connecting laptop to TV

[darylmusashi]

Hi,

I wanted to connect my laptop to my TV and I bought a VGA to RGB 5-BNC cable. It turns out that my TV only has 3 plugs for its RGB input! I shouldn't have bought that cable without further research, but the people around me including the shop customer service just wasn't being very helpful, not to mention that there are not many types of cable that connects from VGA being sold in my area. So, does anyone have any idea about how I can use this cable by buying extra jack-to-plug (which is much cheaper than another cable) e.g. by connecting the horizontal and vertical sync to one of the three or something.. Thanks! : )

edit: i found a thread http ://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14110&highlight=rgbhv+ypbpr this looks like an opposite of my problem

 

[markw]

Google is your friend. Use it.

A simple search on "vga to component" returned this, among many, many others.

http://www.amazon.com/6ft-component-video-cable-HD15/dp/B000FM3EQ0

FWIW, "RGB" stands for Red, Green, and Blue. Virtualy every consumer TV supports this, not the five BNC connector version. That's more for commercial use.

 

[Adam]

Mark has pointed out the type of cable that would have been best to buy in the first place, but that cable doesn't address your question.

I do agree that Google is a great place to start, but perhaps you already did that. Does your TV have an RGB input, or a component video (YPbPr) input? I'm assuming component video for now. I haven't found any info on how to convert a 5-BNC connection to a component video connection. You might be better off just spending the money to buy a VGA-to-Component video cable. You can get a 6-foot cable for about $3 + shipping from monoprice.com. They sell other lengths.

 

[Hi Ho]

Those cables are fine except for one issue.

Note: This cable is NOT designed to work in anyway with a computer's input or output.

THIS CABLE WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO CONNECT YOUR COMPUTER'S VGA PORT TO THE COMPONENET INPUT ON YOUR HDTV unless your video card supports component out function through it's VGA port (please confirm with your video cards documentation before purchasing)

If the laptop does not support RGB output then neither of those cables will work. If that is the case then a box like THIS would be required. Unfortunately those aren't exactly cheap.

Something like THIS would be another option. It is basically an external video card. It isn't cheap either.

 

[markw]

Those cables are fine except for one issue.

Originally Posted by Amazon.com
Note: This cable is NOT designed to work in anyway with a computer's input or output.

Good catch. I shoulda read the fine print.

I wonder why this is?

 

[Hi Ho]

I wonder why this is?

A normal VGA output is RGBHV. That's five cables; Red, Green, Blue, Horizontal, Vertical. A few sets have RGBHV inputs; mostly commercial models and some CRT based RPTVs.

Using only the RGB portion of an RGBHV signal will not work.

 

[Ito]

What kind of outputs does your laptop have and what kind of inputs does your TV have? Better yet, is your TV a HDTV? If it isn't, most laptop's have an S-video out...

 

[sonicman]

Hi,

I wanted to connect my laptop to my TV and I bought a VGA to RGB 5-BNC cable.......

I've not connected a laptop to a TV in years and am interested in this thread; much of the discussion has dealt w/ the 'video' signal from the laptop and this has become a more confusing issue recently (i.e. compositie, component, S-video, HDMI and others) and STV vs. HDTV; of course, the optimal choice would seem to be a computer w/ an HDMI output going to a HDTV w/ the same connector.

The latter above will also provide sound, so that is the other issue not so far discussed - not sure if you want to also 'hear' in this connection or just view pictures; but if sound is needed, you will have to likely use the headphone jack as output w/ the appropriate cabling into your TV - good luck and please report back w/ your solutions -

 

[krzywica]

I've not connected a laptop to a TV in years and am interested in this thread; much of the discussion has dealt w/ the 'video' signal from the laptop and this has become a more confusing issue recently (i.e. compositie, component, S-video, HDMI and others) and STV vs. HDTV; of course, the optimal choice would seem to be a computer w/ an HDMI output going to a HDTV w/ the same connector.

The latter above will also provide sound, so that is the other issue not so far discussed - not sure if you want to also 'hear' in this connection or just view pictures; but if sound is needed, you will have to likely use the headphone jack as output w/ the appropriate cabling into your TV - good luck and please report back w/ your solutions -

If you are running a "desktop", most of the new graphics cards have an onboard sound card for the audio portion of HDMI.

Since my receiver only has passthorugh HDMI I connect the audio via digital coaxial from my onboard sound to my receiver. Works great and I get all the formats except for the newest HD audio DTS, and DD. This however is mute as well as my receiver does not support them anyway.

I have been running HTPC's for many years so just let me know if you have any questions.

 

[Ito]

From experience with my own TV (Dynex 32" 720p), I find that my TV displays VGA a bit nicer than HDMI. The HDMI seems to have a sharpening effect, it's very visible on the edges on small text where is gives random colors, commonly purple, as if it can't fade out smoothly. I have not had this with VGA. Then again, it could just be the TV

 

[Hi Ho]

From experience with my own TV (Dynex 32" 720p), I find that my TV displays VGA a bit nicer than HDMI. The HDMI seems to have a sharpening effect, it's very visible on the edges on small text where is gives random colors, commonly purple, as if it can't fade out smoothly. I have not had this with VGA. Then again, it could just be the TV

Make sure there are no "edge enhancment" features turned on when on the HDMI input and also make sure that the sharpness control is not set too high and that the PC is outputting the native resolution of your display (1280x720).

 

[Ito]

Make sure there are no "edge enhancment" features turned on when on the HDMI input and also make sure that the sharpness control is not set too high and that the PC is outputting the native resolution of your display (1280x720).

There aren't any enhancements turned on. I've experienced this problem when sending signal from 3 different pc's (1 laptop and 2 desktops), both via HDMI and DVI to HDMI with the proper resolution (1360x768) and the same settings. I just get better results via VGA. But like I said, this is prolly just because of my TV.

 

[krzywica]

There aren't any enhancements turned on. I've experienced this problem when sending signal from 3 different pc's (1 laptop and 2 desktops), both via HDMI and DVI to HDMI with the proper resolution (1360x768) and the same settings. I just get better results via VGA. But like I said, this is prolly just because of my TV.

Yeah its probably just the TV as the picture has always looked better when the PC is connected through a digital input such as DVI or HDMI.

 

[Peteman990]

Figure out the connection of your computer, i'm guessing it has a VGA connection.
Figure out the connection that your television has, if it's an HDTV it would have a HDMI connection. If it's an older television it would have just the regular RCA cables.

Next, find a converter cable that does the job for you. VGA -----> RCA or VGA -----> HDMI

 

[i1own0u]

WOW, strange thing is that i've been looking for this. Google failed me, thanks for that post.

 

[MarylandNewbie]

I've had great luck with my HDMI from Vista desktop to 58" Panasonic Plasma. I've run S-Video, Component, VGA, DVI... DVI/ HDMI are my preference.