Connecting RCA cables to a computer

AK_Jedi · Post by **AK_Jedi** » 2006-12-31 06:50am

My friend has a game cube, but no TV (I think he got it from a friend who was moving away). What he does have is a computer. I was wondering if any of the computer gurus here knew of a way to connect RCA cables to a computer, so that he can play it on his monitor.

Chris OFarrell · Post by **Chris OFarrell** » 2006-12-31 07:14am

Connecting consoles like the cube or PS2 is a rather iffy prospect without serious hardware like good video capture cards. The signal isn't in a VGA ready format, unlike say the 360 which can be set to plug directly into a monitor.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2006-12-31 12:23pm

If his monitor supports composite-in, he can play it that way. Otherwise, he'll need a TV card.

andrewgpaul · Post by **andrewgpaul** » 2006-12-31 12:52pm

My graphics card has a composite and S-video in connection. I don't know what additional software I'd need in order to display the signal onscreen (although I'd assume it's somewhere in the bundled discs that came with the card, though). This card is about 2-3 years old now, so I would think more modern cards would have features like this.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2006-12-31 12:59pm

andrewgpaul wrote:My graphics card has a composite and S-video in connection. I don't know what additional software I'd need in order to display the signal onscreen (although I'd assume it's somewhere in the bundled discs that came with the card, though). This card is about 2-3 years old now, so I would think more modern cards would have features like this.

Are those for video-in or video-out? And yes, many cards do have features like that but it'll cost extra.

andrewgpaul · Post by **andrewgpaul** » 2006-12-31 01:08pm

You know, the user manual is less than clear on the subject

Although, the disc does have a video capture driver on it, so I assume it does video in.

Soontir C'boath · Post by **Soontir C'boath** » 2006-12-31 01:23pm

We bought this converter box a couple years ago and it works great as an intermediate. It can connect directly to the monitor so you don't have to worry about buying a new graphics card with tv function (although it'd probably be more ideal). I'd shop around your local stores for something like it.

Edward Yee · Post by **Edward Yee** » 2006-12-31 02:04pm

If I may wondering, what about (slim) PS2 with a hybrid (composite/S-video) cable to a laptop with 15-pin VGA and TV-Out (S-video) ports to play the PS2 on the laptop screen?

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2007-01-01 12:28am

If it's at the point where he should buy some sort of video input interface for his computer, he'd be a lot better off just buying a cheap TV.

Lisa · Post by **Lisa** » 2007-01-01 03:28pm

Edward Yee wrote:If I may wondering, what about (slim) PS2 with a hybrid (composite/S-video) cable to a laptop with 15-pin VGA and TV-Out (S-video) ports to play the PS2 on the laptop screen?

You would need a capture card (either usb or cardbus/pcmcia) to do that, unfortunately tv out is not bidirectional..

something like this would do the trick.

AK_Jedi · Post by **AK_Jedi** » 2007-01-01 06:31pm

Darth Wong wrote:If it's at the point where he should buy some sort of video input interface for his computer, he'd be a lot better off just buying a cheap TV.

Normally I would agree with you, except that I live in a fairly isolated town (all merchandise comes in on a barge or plane). The converter box Soontir suggested would likely be cheaper than the cheapest TV in town, and my friend's computer monitor would be better than bottom of the line TVs too.

Braedley · Post by **Braedley** » 2007-01-01 11:21pm

AK_Jedi wrote:
Darth Wong wrote:If it's at the point where he should buy some sort of video input interface for his computer, he'd be a lot better off just buying a cheap TV.
Normally I would agree with you, except that I live in a fairly isolated town (all merchandise comes in on a barge or plane). The converter box Soontir suggested would likely be cheaper than the cheapest TV in town, and my friend's computer monitor would be better than bottom of the line TVs too.

ebay is your friend then. Sure, you may still pay more for the shipping than the tv itself, but it'll still be rather cheap. Unless you're willing to spend some good money on a capture card (like $100 or $150), go get thyself a tv. Gaming on anything less wouldn't be worth it.

Praxis · Post by **Praxis** » 2007-01-02 12:13am

andrewgpaul wrote:My graphics card has a composite and S-video in connection. I don't know what additional software I'd need in order to display the signal onscreen (although I'd assume it's somewhere in the bundled discs that came with the card, though). This card is about 2-3 years old now, so I would think more modern cards would have features like this.

If the card is a Radeon All-in-Wonder it has the inputs. Otherwise, it's a composite and S-video output. All modern graphics cards have the output, but only specialty TV cards and Radeon All-in-Wonder cards have the inputs.