Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - What do I need to have or do to play videos that are on my computer on my TV?

Vulcan · 12-31-2007, 03:33 AM

Well, it depends on what your video card connections are and what your TV connections are. If you have a recent video card, it probably has a DVI out connection and if you have a HDTV it probably has a HDMI input connection. So you would need an DVI to HDMI cable.
Some ATI cards have HDMI out so than you would need a HDMI to HDMI cable.
If you don't have a spare HDMI connection on your HDTV than use the video card's TV out which should be a S-Video connection and some come with a dongle to convert this to a component connection.
Unless your card is HDMI you will need an audio ouot via composite or RCA cables to your TV or maybe your soundcard has toslink or a co-ax in which case you can connect one of these to your digital stereo receiver.

Just to add if these videos are 1080p than you will need a fairly recent video card that should be HDCP enabled. The best ATI cards for this are the 3870, 3850 and the 2600XT.
The best NVIDIA cards are the 8800GT, the new 8800GTS, the 8600GTS. These cards have Purevideo which are best at decoding HD.

Almost forgot, some HDTVs have a VGA connection which will also work.

12-31-2007, 03:33 AM	#2
Vulcan Franchise Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Sunshine Coast Exp:	Well, it depends on what your video card connections are and what your TV connections are. If you have a recent video card, it probably has a DVI out connection and if you have a HDTV it probably has a HDMI input connection. So you would need an DVI to HDMI cable. Some ATI cards have HDMI out so than you would need a HDMI to HDMI cable. If you don't have a spare HDMI connection on your HDTV than use the video card's TV out which should be a S-Video connection and some come with a dongle to convert this to a component connection. Unless your card is HDMI you will need an audio ouot via composite or RCA cables to your TV or maybe your soundcard has toslink or a co-ax in which case you can connect one of these to your digital stereo receiver. Just to add if these videos are 1080p than you will need a fairly recent video card that should be HDCP enabled. The best ATI cards for this are the 3870, 3850 and the 2600XT. The best NVIDIA cards are the 8800GT, the new 8800GTS, the 8600GTS. These cards have Purevideo which are best at decoding HD. Almost forgot, some HDTVs have a VGA connection which will also work. Last edited by Vulcan; 12-31-2007 at 03:51 AM.