Connecting PC to HDTV - Done it but more help needed please

Last edited by Mr Chips on Wed Dec 23, 2009 11:54 am, edited 1 time in total.

I want to sort my girlfriend a connection between her TV and PC so she can use iplayer, ITV player etc on her TV. Its a very good extra present for xmas. I regularly connect my TV to my laptop and its great. But I am having prolems figuring out how to do this one

Her TV has

HDMI slots
VGA slot
all those SD connection methods too.

Her PC

No Extra VGA slot (the monitor takes up the only VGA slot available)
No HDMI slot
No S-video slot

Her PC is quite old, about 4 years, but it would be powerful enough to do this (her dad recently put extra RAM in it, its even better now) but it doesn't seem to have any connection options to do the connection am after. I don't know what model it is but the manufacturer is compaq.

Also the cable has to be about 5metres long at least I reckon.

Is there such thing as a VGA splitter?

PostRe: Connecting PC to HDTV by **Trinity** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 2:52 pm

Plurbs wrote:Is there such thing as a VGA splitter?

I have used a VGA switch in the past. 1 input, 2 outputs and you switch between as required.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VGA-SVGA-LCD-TFT-CRT-MONITOR-2-WAY-SPLITTER-SWITCH-BOX_W0QQitemZ200404867311QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Computing_NetworkSwitches_RL?hash=item2ea90f98ef

PostRe: Connecting PC to HDTV by **bigcheez2k3** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 4:46 pm

Why not just connect it to the TV permanently and lose the monitor?

PostRe: Connecting PC to HDTV by **Mr Chips** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 6:43 pm

Trinity wrote:
Plurbs wrote:Is there such thing as a VGA splitter?

I have used a VGA switch in the past. 1 input, 2 outputs and you switch between as required.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VGA-SVGA-LCD-TFT-CRT-MONITOR-2-WAY-SPLITTER-SWITCH-BOX_W0QQitemZ200404867311QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Computing_NetworkSwitches_RL?hash=item2ea90f98ef

Thanks thats a good cheap sounding solution, just need to buy a long VGA cable as well. If I could get something that would enable dual monitor to work that would be cool (thats on XP isnt it?) Am guessing this just allows you to switch between 2 output devices.

bigcheez2k3 wrote:Why not just connect it to the TV permanently and lose the monitor?

Her monitor is on her desk for working, her HDTV and other stuff are about 4 metres at the other side of the room facing her bed, sometimes we use both. Which is why I would prefer being able to use dual monitor so we could use both still if one of us wants to use iplayer.

PostRe: Connecting PC to HDTV by **Akai XIII** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 7:44 pm

I guess it hasn't got its own graphics card? Find out if it's AGP, if it is I've got a spare card (with two outputs) you can have for the price of P+P.

PostRe: Connecting PC to HDTV by **mokeyjoe** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 4:33 am

Don't forget the sound too. PC speakers are often pretty weedy for watching TV and VGA doesn't carry sound.

PostRe: Connecting PC to HDTV by **Mr Chips** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 8:45 pm

Wow thanks Akai XIII that would be really generous! However I won't be able to check as we live about 40min drive apart and am not visiting her house for a while due to uni deadlines.

However I will get her to find out the make and model and look it all up sometime this week and will be in touch via pm

yep mokeyjoe actually did forget about that for some reason, despite the fact I have an overly long pc to TV audio cable for my own. To be honest I haven't connected my laptop to the tv much recently, I download a lot of stuff on my portable hard drive then play it on my ps3.

PostRe: Connecting PC to HDTV by **Mr Chips** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 10:24 pm

Unfortunately it doesn't have an AGP slot, it uses integrated graphics and has 3 PCI slots and one PCI Express on the motherboard.

I know nothing about graphics cards, but could I still install an extra vga somehow on this computer?

http://www.amazon.com/Presario-SR1710NX ... =de_a_smtd

Read here it has 3pci slots and 1 pci express:

http://www.epinions.com/review/Desktop_ ... 4037801604

PostRe: Connecting PC to HDTV by **Mr Chips** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 11:53 am

It works, I used this :

But the graphics card doesn't offer enough resolution options (there are no widescreen res options). It is an AMD 3400 desktop computer and I can't find any drivers for it. Can I add more resolution options some other way?

The TV should be able to scale the image to fit the screen (it might be a bit blurry if the TV is quite large though).

No doubt there is, but its a shame and kind of defeats the object if I have 4:3 image on the HDTV as it brings it in line with the size of the monitor on her comptuer

I just assumed the graphics card would have at least one low res widescreen resolution

New GFX card with 2 outputs required. Most have them these days.

In the drop down box on the display and properties page (the one saying "1. Plug and play etc etc.") , select the 2nd option in the list. Often that'll offer you many more resolutions regardless of whether the current screen willl support them.

Tiny Trin wrote:New GFX card with 2 outputs required. Most have them these days.

I was going to go for that option but I've never installed a G card before. Found the right one, pci, cost around 50 quid with two vga outputs, just a bit more expensive than all of these cables :fp:

Ario wrote:In the drop down box on the display and properties page (the one saying "1. Plug and play etc etc.") , select the 2nd option in the list. Often that'll offer you many more resolutions regardless of whether the current screen willl support them.

I tried a couple resolutions there, but it just defaulted back to the original one all the time, will try a couple more next time im round at hers.

Plurbs wrote:
Tiny Trin wrote:New GFX card with 2 outputs required. Most have them these days.

I was going to go for that option but I've never installed a G card before. Found the right one, pci, cost around 50 quid with two vga outputs, just a bit more expensive than all of these cables

Ario wrote:In the drop down box on the display and properties page (the one saying "1. Plug and play etc etc.") , select the 2nd option in the list. Often that'll offer you many more resolutions regardless of whether the current screen willl support them.

I tried a couple resolutions there, but it just defaulted back to the original one all the time, will try a couple more next time im round at hers.

You don't need to spend £50. a £25 job will do, it won't be amazing but it'll have more grunt than your current GFX capabilities.

One with DVI + VGA is fine, don't spend more for two VGA's as you can easily get a DVI-VGA Adapter/Cable for a few £.

EDIT:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/145354
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/130561

PostRe: Connecting PC to HDTV by **ignition** » Fri Dec 25, 2009 7:12 pm

I've been wanting to do the exact same thing with my TV for ages but never thought there was a way to do it!

I think this item you posted is exactly what I'm after:

Plurbs wrote:

Where did you get it from in the end? and for how much?

£23.49 http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASI ... oh_product

Connecting PC to HDTV - Done it but more help needed please

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