How can I tell if my VGA card has TV-Out function capability

[lily083]

i have a 2 yr old compaq presario cq50 w/vista, and i am trying to figure out what i need to connect it to my tv.

[redwudz]

What inputs does your TV have? If your TV has VGA in, then you just need a cable. If not, a adapter could be used for conversion to S-video or composite. But the quality may be poor.

One example: http://sewelldirect.com/pc-to-tv.asp You would also need to run a audio cable to the TV. Probably from the headphone jack. (1/8" stereo phone plug to RCA stereo adapter cable)

That laptop appears to have a NVIDIA GeForce 8200M video card with only VGA output.

And welcome to our forums.

[lily083]

thanks for the welcome! all my tvs are old (i've got a 27" that i cant even lift it's so big, have to roll it, lol). and this laptop is getting pretty old too. i think i may just hold off until i get a new laptop next month. any recomendations on a cheap laptop that has the tv-out capability?

[edDV]

thanks for the welcome! all my tvs are old (i've got a 27" that i cant even lift it's so big, have to roll it, lol). and this laptop is getting pretty old too. i think i may just hold off until i get a new laptop next month. any recomendations on a cheap laptop that has the tv-out capability?

Most of the low end HP/Compaq's have the NVidia display chipset with a 9 pin Din connector with composite, S-Video and analog component (SD/HD) outputs via a breakout cable. Not all models have this connector. Make sure you select a model with video out. Audio comes from the headphone jack.

Higher end models add HDMI for digital HD connection (with audio).

Other manufacturers have similar models.

The 9 pin video out connector and cable look like this