Video Output

• Find your S-Video output on the side of your laptop, and count the holes in it. Your video output will either have four or seven holes, and you'll need to buy the matching adapter. Four-pin S-Video is standard.
  
  

Video Card

• Since some adapters are brand specific, before you head off to the store, check what video card you have. To check your video card, click on Control Panel-->Device Manager-->Display Adapters, and your video card will be listed. Buying an adapter specific to your brand of video card may have a small effect on performance.
  
  

S-Video to 3 RCA Adapter

• The next step is a trip to the electronics store to find the correct adapter. You need an S-Video to 3 RCA (also known as component cable) adapter. There are many brands of adapters. Some adapters will be universal and some will be specific to certain makes of video card. Dell computers use ATI video cards, but some adapters made by ATI will only support specific models. Make sure the adapter you buy supports your video card and the pin count of your S-Video output. The adapter will likely cost around $20, at 2011 prices.
  
  

VIVO

• If you have a higher end computer, your video output may have nine pins instead of four or seven. If so, you have a VIVO slot (Video In, Video Out). You will probably not be able to find a VIVO to 3 RCA adapter. You will have to buy a VIVO to S-Video adapter, and connect it to an S-Video to 3 RCA adapter. The VIVO adapter will likely cost between $20 and $30.