Plugging laptop into T.V.

jgoodman05

Can I watch video from the internet on a new t.v ? What ports do I need in a tv to do this? and what cabling do I need ?

Cheers

Morlar

If your TV is a new one it will have a HDMI connection. Whatever video output your laptop has you should be able to get a cable to go from one to the other.

ie If your laptop has a DVI output you could just get a DVI-HDMI cable and it will work though will not carry sound. You would be limited to the maximum video resolution of the laptop video chipset and possibly also limited by the TV maximum pc resolution but HDMI to DVI is (I believe) the best way.

I found this sony info pretty useful :


At the back of your video and audio devices, you may find the following connectors, depending on the model you have:
Name* Aspect Quality Signal transmitted

HDMI ***** picture + sound
DVI ***** picture
Component video ****(*) picture
SCART **(*) picture + sound
S-Video ** picture
Composite video * picture
Digital Coaxial ***** Sound
Digital Optical ****(*) Sound
* For each connection type, a colour is used to make the diagrams easier to understand.


To enjoy the best audio visual experience with your system, it is preferable to connect your best devices with the highest quality connections available. For example: your Blu-Ray Disc player or HD Set Top Box with HDMI, followed by your DVD player with Component, then your Video Cassette Recorder with S-video etc.
Note : the quality of the picture also strongly depends on the quality of the cable used.
HDMI The High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is an all-digital audio/video interface capable of transmitting high definition video and audio signals. HDMI provides an interface between any compatible digital audio/video source, such as a set-top box, a DVD player, a PC, a video game system, or an AV receiver and a compatible digital audio and/or video monitor, such as a digital television (DTV)
DVI The Digital Visual Interface is capable of transmitting high definition video, but does not transmit sound. You will need to use the audio connectors of your device (usually Optical/Coaxial digital, or RCA).
It is possible to connect an HDMI device to a DVI device using a HDMI to DVI adapter
Component video Component video is an analogue connection. It is capable of transmitting high definition signals. Component does not transmit sound. You will need to use the audio connectors of your device (usually Optical/Coaxial digital, or RCA)
SCART The SCART connection is a European standard that gathers together various common analogue signal types such as RGB, S-Video and Composite into a single connector. It can transmit standard definition sound and video. However the picture quality is inferior to HDMI, DVI, and component video. It can only transmit standard definition signals
S-Video Separate video, abbreviated S-Video and also known as Y/C is an analogue video signal that carries the video data as two separate signals (brightness and colour), unlike composite video which carries the entire set of signals in one signal line. S-Video, as most commonly implemented, carries standard definition video. It does not carry audio on the same cable. This connector is not represented in our connectivity diagrams
Composite video Composite video is an analogue video (no sound) format. This is the connector you should use if you do not have any other connector available, in term of quality. This connector is not represented in our connectivity diagrams
Digital coaxial Digital coaxial connector carries compressed digital audio. This type of connection can transmit stereo and multi channel audio data in various compressed formats like DTS, Dolby Digital etc. It looks similar to a regular RCA audio cable, with the exception that its impedance is of 75 ohm and that it is made of a thicker shielded cable.
Note: A Digital coaxial connection cannot transmit the new HD sound formats like DTS HD, Dolby True HD etc...
Digital optical Digital optical connector has the same functionalities, except that the signal is carried through optical fiber.
Note: A Digital Optical connection cannot transmit the new HD sound formats like DTS HD, Dolby True HD etc

noodler

Sorry to hijack the thread but I have hooked my laptop to a Tv using the HDMI to DVI method and naturally I have no sound. Is there a separate cable I can use to achieve sound? Or is the prospect of watching a movie on it in this method a no no?

Also what is the name of the Scart Lead you can use with two connectors for the laptop on the back? That could be a backup I guess.

Finally the movie at the moment (with no sound!) is not big enough resolution wise so I assume this can be changed by the settings in control panel.

EDIT: I see that I can use a cable for the audio separately (RCA slots on the TV) but there is also a slot on the tv called DVI AUDIO IN. What is the cable for that?

Thank you.