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I want to connect my PC to my TV. I have an s-video capable graphics card, but is this the best way? I want the clearest picture possible. Would a tv-tuner card like the Radeon Theater or All in Wonder cards work for better for this?

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Short answer: use the highest-quality path both your PC and TV support. Digital is best (HDMI or DVI), followed by VGA (analog RGB for cleaner text/desktop), then component (YPbPr — the best analog for video), then S‑Video, with composite (yellow RCA) last. If both ends have HDMI, use it — it carries audio and full HD/4K signals. (tweaking4all.com)

To clear up a couple of confusions from the thread: composite is the single yellow RCA video plug (plus red/white audio), component is the three RCA cables usually colored green/blue/red carrying Y/Pb/Pr, and S‑Video is a 4‑pin mini‑DIN that carries luminance and chrominance separately (no audio) and is limited to standard definition. Component can carry HD signals (it was the analog HD workhorse before HDMI). (en.wikipedia.org)

About the All‑in‑Wonder / TV‑tuner idea: those cards bundle a GPU with a tuner and capture hardware so they make sense if you want live TV, recording or capture features. They are not required just to display your desktop or play video through the TV — a regular video output (HDMI/DVI/VGA/component) will do that. If you want PVR/tuner functionality, an AIW or a USB tuner/capture device is useful. (en.wikipedia.org)

Practical checklist: pick the best mutual connector (HDMI if possible); set your PC output to the TV’s native resolution/refresh rate; use the GPU control panel or TV’s “PC mode” to fix overscan/underscan; route audio over HDMI or run a separate audio cable when using VGA/component/S‑Video; avoid passive adapter hacks that try to convert digital<>analog without an active converter. Note that HDMI/DVI can use HDCP for protected content (might block playback of some protected sources), but for normal desktop/video it’s the preferred route. ()

Following ’s experiment-first approach is sensible — try the highest-quality connection you can and tweak resolution/overscan in the driver if the picture looks off.

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I want to connect my PC to my TV. I have an s-video capable graphics card, but is this the best way? I want the clearest picture possible. Would a tv-tuner card like the Radeon Theater or All in Wonder cards work for better for this?

s-video will supposedly give you better picture than plain old AV cables, but I haven't noticed much difference in the past. Maybe if you had a really nice TV, but then nowadays most nice TV's have VGA, which is better again. Or at least composite (the three colour plugs, green, red & yellow I think).

Stay away from HDMI, it is copy protected and you cannot guarantee that any one device will work with another (IMHO).

Any reasonable video card should do, as your TV resolution is most likely much less than your PC. Unless you have a high-def TV, in which case you want to make sure your card can match the high-def capability. eg. if your TV can do 1080p, then a 1080i output won't look as good as a 1080p output...

Best thing to do is just try it out and see how it looks. If you don't like it, upgrade later!

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