Connect your PC to TV

Thanks to the media player programs, such as boxing, which we have devoted a series of tutorials , the computer has become the center of the home audiovisual entertainment. So it’s time for the TV again claim his throne …
In this article we will teach you how to connect your desktop or laptop to the TV , to take all your content into the living room of your home and enjoy them with yours.
We will take as a reference for our tutorial laptops, and portability issues that are often connected to television. However, the advice they give you apply to a desktop computer or a mini, since they have almost always with the same outputs for video and audio.
Inputs and outputs
As recently to try a similar case when connecting a laptop to a monitor to make it our main screen, you just refresh my memory: the first and most important element you have to check is the video input and output for equipment and television respectively.
In some cases, a cable with appropriate ends will suffice to carry the signal to the television team, in others also need a converter to reach its destination correctly.
First let’s see what are the most common video outputs :
S-Video
Also known as Y / C , is a connection standard that carries a double signal: luminance and chrominance. It is very common on all televisions and computers, and requires very little outlay, a single cable male / male for the video signal , and a dual RCA (the typical red and white) for audio. Its image quality and resolution have become obsolete TVs in the last ten years.
VGA / MiniVGA
This standard connection as both screen resolution appeared in 1988 but remains in effect today in certain areas. In televisions, which is what interests us is insufficient for HD monitors but it for the rest. MiniVGA version has the same characteristics, but the socket was reduced to optimize the mobile space.
DVI
It was the first standard analog video interface and no, although not as widespread, best meets the task of sending the signal or TFT monitors, as is the case, a digital television screens. The main advantage of this connection is available in three variants to suit all types of TVs: DVI-A , which sends an analog signal such as VGA, DVI-D , which does the same with the digital signal and DVI-I , sending both simultaneously. The latter is what usually comes with integrated graphics cards laptops , allowing you to connect to a TV signal without digital input via DVI to VGA adapter.
HDMI
One of the newest and fast connections to be implemented, and has become the de facto standard today for HDTVs . Improvement over pre-integrated into a single signal cable video and audio, and makes it easier than ever to connect your laptop to the TV. However, only Full HD televisions can benefit from increased image quality offered , and only the most recent notebooks have integrated the series.
DisplayPort
Emerged in 2006 by agreement of the VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association), this connector lives as competition, while in addition, the HDMI standard. Like the latter, carried simultaneously the image signal and sound , and has grown more in the field of computers on their televisions. As a bonus, mention that there is a smaller version called the Mini DisplayPort , which is listed as the only video output possible for all MacBook and MacBook Pro, iMacs and the Apple brand.
Regarding the input connections , as well as the aforementioned video outputs, there are some more typical of TV formats that are still used
Composite Video
One of the oldest video connections, which offers a rather poor quality in LCD TVs , but is still used in cathode ray tube televisions, ie in the older analog displays. Many know him as the head yellow cable into the cluster of three RCA, which also includes white and red for audio.
Component Video
Some TV models had advanced analog connection that the only composite video cable. In this case, the video signal comes through three wires red, green and blue, carrying different combinations of luminance and chrominance in order to show better picture quality. There are two variants of signal: RGB and YUV, but both have the same input on the TV .
SCART
Better known by all as the cable scart , is standard on all televisions in nearly twenty years. in the same cable carries the audio and video signal , but it has become obsolete for its low resolution, in favor of other formats such as HDMI. As a curiosity, it was a standard imposed by law in their country of origin, France, but ended up spreading even in the Asian market.
Connections
Having said all that, we could be speaking about the possible combinations of cables, adapters and signal converters to cover all types of inputs and outputs. However, for convenience, we have prepared a table annexed that collects and proposes solutions simpler and easier to find. In this table we have considered the cases worth pointing out, ruling in turn those who lose too much video quality.
The solutions we offer are divided into three categories: straight-through cables , such as those carrying the signal between outputs and inputs of the same type of signal adapters that convert between different types, sometimes with some loss of quality by the way and finally, by processing converters , which usually take the form of signal coding. The peculiarity of the latter is that they require signal processing by completing and comprehensive reporting to comply with the requirements of the input format of TV. This happens, for example, when you want to convert an S-Video signal to VGA .
In some cases, the connection between formats is not simple and requires several steps , ie converting the first signal format and use another adapter to convert it to a third party. Should know that these conversions tend to lose quality , so you have to avoid unless absolutely necessary.
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All solutions presented here can be found at electronics stores, both traditional stores and online. There are many cables and adapters brands, making it difficult to opt for one, but yes, always seek to offer a minimum guarantee of use.
We hope that with this information you may have clear process to connect your laptop or desktop computer to the TV and enjoy movies or series in the comfort of your couch, either Boxee or any other player application.
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