Help connecting Desktop to TV

[FirstNissan]

I am upgrading my current desktop, and would like to connect my old desktop to my tv. Ive got a new 42" LED tv, my desktop is a dell vostro 220s slim tower Core 2 Duo. I know for certain that I do not have an HDMI port on the computer.

How would I connect my desktop to my TV so that I can stream online tv shows?

 

[Jeffy_D]

Buy a newer video card that supports hdmi, or buy a d-sub to hdmi converter from monoprice.com or cables2go.com.

 

[dishdude]

Most newer TVs have a VGA port, I'd check that first.

 

[Jeffy_D]

Originally Posted By: dishdude
Most newer TVs have a VGA port, I'd check that first.


Alot of newer LED TVs dont have VGA (d-sub) Ports. But even if it does your max resolution will be lower than hdmi, plus youll have to have a seperate audio cable if you dont go hdmi. There are many 50 dollar cards that support hdmi. Worth it IMHO

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Originally Posted By: dishdude
Most newer TVs have a VGA port, I'd check that first.


This is what worked for me. What's excluded is 720-1080

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: FirstNissan
I know for certain that I do not have an HDMI port on the computer.

Well, what ports do you have on your computer? VGA? DVI? If you have DVI, then it's just a matter of buying a DVI-to-HDMI adapter.

However, that will only take care of the video part. You will also need an audio cable to send signal from your PC's audio card to the TV's audio inputs. It's typically a mini-RCA (1/8") to 2x standard RCA cable.

Alternatively, buy a new graphics card for your PC that has an HDMI output which can send both video as well as audio to your TV.

 

[FirstNissan]

Quattro- Ive got a VGA port on my computer. I asked at Microcenter, the tech recommended that I get a VGA cable and then another cable for my audio. I ended up going that route.


Thank you all for your help!

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: FirstNissan
Quattro- Ive got a VGA port on my computer.

Well, as long as your TV has a VGA input, you're set. Some don't.

 

[97tbird]

I am lucky my TV has a VGA input, too...in addition to a dedicated HDMI input for PC./laptop
I have a feeling it will be a thing of the past pretty soon, like component outs on DVD/BR players, it will just vanish, and only HDMI will exist...

Now it won't matter so much, as both our laptops and even the tiny netbook has HDMI outs. (actually my t520 has a 'display port' - i guess I need a DisplayPort --> HDMI cable to connect it to the TV via HDMI...)

 

[PandaBear]

Depends on how high of a resolution your TV support with VGA and whether you want audio on your HDMI, you can go with separate VGA + audio cable, or DVI to HDMI only cable and no audio, or those nifty HDMI to DVI + audio adapter (around $40 last time i check).

My TV would not take any resolution other than 640x480, 800x600, or 1024x768 on the VGA, and that's useless as it doesn't align with the LCD's native resolution.