Would this destroy my computer?

Marty81

I have a video card with TV (S-video) out, and I have a capture card with S-video in. If I were to plug the S-video out from my video card into my capture card, tell my computer to output in dual-monitor mode, and load up Virtual Dub on my primary monitor to capture the secondary-monitor output of the video card, would I potentially be endangering anything? I don't think there would be any dangerous feedback loops involved, but I was just wondering what other people thought about this (and has anyone done this?) before I try it, since it basically involves plugging my computer in to itself, and that worries me on principle alone.

drinkinstout

its almost like your computer is masturbating... or something.

and no, I don't think there would be any problem with it although I can't say I've ever tried.

vonPoonBurGer

You would create an infinite loop that would cause the universe to collapse in on itself.

Or maybe it would be fine, I say give it a try.

supabeast

I can't see how this might actually harm the machine, the video output won't output at a dangerous level unless the hardware is already screwed up. There might be some weird reason that this could crash the video display software if the hall of mirrors effect does something wonky, but nothing worse.

blincoln

Yeah, I'm 99% sure it's not possible to damage things with "video feedback." I'm sure everyone who has ever bought a video camera has found out what happens when you hook it up to a TV to monitor the output, then point the camera at the TV. Then of course gone on to make a really long and annoying video of the effect just like everyone else.

You might run into trouble in terms of the PC not having enough horsepower (particularly disk I/O) to both run the application you're recording *and* record it.

ElQuack

I've done it, and did not hurt anything. Other than warping the fabric of the universe.

DrFrylock

This basically works; I had a DVD player card with an S-video output that I routed to a video capture board in the same machine and would use that to test the video capture board to see if it was working (I didn't feel like unplugging my VCR). No problems.

Marty81

Awesome. Thanks!