Connecting Your Computer to a TV

LCD or Plasma Televisions used as computer monitors with DVI-HMDI
© Chad Criswell

Oct 20, 2007

For day to day tasks the standard 19in LCD monitor on your desk works just fine. But what if you want to play your favorite video game in giant screen glory? Here's how.
Connecting your computer to your LCD or Plasma television has never been easier. There are a host of products on the market today that work together with your existing system to allow you to play games, watch movies, and view web content in the giant screen glory of your living room's television set.

There was a time when such conversion from computer to TV left quality behind, but with the current conversion from analog to digital television signals, moving images to the big screen is no longer a matter of give and take.

Options for Displaying Computer Video on an LCD or Plasma TV
The main options for displaying digital images from your computer on your new Hi-Definition LCD or Plasma are quite commonly available in stores world-wide. The first, and easiest, method of displaying computer video on your television is to have a computer with a video card that is capable of DVI output. DVI outputs have been around on video cards for several years now, and all are capable of sending out high quality signals that your HDTV can interpret without the need for any conversion. To connect the two devices you will need a DVI to HDMI cable, and as with all cables be prepared to pay a lot for them.

Wireless Video to Your Television
One issue with long runs of DVI/HDMI cable is the obvious cost of the materials. The other is the cost to hide the wiring from view. If drilling holes and pulling cable do not appeal to you consider a wireless alternative. The InternetVue from Addlogix is a wireless PC to TV converter that transmits the video signal from your computer to the LCD or Plasma TV. The quality will not be as good as a DVI connection, but the unit does support component video (the various colors are separated onto different wires leading to a clearer, more accurate picture). The InternetVue uses your computer's built in or add-on 802.11b/g wi-fi connection to send the data out to the receiver which you mount within reach of your television.

Other Options for Computer to Television Video Transfer
Both of the above options require you to have some capability built into your computer already in the form of DVI outputs or a Wi-Fi connection. There are other alternatives available including products which convert standard VGA outputs from your computer to HDMI inputs at your television. Products such as the GradTech GHV-2000 can convert VGA video up to as high as 720p resolutions for your HDTV. In addition to not needing any new hardware for your computer this option also allows you to use less expensive VGA cables for part of the run from computer to television.

There are many more options available to consumers that want to display computer video on their LCD or Plasma television, but few compare to the quality available through a straight DVI-HMDI connection.