Linking a computer to a flat screen TV

WLM21

I was recently at a friend's house and was impressed at his set up .. his laptop was linking to his flat screen TV, mounted on the wall.

I obviously asked how, but he wasn't really sure himself, as his brother had done it for him.

He did mention something about a HDMI cable, the added with one type of cable, no audio is possible on the TV, but with another cable it is.

I am therefore keen to try this. I often use the iPlayer option to look at TV shows on the computer, which would be so much better on the TV

Any help would be appreciated greatly.

Cisco001

What TV and PC have you got?

googler

Cisco001 wrote: »

What TV and PC have you got?

Or - what socketry do you have on the TV and PC?

WLM21

Cisco001 wrote: »

What TV and PC have you got?

Computer is HP Compaq

TV, Toshiba 32WLT66s

WTFH

A quick google gives me this:
http://www.avforums.com/threads/laptop-with-toshiba-32wlt66s.624083/

So, it appears your TV has a VGA port (15 pin D). Hopefully your laptop has too. Then all you need is a VGA cable:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Monitor-Replacement-SVGA-Cable-Black/dp/B001MQGOLU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390468680&sr=8-1&keywords=vga+monitor+cables

SouthUKMan

Just about all PCs / laptops from the past couple of decades have VGA ports. For a long time this was THE standard way to connect to a display monitor. This has changed in recent years with the introduction of DVI and HDMI ports (to support high resolutions) - however most computers still support the VGA standard as well. Luckily many flat screen LCD TVs also have a VGA port. So this is your simplest option and it is the one that I use A few months ago I noticed that Poundland were selling the required cable for.... £1!. If they're not in stock, most independent computer shops will also stock the cable.

JasX

Work out what ports you have available on your computer.

Ideally if your graphics card has a spare/dual output you can grab that

Dvi or hdmi to hdmi is the best bet (only the right cable needed)

Vga should be ok too, you can go VGA to VGA to DVi to VGA with the right cable.

My setup I have my tv setup as an extra 'dual screen' so I just drag things off the side of my pc screen if I want to watch them on the TV screen -does require you to pay minor attention to not losing things between the two (eg you drag an Iplayer window to the TV one evening to watch X, then don't confuse yourself the next day if your browser won't open -but it's actually opening on your tv monitor which is turned off). Or you can duplicate screens but you then need to faff with resolution settings instead.

You also need to get sound, out some PCs can do fancy stuff to get it onto the hdmi cable but most don't. you'd just need to connect an available sound output to a good sized speaker yourself then

I connect my sound card directly to my surround sound system on a spare input and I just use that. But some tvs have sound inputs or you could turn your PC speakers right up or you may have A N OTHER sound system you can connect the PC to.

Only thing to be mindful of then is you are doing sound and video on separate channels so maybe synchronisation will be an issue. I've had no trouble on any service (playing DVDs, Iplayer, itv player etc etc EXCEPT iTunes and iTunes movie rentals, so I suggest testing on something other than apple/iTunes to make sure it all works ok).

Cycrow

If you have the option of HDMI, then it would be better to use that instead of VGA.
And its also possible it'll carry the audio signal as well

some TV's limit the VGA port to a fairly low resolution. My Toshiba was limited on the VGA port

googler

WTFH wrote: »

A quick google gives me this:
http://www.avforums.com/threads/laptop-with-toshiba-32wlt66s.624083/

So, it appears your TV has a VGA port (15 pin D). Hopefully your laptop has too. Then all you need is a VGA cable:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Monitor-Replacement-SVGA-Cable-Black/dp/B001MQGOLU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390468680&sr=8-1&keywords=vga+monitor+cables

Which will be picture only - no audio

Cisco001

If your PC has HDMI output, get a hdmi cable.

If no, get VGA cable with 3.5mm jack to 2 x RCA Phono audio cable/ 3.5mm jack to jack (you need to check what type of socket for your TV audio input has.)