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    hdtv as monitor question

    Discussion in 'Gaming (Software and Graphics Cards)' started by digitydawg, Sep 16, 2008.

  1. digitydawg

    digitydawg Notebook Geek

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    i want to hook my inspiron 1720 to my hdtv. Does anyone have a link to what i need to buy or any info i will need to make it work.
     
    digitydawg, Sep 16, 2008
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  2. HaloGod2007

    HaloGod2007 Notebook Virtuoso

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    if your 1720 and TV have an hdmi port, then all you need is an hdmi cable to connect them
     
    HaloGod2007, Sep 16, 2008
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  3. Nirvana

    Nirvana Notebook Prophet

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    He got no HDMI nor DVI. maybe a VGA cable?

    [​IMG]
     
    Nirvana, Sep 16, 2008
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  4. digitydawg

    digitydawg Notebook Geek

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    digitydawg, Sep 16, 2008
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  5. Nirvana

    Nirvana Notebook Prophet

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    it will do, but come on, $24.99?? how about get it for $1 plus free shipping?

    HDMI Cables, DVI Cables, Audio Video Cables, KVM Cables, USB Cables, FireWire Cables, Cat5 Patch Cables, Cat6 Patch Cables, ATA Cables, SATA Cables, SCSI Cables, Fiber Optic Cables, Speaker Cables and many other types of Cables » for 25%off at PCMicroStore.com

    1) go to PCMicroStore.com
    2) Add to Shopping cart from $1
    3) At Checkout apply 25%off Special coupon code : Deals2buy25%All-Cables (Exp 09/17/2008)
    4) Final Price : Sale price -25%off + $1 Shipping on most + No Tax (Except CA)
     
    Nirvana, Sep 16, 2008
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  6. digitydawg

    digitydawg Notebook Geek

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    actually i was just using that cord as an example, i already have one of those cords my main question would be just plugging it in on 1400 900 res and it works on my tv or do i downscale to a lower res and run it on tv.

    Btw thanks for that site if i ever do need something i will go there.
     
    digitydawg, Sep 16, 2008
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  7. HaloGod2007

    HaloGod2007 Notebook Virtuoso

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    run ur laptop screen max res and switch the display over from the laptop to the tv, it should scale to the highest it can
     
    HaloGod2007, Sep 16, 2008
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  8. FrankTabletuser

    FrankTabletuser Notebook Evangelist

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    No it won't work!

    VGA is analog,
    DVI and HDMI are digital.

    Your options:
    • get a TV set with a VGA input
    • a converter which converts the analog VGA signal to the digital DVI (good ones are expensive)
    • get the docking station for your laptop if available which maybe has a DVI out
    • get a USB docking station like the Vaio one with a DVI connector.
     
    FrankTabletuser, Sep 16, 2008
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  9. digitydawg

    digitydawg Notebook Geek

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    i am now confused, who is right? and if it will not work where can i buy a converter.
     
    digitydawg, Sep 16, 2008
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  10. dmacfour

    dmacfour Are you aware...

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    Well If your TV doesn't have a VGA input you will need a converter. I don't know if there are VGA to HDMI converters. BTW most HDTVs have VGA inputs on them.
     
    dmacfour, Sep 16, 2008
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  11. FrankTabletuser

    FrankTabletuser Notebook Evangelist

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    as dmacfour said if your TV does not have a VGA input then it becomes complicated.

    It seems that your TV only has digital DVI and/or HDMI inputs.
    But your laptop only has an analog VGA output.

    That means that your TV needs a digital signal as an input. You can convert your analog VGA signal to a digital signal with a converter. Or you use one of the other options I mentioned.
    But all options will be expenive (100$-200$ and more). I don't know a less expensive option while not losing image quality.

    edit: There's one possibility left. It's possible but unlikely that the DVI input of your TV also accepts an analog signal, because the DVI connector can transfer both digital and analog signals. But read in the TV manual if it accepts an analog signal. I don't think so. If it accepts an analog signal then you can use the cable you mentioned.
     
    FrankTabletuser, Sep 16, 2008
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  12. digitydawg

    digitydawg Notebook Geek

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    ok i tried another hdtv that had the same plug. The picture comes in great and i can deal with the smaller screen if it is as much of a hassle you say it is. i have 2 questions though, is the digital picture that much better and i also had one problem on guitar hero 3 were the screen had some bad tearing going on.
    the tearing only happened on the hdtv and not my laptop screen. Also to note when i tried bio shock the game ran fine and didnt experience the tearing.
     
    digitydawg, Sep 16, 2008
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  13. rschauby

    rschauby Superfluously Redundant

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    1080p signals can still be sent over VGA. High Definition does not require a digital inputs; component cables send their signal through an analog medium. However, it is rare to find VGA inputs on TV's that accept a 1080p signal through VGA and almost as rare to find components that output 1080p through VGA.
     
    rschauby, Sep 16, 2008
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  14. Nirvana

    Nirvana Notebook Prophet

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    I still using S-video and I think it is good enough for me.
     
    Nirvana, Sep 16, 2008
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  15. ViciousXUSMC

    ViciousXUSMC Master Viking NBR Reviewer

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    Eww Svideo, lol its good for dvd movies and maybe power point but it would not be good enough for "monitor use" for me.

    VGA is Analog
    HDMI is Digital
    DVI can be Digital or Analog FYI and thus analog converters are out there that wont have to recode the signal. (like the DVI --> VGA adapters often found with older graphics cards)
     
    ViciousXUSMC, Sep 17, 2008
    #15