Displaying my computer(s) through my Tv's

[CatalystiCam]

So I was over at my friends yesterday, and I had noticed he had wired his old XP computer wired to his HD TV he has. Frankly I never even thought of the idea, but it would be cool. I got really into the idea today as i was searching for spare cords. none of them would work for my Sony in my room though since it doesn't offer the VGA input. It does however offer S-Video and composite.

So I picked up one of these off eBay:

http://www.ascenddistribution.com/shareimage/POTHVGASVRC1_2.jpg

Figured it made the most sense since I basically have a number of different setups I'd potentially use for different reasons. A VGA - VGA cable even if I could find a spare one in the house would only work for the TV downstairs. I want the option to do the following:

XP - HD TV downstairs
XP - Sony TV
Laptop - HD TV Downstairs
Laptop - Sony TV

I'm pretty excited. Been a while since I ordered from eBay, but I found this while searching options and the location was in Vancouver, so I don't have to worry about Border Customs never getting me my stuff again...

Pretty excited about this, but I'm a bit concerned the XP I have won't work at all with this. I mean it should logically since my friend's got pretty much the same computer and the inputs register. The only question I'd really have in this thread is the chance that it possibly won't work for my desktop?

Anyway, I had a lot of motivation for this like clearing my desk off for other uses, playing multi-player emulators locally for once off RU of course and off N64/PS1 offline emulators and stuff. The list really goes on

Really just wondering if anyone else has tried this before and has any comments to it?

I love the idea personally and the cable was only 7 bucks, so a pretty good deal there.

[Dojah]

I have done something like this before, and it was super cool. I just plugged in my RGB cable from my computer straight to the tv instead of the monitor. Worked great. RU gaming was great! :)

[CatalystiCam]

I have done something like this before, and it was super cool. I just plugged in my RGB cable from my computer straight to the tv instead of the monitor. Worked great. RU gaming was great!

Yeah, having these games on the big screen is really one of the big tempting things, I'll admit :P

Any reason why you didn't leave it on the TV?

I think I need more controllers though. My Saitek acts up, and one of the two PS3 controllers somehow had the top of it's casing broken off by something and now the triggers are unusable last I checked.

[Dojah]

Yeah it was fun. I'm sure you will like it alot.
I moved, and now my computer and tv are in different rooms, but one day they will be together again.

[DrunkN]

From my experiences, emulation may be a bit wonky in display unless you fine tune your computer's resolution. If you do have trouble with emulation on your T.V, just ask me.

[elrod21]

Also note that your Graphics card has to support sending the display in a format your TV will understand for that cable to work. Otherwise you need a converter which is much more expensive.

[CatalystiCam]

Also note that your Graphics card has to support sending the display in a format your TV will understand for that cable to work. Otherwise you need a converter which is much more expensive.

Kind of what I was worried about.

From my experiences, emulation may be a bit wonky in display unless you fine tune your computer's resolution. If you do have trouble with emulation on your T.V, just ask me.

thanks for the heads up

either way, the thing I bought is free now. 7 Bucks wasn't a huge deal, but my grandpa payed it because by a fluke shot one of my portable dvd player chargers worked on the baby monitor he needed to use.

[elrod21]

Well I hope it works for you anyway. It is a great option to have.

[CatalystiCam]

yup, thanks. Looking forward to my item arriving. Should be 2 days since it's local :) conveniently I leave for the lake 2 days from now lmao.

[ZedIsDead]

I sometimes use a HDMI cable to display my laptop on my HDTV. I use that mostly to watch TV shows online, though.

[Kong]

Sorry Cam, but this most likely wont work.

Read the product description.

Amazon.com: TV-out VGA to S-Video/RCA Cable Adapter: Electronics

Unless your video card specifically can output to a tv then this cable will do nothing. If your computer can do it then it will most likely already have an S-Video or RCA out port near the VGA out port.

You will need something like this
Amazon.com: Lake PC to TV Converter Box compatible with Windows and Mac (VGA To RCA / VGA To S-Video): Electronics

I am not vouching for the quality of that, it is suspiciously low priced, but it should do the job.

Reading text on your tv via RCA or S-Video will be a pain. But watching a movie or playing a game should work well. Not as good as a monitor but not too bad. Nearly all of the games on RU were originally designed to be played on a TV so you shouldn't have any problem with them.

[CatalystiCam]

It's alright, Kong. I got it for free technically now, and all I said is that it would be nice to have the desktop run through my TV too. I normally use the laptop now, which is the only one with an internet connection for online emulators and whatnot. It would be nice to hook up the desktop to free up desk space and for much of the same reasons with offline emulators. Mostly, I just want to view my pc games on the big screen. We'll see how it goes.

Edit: My point is, that the laptop can handle this, and the desktop might be able to. My friend said he used a VGA to HDMi Cable for his XP desktop and it looks fine, but that's hdmi, though I doubt the desktop he has supports HD since its 8 years old like mine. I have a suspicion he used a VGA to VGA wire in reality.

[Demon-Mask]

I had a friend who had a set up like this. A nice, big HD TV as the monitor for his computer. We were playing some Xbox game when he said "Hey, check this out" and switched to displaying the computer. He then proceeded to show me tentacle porn. Needless to say, I never set foot in his house again.

[DrunkN]

He then proceeded to show me tentacle porn. Needless to say, I never set foot in his house again.
http://files.sharenator.com/funny_pictures_lol_squid_LOL-s399x400-48058-580.jpg

I actually have a similar set up at my house minus the tentaphoria.

[CatalystiCam]

I tried to hook up my desktop to the Flatscreen downstairs to make sure the computer was compatible, and sure enough it was. I stole the VGA to VGA wire off my folks computer briefly to check. Quality was fine, but I only tried it for maybe a minute.

I noticed that my parents had a freaking DVi to DVi cord sitting around, and they're not using it. Tried to tell them that they should switch to the DVi cord since their computer is pretty new, but they wouldn't listen. I had motives for wanting their VGA to VGA cord just in case my new one won't work, but whatever. They're stubborn. My grandpa says he has spares at the lake anyways, and I'm heading there tomorrow, so whatever.