Carini on 8/4/2008 at 17:09
So with the advent of free TV on the internet (hulu, southparkstudios, etc) and instant movies via NetFlix, I thought it would be a neat trick if I could hook my PC up to my 40' Samsung HDTV. What would be the best way to go about this? Any tricks out there that the TTLG tech savvy people can impart? Right now I have a 9800 RADEON 128MB card and I just have it connected to my monitor via the normal hook up. I figured I might have to upgrade my card if I want to pull this off that is ok, as long as I can continue my PC gaming. Any help?
Zerker on 8/4/2008 at 20:35
The card is only really important for two things:
1) Performance
2) Connectors.
If you're okay with #1, and you have the required #2, it doesn't matter. Typically with an HDTV, you will be connecting to one of the following connectors:
DVI (easiest if both the TV and video card have it)
VGA
HDMI (with DVI to HDMI adaptor).
So basically, just check the connectors on both your TV and video card, then choose the cable that fits. It'll just show up as another monitor on the system, with usually a standard resolution of around 1280 X 768 or 1366 x 768 or similar (more if it's 1080p). If your video card has two outputs, you can drive both the TV and your other monitor simultaneously. I believe the 9800 has a DVI and VGA, but I could be mistaken.
You'll also need a separate hookup for audio, unless you just want to keep using your computer speakers. My TV actually has a miniplug input jack, so I connected a double-ended miniplug cable between that and my Mac Mini. Otherwise, you may need a miniplug to dual-RCA adaptor or somesuch.
If you are confused, just let me know what inputs/outputs that your TV and video card have, and I can suggest hookups. The exact model of TV doesn't hurt either.
bikerdude on 8/4/2008 at 20:47
Quote Posted by Carini
hook my PC up to my 40' Samsung HDTV. via a 9800 RADEON 128MB
Hi Carini
You have a few options depending on what model of Samsung Tv you have and what connectors it has, what's the exact model of your Samsung TV?
Most 40" lcd TV's will have a HDMI/DVI, VGA, Component, SCART, S-VHS, Composite, the one/s you are interested in are the HDMI/DVI, VGA or Component.
* VGA (analogue) is the same as you get on most ordinary LCD PC monitors, but what resolution you can use will depend on the model on the TV etc, but if your set is a full HD model I would imagine 1920*1080
* HDMI/DVI (Digital) is the same as you get on most ordinary LCD PC monitors, but what resolution you can use will depend on the model on the TV etc, but if your set is a full HD model I would imagine 1920*1080
* Component (analogue) is an non digital alternative to HDMI/VGA, it will allow you to use the same resolutions as VGA. Your 9800pro maye have come with a dongle that will enable the use of this type of connection, most modern cards have this dongle now.
Now purists would have you use 'HDMI/DVI', but this can have problems with some movies that are infested with DRM (digital rights managment). So you better using either VGA or Component.
biker
Fafhrd on 11/4/2008 at 06:56
Quote Posted by Bikerdude
* VGA (analogue) is the same as you get on most ordinary LCD PC monitors, but what resolution you can use will depend on the model on the TV etc, but if your set is a full HD model I would imagine 1920*1080
* HDMI/DVI (Digital) is the same as you get on most ordinary LCD PC monitors, but what resolution you can use will depend on the model on the TV etc, but if your set is a full HD model I would imagine 1920*1080
Not strictly true. Most HDTVs will up- or down-sample any input resolution to their native resolution, usually up-sampling from a lower resolution. I don't think watching Hulu at 1920x2000 is a pleasurable experience on any screen, so whether your TV will support down-sampling shouldn't be too much of a concern. And I think, though I haven't tried it, any resizing that the screen has to do will introduce slightly more input lag, so not so great for gaming, if you ever decide to try that.
And any protected HD source (e.g. Blu-Ray) will, in a year or so (if they don't already, I haven't bothered with them yet), REQUIRE using HDMI in order to display it at full resolution, and the 9800 doesn't support DVI -> HDMI, so keep that in mind if you plan on picking up a Blu-Ray drive for your PC (which is, I believe, the cheapest way to go Blu-Ray currently available).
Carini on 11/4/2008 at 13:58
Thanks for all the input, guys! Well I took out my Samsung user manual last night to see if they had any hook up info. I have the LNT4061. There is a PC hookup on the back of my TV so I guess I could just go straight into that. There is an audio in for sound and a "D-sub" hookup for PC. What is meant by D-sub? Is this just a VGA hookup?
Another route I thought of is I'm somewhat in the market for a laptop and I could always just hookup a new laptop through the PC hook up on my Samsung or if it's a newish laptop it may even have a HDMI out that I could just connect the laptop and the TV via HDMI. Is this correct?
Zerker on 13/4/2008 at 00:01
DSUB is VGA, that is correct.
Very very few computers have direct HDMI. The best you're likely to find is DVI which you'll need to adapt, as mentioned (and figure out the audio).
Fafhrd on 13/4/2008 at 02:02
The Radeon 38xx series actually has an onboard sound controller and outputs sound through HDMI. I haven't used it yet, (again) and I imagine it takes a performance hit if used for gaming, but for movies it should work well. I don't think there's a mobile version of the 38xx yet, and chances are they'd drop the sound controller if one is made.
gfunkdave on 28/4/2008 at 00:42
I have this same Samsung, and every time I try a resolution above 1280x1024, the TV just gives me "Mode Not Supported" on a blue screen. Anyone know why? It should be able to do 1920x1080, which my graphics card DOES support (an Intel 945 chip on a Thinkpad T60).
Any ideas?
bikerdude on 28/4/2008 at 08:53
Quote Posted by Zerker
DSUB is VGA, that is correct. Very very few computers have direct HDMI. The best you're likely to find is DVI which you'll need to adapt, as mentioned (and figure out the audio).
yes Dsub = VGA. And you can get DVI-HDMI adapters.
Quote Posted by gfunkdave
I have this same Samsung, and every time I try a resolution above 1280x1024, the TV just gives me "Mode Not Supported" on a blue screen.
How are you connecting the TP to the samsung..?
biker
