Alright so the family's out of town and I started thinking, "What can I do?" LAN party was already a definate, but I realized I could hook my computer up to my HDTV Plasma screen. Yowza!

So I walk down to my Radio Shack and look at their DVI cables (I've got a Radeon 9800 Pro) and those suckers are ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS. The guy says that that's how much it costs for top quality. Every time I go to Radio Shack I want to punch the guy working there in the face. Swear to god that places has become worhless since they decided to use gold.

So I check out prices online and see that I could get them for less than 20. HOWEVER, I realize there are many different kinds of adapters: DVI-A, DVI-I, blah blah. Some more snooping around and I see that not all computers will give an HDTV.

So the question is: What do I need? What cable? Do I need a component adapter? It would be nice if this could be under 30 dollars.

Yup, ATi actually sells just such an adapter for the 9800 Pro. Retails for $29.

I saw that and I'm considering it. Can DVI work though? Or would I not be able to tell the difference with Component?

Just reread your orig post. Since ATi's site says the 9800 series handles "All-format DTV/HDTV decoding", I'm guessing you'll be ok from the computer end. Not sure which input your TV has (wish I had a plasma!), but it seems like you might just be able to use a straight DVI cable...

If your HDTV has DVI input, which it should, you can just use a DVI cable. You can run it as a second monitor.

The adapter just seperates the colors for component,
you will have same or better picture using DVI-to-DVI.

Gotta love Dual RAMDAC's.

Thanks to the two of you!

As long as the DVI out on you card can handle DVI-D/A as well as the HDTV and you use Powerstrip to setup the resolution to 1920x1024 you should be fine.

~Bob

Hope it worked for ya!

Not sure you needed any more of an edge in the PR Arcade though.