Question about using my laptop with my flat screen TV

Jonathan · « **on:** 13 Aug 2008, 07:15 pm »

We recently purchased a Samsung 32" 1080p LCD flat panel TV. Great picture. Just for fun, I tried connecting my laptop to it last night, via the s-video jack. It works, but the image on the TV is quite fuzzy. Is there actually a way to get a nice sharp image from the computer onto the TV? Would connecting via the VGA or USB jacks improve this?
(the TV has both.)

Thanks for your help!

Jon

soewhatman · « **Reply #1 on:** 13 Aug 2008, 08:02 pm »

If the tv has a VGA input you can use a VGA cable from the laptop to the tv for a nice crisp image. I use this setup between a home theater PC and a Samsung flat screen. The USB jack wont' do you any good for transmitting an image.

Rick.

Doublej · « **Reply #2 on:** 13 Aug 2008, 09:20 pm »

Do you have another device with an S-output such as a camcoder that you can check the S-Video input with. I am wondering if it's not the computer. How old is it?

As soewhatman says, VGA should work fine. Remember that you might have to load a display driver for the tv and change the resolution setting to get it dialed in properly.

satfrat · « **Reply #3 on:** 13 Aug 2008, 09:38 pm »

An S-video connection is a standard definition connection, not what you want for a High Definition 1080i/p TV. It would help to know what video outputs you have on both your laptop & Samsung but to take advantage of 1080p, you'll want either a digital hookup or you use component video cable(w/converter plug for the laptop), but you'll also need a video card that'll switch from whatever resolution your laptop is doing to your 1080p Samsung. As an example, my Nvidia sound card is setup for dual monitors, my LCD is 1920 x 1200 via DVI cable while my Sony CRT is 1080i via component video cable.

Hope this illustration helps ya out.

Cheers,
Robin

texasphile · « **Reply #4 on:** 13 Aug 2008, 10:23 pm »

It is a feature of LCD displays to show their best picture only at the recommended resolution, which is basically the largest image the model will display.

For analog output your choice will be to send out the image via 15 pin VGA (D Sub 15 / analog) to, more than likely, 1366 X 768 or it's closest relative, 1280 X 720. Most, but not all, current high definition TVs will only accept that high of a resolution through VGA input. It might screw up your laptop's image *if* it is not a widescreen model. That should not effect the LCD TV's picture at all. Check your owner's manual for the display resolution via component cables. My Panasonic plasma will accept a 1920 X 1080i through component, but it drops the resolution to 1280 X 720p through VGA...go figure. This is advice for an analog stream only. Satfrat's solution may work, you should give it a try if switching your output to VGA 1280 X 720 does not.

As far as a digital stream, I don't know about DVI or using a DVI to HDMI cable to send your signal to the television and how that could be done properly using a computer as your signal source. It obviously works with an upsampling DVD, HD DVD

, or Blu Ray player. Your owner's manual *should* have something about that information. If not, you might want to check www.avsforum.com and do a search. You might even find information about your specific model rather than a generic answer.

OH, make certain that you have the VGA output set at a refresh rate of 60Hz. Unless you have a 120Hz LCD, nothing will be shown on the TV screen. I don't know enough about the 120Hz models to give you any advice except to read the owner's manual about recommended refresh rate(s).

Good luck and I hope that you can find a great solution,

Chris

satfrat · « **Reply #5 on:** 13 Aug 2008, 10:43 pm »

I'll just add I know nothing about laptops, never had one. The only computer I've ever had was my HTPC and I've gone thru a couple of video cards in order to implement my dual monitor capability. It my very well be that your laptop only has an S-Video outlet capability in which case you're never gonna utilize your 1080p Samsung to it's fullest. Hopefully there's more laptop specialists out there???

Cheers,
Robin

Jonathan · « **Reply #6 on:** 14 Aug 2008, 01:46 pm »

Thanks for the help, folks. I ordered a cheap svga cable online yesterday, and will try that when it arrives.

Jon

GHM · « **Reply #7 on:** 15 Aug 2008, 12:43 am »

The VGA should help a little..it won't give you 1080P resolution though. You need a DVI or HDMI output video card to do that. Not sure what kind of laptop you use, but some are only good for 800X600 resolution before the picture starts to look like crap. The stock video cards in certain laptops don't like large displays.

For some strange reason the samsung's aren't easily recognized by the computer. I've ran into this several times at home and work. In many cases you don't even get a picture at all...so count yourself lucky if you have that..good luck.