA adapter cable?

What about CPU's with integrated graphics? If the motherboard has a D-SUB out, does that mean I am good to go?

Anything else I should be looking out for?

Thanks in advance.

 

[69mustang]

Can I choose any Graphics card that has a D-Sub connector and then just use a simple "VGA" to Component RCA adapter cable?

You will need a VGA to Component transcoder, a simple VGA to Component cable will not do the job. This will only work if you have an HD CRT. If it is an SDTV you will need something like a VGA/HDMI to S-Video transcoder.

What about CPU's with integrated graphics? If the motherboard has a D-SUB out, does that mean I am good to go?

Yes, with additional transcoder like this one http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=101&cp_id=10114&cs_id=1011407&p_id=8668&seq=1&format=2

 

[Slugbait]

Some assistance is required:
Can I choose any Graphics card that has a D-Sub connector and then just use a simple "VGA" to Component RCA adapter cable?

If I remember correctly, no...you need a converter for most video cards.

Although some older videocards, like the ATi AIW or nVidia Personal Cinema card, could do something like you described. But lately, I don't think any videocards can do this and require a converter. Not sure.

A better option might be to hunt down craigslist for HD CRTs. I have a Toshiba 26" in the bedroom and a Sony 30" in the living room, both have HDMI inputs (the Sony is connected to an HTPC, the Toshiba is connected to a Roku XS). I bought the Sony 3 years ago for $75, bought the Toshiba 2 years ago for $40...nowadays, you can occasionally find people listing these TVs in the Free section. If not free, make an offer....most people selling these old HDs don't even get offers, so you might get lucky.

 

[JonoZee]

CORRECTION: Sorry, I do have an HD CRT TV, that's one of the reasons i dont want to give it up it looks fantastic... that and it weighs 140 lbs. It just doesn't have an HDMI input.

I want to be able to send it 480p, 720p and 1080i. Can I do that through the D-SUB connector with an adapter? As far as I can tell by looking at specs for modern graphics cards, they have a D-SUB connector but it isn't called VGA, just a different way of sending out a signal.

Am I on the wrong track?

 

[piasabird]

Optical out would be nice. I wonder if he had a DVR or a cable box whether one might have both component video and HDMI, and if it could output both at the same time.

 

[JonoZee]

Thanks Piasabird, yes optical audio out would be nice.

I guess I need to go into more detail about what I am doing:

I wan to cut the cord to cable, and use an antenna. I want to view my live tv on my Phillips HD CRT unit, AND be able to record on PVR software like WMC or XMBC and play those shows back on the TV. I also want to stream Netflix, ABC.COM etc, and take any piece of media on my laptop and stream it through the HTPC to the TV.

Ideally I would put a BluRay player in the HTPC box as well since I do not currently own a BluRay player.

I have a sound system that takes optical inputs and would be happy to use that in combination with everything else.

Based on the lack of surefire answers from here and other boards, I am leaning toward just getting a new TV to avoid a cumbersome workaround.

 

[69mustang]

CORRECTION: Sorry, I do have an HD CRT TV, that's one of the reasons i dont want to give it up it looks fantastic... that and it weighs 140 lbs. It just doesn't have an HDMI input.

I want to be able to send it 480p, 720p and 1080i. Can I do that through the D-SUB connector with an adapter? As far as I can tell by looking at specs for modern graphics cards, they have a D-SUB connector but it isn't called VGA, just a different way of sending out a signal.

Am I on the wrong track?

"D-Sub" still refers to a VGA connection. You need the transcoder I linked above, to go from VGA to HD component, 480p (640x480), 720p (1280x720). You won't be able to do 1080i unless you have "Powerstrip" software and can set custom timings and resolutions.

 

[JonoZee]

Thanks 69Mustang. What about using an older GPU that still has "HDTV" out which I believe is just a mini connector that adapter to component analog HD? Do any of the cards on the list below leave me crippled for using Windows 8 or any other modern component or software?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...=1&srchInDesc=

 

[69mustang]

Thanks 69Mustang. What about using an older GPU that still has "HDTV" out which I believe is just a mini connector that adapter to component analog HD? Do any of the cards on the list below leave me crippled for using Windows 8 or any other modern component or software?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...=1&srchInDesc=

Just make sure it comes with the needed component cable. For example, the description says the component cable is not included with this video card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814129142

So you would need this cable

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ATI-Radeon-...853?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item4acbc33cdd


As long as there are Windows 8 drivers for the card you are looking to buy, you should be good with any of those. Also, you should be able to get 1080i out of those special cards since HDTV resolutions should be built into the drivers.

 

[JonoZee]

Great, thank you 69Mustang, I just want to be sure I'm not building a system that is completely obsolete before I even start. My hope is that as long as I'm not gaming, these cards will hold up for a year or so before I get a new TV.

 

[lucklessgorath]

I'd try this HD3650, the photos show that it comes with the cables. Too bad this card does not also have a native HDMI port for future use. But you should be able to use a DVI to HDMI adapter. You just wont get Dolby TrueHD 7.1 as I think the adapters will only pass Dolby Digital 5.1
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814129108

Is component out from a PC HDCP compliant? That may be a problem for protected content.

 

[Slugbait]

I wan to cut the cord to cable, and use an antenna. I want to view my live tv on my Phillips HD CRT unit, AND be able to record on PVR software like WMC or XMBC and play those shows back on the TV.

Which tuner do you have? Or do you know which one you're going to buy?

Ideally I would put a BluRay player in the HTPC box as well since I do not currently own a BluRay player.

Then let's forget about using XMBC...results for most people range from "major hassle" to "this doesn't work". Win7 should be OK along with PowerDVD.

I have a sound system that takes optical inputs and would be happy to use that in combination with everything else.

Preferably, your mobo has optical-out, otherwise you need a dedicated sound card that has optical-out.

Based on the lack of surefire answers from here and other boards, I am leaning toward just getting a new TV to avoid a cumbersome workaround.

Again, you might consider just searching craigslist for another HD CRT that *does* have an HDMI input...they're cheap or (sometimes) free.