Best way to hook up a laptop to a tv...

[Scoobydoo 5,000+ posts]

svideo will look like crap compared to vgi/dvi route for a few bucks

if you wanna be able to read the text on web pages go with dvi/vga, if you wanna play emulated atari 2600 games use svideo

 

[Pistonsfan70 10+ year member]

actually the tv has a dvi input, use a vga->dvi adapter and run it at the highest res your laptop supports
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10419&cs_id=1041903&p_id=2397&style=&seq=1&format=1#largeimage

So i buy this and a DVI-DVI cable???

Thanks for the help so far guys!

 

[Scoobydoo 5,000+ posts]

Actually I would go DVI male to VGA female, that way you just plug the adapter into the tv and run a VGA cable from the laptop to the adapter

That way you can use that VGA cable elsewhere ith the laptop for monitors with a VGA connection

Also VGA cables are cheaper than DVI cables

Adapter

VGA Cable

 

[Pistonsfan70 10+ year member]

Scooby is da man!

 

[bikinpunk 10+ year member]

Just spotted Scooby's response. S-video is easily legible to me. Tried it on a 23" LCD & 55" LCD. Both times, no problems. DVI is probably better, but s-video will work just fine for a quick fix.

 

[Pistonsfan70 10+ year member]

BUMP Ready to buy now but the link scooby gave me, they ran out....can someone give me a SPECIFIC link to a store or eBay because I really don't want to buy the wrong adapter.

 

[wesl56 10+ year member]

http://www.amazon.com/DVI-MALE-VGA-FEMALE-ADAPTER/dp/B00068NULW

http://www.svideo.com/dvi.html

 

[Pistonsfan70 10+ year member]

http://cgi.ebay.com/DVI-I-Male-to-VGA-SVGA-Female-Monitor-Adapter-Converter_W0QQitemZ220135384288QQihZ012QQcategoryZ74939QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Do I have an analog connection or digital because most of these say it won't work with a digital.

 

[nosaj070 10+ year member]

I'm not completely positive on this stuff, but I'm nearly positive that with VGA output, you cannot obtain a HD resolution. Its going to be distorted as you can only output the generic ones like 1024 x 768. So your screen is actually going to compress the image to get it to fit. Its definetly legible, better than s-video, but far from ideal.

My brother has that problem with this HTPC because he only has VGA out, I have DVI out though, so i'm golden.

 

[docutech 10+ year member]

But your HDTV also needs to support DVI Input.

 

[Pistonsfan70 10+ year member]

My TV does have a DVI input but I am using an analog or digital

I don't need an HD resolution, just the clearest one I can get.

 

[docutech 10+ year member]

Ahh ok. So yes, the DVI adaptor with a VGA cable is the only option. Looking at the manual for that TV I see that it does not support HD from pc.

 

[its_bacon12 10+ year member]

Was it S-Video to an HDTV though??

i hook mine up to my HD tv via S-Video and it looks pretty good

 

[Pistonsfan70 10+ year member]

So is it a ANALOG connection so I am fine with any adapter I posted???

 

[docutech 10+ year member]

Yes, you should be fine.

IF you have recently bought a Video card or a new PC, that adaptor should be included in the box.