cable confusion

stevewilliams · 22 Feb 2013

Hi experts

I've got a laptop with a VGA port but my TV has DVI, HDMI, scart and component (I've looked this up - I don't know these things) and I want to connect said laptop to TV - which is the best route to take in terms of cost and picture quality?

Many thanks in advance

Steve

AdrianUK · 22 Feb 2013

In simple terms ... you cant!

None of those inputs you have mentioned can accept the VGA output from the laptop directly via a simple cable. There are black box convertors on the market which will change the format for you but these can be expensive.

Are you sure there isnt a VGA port lurking on the TV somewhere?

Jackrae · 22 Feb 2013

I've one of these and it works OK for me :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Adaptor-Con...I6/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1361570502&sr=8-11

stevewilliams · 23 Feb 2013

Adrian - checked again there's definitely no VGA on the TV. There are some other mysterious slots (to me at least):

Digital Audio Out (optical)
LAN
A USB port
Common Interface

I've also noticed that the HDMI label actually refers to 2 ports labelled 1 and 2 with the 1 then labelled DVI so is DVI the same as HDMI?

Jackrae, thanks for the link although some of the reviewers had trouble with that cable and I assume that this converter doesn't come with the required cables to connect up?

Cheers

Steve

OwainDIYer · 23 Feb 2013

are you sure the laptop doesn't have a composite video out? It would be rubbish quality though.

stevewilliams · 25 Feb 2013

Nope only a VGA

acerf1 · 1 Mar 2013

Just buy a vga to dvi converter

Monkeh · 2 Mar 2013

acerf1 said:
Just buy a vga to dvi converter

That is not what those do.

Grizzly · 5 Mar 2013

Monkeh said:
acerf1 said:

Just buy a vga to dvi converter http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgu...ISM0wWo64GIAg&ved=0CFYQ9QEwAQ&dur=669[/QUOTE]

That is not what those do.

Click to expand...

Although.... if the DVI input port on the TV is DVI-I (the OP would have to look it up in the manual), then that adaptor (not a converter!) might well work...

hakko · 5 Mar 2013

I doubt the DVI on the telly will be DVI-I ...

If it isn't you will need to convert the analogue VGA single to Digital...

http://www.tvcables.co.uk/cgi-bin/tvcables/vga-to-dvi-d-converter.html

You can see it needs power for this, another power socket taken up. Maybe time to upgrade to laptop.

dhutch · 5 Mar 2013

Grizzly said:
[That is not what those do.]

Although.... if the DVI input port on the TV is DVI-I (the OP would have to look it up in the manual), then that adaptor (not a converter!) might well work...

I also doubt is is, but theres always one in a million chance...?

Are sure the laptop not have DVI/HDMI quite a lot have a dual hdmi/usb port.

Otherwise its either a vga-dvi/hdmi converter, or a usb to dvi/hdmi adapter. Or a new laptop, or TV.

For ref, dvi and hdmi are basically the same interfact in a diffrent connector, with hdmi including audio.

Daniel

danechip · 8 Mar 2013

Hi Steve.

Wanna post the make and models of both TV and Lappy so we can look at specs / data sheets.

Dan.

JimBeam · 13 Mar 2013

Jackrae said:
I've one of these and it works OK for me :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Adaptor-Con...r_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1361570502&sr=8-11[/QUOTE]

Not the best reviews... two stars? Id stay away from this one. Seems your laptop is pretty odl if it only has that VGA output?

dhutch · 14 Mar 2013

JimBeam said:
Seems your laptop is pretty odl if it only has that VGA output?

Proberbly is, but then, my laptop is in thr same boat and still does everything I need.

Grizzly · 30 Mar 2013

dhutch said:
Grizzly said:

Although.... if the DVI input port on the TV is DVI-I...

Click to expand...

I also doubt is is, but theres always one in a million chance...?

Certainly is!
I've been surprised a couple of times to find that the DVI input on a telly has been DVI-I, but it came in handy.
The vast majority have been DVI-D, though.

cable confusion

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