Component Video from a Mac Pro

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Component Video from a Mac Pro

Hey All, i have a dual 2.66 mac pro with the Nvidia geforce 7300GT. What i'm trying to do is go from DVI to Component out to my 42" plasma to watch videos from the computer. The methods I've tried have results in an image of the desktop that is purple and flickering. Has anyone else done this? Or what are my other options. The plasma only has VGA, Component, HDMI and composite inputs, and I'd really like to go component so i don't have to take the monitor off the wall and re-wire.

Any light that can be shed would be greatly appreciated.

PS - To give a little back story I had a PC with a component out, so that is what is currently cabled to the tv, but the PC had a meltdown so now i'm converting fully to the MAC that I have had. I also have a HIS Digital x850 PCI-E graphics card from the pc that I have read can be put into the mac, but I'm not sure if i can do this or not. Again, any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Message was edited by: lava10t2

Mac Pro, GeForce 7300 GT, 3gb of RAM

Posted on Oct 13, 2007 8:10 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 13, 2007 10:07 AM in response to lava10t2

get an HDMI to DVI, hook the HDMI to the back of the plasma and the dvi to the video card of the macpro and you have a nice picture =)

http://amazon.com/s/ref=nbssgw/105-6894211-1073215?initialSearch=1&url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=hdm itodvi&x=0&y=0

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Answer 2

lava10t2 Author

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Oct 13, 2007 10:42 AM in response to AppleNewton

OK, so does the video card just not support going to component? Because one thing that the component cable would give me is the ability to run audio through the TV aswell, which as far as I know, I can't do with an HDMI to DVI cable. Am I wrong in my thinking?

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Answer 3

Oct 13, 2007 11:17 AM in response to lava10t2

The video card does not handle audio, no matter what connection type you use. You need a separate audio connection to the TV. You can get an adapter to combine digital audio and DVI into one HDMI cable
<http://www.gefen.com/kvm/product.jsp?prod_id=3570>

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Answer 4

lava10t2 Author

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Oct 13, 2007 12:09 PM in response to Malcolm Rayfield

No I understand the video card doesn't handle audio, let me tell you my pc setup that I had and you tell me if I can do this on a Mac.

Video wise I had a graphics card with a DVI and VGA port, along with a port that adapted to a component video output (3 RCA Plugs, Red Green Blue). That cable I fed to my 42" plasma into one of its component video inputs.

Audio wise I split the normal audio card output (headphone plug), one went to the computer speakers, the other went from headphone jack to 2 RCA plugs (right and left), which went I fed into the left and right audio channels of the plasma's component input alongside the 3 component video plugs.

Is there any way to do this with my Mac? The reason I really want to component is because everything is already wired and I won't have to take the monitor off the wall. Also, I’d like to go component because it seems like it is easier to get the audio into the monitor using component, as I don't see an audio input if I plug in VGA, and don't see a way to get audio into the chain if I go HDMI.

Thanks.

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Answer 5

Oct 13, 2007 12:51 PM in response to lava10t2

All the HDTV's I've looked at had audio input jacks for the digital and VGA ports. Some were just 1/8" stereo jacks, not separate left and right RCA jacks.

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Answer 6

lava10t2 Author

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Oct 13, 2007 2:58 PM in response to Malcolm Rayfield

Ok, I do see the audio in for the PC section of the monitor. But is there seriously no way to get component video from this graphics card? I'm really trying to save the hassel of re-wiring through a wall.

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Answer 7

Oct 13, 2007 3:13 PM in response to lava10t2

If the set will take RGB component input, you can use a simple VGA to RGB adapter
<http://www.amazon.com/Premium-VGA-Component-Cable-Black/dp/B000RJLSZU>

If it needs Y/Pr/Pb component video, you will need a VGA to component converter
<http://www.smarthome.com/777060.html>

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Answer 8

lava10t2 Author

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Oct 13, 2007 3:30 PM in response to Malcolm Rayfield

Ok, i think we found the problem. When i tried this, I was using a DVI to RGB adapter, found here...

http://www.rogerssystems.com/store/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=1477

Now reading the manual, I see that those inputs are Y/Pr/Pb.

Is that why i was seing a desktop image that was purple and flickering???? And also, would it matter which DVI port that adapter was plugged into, 1 or 2?

Message was edited by: lava10t2

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Answer 9

Oct 13, 2007 10:28 PM in response to lava10t2

A DVI to RGB adapter would give the same signal as a VGA to RGB adapter used with a DVI to VGA adapter. If connected to Y/Pr/Pb inputs, the colors would be wrong. I don't know why it would flicker. Maybe it is interlaced. Sets with multiple DVI inputs often have different capabilities on the inputs. For example, one may be capable of 1080p or 1080i, while the other is 1080i only. For computer use, p (progressive scan) is preferable to i (interlaced). Some progressive scan capable sets do not send the correct information to the computer, so will run interlaced unless special software is used.

If a direct DVI (or HDMI) connection will work, it will often give a better picture than component video, which involves converting digital RGB to analog RGB, then re-mapping the color space to Y/Pr/Pb, then converting it back to RGB in the TV set.

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Answer 10

Oct 25, 2007 10:41 AM in response to lava10t2

I'm wondering if you managed to get this set-up running. I have been disappointed to find that my similar set-up won't fly. I have a new Mac Pro with an NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT card. It says on the NVIDIA site that it should have no problem displaying component video, but I'm using a DVI-component cord to my HDTV and it doesn't work at all. I've also tried DVI to VGA adapter, then VGA to Component cable, but that failed as well. I am pretty frustrated, as I don't want to spend hundreds in HDMI or DVI cables when a $30 component cable should do the trick.

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Answer 11

Oct 26, 2007 10:57 AM in response to lava10t2

I would recommend purchasing a hdmi switch and hooking up the computer via a dvi-hdmi cable that way your connection would be digital ( a lot cleaner and sharper ). I have already tried this at Best Buy with my Macbook Pro and a Westinghouse 1080p TV and the image was absolutely gorgeous.

I dont think that it would a problem with the Mac Pro the only question is if your TV supports 1080P or not if not then the resolution would need to be set to 1280-720p. The reason why I hooked up the TV to the Macbook Pro is because I was thinking about having a 43 INCH monitor 🙂 !! but after looking at it I think it would be overkill.

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Answer 12

Oct 27, 2007 12:26 PM in response to awhilliard

So has anyone tried that DVI w/ audio to HDMI connector that Malcom was talking about? I'm looking at using my older 1080i TV using this thing. I understand there are several hardware solutions ( http://aver.com/ppd/averkey.html was one my local computer store turned me on to), but would love to get an easy digital to digital solution for my TV, one without overscanning problems.

This is the only reason why I haven't already placed my order for a new MacPro.

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Answer 13

lava10t2 Author

Level 1

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Nov 2, 2007 1:20 PM in response to lava10t2

OK, so I ended up going DVI to HDMI and then a long HDMI cable to the TV.

The problem was in the RGB and YpRpB differences.

Thanks everyone for the help.

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Answer 14

Wayne T

Level 4

2,255 points

Nov 3, 2007 2:59 AM in response to lava10t2

yes.

Purple usually means a missing wire/pin - cos purple =R + B (no G...)

Often happens if connectors are loose too.

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