I currently have my desktop pc connected to my 42" panasonic plasma hdtv via a s-video cable (my current video card has two dvi outputs with one s-video output). Knowing that hdmi/dvi has better quality than s-video, I was wondering whether using my dvi output would produce better quality on my plasma. Considering my hdtv does not take dvi, I would buy a male dvi to male hdmi cable.

Would a male dvi to male hdmi cable work with my current setup?

If the cable will work, would this improve quality significantly over my current s-video connection? Keep in mind that I only send output to watch video files as the low native resolution on the TV prevents me from doing any regular PC stuff.

The DVI to HDMI connection should work just fine, though I am not sure if you will get much better quality then S-Video to be worth doing it.

Yes, you will get better overall quality, but but I don't think by much.

Though I could be wrong. Try e-baying for a DVI to HDMI converter.

http://electronics.search.ebay.com/DVI-to-HDMI_Accessories-Cab...usZunknown

I have a friend who works at monstercable, so I know where I can get the cable... I just need to know whether it's going to have good enough picture quality to ask him for a cable (Considering he supplied me w/ my current s-video cable which retails for about $100). Yes, any negligible difference is worth getting a free cable, but in reality, I can't be asking him for free cables all the time...

I've also read about some COMPUTER video cards damaging consumer HD TV's, and some display manufacturer's provide a special cable/adapter to protect the TV.

You probably want to check on that for your particular TV. As far as I know, it is not a scam to make people buy the TV manufacturer's cable...it's a hardware compatibility issue.

I've also found some decent low-cost cables at http://www.geeks.com Occassionally on sale they are even more attractive. ( e.g. Monster 2m (male-to-male) DVI-D Single-link DVI400 cable for US$8...when on sale $5.50 )

You should use HDMI or DVI for best picture quality.
If you have a HD source, the picture you get from HDMI is stunning.
S video is old tech.

I have all my HD source connected to the HDTV using HDMI all 1080P capable.
HD-DVD( not too useful now)
Blu Ray /PS3
Xbox
Cable DVR
[url=http://www.octavainc.com/HDMI%20switch%205port.htm]5x1 HDMI switch[/url]

HD DVD is quite usefull. You can buy $5 HD DVD movies along with up-converting your SD DVD's to 1080p. Anyway HDM is HDM regardless of source.

Guys... S-Video can only carry standard definition resolutions. It can't go higher than like, 500x700 pixels. DVI-to-HDMI is the clear choice.

Yeah S-Video is junk, DVI to HDMI is a much better option. Remember DVI and HDMI are the same thing, so no video quality is lost in the process using an adapter. HDMI is more ore less DVI with audio in one cable with different connectors on the end. S-Video maxs out at normal SD resolutions (480i) where as DVI/HDMI can handle 1080p and higher. There are 30" LCD monitors (Dell, Apple, among others sell them) that can do 1600p (2560x1600) using DVI.

S-Video is analog and I think it runs at 480i or 576i spec. Basically, you won't ever get any better than 576i quality out of it. If 576i is all your TV handles then there is no sense in changing it. If your TV is 720i or better (which it probably is), then it is certainly worth the relatively cheap upgrade from an analog to digital signal.

Personally, I would see if that 6800GT has component video out. On NVIDIA cards, it is a cable that plugs into the same slot as S-Video but has more pins. It breaks out into three colored (red, green, and blue) cables that have RCA ends. You can read up on component video here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Component_video

If the card didn't come with one of those cables, a DVI-D to HDMI cable/adapter is your only solution without upgrading the computer itself. I think this one fits the bill quite nicely and has received excellent reviews to boot:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812226015

I'd just go for the $11 adapter on Newegg, unless your card came with the component cables (in my experience, ATI cards tend to come with component cables in the box more often).

You say it's a 42" HDTV, so if its a older one probably 720p (could be 1280x720 native, or 1366x768 native). If it's made in the last year it could be 1080p (1920x1080 native). Before the last year or so 1080p plamsa TVs where very expensive compared to 1080p LCDs.

Adam Kolak said:
Far from it. DVI supports single- (e.g. 1920 x 1080 @ 60 Hz) and dual-link (e.g. 1920 x 1080 @ 85 Hz) digital signal and/or analog. HDMI is single-link only and has absolutely no analog support. HDMI cables do carry a digital audio signal too while DVI has absolutely no support for that. HDMI is for home entertainment while DVI is for computers and/or professional applications.

I'm also fairly certain that DVI cables have significantly more magnetic shielding than HDMI cables so they can carry a signal much farther without experiencing signal degradation from cross-talk.

The point is that there is virtually no loss in video quality when using an DVI to HDMI (or vice versa) adapter. For example other adapters such as composite to VGA adapters/converters are really bad. DVI to HDMI is quite common and simple.

Good luck.I cant get my HDTV to work right with a DVI / HDMI cable or any cable for that matter on my PC

Adam Kolak said:
That is only true at comparatively low resolutions. Put it this way: DVI is more than capable of handling any demand an HDTV can present but HDMI is not capable of handling everything a monitor can require. For instance, good luck trying to get an IBM T221 22" monitor to work at its full capacity with HDMI:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-54982

Composite only has a resolution of about 320x240 pixels. Of course it looks like rubbish on PC monitors. The reason being is PC monitors are designed to be no more than 3' from your eyes. TVs, on the other hand, are meant to be viewed from a distance of no less than 10'.