hooking a 32inch tv to my computer...?

Question

id like to hook up my new 32 inch lcd hdtv to my computer and use that as the monitor, but ive heard that it can a) blow your video card and b) not look good unless you have specific hardware.
id like to know what i would need to do this, i know my tv has hdmi, rca, component, vga, and a few others, but will i need a new video card, i probably will because my computer is sort of old, what would work best for me

yes, there is a hdmi and a vga, no dvi though because i heard that there is dvi for computer and dvi for tv's so i just decided not to get into that, and i think the recommended resolution on the tv is 1366x768 and my video card will need to be replaced, but couldnt i take my vga and get a vga-to-dvi adapter, i work for a district media so they have many cables and such all over, but anyways would a vga-to-dvi adapter reduce the quality, or will it not even convert it from analog to digital? is there any way to convert to analog to digital?

Answer 1

Make sure you're running the latest Windows or Linux.

Don't use the VGA connection - your picture will be garbage when compared to the DVI or HDMI !! svideo looks even worse.

You should ONLY use the digital inputs for LCD TVs. Why? You're going to get the best and most crisp picture from it. Less conversion between analog and digital will result in a perfect picture.

Also, make sure your video card can handle the RECOMMENDED resolution that is prescribed by your new TV (i.e. 1280 x 720-pixel native resolution). If your new video card cannot produce the required resolution you will be forced to watch it at a lower resolution and not at native resolution. Meaning: you bought a Porsche and only put in 87 octane fuel.

Your video card should also be compatible with your motherboard. Sounds common sense to me, but you'll see people forcing their motherboards to carry video cards that are not a good fit.

Look for outputs such as HDMI and DVI. Make sure you have at least one of these inputs (hopefully HDMI) on the back of your TV. Use HDMI first, then go to DVI if you need to. You'll pay more for the HDMI card, but it will be worth it and it looks like we are all going there any way. HDMI to DVI - DVI to HDMI converting cables are available, but I haven't used one yet.

Take the specs of your TV and bounce them against the specs of the card you are buying: resolution, refresh rate, outputs... match that and you should be fine.

******************* UPDATE: You would need a VGA to DVI conversion box (but why get into that?) Whenever you convert any signal you LOSE quality.

Using a VGA to DVI cable would only help you hook it up, NOT get around the fact that it is still using ANALOG. Here's how it works: your compy is working in the digital realm. It sends a digital signal to your video card just to have it CONVERT it to analog, then send it out the VGA connector to the vga-to-DVI box where it is CONVERTED again (more loss of quality) then on to your TV. You will have to convert the signal TWICE before you see it.

Buy a video card with a DVI output (seems HDMI output is still tough to get) and a DVI to HDMI cable. This is a "cable" and not a box because it is all-digital -- no conversion here! It looks as though most of the new video cards go well beyond the resolution you need, so you're good there (but still check before you buy.)

A DVI video card and cable will keep you all-digital and you should experience your TV to the fullest! Enjoy. http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Order=POPULARITY&Page=1&Category=38&Nty=1&N=2010380048+4017+1069109630&Submit=ENE&Subcategory=48

Answer 2

Hi!

First, determine the input connectors on your HDTV :). It should have VGA and a few other. The idea is to have a graphics card that can send you signals to a specific interface in the TV. Now, VGA is quite old, but has most chances to work. I'd go for HDMI, though. Find a video card that has more connectors, VGA + something. See if you have that "something" :) connector on your HDTV ;). If so, buy it. Connect it to your PC. Connect the graphics card from PC to HDTV using appropriate cord. Make sure you have the cord, before you return home, since most of the since such cords are not shipped with the graphics card.

Try various resolutions. NVidia cards work well with devices other that monitors, but ATI might work as well. Also, before you buy... Check to see whether you have AGP or PCI Express, since PCI Express cards cannot be connected on AGP slots (logically) :)

Good luck!

Answer 3

No if it is an HDTV then use the VGA input. However I am betting it is not VGA but rather DVI (Will have a white female connector on the back of the PC). If your system is old it probably doesnt have DVI but rather VGA (Blue Female Connector). If this is the case then you will need to get a Video card with DVI output. Anyway HDTV has the pixels to work as a monitor.

Answer 4

I currently am doing that with a S-video Cable. It looks like ****. I'm going to try again using a vga Cable. so it can be done, and I think it can be done well, but I just haven't managed to do it yet.

Answer 5

If your TV has a VGA in all you need is a cable that connect to it, connect that to your computer and you're all set. on my monitor it's a VGA Male to Male cable, just look at the connectors, if they both have holes then that's what you need.

http://www.vpi.us/cable-vga.html

Answer 6

Just take the cable from the monitor of you computer to the VGA receptacle in the back of your TV monitor. That's it.