TV-Out before installing windows/drivers

[cookie365]

Hi all

I've just bought some new bits (see sig) but haven't put them together yet. I've only got one monitor which is currently on my existing PC.

I don't fancy having to keep unplugging the monitor from the new PC as I'm setting it up if I need to keep reconnecting it to the old one to cry for help off the net when it doesn't work, so if I connect the TV Out on the new Gigabyte GVNX66T128D to my, err, TV, will this actually work straight away with a blank setup - ie before I've set any BIOS options, installed Windows, drivers etc?

Does the graphics card just squirt information out of all the connectors on the plate for whatever's connected to pick up? - in which case that's a solution for me.

Otherwise if you have to install a driver to use TV-Out then that's not going to be much use for me, since I won't be able to see anything when I install windows

Thanks

 

[tungtung]

From my experience with 2 ATI TV Wonder cards and 1 Radeon 9500 Pro card, they all work right away. As long as you connect the cables (from video card to TV) before you power on the computer, it should work.

I do notice that sometimes the picture just went blank on the screen, the solution in this case is just switch to another channel then switch back or turn off and turn on the TV.

By the way when adjusting the resolution please keep in mind that most video card will work only on 800x600 resolution, though the newer one (like yours) should be able to do 1024x768 resolution. From my experience, BIOS will work 100% of the time unless there is something wrong with the card's TV output, Windows works like 90% of the time (resolution dependant), Linux is a hit and miss (more of a miss tho, I've only managed to get linux working on terminal, not X-Window).

Also keep in mind my experience was with the old tube TV (using both S-Video and/or RCA connection). I have no idea about the newer plasma or flat panel TV's though, especially if you're start thinking of using the HDMI connector and stuff.

 

[amdhunter]

Every ATi card I have ever used worked fine just connected to a television set. I went through a bunch of them when I had a small HTPC in my room.

Of the cards I used, I can safely say the following chips work fine (9000, 9200SE, 8500LE and a 9600XT) with just a TV attached.

 

[cookie365]

Many thanks for the response tungtung; just what I was hoping to hear.

I'm not too bothered about the colours or resolution; the TV-Out'll only be to get the thing up & running while I still have access to the old PC. I can then connect them both with a KVM.

Thanks

Edit: and big thanks to amdhunter too