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    Connecting laptop to HDTV

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by sean473, Aug 24, 2009.

  1. sean473

    sean473 Notebook Prophet

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    I recently got a HDMI cable so that i could connect my laptop and play games on the TV. I was wondering if i need a audio cable (one side having the headphone jack and the other side being the red, white splitter cable.). I know that HDMI carrys both audio and video so i really need to know if i need the audio cable. Thanks.
     
    sean473, Aug 24, 2009
    #1
  2. TwiztidKidd

    TwiztidKidd Notebook Evangelist

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    Not always. If your HDMI does not output the SPDIF audio signal along with the video signal then you need a separate cable for audio.
     
    TwiztidKidd, Aug 24, 2009
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  3. Slayer366

    Slayer366 Notebook Consultant

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    Since it's a laptop I would say the chances of needing that cable are very, very slim. If money weren't an issue I would say you could find some 6 footers at an affordable price and just grab one anyway just in case. I got one at Wlgrns some time ago for less than $6. BB wants like $12 for one which I find a little high.
     
    Slayer366, Aug 24, 2009
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  4. DFI Fan

    DFI Fan Notebook Evangelist

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    Look in your sound settings in Control Panel and make sure HDMI is shown as an output device. If so your good. It may not necessarily show up as HDMI though, but on my M1530 it does. If not, it may be that you just need drivers that support it. I'd imagine HP included such drivers though, as that is the point of the HDMI output.
     
    DFI Fan, Aug 24, 2009
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  5. ViciousXUSMC

    ViciousXUSMC Master Viking NBR Reviewer

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    the whole point of hdmi is to carry sound and video on the same cable, hdmi without audio is basically dvi. Thats how I feel about it anyways.

    I have never seen a piece of equipment that did not send both video and audio in the cable except desktops when hdmi first came out because of the nature of a computer the video card and sound card are seperate, but ATI quickly started making video cards with built in sound chips and bridges to connect the sound card.

    I think Nvidia has done the same since, for laptops since the sound is generally on the motherboard and so is the hdmi port they are intergrated and share the same cable, they do not have the same situation the desktop has where separate devices are used.
     
    ViciousXUSMC, Aug 25, 2009
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  6. sean473

    sean473 Notebook Prophet

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    ok BTW on the safe side i bought an audio cable for about 2.50 pounds from india where i am on holiday so that i don't have to spend an absurd 10 pounds for an audio cable. BTW the cable is of high quality....
     
    sean473, Aug 26, 2009
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  7. ViciousXUSMC

    ViciousXUSMC Master Viking NBR Reviewer

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    monoprice.com is where I get my cables like that from. I do not know if they ship world wide or if you have some kind of customs tax to pay if they did.
     
    ViciousXUSMC, Aug 26, 2009
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  8. Triangle Laptops

    Triangle Laptops Company Representative

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    Triangle Laptops, Aug 27, 2009
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  9. sean473

    sean473 Notebook Prophet

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    well i already have bought the HDMI and the audio cable and i'll test it out soon...
     
    sean473, Aug 28, 2009
    #9