Has anybody done this? We have seen the boxes they sell to watch movies from the internet on your tv. Anyone know if these boxes work?
Also, can you watch the movie or show on the tv, and open a new tab and still use the PC? Thanks. :mullet:
I have not used the internet movies, but use it with sage tv and other online previews and things through my computer.
My problem is the resolution for the pc part is not the same as the tv/movie watching part. which makes the pc resolution very grainy and large. the tv viewing is like watching regular tv though.
I use it on a 26"samsung lcd tv also.
I can grab a pic of it later if you want.
I do but im on a 50" plasma. For a regular tv, a tuner card might out put coax to your tv as well as receive the signal. You can use your computer as a tivo/recorder. My particular MB and tuner card allows me to output hdmi and optical so my tv is just like a computer monitor. At one point i had bought a video card that would output (either component/composite or coax, i forget) for use with my 35" tube tv and while i could watch movies and what not, it couldnt really be used as a monitor but more of a 2nd monitor for movies etc....This way works much better and im quite happy with it. I have all my dvd's ripped right to the HD and source them through windows media center. WMC is also hacked to stream netflix watch it now movies. Its all accessible through one remote as well so all the cable tv, dvd player, media center/HTPC are all integrated together. You can open sepperate windows for the tv tuner or internet stream or internet or whatever at the same time.
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b174/shame302/100_5445.jpg)
a program called powerstrip can help you correct the resolution issues.
the set top internet tuners (like available from net flix for watch it now) work pretty good as well and are a great way to watch internet movies without a computer.
I'm now thinking about building an HD antenna similar to what Daminc built. I've been wanting to try one out and his sounds like it works rather well...
I used a DVI to HDMI cable and went right off the video card (older Nvidia 6600GT card and the resolution looked good 1280x720. If I went 1920x1080 the font was waaaay too small to read.
I was wondering if that would work. This is the box I was talking about.
http://sewelldirect.com/PC-to-TV-Converter.asp?altProduct=SW-4262
that is to change your video card out put to the same plugs as a vcr or playstation uses. Basically so you could use a tv for a computer monitor.
oh, okay. I assume that box would work. 40 bucks its worth a try. basically its a work around for not having an HDTV. it doesnt really have anything to do with streaming internet movies. its going to act just like your monitor would (reduced pic qual though).
they also sell set top boxes meant for streaming internet movies (like the one net flix offers for WIN movies). They require no computer.
Why not just use the tv-out or s video out? most new video cards come with them. I used to use them back in windows 95 days.
assuming his doesn't. probably wouldn't have posted this if his computer supported it ;0)
Yeah the s-video jack isn't bad I used that before I bought a tv, also my old video card came with a dongle to use RGB component video too so that should give a nicer picture than s-video.
Man you ask the right question at the right time.
Last night I tried doing the same I bought HDMI cable because my lap has a outlet for it and so does my 42 inch plasma, plugged it all in and no worky. The funny thing is the computer makes connection noise every time I connected and disconnected it from the back of the TV. So I know it’s connected I wonder if I need one of those converters some of you talked about.
Not so good pics, but here are the monitor plugs, and the tv plugs. The tv is an HD tv, we just don't have HD service. 52" Phillips. :hick:
just plugging it in isn't going to make it work. you have to turn it on as a 2nd or primary monitor in the user control settings.
looks as though s vid may work. looks like a rear projection tv so im not sure how well it will work as a monitor.
My Samsung (http://"http://www.samsung.com/us/consumer/detail/detail.do?group=televisions&type=televisions&subtype=dlptv&model_cd=HL56A650C1FXZA") has a VGA input. Looks pretty nice at 1920x1200! I've streamed LOST in HD over it and was impressed.
Viewing pictures? Fuggetaboutit!:D
Yeah, my buddy has the 61" 1080 version samsung. Great TV and the DLP's demolish standard rear projection. clocking 9000hrs on the original bulb too. His HTPC is about the same as mine but i was able to run HDMI directly where as he had to go from HDMI to the VGA. Looks amazing though. Unfortunately im one of those people that see the rainbow effect in the DLP's.
(http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/7/l_1567790f319d4b4398c18bcc0ec8e267.jpg)
Yeah, no problems here with an older 50" Samsung DLP 720p. It does have a VGA (PC) input as well as an HDMI. I couldn't get the computer resolution settings correct using a DVI-to-HDMI converter cable. But hooking it up from DVI-to-VGA through the PC input of the TV, that looked very, very nice. Funny, I did the same thing and streamed "Lost" from abc.com and even though I selected the standard definition version, it sure looked like 720 resolution on the screen. Pretty amazing actually.
Hey guys, I built what they call a Home Theater PC. It is just for this and supports HD. Google, HTPC or Home Theater PC and it will let you know what is needed. Thats how I watch TV...Lightning did in all of my Home Theater System a few years ago and I went this route. It was cheaper, easier, and I only have one box under my TV with a couple speakers that controls everything. My wife browses the net while I watch Speed...LOL. Not really. I don't have Speed anymore.
I know old thread but I don't make it down here much. You guys have alot of reading to do. http://www.avsforum.com
I'm still rocking the 480i 61" rear projection so I've accepted the fact hooking my pc up is worthless. DVD's are ok but not as good as a DVD player.
av science is a great source ;0) i prefer other sources for DIY speakers though.
Only way to go IMO. Hoping to build another in a few more months.
I did that and picture and video work great, but I have no audio. Audio only works out my laptop which is very low in volume. The HDMI cables are not carrying the audio or my laptop won’t let it. It’s an Inspiron 1525
I have a Hauppauge PVR-350 PCI card and Sage TV DVR software. I can record from cable on my PC and burn to DVD, and the card comes with an IR receiver and remote so I can also (somewhat) easily watch shows I've recorded on my PC (Sage TV understands the remote commands). I also bought a USB-UIRT, which is a an IR emitter that lets Sage TV control the cable box.
So basically when I want to record something, I open up Sage TV, go to the show, click on it, click Record, and it will set the cable box and record at the appropriate time. It gets the program guide for free from the Internet out to two weeks from the present. I generally don't use my PC to watch shows (though I can and have on rare occasions); I generally record movies and burn to DVD (with Nero). As a bonus, I have a little converter that tries to improve the RCA video coming out of the cable box up to S-Video levels before entering the card. It doesn't give "true" S-Video quality, but it is a definite improvement.
I showed my setup to my dad and he thought it was so awesome he got the exact same setup for his PC. I couldn't count the movies he's recorded and burned to DVD since.
Shame302 could probably better explain this, but if you have an aftermarket sound card, you need to connect a short cable for your audio.
I know it's kinda vague, I need to do it to mine, just havn't gotten to it yet.
Watching Lost online, but played on the tv is kinda cool, at least the pc has a nice set of speakers ;)
your MB may only support HDMI for video rather than video and audio. Mine is set up with the HDMI to the plasma and my audio if fed through optical directly to my pre/pro. I get loss less 2 channel audio this way (important for music in my application). Optical doesn't support lossless multi channel but DVDs are lossy anyway and i don't really miss it with BD (blueray).
What you might want to try is get a cable that has the "headphone" pin on one end and splits into 2 RCA at the other and plug it into the speaker out of the laptop and the RCA audio input for your TV (assuming one is available for the HDMI "mode" or A/V "channel". whats the back of the TV look like? If you happen to have a receiver you could use that as well.
That's what I did. But at this point, my computer speakers/sub are worlds better than the tv has, but it helps still. :hick:
I love my xbox media center. It will do 720p and will stream almost any media file. The XBMC software is a great package as well. All you need is the original splinter cell game and a couple of exploit files. Half an hour to do. I used to have a home theater PC sitting in the living room, but have since opted for the xbmc. Most universal remotes can be programmed to run the xbox (assuming you have the IR receiver/dvd playback kit)
Fellas...I have found the ultimate. If this is what you guys want to do but you do not want to spend the googles of dough for a HTPC.....I had just purchased this thing called WD TV. It is a Western digital High Definition interface between a portable Hard Drive and an HDTV or regular TV. You have got to check this thing out over at NewEgg.com. It's sometimes called a "Media Streamer". I hope that this solves some issues with hooking the TV to the PC for the EC (electronically challenged)
Here's my setup. The projector only supports RGB so it's not the best quality. Great investment though. You can pick a used one up for around $300 bucks on Craigslist.
The surround sound system is an LG with HDMI outputs. 5 disc DVD changer and alot of other inputs and stuff.
Yes it looks trapezoidal. When you turn on a signal it adjust the keystone to make it look right.
Also it's 120 inches diagonally.