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View Full Version : PCI Mono/Composite Adapter



Raven
April 5th, 2009, 03:28 PM
I don't know if these exist, but does anyone have an early PCI card that outputs monochromatic and/or composite video?

I've seen dozens of AGP cards that "happen" to have composite as a secondary feature, but old comps don't have AGP, and newer comps don't have it either. PCIE video cards have damned nearly abandoned composite even as an option for one of those wierd multi-purpose adapter ports. I'd like to get a quick and simple mono output for use with really old monitors over an RCA cable or serial-looking connection (same pin layout as serial, but used for monochromatic video - one of my comps has this as an ISA 8-bit).

I'll eventually buy one of those $160 3-slot ISA to USB adapters (meant for industrial specialized cards that must remain in use on newer machines) and be able to use whatever I want, even on my laptop, but that's a ways off in the monetary department.

I'm going to buy this (http://cgi.ebay.com/ATI-Rage-II-DVD-TV-Out-S-Video-Composite-PCi-VGA-Card_W0QQitemZ270369832177QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCC_V ideo_TV_Cards?hash=item270369832177&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50), but I'd still splurge for a monochromatic, serial-esque, or just-composite adapter.

Trixter
April 5th, 2009, 07:10 PM
The early ATI adapters with TV output (ie. the 3D Expression+PC2TV) not only support composite/s-video output, but will autodetect if they are connected to a TV output device and will boot up outputting to that device (ie. you don't need some sort of utility to switch into "TV mode"). I have a few extra; PM me if you would like to make an offer.

Raven
April 29th, 2009, 07:07 PM
Just to close up this thread, I ended up buying an ATI Rage II from Ebay that has the features I want. I'm actually not using it atm, but it'll be invaluable in the future for using/testing old RCA-connector monitors.