GF4,enabling TV-output

[Laza]

I got my hands on a PNY Ti4400-card, but I'm having problems getting the TV-output working. Some nVidia FAQs say that in order to get the tv-output enabled you have to turn off your PC, connect the cable and turn on the TV,then turn on the PC. But whatever I do the tv-option is still disabled in the nView options page. Do I have to enable a second monitor or something...?

I tried using TV-tool, it will switch to TV-mode and turn off the monitor but I can't get any picture on the TV anyway.

I'm using a s-video->composite cable adaptor, maybe that has something to do with this?

Why does the card want to "detect" the presence of a TV before allowing to enable the tv-output anyway.. :/
On another note, in nView options I can't get transparency turned on either.

Does anyone have some suggestions on what to try next?

And my system
KT7A,TB1.4,382MB,Win98SE

 

[onelin]

The limiter here may be your OS :-/ I know for sure that the reason transparency cannot be enabled is because you're using 98SE, which has no alpha transparency capabilities for the desktop. You need Win2k or XP in order to use that feature, because the OS has to support it. This may also be the reason you are having issues trying to output to your TV, though that strikes me as odd. I used 98SE for a very long time, and it should be able to do TV output just fine. I take it you're already using the latest detonator drivers, not the ones that came on a cd with the card?

Also, are you using any 60Hz refresh fixes? they break TV-out, because you can't FORCE a TV to do a refresh rate it doesn't support (85Hz or what not). Even if you aren't, maybe try setting your desktop res to something like 800x600 @ 60Hz. I still think it's odd that it won't even let you enable it, though...

nView in XP works fine w/ transparency and dual output. I can clone my desktop to output to my monitor and TV (or 2nd monitor), and it has never not detected it. I also never have to power down my PC and then plug things in, then try. It always seems to know...so it seems pretty smart.

I've used an svideo->composite adapter with my old 3d Prophet under 98SE just fine in the past...though that was before nView. Have you sought any other methods of output? on 98SE, nview may not be the best method of tv output...but chances are best that it's you did the 60Hz refresh fix thing and need to revert in order to do TV-out.

fyi: I run an MSI Ti4400 board...

edit: I've been using XP so long, I forgot that I think the 60Hz bug is limited to XP

 

[Laza]

Thanks for the answer..

Originally posted by: onelin0
The limiter here may be your OS :-/ I know for sure that the reason transparency cannot be enabled is because you're using 98SE, which has no alpha transparency capabilities for the desktop. You need Win2k or XP in order to use that feature, because the OS has to support it.

Oh ok..that's another bit of information that u just can't find anywhere :/ But it's ok, I don't need that transparency thingy that much anyway..

This may also be the reason you are having issues trying to output to your TV, though that strikes me as odd. I used 98SE for a very long time, and it should be able to do TV output just fine. I take it you're already using the latest detonator drivers, not the ones that came on a cd with the card?

Yep I've DL'ed the latest WHQL cert'd detonators..

Also, are you using any 60Hz refresh fixes? they break TV-out, because you can't FORCE a TV to do a refresh rate it doesn't support (85Hz or what not). Even if you aren't, maybe try setting your desktop res to something like 800x600 @ 60Hz. I still think it's odd that it won't even let you enable it, though...

Nope, I don't use them. I read somewhere that reg fixes and refresh-rate programs mess with the possibility of using tv-out..

Could you shortly describe the procedure of enabling tv-out. I've got only 1 monitor connected so I don't (can't)have desktop extension/cloning or whatever enabled.
Should I just connect the TV, then go to display properties-advanced-nView options-select TV output?

 

[onelin]

Sure, and sorry the reply is a bit slow. I've been a slacker since Warcraft III came out.

You don't need a second monitor in order to use the Nview desktop extension or cloning features... your tv acts just like a monitor. It can even do 1024x768 on a TV and just scroll the screen to display it all. Though I have it so that whenever I turn clone on, my desktop and tv are 800x600 (in clone, I think they have to be the same res/are automatically)

Make sure the cable is connected to the TV, and for the sake of being extra sure...turn your TV on and have it on LINE (or whatever your equivalent is for input).
from display properties, go to settings/advanced...then click the nview tab. As long as there is a connection (even if the TV was off), the clone option should be available for selection. If it isn't, try hitting the "Detect Displays" button down at the bottom. Hopefully that enables the option if not. If this doesn't work, I'm not sure what to say

HTH