I am about to recieve an old G4 400MHz tower and want to use it as a media server (mostly music).

I want to be able to play it through my TV though.

As it only has VGA output, can I use one if these (you get them off ebay) or will I have to buy a new videocard with dedicated s-video outs.

My TV is still a CRT, so no VGA or DVI inputs for me.

Attachment 1169

Hhhmmmmmm. Thanks

I just remembered that I have an ATI Radeon 7500 in an old PC I have floating around.

Specifically it's an "ATI Radeon 7500 LE AGP4X Video Card 64MB VGA DVI TV-OUT"

I bought this when I was planning to use the PC as a media server, but dislike Windows too much to want to work with it.

Is it possible to get drivers ir flash the firmware to get this to work on the mac?

Here's a pic of what it looks like...

Attachment 1173

Maybe. Not all PC cards have Mac versions of their ROMs available, and of those that do, may or may not allow the functionality of the S-VHS output. Also, not all PC-flavoured AGPx4 cards can be made to work in the G400's AGPx2 slot.

I would have referred you to Strangedogs, the home of PC-to-Mac flashing on the web, but they seem to have vanished or are in transit to a new domain.

I think your best solutions are to either hunt down an ATI Radeon Mac Edition card off eBay (around A$100) or get a stand-alone VGA-to-composite adaptor box such as this HandView VGA Converter availavle from Jaycar for A$99.95.




Brains

Thanks Guys,

I'll have hunt around for Mac drivers for the card I have, and failing that, maybe i'll splash out on a new card for the Mac.... don't really want en exernal one.

http://strangedogs.wikispaces.com/

Strangedogs Flashing Board Can Now Be Found Here

Ta for the update Sam *adjusts bookmarks*

B.

Originally Posted by oneplusone

... don't really want an exernal one.

Don't cross off that adaptor just yet, it works on any computer with a standard DBsub15 VGA output, meaning when you inevitably change machines later, the adaptor can still be used. Any videocard you buy will be locked to that machine. The adaptor is self-contained and quite small, small enough to leave tucked into the inevitable rat's-nest of cabling behind the computer, as it derives power from your computer's USB port.

Given the choice between a dedicated video card with S-VHS output, and this little adaptor, I'd choose the adaptor.


Brains