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Is there any way to make my graphics card (ATI x800) work with tvout? I know there are no proprietary drivers for this card only the opensource ones. It uses this cable for video out:

Personally I use the yellow RCA for tvout (in windows). I hope there is a way to work it out because it's a really important feature for me and one of the only reasons I boot windows.

Thanks ahead!

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If i'm not mistaken that's an S-Video out, does it work if you simply plug the RCA in to the TV? perhaps you may want to use the S-video connector. –  Uri Herrera Nov 25 '11 at 0:17
I know how to connect it because it works for me in windows. My question is how or if I can configure tvout with this card under ubuntu while I have only opensource drivers for this card? Simplified: How do I "tell" the graphics card to output to my tv? –  Liran Nov 25 '11 at 10:35

1 Answer 1

From the X.Org Wiki:


Enabling TV-Out Dynamically


xrandr --addmode S-video 800x600

xrandr --output S-video --mode 800x600

xrandr --output S-video --set tv_standard ntsc

Enabling TV-Out Statically


This recipe is not definitive, but it has worked.

In the "Device" section:

   Driver  "radeon"
   Option "TVDACLoadDetect" "TRUE"
   Option "TVStandard" "ntsc"

In the "Monitor" Section:

   Option  "PreferredMode"  "800x600"

In the "Screen" section:

    DefaultDepth  24
    SubSection "Display"
            Depth          24
            Modes         "800x600"
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When I execute this in the terminal: xrandr --addmode S-video 800x600 xrandr --output S-video --mode 800x600 My PC LCD "turns off" but still the tv shows nothing (I checked the cable conecction). Also when I do: xrandr -q in the terminal one of the line says: S-video disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) But again it is connected physically. –  Liran Nov 25 '11 at 19:19
Yes the PC screen will turn off because what it does is to make the S-video the only output. –  Uri Herrera Nov 25 '11 at 19:26
But as I said, the tv doesn't change (still doesn't show anything). –  Liran Nov 25 '11 at 20:17

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