Noob Qestion: How to connect PC to TV?

jaqian

I want to be able to check my photos on the tv and listen to some mp3's. Not bothered about recording from TV. How do I connect my pc to the tv, what hardware do I need?

I've a Philips Plasma with 3 scart connections. I think it has a hdmi connection as says it HD Ready.

My pc is P4 1.8Ghz with 1.2Gb ram and winXP.

What would be the best media software to use with this setup?

Thanks in advance,
Rob

bazwaldo

To get the TV and PC connected, you need either a composite/svhs/dvi/hdmi output from your PC. What connections are available from your PC from its graphics card?

As for what s/w to use? There are loads of options. XBMC is fantastic and free and is not for recording/viewing TV. Look at the "HTPC Essential and Useful Links " sticky.

jaqian

Would the hauppauge pvr 250 do the trick?

bazwaldo

Nope. Thats a TV tuner card. That takes coax/video input and encodes it. Its does not output video. A graphics card outputs video. Sometimes these are separate cards in your PC, or there is always one built into the motherboard. Your spec is quite old, so it could be that there is only a VGA output (no DVI or s-vhs). Is this correct?

Riskymove

some TVs have a vga connection (like a usual monitor) and thats one possibility,

other cards have a DVI...I use this and i managed to get a dvi to HDMI cable and adapter...works no problem

jaqian

bazwaldo wrote: »

Nope. Thats a TV tuner card. That takes coax/video input and encodes it. Its does not output video. A graphics card outputs video. Sometimes these are separate cards in your PC, or there is always one built into the motherboard. Your spec is quite old, so it could be that there is only a VGA output (no DVI or s-vhs). Is this correct?

Yeah think its regular vga. So graphics card, now I'm getting somewhere

bazwaldo

So check your TV for VGA connection. Unlikely but you could be lucky.

If not, you'll need a graphics card. HDMI output would be your best bet as you have a plasma. DVi/s-vhs are options too but you'll need another cable then for sound. HDMI has video and sound.

You'll have to see what slots are on your motherboard before looking at graphics cards as there are different types and sizes. PCI-e or AGP usually. Being an old PC, its probably AGP but you better check.

jaqian

Okay so I bought a Sapphire ATI Radeon X550 256MB FireBlade, DDR2.

As far as I understand it this card has a DVI-I connection, I'm planning to get a DVI-HDMI lead will this mean I can get sound through my HDMI say when playing mp3's on my pc?

bazwaldo

Nope. DVI carries video alone, not sound. So with a DVI-HDMI lead, you will still just get video. You'll need to use the audio out from your PC to the TV using an RCA cable. Most TVs would have the option of the sound coming from the HDMI cable or another external source.

jaqian

So would I be better off getting a DVI to RCA cable then instead? Would the RCA allow me to access my photo on my pc?

bazwaldo

Your best bet is using the DVI to HDMI cable for viewing pictures/video etc. Then take the audio out from your PC which is usually a 3.5mm headphone type socket and connecting that some the red and white RCA sockets on your TV. So you need a 3.5mm cable to RCA. Powercity/ebay/peats would have them. Should be cheap.

I've had that exact setup running for 2 years before I changed my gfx card to one with hdmi out and it was great.

jaqian

Thanks for the great help Bazwaldo.

jaqian

I got the hardware all sorted: Graphics card installed and cable hooked up to the telly...



Crappy picture but it shows a photo of my son in XnView running on winXP. Now all I have to do is get the software sorted. For some reason XBMC won't install, must try something else.

Must say was great fun surfing the net on a 42" telly

Apologies for the crappy photo