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I want to expand my desktop to my TV to watch movies


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#1
Phlegmbot

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I was forced to buy a new computer when my last one up and died out of warranty, but I still have an old T.V.

My TV inputs are: S-Video, RCA cable, and component cable.

My computer outputs are VGA, HDMI, USB, and something called a DisplayPort Connector (?).

What're my options to watch my computer-downloaded movies on my TV? What's the BEST of these options?

I keep hearing that using VGA will cause a lot of degradation - is it THAT noticeable? I'm not burning DVDs this way or anything, so does it really matter? Is there a USB option? Any USB cables I find tend to be CAPTURE cables, to capture FROM a tv or camera, but none seem to go the other way.

Would love some advice. THANK YOU!
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#2
Neil Jones

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USB isn't going to be an option.
You can get various cables that "convert" from one type to another however they tend to be hit and miss in terms of their quality. HDMI would be the best option but you'd need a graphics card with HDMI output (and HD content, obviously) to make the best use of it.
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#3
Phlegmbot

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Neil, as listed above, my t.v. does NOT have an HDMI input.

Are you aware of a cable that is HDMI to RCA or HDMI to S-video?

I've searched the Web, and myriad computer sites, and am coming up completely empty.

Any thoughts on the VGA output?
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#4
SpywareDr

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http://forum.noteboo...tions-help.html

?
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#5
Phlegmbot

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SpywareDr, thanks for linking. That tells me that HDMI to S-Video is potentially expensive but doesn't give me any actual solutions (S-Video to S-video is not an option for me, hence my question).

If anyone has any answers to my question, or links to a site with cables for these sorts of conversions, that would be of great help.
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#6
SpywareDr

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VGA to S-Video / RCA Adaptor - $3.00 + $2.98 shipping
http://www.amazon.co...r/dp/B000P3UB24

?
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#7
Phlegmbot

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Awesome!

I had been avoiding VGA, b/c I heard from some techs VGA has terrible output.

Anyone have any experience with these sorts of conversions? Is the degradation as bad as the techies say?

Edited by Phlegmbot, 19 June 2010 - 09:08 AM.

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#8
phillpower2

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You may find this article of some use regarding video output,
post #16 in particular http://forum.videohe...-VGA-to-S-video
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#9
Phlegmbot

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Yeah, that's the kind of resolution I was getting -- it was never as issue for me. Is it the best option? No.

I guess another option would be to buy a couple of DVD/RW and just keep writing over them.

THANK YOU!
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