VGA to Composite question for dummies

[andsuchisdeath]

I'm really tech ignorant as well as A/V ignorant too. I was hoping I can get a layman's "what I need to look for/do".

I don't use emulation. But I'm buying a laptop as I don't really need this desk top taking up space in my room. My question is...if I run MAME on my laptop and use a VGA to Composite converter running to my TATE CRT, will it look at least decent? Is there a specific type of spec. for a laptop I need? Is this an uncommon practice...for a good reason? Thanks.

[burgerkingdiamond]

I'm not sure if such thing as a VGA to composite converter exists. And if it did, I'm pretty sure it will look like shit. I have an older laptop with s-video out, which I can tell you will look pretty good. Modern laptops won't come with s-video though. You might have to look around.

[fagin]

I'm really tech ignorant as well as A/V ignorant too. I was hoping I can get a layman's "what I need to look for/do".

I don't use emulation. But I'm buying a laptop as I don't really need this desk top taking up space in my room. My question is...if I run MAME on my laptop and use a VGA to Composite converter running to my TATE CRT, will it look at least decent? Is there a specific type of spec. for a laptop I need? Is this an uncommon practice...for a good reason? Thanks.

This is possible but you will need a covertor. I hope you realise a composite signal is the weakest you can get and will result in a video image that is poor.

[SGGG2]

Not worth the trouble. Just get a VGA CRT monitor.

[Zapf]

Is it possible you meant component

[gray117]

Is it possible you meant component

^This was my first thought too - I would recommend this approach if you want to use a big crt.

If you're only after a 20" ish screen you're probably better off with a straight forward pc crt as SGGG2 suggested.

Composite video is usually fairly crappy,svideo is hit and miss depending on the tv and cables used... component or rgb as usually the best ways to go: VGA>Component is usually less problematic/cheaper than vga>rgb.

Note: Although still very common, not all laptops come with vga even these days so worth checking [some I've seen, seem to just have hdmi now].

[KBZ]

will a vga --> yuv be restricted to 480i?

[andsuchisdeath]

I understand that RGB/Component/S-Vid all blow away Composite. However, my little Tate CRT only does composite. I understand composite looks like shit relative to the other superior video options. I was just wondering how it would look running from a laptop with a VGA to Composite converter.

[SGGG2]

A cursory internet search led me to a cheap $30 converter and a well reviewed Startech branded one at $80. I don't know why you'd bother unless space is a really big issue. You can probably get a VGA CRT off craigslist for next to nothing, and the image quality's infinitely better.