Help Connecting My PC to my HDTV!

[Jeremy_bk]

Sorry to ask a noob question but I'm just now getting into the HD era and I need some help with this. I'm interested in connected my pc which has a BFG Geforce 6800 GS video card in it to my new Sony Bravia HDTV(KDL-40W3000). The video card has one VGA output and one DVI output. The TV has a VGA input and HDMI inputs. My TV also supports full 1080p HD resolution. I'm looking for fairly detailed instructions for how to set this up to get the best picture quality out of my pc. I know I'll probably have to get a DVI to HDMI cable but after I do that, I'm really not sure what to set the output resolution of my PC to to get the highest HD output possible. I've read alot of guides that say to use a piece of software called Powerstrip but if there is an easier way or if someone could tell me the exact setting I would need to run in Powerstrip, it would be very appreciated!! Thank you all for your time.

[TBoneit]

I would look in the manual and see what resolutions the VGA input supports. Then I would just use that input and resolution. Simple no overscan settings to play around with and done. Most likely the maximum VGA resolution supported will be the TV sets native resolution and thus since no upscaling or downscaling is needed should give the best results.

Just one persons opinion and I'm sure others will chime in. I favor simplicity and easy to do in my life.

Good Luck a HDTV makes an awsome Computer display.

[Jeremy_bk]

Thank you very much for the quick reply. The manual has a list of resolutions to use when using the VGA input. The highest being 1920x1080 at 60hz. I didn't think you could output that resolution through VGA.

[jagabo]

VGA has no problems with 1920x1080 60p. If your HDTV has a no-overscan option you could use a DVI->HDMI cable for even better quality.

There are graphics cards with an HDMI output and SPDIF input. These can run both audio and video to the TV via HDMI. Otherwise you'll have to run audio separately.

[Jeremy_bk]

Thank you all for your replies. I actually got a chance today to hook up my pc to my HDTV. I went out and bought a Monster DVI-HDMI adapter and connected my pc's DVI port via the adapter thru a Monster HDMI cable to my tv's HDMI input. I was afraid when it started up that I would have to do all kinds of tweaking and stuff to compensate for Overscan(I believe that's what I read on some forums). Anyway, it started up and it looked perfect except for it outputting at 480i resolution. But all I had to do to fix that was go into the NVIDIA control panel and it had already detected my Sony HDTV and had all the HD resolutions that my tv supports listed. I select 1080p and that was it. Now I'm playing Half-Life 2 in full 1080p and I don't have any overscan issues at all. This is the greatest thing since sliced bread.....

[Wile_E]

Monster...lol. You should have asked us about cables too. Monster is very overpriced. A standard cheapy HDMI cable would have been good enough.

[edDV]

Maybe the newest Sony's are smart enough to "know" a computer connection doesn't need overscan

[hulinning]

For best video quality, you should either use NVIDIA 8600GTS or ATI HD 2600XT. Both video cards can support HDCP and can output 1080p resolution to your HDTV. As other mentioned you should not use Monster Cable for this job. All you has to do is a buy cheap dvi-to-hdmi cable (less than $20) to connect the video dvi output to your hdtv hdmi card.

[anthojoe]

I'm glad this thread already exists as I'm having some related issues connecting my PC to my Samsung LN3251D.

My Sammy has 1 VGA and 2 HDMI inputs.

Graphics Card: NVIDIA 6400GT PCI-E (card has 2 DVI outputs)

I purchased a Monster DVI-HDMI cable ($70) at Best Buy. Upon hooking it up to my LCD, the screen is always "searching for signal". I've tried various resolution settings, and cannot seem to get a picture on my Sammy.

I can however run DVI-VGA and I get a picture. However, the color is off somewhat and everything seems to have a red tint (I believe there's a short in my DVI-VGA cable and this is the reason for the off color. The color will correct itself when I put pressure on the cable where it connects to my graphics card).

I've since ordered a different DVI-VGA cable in hopes it will get rid of the color issues.

I would prefer to run DVI-HDMI - if anyone has any suggestions that would be great. I do not have a 2nd graphics card to test so I'm not sure which component is causing the issues.

Thank you in advance.

sammy.bmp

[edDV]

First suggestion is return that $70 Monster cable to Best Buy.

DVI-I connectors (6400GT and others) contain pins for DVI-D and VGA (RAMDAC). Most cards come with an adapter to tap the VGA pins to a standard VGA DB-15 connector allowing a standard VGA cable to be used. There is no reason to pay the high retail prices for a "DVI to VGA" cable either.

[anthojoe]

If this additional info helps.......

Currently I am using a Gateway FPD1810 LCD. The cable running from pc to monitor is DVI on one end, and VGA on the other. My display only has DVI inputs and therefore I have one of those little converters attached to the VGA end of the cable.

[edDV]

If this additional info helps.......

Currently I am using a Gateway FPD1810 LCD. The cable running from pc to monitor is DVI on one end, and VGA on the other. My display only has DVI inputs and therefore I have one of those little converters attached to the VGA end of the cable.

You have a computer LCD monitor. You would be better off with a DVI-D to DVI-D cable set to native resolution 1366x768.

[anthojoe]

edDV -

Can you check out this link for me? This is what I ordered off eBay. Will this particular cable work for running my PC to my Samsung LN3251D?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=270187125683&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=017

If not, can you link me to the exact cable I do need?

[edDV]

edDV -

Can you check out this link for me? This is what I ordered off eBay. Will this particular cable work for running my PC to my Samsung LN3251D?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=270187125683&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=017

If not, can you link me to the exact cable I do need?

That type of cable should work but you have to question the quality of a $2.90 cable.

[jagabo]

I purchased a Monster DVI-HDMI cable ($70) at Best Buy. Upon hooking it up to my LCD, the screen is always "searching for signal". I've tried various resolution settings, and cannot seem to get a picture on my Sammy.

Did you also change the refresh rate to 60 Hz? Most TV's require that.

[anthojoe]

Yeah I tried it on several different refresh rates..... no dice.

[anthojoe]

edDV -

Can you check out this link for me? This is what I ordered off eBay. Will this particular cable work for running my PC to my Samsung LN3251D?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=270187125683&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=017

If not, can you link me to the exact cable I do need?

That type of cable should work but you have to question the quality of a $2.90 cable.

Yeah I go to thinking that after I ordered it. Could you link me to a high quality yet still affordable (under 50 please) cable?

Also, I just noticed that the cable I purchased from eBay states it's DVI-A

[jagabo]

Monoprice has good cables at decent prices:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/search.asp?keyword=dvi+vga+cable
http://www.monoprice.com/products/search.asp?keyword=dvi+hdmi+cable
http://www.monoprice.com/products/search.asp?keyword=dvi+cable


Also NewEgg.com.

[TBoneit]

For best video quality, you should either use NVIDIA 8600GTS or ATI HD 2600XT. Both video cards can support HDCP and can output 1080p resolution to your HDTV. As other mentioned you should not use Monster Cable for this job. All you has to do is a buy cheap dvi-to-hdmi cable (less than $20) to connect the video dvi output to your hdtv hdmi card.

Maybe a better choice of words is to say instead of "you should not use Monster Cable for this job". Since a Monster cable will work.... Change to "you do not have to use Monster Cable for this job" since a less expensive cable will do.

I was recently in a large B&M Chains store buying a vacuum cleaner and other things and wanted a HDMI cable to hook up a upscaling DVD player to test how well it worked. They wanted a horrendous price for the cable.... However based on the other purchases they dropped it to $5.99. This tells me the markup on those cables is really high.

Does that make me cheap? No, Frugal? Yes. I didn't pressure the salesman by saying make me happy or I'll leave my other purchases unbought. That would be low class and uncouth. I just asked for the best price as I was running short on cash.

Cheap = only price matters
Frugal = price takes second place to quality. Buying Quality is often cheaper in the long run.

[pepegot1]

From what I read, an HD monitor gives a much better picture than a HDTV.

[jagabo]

From what I read, an HD monitor gives a much better picture than a HDTV.

Not with the right TV. Unless you're talking about monitors with more then 1920x1080 pixels. Even then you're not likely to find one of those at 40 inches or more.

[TBoneit]

Well a HD monitor may give a better picture than a HDTV however I could never afford a 32" monitor so.......

19" monitor with everything small at high resolution or 32" HDTV with lower resolution and everything much larger......

32" wins. I can play video on the Computer. Set it to full screen and it looks good. I can hit a button on the remote and watch TV while a DVD or CD is burning or encoding video. Hit another button and go back to the computer.

The screen is big enough to read from 5' away I don't have to have a computer monitor and a HDTV running in the same room to use both at the same time. If something on TV piques my interest I can look it up on the internet at the two presses of the button. One press to pause the Video, and the second press to go to the computer. Done looking it up? Press a button for Tv, press another to unpause the live or prerecorded video. DVRs are great.

One display for everything.

[parth82390]

Hey guys, I was also looking for a way to hook up my pc to my hdtv.

Problem is that I'm not sure if my laptop has a dvi port (im fairly certain it doesnt, but not sure).

On the side of the laptop, this is what i see :
SD MS/Pro MMC XD.

Does anyone know what that means?

If my pc doesnt have a dvi port, then what would be the best solution to get that set up?

All i am looking to do is to be able to play an hdtv encoded mkv file on my pc, and have that video be outputted to my hdtv so i dont have to go through any lengthy conversions involving mkv to dvd, etc...

any help would be greatly appreciated.

thanks!

[edDV]

Best to worse for a laptop

DVI-D or VGA. Test both and use the one that looks better.

Analog components YPbPr (sometimes included on 7 or 9 pin "S-Video" connector from breakout connector).*

S-Video

See ref http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVI for connector descriptions.


* I'm happy to report that my new Compaq laptop with NVidia 6100 graphics chipset can output analog components through the 9 pin "s-video" connector w/breakout connector. It also has a VGA port.


http://www.answers.com/topic/composite-video?cat=technology&nr=1
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://thumbs.ebaystatic.com/pict/3300449580558...3Doff%26sa%3DN

[jagabo]

SD MS/Pro MMC XD.

Does anyone know what that means?

Flash card slots: Secure Digital, Memory Stick / Pro, Multi Media Card, XD Picture Card.

DVI connector:

http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia_term/0,2542,t=DVI&i=42144,00.asp

Graphics card with s-video (extended), VGA, dual link DVI-I connector:

http://www.icalledshotgun.com/CRArticles/DVI-VGA%20Dual%20card.jpg

[DuncanV]

GeForce4 MX440 with AGP8X
I am trying to connect this card to both my LCD monitor and my HD LCD TV.(Tevion L4211, Samsung panel with 480p,480i, 1080i and 720p)Its resolution is 1366x768WXGA.
I have tried a DVI to HDMI cable and it appears to detect the TV as the nView screen shows two screens, my Acer monitor(on Dsub) and ESTO which I presume is the TV. But I can get no further when I select clone or dualview and the TV (which is set to HDMI) always shows no signal. The cable would appear to be DVI-D if this makes a difference. Secondly, I tried an S video lead and I only get a single output option on the nView screen but I can select either Acer or TV. When I select TV, I get a picture on the screen but the monitor goes off which is a bummer because the TV is in the next room and I can't see it from my mouse and keyboard!!! Is this card a single output only? And if so why do I get two screens when the DVI is connected. Do I need a new graphics card and if so which one will support two outputs and which combination of cables gives the best picture.

[edDV]

GeForce4 MX440 with AGP8X is an older budget card. It could be single DVI/VGA output, single plus S-Video or dual output.

For this card I's use a VGA connection or just get a much better card for around $45 up.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=SubCatDeals&SubCategory=48&Store...2&N=2010380048

Full HD Support will cost more for a card and power supply. PCIe requires a new mobo+CPU+ memory.