Laptop to TV using VGA and RCA?

[JediMoonShyne2]

So I recently picked up a Samsung LE32R8 TV, and have been looking to display my laptop (Acer 5920G) through it. So far I picked up a normal male-to-male VGA cable which gives me perfect display of all that I'm doing on my laptop but on the big screen. The next step was sound, so I bought a normal RCA-to-headphone-jack cable, plugging the jack into my laptop, and red and white cables into my TV. Though this doesn't seem to work, I can't get the my laptop sound through the TV whatever I do. I wonder if I'm plugging the red and white cables into the correct holes. Could someone point out whether I'm doing everything right or not, and which sockets I should be using below. Oh and if there is anything I should be changing on the TV's sound settings. Thanks!

[edDV]

Check the manual but it looks to me like that miniplug next to the VGA connector is where you should plug the PC audio.

[JediMoonShyne2]

Check the manual but it looks to me like that miniplug next to the VGA connector is where you should plug the PC audio.

I tried this when plugging the white cable into random holes and I got audio. I just assumed that since there are both red and white cables that it should be a different socket. If I'm plugging the white one into that miniplug, where would the red one go? In fact yes I'm just getting what would be the equivalent to the right laptop speaker, but no left.

And thanks for the speedy reply!

[tinker]

Top picture looks like your TV receiver.
There you have few options.
Your WGA cable go to PC IN, next to it is optical audio, it looks like they work together, check your manual first, but I doubt that you have optical audio on PC.
Other possibility is to use Component video input with audio cable you have. You can get special converter for WGA to Component
http://www.ramelectronics.net/audio-video/video-converters/vga-rgb-hv-to-component-vid...c11215-p1.html
Or use HDMI, I do not think it is on PC.
What is lower picture?

[JediMoonShyne2]

Top picture looks like your TV receiver.
There you have few options.
Your WGA cable go to PC IN, next to it is optical audio, it looks like they work together, check your manual first, but I doubt that you have optical audio on PC.
Other possibility is to use Component video input with audio cable you have. You can get special converter for WGA to Component
http://www.ramelectronics.net/audio-video/video-converters/vga-rgb-hv-to-component-vid...c11215-p1.html
Or use HDMI, I do not think it is on PC.
What is lower picture?

I do have both optical audio and HDMI on my laptop, but I don't use them. Is there no way I can simply use this VGA cable along with the RCA to get decent sound? There seems to be enough red and white sockets for one of them to work! If I use an S Video cable instead of the VGA would that help? Oh and the lower picture is the side of my TV.

[tinker]

OK, the plug next to WGA is regular stereo plug, just get different cable with headphone to headphone plug.
If you have HDMI that would be the best way to go, it has video and audio in one plug.
I do not think you can use plugs on TV since input selection is in the control box.

[neomaine]

If you use the HDMI, you may only need the one cable. Check to see what resolution and refresh rate the HDMI ports on your TV are. Set your HDMI output the same on your laptop. Remember, HDMI carries both video and audio.

Otherwise, why not use the optical port on your laptop? VGA to VGA for video, optical to optical for sound, can't ask for much easier than that.

I'm not sure what your fixation is with using the red/wht RCA cables for sound is. However, you can't use ANY video connection AND any audio connection. They usually work in pairs on the TV.

As for S-video, you'll be really disappointed. Your options from best to worse:

Best Choices
- HDMI (Best video, best audio, easiest setup)
- VGA + optical audio (VERY Close to best video, best audio, easy setup)

OK Choices
- Component + RCA audio (Very good video, OK audio - stereo only, some experience required)

"If you absolutely had to" Choices
- S-Video + RCA audio (adequate video, OK audio
- Composite + RCA audio (if you're blind in one eye and can't see in the other video, OK audio)


Best choices give you the fullest resolution possible and the best audio possible from your laptop. Since this will be used for computer functions, you'll want the most desktop space available. HDMI/VGA/Component can all go to 1920x1280. SVideo and Composite at best do 640x480 IIRC.

If you don't have HDMI or Optical cables, stay away from the b&m stores and go to a respected on-line shop for cables at, literally, 10% of the name brand stuff. If I were in PAL land I'd recommend something...(sorry didn't notice your location when I started my reply)

[JediMoonShyne2]

Thanks so much neomaine, that really helps a lot. For some reason I thought I had to use the red/white cable but I'll look into going either the optical or HDMI route. Thanks again!

Is this the right cable to connect the two through HDMI?

[neomaine]

Looks like an HDMI cable from here! :P

[JediMoonShyne2]

Looks like an HDMI cable from here! :P

Just making sure!

[edDV]

If you went to the expense of buying a laptop with HDMI out why not use it?

The connector next to the VGA prot needs a cable like this.

[JediMoonShyne2]

If you went to the expense of buying a laptop with HDMI out why not use it?

The connector next to the VGA prot needs a cable like this.

On second thoughts I think I may just pick up one of these cables instead, HDMI cables over here cost a bomb. The VGA already works perfectly after all, and I've no idea to use HD DVDs or consoles either at the current moment. What's the name of the cable in the image?

[neomaine]

That's just a generic audio cable with mini-jacks. However, you need the correct cable, either the one shown or optical. It depends on the audio connector to the VGA plug. You'll have to match it.

[neomaine]

JediMoonShyne2,

I'm looking to see if I can find the manual for that television to give you a better answer on what kind of audio is next to that VGA port. There were three different models begining with the number you gave earlier but all seem to have the standard PC audio port to work with the VGA port, no optical as indicated earlier.

The audio cable edDV is right-on. Standard stuff over here, wasn't sure if it was any different over there. So just plug on end of the cable into the audio port on your TV and the other in the speaker (prefered) or head-phone jack on your lapttop.

[edDV]

That's just a generic audio cable with mini-jacks. However, you need the correct cable, either the one shown or optical. It depends on the audio connector to the VGA plug. You'll have to match it.

It's the cable/jack associated with the VGA PC port connector that I mentioned above. If JediMoonShyne2 uses optical he will need to enter the menus to associate S/PDIF audio with the PC port.

Better to just buy an HDMI cable and get full surround audio and SD/HD video on one cable with automatic defaults.

[JediMoonShyne2]

That's just a generic audio cable with mini-jacks. However, you need the correct cable, either the one shown or optical. It depends on the audio connector to the VGA plug. You'll have to match it.

Well I tried a generic audio cable like the one above and now I'm getting decent audio. May have to fork out for a HDMI cable eventually. Thanks again for the help!