VGA to HDMI - cable or adaptor / issues

YellowFeather

Hey all

I had a HDMI to HDMI cable for my last laptop. I just noticed that my current laptop only has a VGA port. (Pfffffff.)

I'm wondering would I be better off getting a new cable, or just a converter. Also, I'm away from next month and I *think* the TV has a HDMI port, but, if it doesn't, would I be better getting one HDMI to VGA converter, and one universal HDMI converter. Or am I just bastardising the whole thing?

coylemj

How did you manage to go from a laptop with HDMI to one with no HDMI?

And if you previously had a HDMI to HDMI cable to connect your old laptop, how come you're saying that you only '*think*' the TV has a HDMI port?

Anyway, it's not a matter of a simple 'cable', the VGA signal contains video only and unless your TV has a VGA port, you will need to buy a converter into which you will feed the VGA (video) signal plus the audio feed from the laptop headset socket (3.5mm jack). That converter will have a HDMI socket from which you connect to the TV.

If your TV does have a VGA port then nearby will be a 3.5mm jack socket so you would need a simple VGA to VGA cable plus an audio cable with a 3.5mm jack plug at each end for the audio.

YellowFeather

coylemj wrote: »

How did you manage to go from a laptop with HDMI to one with no HDMI?

And if you previously had a HDMI to HDMI cable to connect your old laptop, how come you're saying that you only '*think*' the TV has a HDMI port?

Anyway, it's not a matter of a simple 'cable', the VGA signal contains video only and unless your TV has a VGA port, you will need to buy a converter into which you will feed the VGA (video) signal plus the audio feed from the laptop headset socket (3.5mm jack). That converter will have a HDMI socket from which you connect to the TV.

If your TV does have a VGA port then nearby will be a 3.5mm jack socket so you would need a simple VGA to VGA cable plus an audio cable with a 3.5mm jack plug at each end for the audio.

Cheers. I'm using my work laptop after my own one died, which is a good one, but I guess they didn't bother speccing for HDMI. My own TV has a HDMI port, but I'm away from next month and I'm not 100% on what ports the tv in the place I'm staying has.

I have a double jack cable that I use between my speaker system here and my laptop, so, if the next tv doesn't have a VGA port but only a HDMI one, could I get a converter and go VGA to HDMI in conjunction with the jack cable for audio?

Thanks for your reply!

coylemj

YellowFeather wrote: »

...if the next tv doesn't have a VGA port but only a HDMI one, could I get a converter and go VGA to HDMI in conjunction with the jack cable for audio?

If you're asking: 'can I run the audio straight from the PC to the TV', the answer is 'no' because you will have to select a particular HDMI port on the TV in which case both audio and video have to be coming in on that HDMI cable i.e. you'll have to combine the video and audio in the converter and pump both signals down the HDMI cable to the TV.

A lot of VGA to HDMI converters have an audio feed on the input side, it may be a 3.5mm jack or left and right phono sockets. On eBay and similar sites there are lots of simple cables and adapters claiming to do what you want, don't touch anything that doesn't use the word 'converter'.

YellowFeather

coylemj wrote: »

If you're asking: 'can I run the audio straight from the PC to the TV', the answer is 'no' because you will have to select a particular HDMI port on the TV in which case both audio and video have to be coming in on that HDMI cable i.e. you'll have to combine the video and audio in the converter and pump both signals down the HDMI cable to the TV.

A lot of VGA to HDMI converters have an audio feed on the input side, it may be a 3.5mm jack or left and right phono sockets. On eBay and similar sites there are lots of simple cables and adapters claiming to do what you want, don't touch anything that doesn't use the word 'converter'.

Ok - I get you. Cheers! Was a bit confused about what Prof Google was telling me, so I appreciate your advice. I had hoped to pick up something before heading off through Adverts or something, but I suppose I'm better off waiting to see what connections I have in the apartment over there.

So - either a VGA port on the tv that I can use with a VGA to VGA and then a seperate jack cable for audio. Otherwise a single cable with connections for both VGA and jack from the laptop -> HDMI on the tv.

Thanks again.

coylemj

YellowFeather wrote: »

Otherwise a single cable with connections for both VGA and jack from the laptop -> HDMI on the tv.

No, no, no, no, you're not paying attention.

Not a 'cable', a CONVERTER.

The VGA and audio signals coming out of a laptop are analog (waves) whereas a HDMI signal is digital (zeros and ones), an adapter or cable will not cut it.