SLI doesn't work with Tv-out?

[bildad]

Got my 7800GTX SLI rig up and running and works fine when using the DVI port. But when I plug in the TV-out dongle and plug that into my TV or receiver SLI gets disabled in the the control panel with a message of "You must remove any graphics cards that are not compatible with SLI etc...." I've tried several different driver versions and the BIOS on both cards are the same. Is it just that SLI doesn't work with TV-out?

 

[bildad]

No thoughts? I didn't see anything in any of the SLI reviews saying it wouldn't work with TV-out. Wanted to know if anyone else's SLI setup works with it.

 

[Unknown-One]

Because its not worth it on a normal TV...

Take 'em out of SLI, hook one up to your TV, crank your res DOWN to 640x480 turn AA down to 2X and watch that framerate counter go!

Seriously, you're average TV will still look good like that (It will end up bluring the image enough to make AA almost useless) and with all your settings turned down, you'll have the performance of SLI.

 

[Wildace]

Because its not worth it on a normal TV...

Take 'em out of SLI, hook one up to your TV, crank your res DOWN to 640x480 turn AA down to 2X and watch that framerate counter go!

Seriously, you're average TV will still look good like that (It will end up bluring the image enough to make AA almost useless) and with all your settings turned down, you'll have the performance of SLI.

640x480? assuming hes using a reg. tv that might be good advice dont get me wrong, but what if hes using a 60" plasma HDTV =P 640x480 might look a little off, i cant stand 640x480 on my 27" hdtv let alone anything bigger (granted SLI would still be overkill even for an hdtv)

 

[bildad]

Its a 61" DLP 640x480 would be...bad. Currently a 720p but when the 1080p start showing up in stores any time now I'll be getting one of those. So I really need the SLI to work. I called tech support and one guy said it should and he's never heard of it not working and another guy said no it's not supposed to because tv-out can't handle the data. Which doesn't make a whole lot of sense; its not like SLI is sending more data out than just one card to display the picture.

 

[JohnleMVP]

A hi end TV should have DVI input. Try that. S-cable isn't capable of high res.

 

[bildad]

I've been using component video. My particular receiver and TV doesn't have DVI unfortunately.

 

[Deam]

Regardless of the rez, the reason it probably disables it on the TV out is likely that the SLI "circuitry" is not connected with the TV-Out encoder on the card. Basically, the TV-Out doesn't get the SLI information.

 

[JBark]

Your best bet may be to use a VGA->Component transcoder like this:
http://www.digitalconnection.com/products/video/9a60.asp

It will convert VGA signals to 720p or 1080i component. That way you get the benefit of SLI and can play on your TV. Considering you have the moola to spring for 2 7800GTX cards, this transcoder is probably worth the extra money:
http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/kd-vtca2.htm

Edit: I'm a bit confused, though. Does the 7800GTX support component over the TV-Out jack (some sort of breakout box), or is it an adaptor that plugs into the VGA/DVI port? If it's the first case, then I can see why you'd be having a problem.

Edit2: Your TV doesn't have any sort of input besides Component? They made 61" DLP TV s that don't have some sort of VGA/DVI/HDMI input.

 

[JBark]

Answered my first question, that dongle looks like it sucks! Six outputs on one cable, I'd be afraid the damn thing would keeping falling out. I thought the 4 cables on my old VIVO dongle were annoying.