Composite Monitor (more PC help)

Heres an interesting one, but givin the amount of experiance many people have around here, and because this is something that relates directly to digital video editing Im hoping I can find an answer.


I just got a 21inch monitor. ITS HUGE.
Its nearly 11 years old, and is ex one of my Customers.

But there is one problem, its a "digital vrc21-h4" and dosn't have a VGA or even a DVI input.
Instead it has a "composite video" input, i.e. 3 differnt coloured cables, one each for red, green and blue. These cables all come together into one plug that goes into the PC, buts bigger than a standard VGA plug.


So, I either need to buy an adaptor if such a thing is avliable, or I need to get another graphics card.
The first would be easier, but the latter is quite feasable as I plan on getting 2 new graphics cards in the near future, one a 128mb AGP card for the g/f to play games with on my current monitor, and the other a smaller PCI card for me to play with PS on my new monitor, or another 17inch monitor.

Here is a PCI card, that I believe has a composite video out: http://ascent.co.nz …ation.aspx?Item​ID=8001249 (thats kiwi $$)
http://www.powercolor.​com …_product_detail​.asp?id=48

But im not sure if they mean the single RCA plug, or the VGA type plug on the back, that could be a larger composite plug.

If anyone knows what Im talking about I would appreciate some advice.
If Im being unclear I can also post some photos of course.

If what you have is what I think you have, that monitor should have BNC (aka coax cable) terminals. If that's the case, you can do a search for VGA (or DVI if that's what you have on your computer) to RGB BNC cable and get a couple of hits.

The composite video out that the PCI cards you have links for are TV composite video out which is a single RCA connector and that's not what you want. All you should need is a cable with the right connectors. They should be readily available because that's what's also used on some projectors connected to PCs.

"Composite" video combines the Red, Green, Blue, Sync, etc. into a single cable. "Component" separates the colors out into R, G, and B. Sync is sometimes separate, somtimes added to the Green (I think). There are some other variations on component signals, especially once you get into digital signal processing. PacAce is correct that many monitors like you describe have BNC (a twist-lock) connectors, rather than simple RCA (push in) connectors. Who made the monitor -- DEC? NEC? other??

Aha, this is exactly what I needed to hear.

The monitor is made my "Digital"

And yes, it has BNC conectors, one for each channel that come out of a single coax cable which has a 15 pin VGA style connector on the other end.

My current card has a 4 out puts on it, VGA, DVI, RCA and S-Video, unforunatly its nearly dead and in need of replacement.

So what I need is something like this? http://www.infotechnow​.com/shopping/shopexd.​asp?id=2308

As the inputs for the monitor are "R" "G" "B" "HD/COMP" and "VD".

Looks exactly what I was going to buy, but couldnt find locally, for my Iiyama VisionMasterPro.

15pin D on one end, seperate RGBs on 't other.,.

Just checked the back of that [now dead] moniter - spot on.

If you still have monitor I found a couple of links in google to US based retailers that stock a VGA to BNC cable, and links to two local retailers that stock it here in NZ.
Two of them wanted about $30 for it, order online, deliever sometime this week, and the other is about 20mins away, but wants $50!

So you should be able to find one in the UK for about 10 quid.

some of those older monitors are Fixed Frequency monitors and require a video card that can output a fixed freq signal, so check the specs on the monitor first before you spend the money on the cable.
Back about 12 years ago we picked up a nice Sony 20" monitor for $50 but it was of the fixed freq style and the video card we got to run it was $599.

Also, you can make your own RGBHV cable with an HD15 extension cable and 5 BNC connectors.

Really?
Because I have spare HD15 (VGA?) cable, and I have 3 BNC connectors, which I think is all the monitor needs.


And I don't think its old enough to be fixed frequency.

you will need at least 4 if not all 5 bnc's. some can sync on the green signal but that's not guaranteed, but go on and give it a shot, what have you got to loose?

Very true, If converted a 9pin din to RCA on a car stereo before, this can't be any more fiddly.

I just need to find a diagram showing which pins on the HD15 relate to what colour information.

You defifinitely should be able to find this adapter,. My sony FW900 came with both tyoes of inouts,. and indeed,. the adapter,. so two VGA PCs could be attached at once.. (ther is an input switch to change from one to the other)

11 years.. it might be older,. "Digital" (once one of the BIG names in PCs like IBM and Compaq were).. has not been around for a looooooooong time.

Google is a wondeful tool: http://www.myhometheat​er.homestead.com/vgaca​ble.html

Shows the pin locations on the back of the VGA plug, I should be able to connect the two together.

The manufactor date on the back of the monitor is November 1995, the same year I finnished high school.