Hooking PC to your tv????

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Hooking PC to your tv????

February 23, 2009, 12:58:08 PM

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:

Hooking PC to your tv????

Reply #1 – February 23, 2009, 01:14:54 PM

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.

Hooking PC to your tv????

Reply #2 – February 23, 2009, 01:35:20 PM

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.

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...

Hooking PC to your tv????

Reply #3 – February 23, 2009, 04:30:12 PM

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.

Hooking PC to your tv????

Reply #4 – February 23, 2009, 05:20:19 PM

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

Quote from: Bob;258260

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.

Hooking PC to your tv????

Reply #5 – February 24, 2009, 12:32:29 AM

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.

Hooking PC to your tv????

Reply #6 – February 24, 2009, 12:42:02 AM

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.

Hooking PC to your tv????

Reply #7 – February 24, 2009, 12:49:10 AM

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.

Hooking PC to your tv????

Reply #8 – February 24, 2009, 02:02:35 AM

assuming his doesn't. probably wouldn't have posted this if his computer supported it ;0)

Hooking PC to your tv????

Reply #9 – February 24, 2009, 06:59:39 AM

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.

Hooking PC to your tv????

Reply #10 – February 24, 2009, 07:09:46 AM

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.

Hooking PC to your tv????

Reply #11 – February 24, 2009, 10:46:09 AM

Quote from: Innes;258376

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.

Good to know, thanks.

Hooking PC to your tv????

Reply #12 – February 24, 2009, 10:58:11 AM

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:

Hooking PC to your tv????

Reply #13 – February 24, 2009, 01:19:19 PM

Quote

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.

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.

Hooking PC to your tv????

Reply #14 – February 24, 2009, 01:21:54 PM

Quote

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:

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.