Video out to TV questions

So my video card is a Nvidia 7800 GT eForce. I plugged in a VIVO breakout box into the back of the card with no problems. Then I discovered my tv (Sony Trinitron, fairly new) doesn't have a built in S-Video port. What is the easiest way to get video out to my TV?

I briefly tried plugging the S-video into an RF modulator and running a standard AV cable out from the RF-Modulator into my TV. Do I have to do a special command in Windows to send video out or should it just show up? I haven't experimented extensively with the set-up but it doesn't seem to be working. Do I have to buy a different set of cables? The tri-colored set perhaps? (Btw, tell me what to call those so I sound smarter )

Thanks guys,
Sam

 

what inputs does your tv have? There exists another cable from the VIVO connection that will give you Composite video out (yellow), but it is ideal if your TV has DVI or VGA inputs (like computer monitors).

In any case, you will need to run the Nvidia Control Panel and configure the Display options to get the signal to the TV.

 

My TV only has the three inputs (Red/White/Yellow), and I'd appreciate if someone can give me their proper name. It also has the single input with a tiny hole in the center (I think its just called the AV port?). I got it working through Nvidia control panel (I set it to clone the image from my PC monitor and turn off the monitor).

My question now is: Do I switch it back to single display anytime my TV is off? Does it cause more wear on my GFX card or performance loss to keep it in clone mode (assuming my TV is off)?

Thanks,
Sam

 

They are called AV Cable Set or audio/video cables. The Red/White RCA connectors are for stereo sound, and the Yellow RCA connector is for NTSC(North America) or PAL(Japan + Europe) Composite Video signal.

Since your video card "clones" or "downconverts" your high res CRT video display to TV video at about 640x480 pixels, there won't be any wear and tear.