Connecting your computer to your TV

One of the more frequent questions I see is in regards of connecting your laptop or desktop to your new HDTV. Well, it is possible and in some cases it is easier than you think. First let’s identify the steps that will go into connecting your laptop to your TV:

1. Identify the video output on your laptop or desktop.
2. Identify the video input on your HDTV.
3. Chose the best connection method using cable or adapter.
4. Connect the devices and turn them on.

All computers; laptops, desktops, PC’s or MAC’s; have at least one video output. You will have to own a very ancient computer if it does not contain even one, in which case you should get new computer and not TV. The key is to identify the best video output port for you.

1. Identify the video output on your laptop or desktop

The best video output to use it HDMI port. It carries full 1080p video and in some cases even audio*. Plus all the HDTV’s have at least 3 HDMI inputs, which will make connecting them very easy. Next best choice is to use DVI port. It also caries full 1080p video and in some cases audio* as well. Following this is a mini display port, which is rare to see on laptops or desktops (mostly on Mac’s), but is easily converted to DVI or HDMI with all the features of such. These were all digital options of outputs. Some older, even new laptops, have a VGA port, which will not carry HD video or audio, and it might be difficult to connect to your TV as not all HDTV’s have VGA inputs. The last common type of a video output, but not used anymore, is the S-video which is analog as well and does not carry HD signal. See the images below to see what outputs you have. They are sorted from best to worst, left to right.

2. Identify the video input on your HDTV

Next step is to identify the input on your TV. The most common one and the best one to use is HDMI. You might have DVI port available as an input on your TV but is not very common. These two ports will provide you with best possible video transmission rates assuming you have HD source from which the video is coming in. Almost all HDTV’s will have component input on the TV. You will not be able to get full 1080p HD video or sound, via this option, but it will come very close. Next analog input is VGA, which is probably as common as DVI, but much worse quality. VGA will not provide nowhere near HD quality video, and will not carry sound. The last common but rarely used input port on HDTV’s is S-video**. It will not carry HD or audio and is not really compatible with anything. S-video should and will go extinct soon.

3. Chose the best connection method using cable or adapter

Now you will have to figure out the best possible combination of output on your computer, and best possible input on your HDTV. Instead of writing all the combinations out and telling you what cables and adapters to use, I have decided to animate this section. Below you will find virtually all practical combination of connections and where to get the cable or adapter for it.

4. Connect the devices and turn them on

Now, keep in mind that your TV will have to be on correct input or source in order for you to see anything. It does not happen automatically. If you use HDMI the source will probably be named HD-# or HDMI-#. You will have to see what # port you have the cable plugged into. All TV inputs should be numbered or named accordingly.

If you have correct source (input) selected on TV you will need to tell your laptop to display image on your TV. Most laptops have a keyboard shortcut to enable the additional display or monitor. Different manufacturers have different shortcut keys assigned, but they tend to be and Fn key in combination with one the F# keys. So, Fn+F#. Once you find the correct F# key you will be prompted to select an option of how you want to connect to your external monitor (HDTV). If you have Windows 7 you can hit the windows key with letter P, which should provide you with similar options.

Most of the standard desktop keyboards do not have the Fn key option so you will have to enable the external monitor manually. To do that right click on your desktop and select (display) properties (if XP) or screen resolution (if Win7). If you PC recognizes new monitor you should see it as number 2. Click on it and select expand windows to make the TV act as second monitor in XP. In Win7 you will get an option to select how your multiple displays act. By default they will be cloned. What your screen shows TV shows as well.

Sound not working through HDMI cable

Some manufacturer’s hardware does not support running audio through HDMI cable. To find out if that is true in your case consult your user manual, check manufacturer’s website or contact customer service. If your system does support audio through HDMI all you probably need to do is enable it. Go to your control panel and double click on sound icon. Select HDMI audio source right click and set it as default. In windows XP you will need to go to audio tab and select HDMI audio under sound playback as default device.

Alternate solution:

If you do not have the required video output ports on your PC you can “create” one by buying a adapter that connects to your USB port on the PC and will act as video out device. With simple driver installation anyone can get this to work. It is not a cheap solution but it will do the job. This device will allow you to export video in HDMI, DVI or VGA from which will make connecting your TV a snap. All you will need is a right cable for the job. Look at the chard above to find one. It will however not do 1080p not it will carry sound.

Connecting sound to TV

Some computers are not capable of carrying sound over HDMI cable to the TV. You will have to consult your use manual or contact the manufacturer to find out. You will need and alternative way of transmitting sound from your PC to your HDTV. There are few options to consider. I am going to assume that you have 3.5mm female output port on your PC for audio. It looks just like the one on your MP3 player or stereo. Your TV might have the same exact port on the back that is capable of receiving audio. Make sure it is labeled as “audio in” or something similar. For this connection you will need 3.5mm male to male audio cable. This cable will have identical ends on both side one of which gets connected to your TV and the other to your computer. There in on order, so you can plug them in either way. All you need to do if find the right length for your cable.

The second way is almost similar. Some TV’s will not have 3.5mm female jack on the back, but they will have stereo RCA audio input plugs. The plug consists of one red (right channel) and one white (left channel) plug right next to each other. Again make sure that it is audio in for your TV. You will also have to make sure that you are not confusing these plugs for audio in associated with other input on your TV that you are not using, such as AV1, AV2, component,… For this to work all you need a simple gender changer “Y” cable like this one and plug it in all together in same fashion and 3.5mm male to male cable as described in paragraph above.

* Audio through HDMI or DVI cable is only possible if your video card supports such feature. You will have to look in your manual or contact your manufacturer to find this out.
** There are two general forms of S-Video plugs. You have 4-pin and 7-pin. 4-pin is said to be compatible with 7-pin but not vice versa. 4-pin is more widely used due to compatibility issues.

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