I'm looking for a cheap way to connect my laptop to my tv. My tv is a 42" widescreen plasma with RCA, HDMI, and s-video inputs. My laptop is a bit older and only has VGA for video output. I don't want to spend money on a converter box or a graphics card. I already have audio taken care of via a stereo headphone jack to RCA cable from my laptop to my amp.


So would I get better performance from VGA to RCA cables or a VGA to S-video cable?

 

42" plasma, the air force must be paying nice.

Anyways will this work?http://www.gateway.com/accessories/p...355.php?seg=hm

I found it here http://www.gateway.com/accessories/c...975.php?seg=hm

 

Buy one of these:

http://www.buy.com/prod/steren-253-5.../90133205.html


pretty simple isnt it?

VGA=Component=RGB

No silly expensive adaptor box needed here

 

few bucks more and it is better.

http://www.cablewholesale.com/specs/40h1-50200.htm

Be careful. there are a lot of "adaptors that are not for computer type use.
such as:
http://www.cablewholesale.com/specs/30h1-50200.htm

looks right but will not work right.

You are going to want to get it up to HD levels. The res on your computer monitor is way better than standard ol TV, HD gets it looking pretty good.
You might have to play around with your computer settings to get the best looking pic on the Flat screen.

 

http://www.bizrate.com/audiovideocab...510092788.html

try again.

2nd sentence "This cable will not work for computer to TV connection."

always double check what you buy, some places either dont care or dont know which is just as bad.

 

Does the laptop have a DVI output? You could get a DVI to HDMI cable or adapter.

 

That would make it easier, but no... all I have from the laptop is a VGA output. So the best course of action is probably to get a converter, eh?

 

If i am not mistaken the DVI out on most computers unless its a higher end video card is analog. Not the digital version you associate the DVI out of say your cable box.

So no go there. Been there done that, wasn't a cheap fix. Can you say 4 $200 converters we should have known about before hand.


In all honesty it is the only way i have found to hook up customers computers. If we know ahead of time we usually spec displays with VGA inputs.
And since it would probably be impractical to have you return and purchase a display with the required inputs a converter is probably going t be your best bet.

On a side note. Do try to pick it up someplace with a decent return policy. You may find you do not like the look. I have a 26" sharp aquos in my room cause we put it in the customer hooked up his computer and didn't like it. We ended up switching the display to a 37" industrial Panasonic.

If you throw down the money to hook up your laptop and cant get the picture you envision at least have an out by being able to return the item.

 

bump.... Reggie knows his when it comes to tvs and whatnot......