Question about G400 TV-out cable

[dirtydog]

I thought the TV-out cable for a G400 is different to and incompatible with a TV-out cable for a G450/550.. is that true?

I ask because someone is selling a Matrox TV-out cable on eBay which he says works with all three cards. Is that possible?

[Kruzin]

G450 and G550 use the same breakout cable.
G400 is different, and NOT interchangable.

[dirtydog]

That's exactly what I thought.. I emailed the seller and he insists differently though.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2732761289&category=3668

Anyway I just bought a used G400Max and needed a TV-out cable but I've ordered a new one from Matrox for £15 - the same as the card cost in other words!

[dZeus]

make a cable yourself...

pinout for s-video/composite output:

http://www.matrox.com/mga/support/faq/details.cfm?id=7

or if you want superior quality image on the tv, use the pinout for SCART-RGB output (provided that your tv supports RGB input over SCART), in combination with the previous pinout scheme:

http://www.matrox.com/mga/support/faq/details.cfm?id=5

[Kruzin]

The seller is mistaken.
If they where the same, there would be no reason to list two different cables for the cards.

http://shopmatrox.com/usa/products/extensions/graphicscables.asp

[dirtydog]

Originally posted by dZeus
make a cable yourself...

pinout for s-video/composite output:

http://www.matrox.com/mga/support/faq/details.cfm?id=7

or if you want superior quality image on the tv, use the pinout for SCART-RGB output (provided that your tv supports RGB input over SCART), in combination with the previous pinout scheme:

http://www.matrox.com/mga/support/faq/details.cfm?id=5

I'll see what quality the standard cable gives first, but that's a possibility I am going from a Geforce2 MX with BT869 (reasonable quality when using TVTool) so I am hoping to see an improvement in TV-out quality - the main use is DVD playback.

[dZeus]

Originally posted by dirtydog
I'll see what quality the standard cable gives first, but that's a possibility I am going from a Geforce2 MX with BT869 (reasonable quality when using TVTool) so I am hoping to see an improvement in TV-out quality - the main use is DVD playback.

that's like saying you hope to see an improvement in car performance when going from a Trabant to a Porsche 911 Turbo.

[dirtydog]

Okay I've received the breakout cable and got TV-out working with a composite cable, and the picture quality is great

But.. apparently you get better quality if you use the 7-pin s-video socket, is that right?

I have only got a 4-pin to 4-pin s-video cable sadly, which 'works' in that it gives me a picture, but the quality is very bad. The cable goes into a 4-pin s-video socket on my TV (via a scart socket). There is no 7-pin input.

Would I get a better picture by using the 7-pin s-video instead of composite output?

If so, how would I go about it.. ie. get a 7-pin to 4-pin cable? Or 7-pin to 4-pin converter? Or.. what

Any help appreciated! Or I could just leave it as it is.. the picture is excellent.. but I always like things like this to be as good as they can possibly be, which is why I bought this card in the first place

[dirtydog]

Ah I've worked out how to get a good picture with my existing 4-pin s-video cable.. I set my TV to YC input and it gives a good picture - can't tell any difference between it and the composite picture though but still

[dZeus]

you can't? on my tv it's night and day difference. With composite it looks like a 'blur filter' has been enabled on the tv.

SCART-RGB is even better though than S-video.

[dirtydog]

I think it is better but as I say, I got an excellent picture with the composite cable too. It is possibly a bit sharper now; it's pretty exquisite anyway - great colours, sharpness, contrast.. much better than the GF2 MX! Gotta be on a par with a good standalone player I'd say.