Connecting a PC for HDTV

[Mike246]

A basic question. I have a HD-ready Toshiba 32WL48 LCD tele. If I want to connect my computer to this to sample HDTV, what type of output connection to I need?

[Starburst]

A modern graphics card will have at least two outputs, a combination of VGA, DVI and even component.

Use one for the PC monitor and the other for the TV depending upon what connections the LCD has which it seems to be well catered for with component and what looks like a VGA socket as well as HDMI.

Once it's physically hooked up it's just a question of configuring the graphics card to recognise the second display and set the resolution to match.

[Mike246]

Starburst, Thanks for that. My Dell laptop has a 15-pin D video connector and an S-video. Will I be able to hook-up either to the HDTV input of the television to get Hi-Def? If so, what sort of conversion arrangement do I need to make and where can I get some HD material?

[dan1979]

You can't get hi-def from s-video, you'll need to use VGA. Just select the right resolution and play some hi-def video and that's it. As for material there's quite a lot of demos and trailers around, the only decent stuff (i.e full films) aren't legal.

[Mike246]

Right. But how do I take my computer VGA output to the HD input on the TV?

[Starburst]

The Toshiba 32WL48 has a PC input which is a VGA connection so get a VGA to VGA cable and then set up your graphics card to support the resolution of the LCD, the cards documentation should tell you exactly how.

[Mike246]

I am set up for this. In fact a have a 'plumbed-in' long VGA cable in my lounge for this purpose.

Are you saying that I can use the Tosh's VGA input (rather than the HDMI input) to get HD to the TV? Wow. If so, where can I download some HD material from to try it?

[Starburst]

The HDMI connection is digital and has content control which is why broadcasters and distributors favour that connection. an analogue connection in this case will do just fine for HD.


MS samples here.

More samples here.

There is also a wide selection of other content floating around the net but of course that would be classed as pirated material.

[Mike246]

Starburst, Thanks for that. I have had the TV for 1 year and until today, using it to watch some Hi Def was an unfulfilled ambition!

I have got as far as downloading some 2 min clips, expanding them onto the PC and watching them using the VGA lead. Is this analugue connection much inferior to the eventual HDMI connection? Is there any full-length material I can get my hands on?

[Starburst]

In practical terms there is little difference in a PQ sense between the digital and the analogue, like most situations the quality of the source material will have a far more noticeable impact on the result than any slight difference in terms of interconnect.
You'll find plenty of people who in all honesty will say they prefer the analogue on their setup and just as many that say the digital is the better option, what ever works

There are some WMV HD movies on DVD, not a great selection and I personally have not been overwhelmed by the quality of the three I have seen (We Were soldiers, Total Recall and Island Fever)
The German Amazon site (as well as the US one) sells WMV HD DVD discs.

[Mike246]

Will these Hi Def DVDs 'play out' from my laptop CD/DVD drive through the VGA connection to produce Hi Def on the Toshiba screen?

[NikB]

What player are people using to show these hd clips?

[Starburst]

Originally Posted by Mike246

Will these Hi Def DVDs 'play out' from my laptop CD/DVD drive through the VGA connection to produce Hi Def on the Toshiba screen?

Should do they don't contain any content control apart from the ususal WMV license which is given the thumbs up via your net connection. These disks are intended for the EU market unlike some US ones which will only work if you run get the license through a US proxy.

Physically they are no different to the MS samples, just bigger with the same codec and spun off a DVD.

[Starburst]

Originally Posted by NikB

What player are people using to show these hd clips?

The wmv clips are probably best suited for the latest MS windows media player although other players can handle them. Other HD spec clips (mpeg2 and TS) can be player with almost any media player but I like VLC.