5.1 output from Dell Inspiron 1720

Hi,

I have an Inspiron 1720 and a Logitech Z 5450 5.1 surround sound system. I want to connect my laptop to my LCD TV to watch movies etc. and want to knwoo the best way I can do this. Currently I have no sound but have used a VGA cable to view picture. Basically, I want to get the best quality visual & audio I can on my tv from my laptop.

My surround sound system has optical input slots- am I best using an optival audio output from the insipron 1720 for best quality and if so is there a dongle I can get from dell? (can't see one on dell website)

Also is VGA the best to view HD movies on my HD ready tv?

Any help would be gratefully appreciated!

cheers,

 

don't know about your sound problem but get at least a dvi connection. hdmi is the best for hi def

 

no dvi/hdmi putput on inspiron 1720...damn!! Is there any way round this or what are my other options??!!

 

VGA will be fine. For sound, use a Toslink o mini-toslink cable. The opical output is either through the headphone out (if you have 2 ports) or through it's own port (if you have three).

 

Thanks fabrati...only other problem is that the inspiron 1720 doesn't have an optical audio out so this cable cannot be pligged in can it??

 

It does. It uses a mini-toslink connection which is combined with the headphone output. You need a cable like this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=167CR5WQ42GAGYWJV2RS

 

Your going to need a 1/8" headphone jack to RCA adapter. Analog quality stereo sound is all your going to get out of that machine. You can upmix it to simulated 5.1 so it will play on all your speakers but it will just be surround sterio and not true surround sound. I do not know of any true surround sound output from any laptop stock.

The external cards like the creative x-fi can do surround analog but only surround stereo digital.

edit: saw the last reply, if you have digital you can use that if your hooking it too a good decoding source. If say you were using cheapo computer speakers your probably still better off with analog in my opinion.

 

great- thanks fabrati- I assume this does not compromise on quality??

 

Not that I know of.

 

Will I be able to output at 1920/1080p on my LCD TV through a VGA cable.

Am I better buying a VGA to HDMI converter or just a straight VGA-VGA cable (tv has both)?

 

Buy one of these

You'll get full 1080p to your LCD TV assuming your TV has component hookups.

 

A VGA-cable can work, if the TV supports 1080p over VGA.

 

The laptop likely doesn't and that's the issue.

 

Hi! I have Dell Precision M65. I have connected via Dell D/Port Advanced Port Replicator. This replicator has DVI and SPDIF (digital coaxial) outputs (in addition to other normal outputs). DVI is same quality as HDMI, but without audio. I have connected to my Sony Bravia LCD with DVI to HDMI cable. And for audio from SPDIF to Cambridge (Creative) DTT2500 5.1 receiver using coaxial cable.

So here you are! Great picture & sound!
(No, VGA is not good enough!)

Unforunately your laptop does not have a docking station port!!
But there are dongles to connect DVI through USB:

Code:

http://usb.brando.com.hk/prod_detail.php?prod_id=00536&dept_id=015&cat_id=046

Also Optical thru USB

Code:

http://www.trendsaudio.com/EN/Product/USB_Audio_desc.htm

Hope this helps.