How to connect PC to TV?

Tomc@T

Tomc@T

Tomc@T

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For sometime now I have been "gathering" components to make a Windows Media PC (going to use Vista Home Premium), I am at the stage where I have got to buy some bits.... a case, a video card and a connector to the TV.

My Samsung TV is about 4 years old and is a 42 inch rear projection one.
, it has got 3 rear SCART sockets, S-Video, Analogue Video (Yellow plug with white and red audio) and componant video in sockets.

Obviously I want to be able to connect the PC that I am about to build to my TV, but what is the best way to connect the PC to the TV? and what "hardware" convertor do I need? as the TV does not have a DVI or Analogue socket on it.

Secondly can anyone recommend a graphcs card (not a TV card) that is upto the job "outputting" the correct signal for the TV.

I have previously connected my laptop (four pin S-Video out) to my TV via the S-Video connection, to say the quality of the picture was rubbish was an understandment.

Thanks for any help.
 
The best quality option here is S-Video. What kind of quality were you expecting? My media computer is connected to an older 32"CRT TV that's not high definition, and therefore, the biggest resolution it can manage is 1024x768 - which does look pretty naff if you're comparing it to a computer monitor. It would obviously look even worse on a larger set like yours. Only HDTVs are suitable for use in a Windows environment.

That said, standard definition video playback should look just fine, since the video resolutions will be equal to or lower than what your TV can handle. I have my system boot up straight into PVR software, and it looks fine.

In terms of hardware - I'd go for really any basic, modern card that has S-Video out.
 
Freakitchen said:
What kind of quality were you expecting?
Click to expand...

I was expecting colour and readable.... the experience with my laptop was neither.... My main objective is to do away with my "old & dying VCR", so basically want to use it as such.

My TV is HD ready, so could I use the Component Sockets?
 
Sorry, I assumed that your TV wasn't HD capable. I'm not too familiar with component video - the only HD connection I've done was DVI-HDMI, so I'll let someone else help you with that, although I don't see why it wouldn't be possible. The majority of modern video cards will include a VI/VO out port, with an adaptor for either S-Video or Component.
 
Freakitchen said:
Sorry, I assumed that your TV wasn't HD capable. I'm not too familiar with component video - the only HD connection I've done was DVI-HDMI, so I'll let someone else help you with that, although I don't see why it wouldn't be possible. The majority of modern video cards will include a VI/VO out port, with an adaptor for either S-Video or Component.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the replies!! :cool:
 
i use a composite connection from graphics card to t.v...graphic cards normally come with the connection that plugs into the graphic cards s-video out which u can plug your composite connection into.

as for the red and white connections on your tv (next to the yellow ) as u already know they are audio connections....i have a jack plugged into my audio cards rear speakers which also converts the connection to a stereo composite connection....this i have plugged into the t.v's red and white plugs...so i also get audio

i dont play games on the t.v....i would never try to read text on the t.v. but for movies its great.

its all pretty straight forward tbh and u could get either card....ATI or NVIDIA for the job as they both work aswell as each other...yes ive had both and they worked fine.


but if u got a hd t.v ...then im not sure this is the best choice for u and i dont know what the picture quality will be like,......i would have thought it had some sort of dvi connection to make it nice/simple/crystal clear.
 
Get a card with a component dongle, even if your TV only handles 480p through component itll be better than any of your other options, youll probably get 720p out of it.
 
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