[mythtv-users] How to output to Standard TV

[Brian Wood]

On Thursday 18 February 2010 01:14:59 pm Gavin Whitehead wrote:
> Folks,
> 
> I am in the process of spec'ing my first HTPC.  It will be Xubuntu with
> MythTV.  I will use it as a DVR and rip my DVDs and CDs to it.  It will
> have a couple of tuners in it so that we can combine FreeView and
> FreeSat (I am UK based).
> So far the hardware looks like this:
> 
> Motherboard: GA-MA785GM-US2H
> Processer:   Athlon II X2 240e
> Tuner 1:   WinTV NOVA TD-500
> Tuner 2:   WinTV NOVA HD-S2
> No graphics card
> 
> Initially I will not be 'doing' HD; no Blu-Ray and no HD TV (this will
> change but not for 6 months or so).
> 
> My concern is how to connect the HTPC to my Standard TV (Panasonic
> TX-28PL10).
> 
> The Gigabyte motherboard has D-SUB, DVI-D and HDMI.
> The TV has SCART, S-Video and RCA (composite video - yellow, plus sterio
> audio red/white).  The RCA is currently used for the Wii.
> 
> How can I get the HTPC connected to the TV?

Obviously your machine has no outputs that can be directly connected to your 
TV set.

Looks like you are going to have to buy *something*. A video card that can 
output composite or S-Video (usually a card that does one will do the other), 
or a different TV set.

Obviously the video card is the cheaper option. I'd suggest an nVidia--based 
video card, Myth systems like them much better than the ATI cards. Getting a 
VDPAU-capable card will future proof you for HD when that time comes.

I don't know if video cards with SCART connectors are available, certainly 
they are not here in the USA, Europeans could probably tell you better on that 
score.