Help in connecting my pc to hdtv

[odedne]

Hello!

I want to watch hd clips from my pc in my hd tv.
I got dell inspiron 6400 laptop with ATI x1400 graphic card and vga and s-video connectors.
Is there a way to connect my pc to my hd tv? the tv got hdmi connector.

Thanks,
Oded.

[hulinning]

USE DVI-TO-HDMI CABLE

[Krispy Kritter]

To get HD you will need DVI ouput, which your laptop likely doesn't have. Your second choice would be VGA, but you will need a VGA input on your TV and you are limited by the resolution that the TV accepts over VGA. Your last choice would be S-Video, assuming your TV has an S-Video input. But it won't be HD. The highest resolution will likely be 800x600.

[jman98]

If your TV does not have anything but HDMI inputs, you will need to either buy a new video card that has HDMI output or buy a converter between VGA and HDMI. Converting S-video to HDMI, if even possible, should be your last choice.

[edDV]

Tell us what your HDTV model is. The laptop is a fixed configuration.

[odedne]

My hdtv model is Toshiba 42WL66,
Does converting vga to hdmi keeps it's hd quality?

Thanks for the answers

[jagabo]

Converting VGA to HDMI would keep the quality high but it will cost you more than a new computer.

The s-video port will give you SD picture quality.

That TV has a VGA input so you will probably want to use that. The remaining questions are if you can find a resolution and refresh rate that both the laptop and the TV support, or if you can set up with dual displays.

[edDV]

My hdtv model is Toshiba 42WL66,
Does converting vga to hdmi keeps it's hd quality?

Thanks for the answers

According to this description, the Toshiba 42WL66 has a VGA "PC Input". You simply connect your VGA cable. The panel resolution is 1366x768. If possible adjust the PC disply card resolution setting to 1366x768 to minimize scaling.

http://www.samstores.com/details.asp?ProdID=6594

[odedne]

In conclusion i can connect vga to vga, but it wont keep the hd quality, would playing hd clip with vga to vga will show any improvement than just seeing dvd movie?

[edDV]

In conclusion i can connect vga to vga, but it wont keep the hd quality, would playing hd clip with vga to vga will show any improvement than just seeing dvd movie?

What do you mean "but it wont keep the hd quality" ?

VGA @ 1366x768 exactly matches the highest resolution your LCD-TV can display. The load is on the ATI display chips to make all the conversions.

Your Dell Iinspiron 6400 laptop is capable of slightly higher resolution @ 1400x900. Ideally you would drive the laptop LCD @ 1400x900 60Hz and the TV at 1366x768 60Hz if the display chips can handle that.

[jagabo]

In conclusion i can connect vga to vga, but it wont keep the hd quality, would playing hd clip with vga to vga will show any improvement than just seeing dvd movie?

If your laptop supports dual desktops you can use the optimal resolution for each display. Otherwise you'll have to find a compromise resolution that both displays will accept. Whatever resolution that turns out to be, the results will likely be better than DVD -- assuming your video files are better than DVD to start with.

I currently have a 1080p HDTV hooked up to a computer via a DVI->HDMI cable, running at 1920x1080 60p. With 1:1 pixel mapping the picture is perfect. I've tested it in the past, running the same settings, but with a VGA cable and the picture quality was nearly as good.

[odedne]

I want to thank u all for the quick answers, i am sorry for the newbie questions i am a little bit new to hd area.
I need to know if i got it right, if i play a 720p hd clip through vga to vga i will keep my hd quality of the file, right?
also i found a vga to dvi converter plug, could i then get a dvi to hdmi cable and use my tv max hd 1080p?

[jagabo]

I need to know if i got it right, if i play a 720p hd clip through vga to vga i will keep my hd quality of the file, right?

Depending on what resolution you end up using, yes, you can retain most of the quality.

also i found a vga to dvi converter plug, could i then get a dvi to hdmi cable and use my tv max hd 1080p?

No. DVI can carry analog as well as digital signals -- on separate pins. A VGA to DVI converter plug will only route the analog VGA pins to the analog pins on the DVI connector. A DVI to HDMI converter cable will only route the digital DVI pins to the HDMI cable. HDMI has no provision for analog video.

[edDV]

VGA is analog RGB created in the display cards RAMDAC. It can be very high resolution. The main issue with VGA is cable length. Over 15-20ft you need expensive high quality cables.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAMDAC
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VGA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wide_XGA

DVI and HDMI are uncompressed digital component streams (RGB or YCbCr). Those cables need to be expensive as well as the length goes out >20ft.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVI
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI

Your current computer supports VGA as does your HDTV. All is well. Use WXGA 1366x768 square pixels.

If you want to go DVI-D or HDMI you need to buy another computer.

If you bought a new computer would the TV picture look any better? Not really. Marginal at best because your TV has 1366x768 resolution which is easily handled by VGA.

So what would you do to get a better picture on the TV? You would buy a new computer and a new HDTV that support 1080p.

Would that look much better? Probably not unless you also increased the screen size to above 50".

[limmylim]

sorry to bring this topic back to life. does VGA carry sound as well from your PC to your HDTV? i bought a VGA to Component cable which didn't work for displaying any picture on the TV from the PC. So I read on here that VGA to VGA would be good. But does sound go with the picture also? Thanks.

[edDV]

sorry to bring this topic back to life. does VGA carry sound as well from your PC to your HDTV? i bought a VGA to Component cable which didn't work for displaying any picture on the TV from the PC. So I read on here that VGA to VGA would be good. But does sound go with the picture also? Thanks.

VGA to component won't work except for special proprietary products that include component video on VGA pins.

VGA to VGA is valid for video only. Audio usually exits a laptop on a headphone jack. Some might have a S/PDIF connector (coax or optical).