S-Video out to TV is Black & White - ATI Help!!!!

**buzzdaniels** · November 24th, 2004, 05:48 PM

Hi

Please help me. I have a HP Compaq nx9005 laptop with an ATI Radeon IGP 320M card and no matter what I do, I can't get a colour picture on my TV by running an S-Video lead from the S-Video out on the laptop to the composite yellow input on my tv. I've tried everything including updating drivers, direct x, changing settings, etc! It displays on the TV fine but without colour.

Its not a problem with the lead I am using or the tv as I have used both of these to run my desktop pc through my tv with no problems at all (my desktop pc uses a NVIDIA card instead).

Please can someone help me!!!!

**Peter M** · November 24th, 2004, 09:08 PM

Well if you're going into a Composite input, then you should be providing a Composite signal. If you run the card in SVideo mode, then the one wire you connect only has brightness ("luma") information.

**Dommi** · November 24th, 2004, 09:16 PM

windows doesnt do black and white. So its probably a tv issue
(just as a fyi)

**Lazywolf** · November 24th, 2004, 09:19 PM

No, actually the same thing happens with my DVD player at home. It is either a bad cord or a loose connection, because we just mess around with it and it goes back to color. Other than that, you need a new card.

**thornite** · November 24th, 2004, 09:41 PM

This is common place. I have had this problem with an old Inspiron 5000e as well. Using an svideo that was dell supplied on an ati mobiility m. The updated driver is good normally, else you need to get the lesser impedance s-video to Y-Composite adapter that did NOT come with the computer. It has to be the cable, as this has been my experience. Please, search for the other impedance (Resistance) cable, preferably one with the higher shielding, this solved the problem for me!
Hope this helps-

**Peter M** · November 25th, 2004, 05:16 AM

As a backgrounder: The signal outputting device detects the load on the two wires that make up an SVideo connection. When a connection is detected on both wires (Luma and Chroma), it enables SVideo mode. If only Luma is connected, the output chip merges L and C onto this one wire to form a Composite signal.

When the connection is misdetected (or wired wrong), you'll end up with the Chroma signal connected nowhere, hence the b/w display.

**nelsnelson** · September 24th, 2008, 10:37 AM

I am using a Dell with ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 trying to connect to a TV in the Netherlands. The cable goes S-Video to Composite video (the yellow one). One one television it works in color, but looks TERRIBLE, on another television the clarity is fine but it is only Black and White. Totally frustrating, especially since ATI does not offer support for their Mobility drivers.

Any help?