There can be various reasons to connect your PC or Laptop to the old TV or new HDTV you got recently. You may want to enjoy High Definition YouTube videos on the big screen…or perhaps flip through your photo collection…or view a powerpoint presentation on the big screen… there can be a lot of reasons indeed.
We want to make connecting your computer to your TV a simple process. Just hook the cable, and you’re done!…we wish we could say the same. There is much more to this process and therefore we have come up with this comprehensive guide. And here we go!
Things you need to check
Before connecting your PC to the TV, you need to check the input connections (or video inputs) available on both of these devices. These video inputs or components accept video signals from other devices such as DVD players, Blue ray players, or computers.
You can locate them by looking at the back of your TV and computer (if it’s a laptop, look to the left or right). Check the following ports.
HDMI port
This port is available on all new HDTV (Digital) sets. But you won’t find it on all computers or laptops.
DVI port
Most are available on LCD (Digital) TVs. It is usually present on most laptops and desktop computers.
VGA port
You can find them on most laptops and desktops. Again, this is commonly found on LCD TVs.
S Videos
Found in old TV. Available on most PCs and laptops. But check the digital pins carefully. It comes with a 4-pin connector and a 7-pin connector.
How to connect a Laptop or PC to a TV
If your computer and TV have any one of the ports mentioned above then you can easily connect them with the help of cables.
Let’s say you have a high definition LCD TV. It definitely has to have a port that supports HDMI cables. Maybe it also has some other port (DVI or VGA). On the other hand, if your PC or laptop is old and does not support HDMI, it is not possible to connect the TV to the PC with an HDMI cable. You will need to use a DVI to HDMI connector or a VGA to DVI cable. We will discuss them a bit later.
Before moving on to the connection procedure, let’s go through all the possible supported cables so that we can connect our PC to our TV.
HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface)
This is the most promising audio video connector. Every new HDTV has an HDMI input. HDMI is a digital connection in which high-definition video and high-resolution audio are transmitted over a single cable. It transfers data digitally. The video and audio quality it delivers is amazing. You can buy one of them for about $20 to $30.
DVI (Digital Visual Interface)
It is mainly used in older LCD TVs. Unlike HDMI, it does not have both video and audio interfaces (only video interfaces). Since it only supports digital signals, it gives better video quality. It costs around $14-$15.
15 Pin VGA Connector Cable
You can find a VGA port (3-row, 15-pin connector) on most HDTVs. In old TVs, you will rarely find it. The cost of this cable is quite low compared to other cables. It costs about $5.
S Videos
The S video port is the most common among TVs. S video cables are available in 4-pin and 7-pin versions. Check your computer port for pin count and use the right cable. This is the cheapest cable on the list. You can easily find it in the market. I would suggest you to use the cables mentioned above (if the corresponding ports are available) as the video quality provided by this cable is not very good.
What if you can’t find any suitable ports on your computer and TV
Let’s say your TV has an HDMI port but your laptop only supports DVI or VGA ports. In this case, you can do two things.
1. Use a DVI to HDMI cable
This is a special cable, or connector, for people who want to connect their PC to their TV but their PC lacks an HDMI port. This cable has a DVI port (for connecting to a PC) on one end and an HDMI port (for connecting to a TV) on the other end. You can get it for 5-10$.
2. Use a VGA to DVI cable
This can be used when your TV has a DVI port but your PC does not. If your PC has a VGA port, you can also connect your PC to your TV with this cable. Its cost is about five to ten dollars.
3. Using a PC to TV Converter Box
If you can’t find any dedicated computer connectors for your TV, you can buy a PC-to-TV converter box (here’s an example). It converts your computer’s VGA output into a standard TV video input. Screenshot of this device is given below.
see VGA IN port of the box. Here you have to connect your computer using a VGA cable. It converts video to various TV outputs. You can connect it to your TV using any supported connection cable.
Image : Amazon
last connection
You know about ports and you know about cables. The only thing you need to do now is connect the cable (HDMI, DVI, VGA or S video) to the ports on your computer and TV.
Before starting the connection, turn off the TV and PC (or laptop). Let’s say you’re connecting your PC to your TV using a 15-pin VGA male-to-male connector. Plug the male plug into the female port in both your PC and TV. Now start your TV and computer.
Here is a good video demonstrating the process.
Do I need to do anything else?
Well, the process isn’t over yet. You must consider your computer screen resolution and aspect ratio settings. Make sure that your computer’s screen resolution matches the TV’s resolution. If it is not suitable then it will lead to poor video quality. You can check your TV’s screen resolution in the manual that came with the TV.
To choose the correct screen resolution, right-click your desktop and select “Personalize” from the context menu (for Windows Vista and Windows 7).
Click “Display Settings”.
Now move the slider to adjust the screen resolution. It must match the screen resolution of the TV for better video quality.
Also, you need to open your Vista display settings and connect it to another external display.
Right-click your desktop and select “Personalize” from the context menu.
On the left pane, click “Connect to a projector or other external display”.
If you already have Windows Mobility Center then you can use it (click “Connect Desktop”) for a quick connection.
So it’s about connecting your computer/laptop/PC to your TV or HDTV. Do you have any experience in connecting PC to TV? Did you have any problems doing that? Do you know any other methods or tricks to do so? Let us know in the comments section. Also, feel free to ask any questions or doubts you may have about the process.
Categories: How to
Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/
