whats the easiest/cheapest option ? video out

[grahamdvddvddvd]

I would like to have a video out on my pc,I want it so i can have the video on my tv the same time as its on my monitor. Which is the easiest option ? Not to bothered about upgrading the video card, the one fitted is an internal video card. Would like the option of s-video and composite video Many thanks

[Luke122]

If you only have one physical output from your computer, then you'll need a splitter to get the signal to two places at once. Most televisions only support 800x600 (unless it's an HDTV), so that means your monitor output would have to be the same resolution (if using a splitter).

Your best (and probably cheapest) option is to add a video card. You can get a pretty good deal on a PCI or PCI-E video card ($30-50) that will have svideo and/or component outputs. This will allow you to clone the display to both your monitor and your television, or use each as a separate display. Separate is best, since you can run different resolutions on each. A video playback window would then just be dragged onto the other screen.. simple!

[grahamdvddvddvd]

After setting up the video card, would it automaticaly just come out of both displays . Ie if you press play on a dvd it would come out of your monitor, then if you turned on your tv it would be on there too ? or do you have to mess about each time ?

[Luke122]

After the initial configuration, it would be automatic.

[grahamdvddvddvd]

Hi thanks would a tv card work the same ? Ie a card with a built in tuner and video out ?

[Luke122]

Unless it's an "all in one" type card, then no.

[grahamdvddvddvd]

when you say all in one, what do you mean ?

[Luke122]

There are cards that are only tv tuner cards, so they are strictly input devices, though they may have an "output" on them, it's basically just a passthrough for any video input you feed into it.

An "all in one" card can be used to drive a video output (television or monitor) as well as accept a video input (television, cable, etc) because they have a GPU as well as a tuner.

[grahamdvddvddvd]

Hi thanks, what size memory do i need for only video dvd playback, Its going to be a video jukebox so it will be used only for dvd, and video playback no gaming. I have 1 pci and 1 agp socket on my mother board thanks just looking for something "cheap as chips" thanks