Re: the DVI to HDMI conversion. This is not too complicated. How depends on what hardware you have. But the starting point is this: the electrical signals for the VIDEO portion of the data are the SAME on DVI and HDMI. So, if you have a DVI output already from some video system (mobo or video card), all you need to get that to an HDMI is a simple adapter plug that fits into the DVI output connector and gives you an HDMI connector instead.
Now comes the slight complexity - audio.
DVI never had any audio, whereas HDMI does. So a "standard" DVI output connector has no audio signals to use. This means you would have to use a separate cable system from your computer's audio output ports to your TV's audio inputs. If you are only using 2-channel stereo, that's going to be a single cable with a 3½ mm tip-ring-sleeve connector on each end. One goes into the audio output for 2-channel stereo line out or front speakers, the other goes to the TV's stereo audio input. Your computer's audio output then needs to be set to 2-channel stereo. At the TV you need to be able to configure it so that it uses the HDMI input for video and the audio input for audio. On my Samsung unit, there is one specific HDMI input (among three total) that assumes the audio input for this port is NOT on the HDMI line and is on the stereo audio input connection.
If your audio plans are for more channels, like 5.1 audio through an amp or receiver, you will need to make appropriate connections from your computer's output ports to that amp or receiver, because the HDMI from the DVI converter plug cabling will not get it there. Likewise, you would set your computer's audio output to whatever you set up.
NOW come the exceptions. Most video cards lately made with ATI chipsets, and some other maker's chipsets, have added 2-channel audio onto unused pins of the DVI output connector, making their designs slightly non-standard. So that form of audio (not multi-channel, just 2-channel) DOES exist at the DVI output of those video cards. IF you buy the correct converter plug, those signals can be put on the right lines in the standard HDMI cable you are plugging into the converter. Hence, in that system BOTH video and (2-channel) audio can be delivered to your TV on the one HDMI cable. Then you need to be sure you plug that into an HDMI port on the TV that does use its audio source from that input. NOTE that not all converter plugs do this! You must be sure that you buy one that DOES connect both video and audio signals in the DVI output to the HDMI lines. If you use this system, then you must configure your computer to output audio that way, too. Usually that means setting it to use the audio output system built into the video card, rather than a mobo-based or audio card-based output.
So, IF you plan only to use 2-channel audio at your TV, and IF your video output system does include the (non-standard) audio signals in the DVI output connector, then you can simply buy the correct type of converter plug and use a single standard HDMI cable from there to the TV. If you don't have that type of DVI output connection, or if you plan to use more than 2-channel stereo, plan on separate audio cables.
