Laptop [w/ S-Video (7-pin) and VGA OUT] to HDTV Monitor [w/ Component IN] - Which to use?

Question

I have a HP Pavilion dv6000z CTO Notebook that has VGA and S-Video outputs. The S-Video out has 7-pins, so I was wondering if I should (or even COULD) use a s-video 7-pin to component cable to plug into my hdtv monitor television* OR possibly use some VGA to component cable to plug into that television. Which solution would provide the best picture quality?

*http://www.svideo.com/sv3rca.html

I have already used a 4-pin s-video patch cable to get basic 1024x768 resolution on my television, but it is very poor quality. My television DOES have DVI-D Input, but my laptop has no digital outputs at all to use for that, so I've concluded (hopefully correctly) that component input on the television would be the next best thing. So I just am wondering if I could use the 7-pin s-video or the VGA outputs to the component inputs.

Please Help!!!!

*My television I wish to use is a second monitor is a Hitachi 42" widescreen hdtv monitor (rear projection).

**I cant use the VGA out to connect to the monitors DVI because the monitor requires a digital connection (DVI-D) input while the VGA only provides an analog output.

Answer 1

You are going to be better off using a VGA to DVI adapter, and using the VGA output on your laptop to connect to the DVI input on your television.

You weren't too specific on the monitor, however, if it is a larger unit (above 26") and is basically a television, you are not going to get a sharp enough image to really use it as a monitor unless your laptop had digital video outputs. You will be able to play movies and games from your laptop and display them on your tv with absolutely no problem, but will not be able to read small text and browse the web without much difficulty.


Edit: There is no such thing as an S-video to component video adapter cable. The signals used by these two cable types is drastically different.

That cable you have a link to in your question is not a component video cable, it is a composite video cable, which is not HD or digital, and is actually the worst cable you could use in terms of quality.

As i mentioned in my first answer, unless you want to buy an external digital conversion box, to convert your vga signal to a digital signal, you are out of luck.

An example of the converter boxes i mentioned, would be one of these:

http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/9A60.html

http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/KD-VA5.htm

http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/40-880.html

They are probably a bit pricier than you had anticipated, but they are the only way you are going to be able to get a sharper signal.

Answer 2

Hi. The S-video is, as the name implies, a video cable only. Every HD connection I have seen in use uses component to component cables. If you get the S-video to component the picture will probably be degraded but may be quite acceptable. YMMV.

Answer 3

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