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Author Topic: VGA vs. S-Video vs. HDMI vs. Component  (Read 10170 times)
bobcatwoods
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« on: February 15, 2005, 11:40:05 AM »
I'm building an HTPC with MythTV on top of Fedora.  My HDTV-ready TV has VGA, S-Video, HDMI, and Component video inputs.  Which input can/should I use?  I'm not looking to spend a ton on a video card and was going to use the VGA input so I could use a video card I already had.  But I don't want to cheat myself out of a good picture either.

Thanks for the input!
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valiamarkais
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« Reply #1 on: February 15, 2005, 12:15:08 PM »
I think the order is as follows:
1 - HDMI
2 - VGA
3 - Component
4 - S-Video
5 - Composite
6 - Coax

For your case I would say stick with VGA, assuming you have a short-run cable from the computer to the TV.

-VA

[Edited on 2/17/2005 by valiamarkais]
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bobcatwoods
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« Reply #2 on: February 15, 2005, 12:42:44 PM »
Thanks for the information.  I was looking for that sort of a list and couldn't find it.
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valiamarkais
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« Reply #3 on: February 15, 2005, 03:36:26 PM »
Please don't bet your life on this information.  I'm not an video expert, and this is the first I've looked into HDMI.  But, my impresions are that HDMI is great for HDTV video, but VGA is the easiest and cleanest method of outputing video from a computer.  I'm hoping a few other folks will agree or disagree with my assumptions.

-VA
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Jobi
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« Reply #4 on: February 15, 2005, 06:11:51 PM »
I think VGA is just under DVI (HDMI). Besides that the list seems pretty good. Some use diferent names for the same things also.

You should be fine using the VGA input. Don't go get a new card just so you can go DVI.

I use the DVI way, and am very pleased.

DVI and HDMI i belive are the same thing except that HDMI has integrated audio.


[Edited on 15/2/2005 by Jobi]

[Edited on 15/2/2005 by Jobi]
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Anonymous
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« Reply #5 on: February 16, 2005, 05:09:08 PM »
Because DVI-HDMI are digital signal, if you have a long cable run you won't lose any image quality v.s. VGA or any of the other analog signals that degrade quickly.

I'd choose HDMI top of the list followed by VGA.
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valiamarkais
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« Reply #6 on: February 16, 2005, 07:27:17 PM »
That sounds reasonable.  I will edit the list above.

-VA
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Anonymous
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« Reply #7 on: February 17, 2005, 10:46:44 AM »
If you look around you can find some reasonably priced DVI-HDMI cables. Here's a 5m or 15ft cable for $40cdn.
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=22255C&vpn=HDMI-DVI-5M&manufacture=BAFO%20TECHNOLOGIES
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joedornan
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« Reply #8 on: February 17, 2005, 12:22:37 PM »
Hi folks,

Sorry but I think the quality issue between digital (DVI-HDMI) and analog (Component) is open for debate. Check out this excellent article describing why sometimes one is better than the other, but sometimes the reverse is true:

DVI vs. HDMI vs. Component Video -- Which is Better?

The bottom line is that it depends on what kind of image source and what kind of display you are using, and it requires a lot of trial and error to get it as good as it can be.

As for how VGA compares to the above options... dunno.

My list would be
1) HDMI/DVI/Component
2) VGA
3) s-video
4) composite/coax

Cheers,
-Joe

EDIT-->rampy  url tag wasn't closed for some reason, fixed it --> excellent link, btw joe!

[Edited on 2/17/05 by rampy]
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smokeyalien
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« Reply #9 on: February 18, 2005, 03:35:40 PM »
 :casstet:  

Ok guys.  Trust in me.

Always go with DVI or HDMI if given the oportunity.  You can purchase a new graphics card for around $25-30.  With this there will be no tweaking necessary and you will automatically have HD quality picture (which includes reading the text in windows)

The difference betwen DVI and HDMI is integrated audio.  If you use VGA you will have to set your computer to output signals at a specific range.  TV's run at approximately 30hz static and monitors can use a varied hz as high as 110hz.  If you plug your computer in without using a program called powertstrip adn forcing the settigns to a specific output you can easily blow up the tv.  

The options to use are as follows:

1: HDMI/DVI - same thing essentially and all digital signal means cleanest picture.  Bonus is no in depth tweaking necessary.
2: VGA/5 wire RCA - Will need to use software to control the video card output
3: Component - will need a transcoder to force the signal to the proper settings
4: S-video - slightly better than composite and coax
5: Composite/Coax - Always a last minute fallback.

This is from a lot of experience and multiple headaches.

Smokeyalien
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valiamarkais
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« Reply #10 on: February 18, 2005, 03:56:55 PM »
Thanks for the DL smokeyalien.  I'm glad there are people like you that have gone down this path before.

-VA

[Edited on 2/18/2005 by valiamarkais]
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smokeyalien
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« Reply #11 on: February 18, 2005, 04:45:15 PM »
After becoming "intimate" with my TV an her wily connection methods I had to learn.  Let me tell you now, powerstrip is beautiful when you have it working.  When it dies on you there is no greater wrath short of burning out your TV at the same time.

Something I think is funny is that DVI/HDMI is a digital connection.  VGA/5 wire RCA is also a digital connection.  You can pushmore data across a 5 wire RCA/BNC type connection than anything else.  There was talk of going back to it as a standard HD hookup because you max out 1900x1200 over DVI/HDMI but you can get almost twice as much push and resolution on the 5 wire.

And that is your lesson of the day.

Smokeyalien
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« Reply #12 on: February 18, 2005, 06:44:15 PM »
I'm confused.  The 150 card does have inputs for S-Video and Composite, but my signal comes in from the cable company on a coaxial cable.  Unless you have the HDTV antenna signal, what advantage is there in using any connector other than the card's coaxial input? I gather that the the choice of output from your PC to the TV will make a difference, but I don't understand how coaxial coming in is bad. Help me out here.
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rampy
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« Reply #13 on: February 18, 2005, 08:46:08 PM »
Quote
I'm confused.  The 150 card does have inputs for S-Video and Composite, but my signal comes in from the cable company on a coaxial cable.  Unless you have the HDTV antenna signal, what advantage is there in using any connector other than the card's coaxial input? I gather that the the choice of output from your PC to the TV will make a difference, but I don't understand how coaxial coming in is bad. Help me out here.  


Well, there's a difference between the digital cable signal coming in from your cable company, and running an analog coax cable from the output of your digital cable box to your TV or to your PVR card. So realize that...

Basically when dealing with analog connections like coax, composite, and svideo, and component...   the more discrete wires for each signal/color/luminence the better.  Coax carries both all the audio information and all the video information on two wires.

Composite, combines the color/display information and the  luminence/intensity informaition into two wires , and puts the audio in another set of wires...

svideo separates it out even further (I forget the breakdown)

more information over more individual wires == greaty clarity and definition and color

Feel free to try and see =)  I'm not saying the difference is huge between each step, but if I had a choice between coax and svideo i'd take svideo everytime...

rampy
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bobcatwoods
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« Reply #14 on: February 21, 2005, 10:54:08 AM »
Quote
:casstet:  

Ok guys.  Trust in me.

Always go with DVI or HDMI if given the oportunity.  You can purchase a new graphics card for around $25-30.  With this there will be no tweaking necessary and you will automatically have HD quality picture (which includes reading the text in windows)

The difference betwen DVI and HDMI is integrated audio.  If you use VGA you will have to set your computer to output signals at a specific range.  TV's run at approximately 30hz static and monitors can use a varied hz as high as 110hz.  If you plug your computer in without using a program called powertstrip adn forcing the settigns to a specific output you can easily blow up the tv.  

The options to use are as follows:

1: HDMI/DVI - same thing essentially and all digital signal means cleanest picture.  Bonus is no in depth tweaking necessary.
2: VGA/5 wire RCA - Will need to use software to control the video card output
3: Component - will need a transcoder to force the signal to the proper settings
4: S-video - slightly better than composite and coax
5: Composite/Coax - Always a last minute fallback.

This is from a lot of experience and multiple headaches.

Smokeyalien


I hadn't heard of the fact you don't need to use powerstrip with the DVI/HDMI connection.  Are you saying that the graphics cards with the DVI connection will be able to determine on their own what the settings should be?

I plan on running MythTV, but was going to run powerstrip on Windows to get all of the settings for linux and then hard code them for X by following directions at http://wilsonet.com/mythtv/mythhd.php.

I spent a decent chunk of change on my TV so if it's going to cost me another 75 bucks of so for a new video card and cable to ensure I don't screw up my TV, it will be worth it just for that, let alone a better picture.

Thanks for all the help and information!
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