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    Connect laptop to TV

    Discussion in 'Accessories' started by jglatt, Jan 3, 2009.

  1. jglatt

    jglatt Notebook Consultant

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    I have an older tv that doesn't have a slot for a VGA cable, what kind of cable can I get that will connect from a VGA to my TV.
     
  2. atbnet

    atbnet Notebook Prophet

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    Does your notebook have s-video?
     
  3. namaiki

    namaiki "basically rocks" Super Moderator

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    s-video or composite cable.

    vga to s-video or composite is probably expensive and you need a little box to do the work.

    What is your notebook model?
     
  4. cumbaya19

    cumbaya19 Notebook Evangelist

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    chances are it wont look very good
     
  5. PhoenixFx

    PhoenixFx Notebook Virtuoso

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    If you don’t have a S-Video port, then you’ll need a small signal converter box like one of these.
     
  6. jglatt

    jglatt Notebook Consultant

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    I have a gateway 173x fx. If this isn't a feasible thing, Im sorry i wasted everyone's time.
     
  7. PhoenixFx

    PhoenixFx Notebook Virtuoso

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    According to Gateway's specs, it only has VGA and HDMI (No S-Video). But still you can connect it to an old CRT TV, just that you cant do it with a simple cable, you need a converter box like I pointed out in my previous post.

    However, picture quality will be limited to standard definition (480i/576i), DVD quality movies and games will look ok, but not good for text (to be used as an external monitor).
     
  8. jglatt

    jglatt Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks for the info. I don't think its worth it to go through all the trouble of buying several different pieces of equiptment when id probably be better off just using the screen the laptop has.
     
  9. PhoenixFx

    PhoenixFx Notebook Virtuoso

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    If you were thinking of using your TV as an external monitor, then don’t bother, text quality will look horrible even at low resolutions like 800x600. But still, the picture quality of movies will look as sharp and clear as the quality of movies played over a standard DVD player.