Best way to convert HDMI to RCA/Composite

[Stratus_ss]

I have seen converters for the Xbox 360 but of course those are propriatary ports.

I have seen cables on ebay that go from HDMI-> VGA + RCA... would these work?

I want to put a media centre on an older tv so what is the best way to do this?

[nd4spdbh2]

hmmm hdmi to composite.... thats like blasphemy to go from such a pure digitial video source to a single analog connection. :beer: Regardless... what is the component your trying to hook to the older tv?

[Stratus_ss]

As I mentioned it was a media centre. Normally I would just build one and get a video card that supports the RYW cables as I have had them in the past but I am letting a relative try one of my spare computers that is already fully ready to go sans the connection to the older tv

[Paradoxmaker]

You could check this out..

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10114&cs_id=1011406&p_id=4631&seq=1&format=2

[Stratus_ss]

Ya I have bumped into those but they are going the wrong way

I am sending the signal from a newer device to an older one. The one you linked is a good thing to know about but it takes the analog and converts it to hdmi

I need hdmi to analog

[TheGreySpectre]

what kind of videocard does it have? Most video cards seem to have a dongle on them that supports composite that would be your best option. I don't really know how else you would go about it, short of perhps like 15 stacked adapters.

[Stratus_ss]

it has the onboard video, but none of my pci-e cards have said dongle.
Guess I'll try the cord and if it doesnt work I'm out $20

[jmdixon85]

Do you know if the card supports a component + svideo lead like this one (except also has s-video and uses a 9-pin connector to the vid card? And are you in a rush for the cable?

http://members.arstechnica.com/x/sliver7/svid-to-component.JPG

[ratbuddy]

it has the onboard video, but none of my pci-e cards have said dongle.
Guess I'll try the cord and if it doesnt work I'm out $20

You can get a card with the right kind of output for less than $20, just check the classies here.

edit: Just looking through the first few listings, there's an 8600GTS for $25 shipped, very nice.

[Stratus_ss]

I'm in Canada so anything is usually + shipped :)

As for the other questions, I am not in a huge rush but sooner rather then later would be good.

I have one of those cables you linked up there. Problem is that this TV is straight up composite, 1 yellow 1 red 1 white. So I would have to convert the component to composite to work the tv.

As for the video card, it wont fit in the htpc case as it needs to be low profile.

[Stratus_ss]

Also of note, I read up on the cables, they only work if the video card supports the covertion you are seeking (i.e. video card has to do the vga to rca or hdmi to rca in order for the cables to work)

[jmdixon85]

http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr8/jmdixon85/IMG_0795.jpg

Ok, so would this lead work? it's connects to the video card using 8 pins. As far as I know this lead will work on most "TV-out" ports on video cards unless the card only has s-video out (4 pins).

[Stratus_ss]

It would work if it was supported by the card (those cards run about $40~)

[jmdixon85]

I was only asking as if the card did support it I would have posted it over to you but as I am in the UK it would take a while to get to you.

[Stratus_ss]

I sincerely appreciate the offer!
Very generous of you. But for now at least, I am either stuck finding a low-profile card that supports that or just buying the converter

[Weeman]

The Short answer is no. and if so, you're spending alot more then the price of a new card. HDMI is a digital format... Coax, composite, and RCA are all analog. Canada isn't that far behind the rest of the world, if you live in a major city try Best Buy/Futureshop, or better yet a Memory Express. I got a simple ATI HD 3850 for about $50 bucks. Still alot cheaper then an adaptor. See if your reciever has an HDMI IN, and a Component out. Sounds goofty, but it happens.

[Stratus_ss]

I checked the digital cable box, the dvd player and the tv. All do not have hdmi in. right now the way it works is dvd does the RYW to the tv and the digital cable uses plain old coax.

I'm just SOL at this point. There are adapters on ebay for VGA to rca, I'll have to stick with that. I already have a stereo to rca cord that works fine. Its ugly but I suppose it will work

[JCLW]

Can you provide any more information on the video card apart from "it is onboard"? Motherboard manufacturer and model? Chipset?

[Brutal-Force]

I have tried VGA > RGB/Composite/S-Video. They will not work with just a adapter, your video card has to support it. You will know it does because it has a S- Video OUT.

I have a Nvidia 8400GS. You could probably pick up a videocard with 256 or 512 for under 30 dollars.

That would be your best bet.

[Stratus_ss]

Can you provide any more information on the video card apart from "it is onboard"? Motherboard manufacturer and model? Chipset?

The board is the Asus M3N78-VM, Nvidia 8200 graphics AM2+/AM3

I was thinking about just ordering a video card instead of something like this (http://cgi.ebay.ca/PC-MAC-VGA-to-TV-AV-Composite-RCA-S-Video-Converter-Box_W0QQitemZ120485211586QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Def aultDomain_0?hash=item1c0d7a6dc2)

But I think the converter is more modular and easily portable in case I need to do this elsewhere

[Weeman]

What are you using for an Audio system? TV speakers? Amplifier?

[VLFI]

HDMI to Composite RCA Cables are not the best answer. HDMI signals are digital signals and composite signals are analog. There must be a converter equipment to maintain the digital to analog conversion. HDMI to RCA/Composite Converter (http://hdmitorcaconverter.com/hdmi-to-composite-s-video-converter-3-rca-crt-tv-cvbs/)devices are available in the marketplace to make this necessary change.
Check this out: http://hdmitorcaconverter.com/