help w/connecting PC to TV for DVD's

[GratefullySaved]

Hi guys, and thanks in advance for the help...

I want to watch DVD's on my TV that I play on my pc.

I need your help to hook up my pc so the sound goes to my Denon receiver, and the video for DVD's goes to my Sharp 32" TV. My pc, just for the record, is an XP2100+ w/1 Gig RAM, 4X DVD-/+ RW (cheapie from Office Max) and a Ti4200 video card. The video card has S-video out...so I assume I just need an S-video cable that connects to the S-video on my TV? My pc is currently connected to to a CRT using the analog port, so my other question is this:

Once the TV is connected to the pc, how do I switch from monitor to TV for video signal output?

Most intimidating for me though is the audio...my mobo has audio out, so I assume I just go miniplug from the motherboard to phono plugs to Auxillary In on my receiver....but is that right? And will I get 5 channel seperation? My Denon is connected to two front speakers and a center channel speaker, and I really want the seperation. I have two more speakers in another room that I'll bring to this setup so I have full 5 channel surround, but my biggest concern is keeping Dolby Digital 5.1 output.

All help, links, advice is truly appreciated, and thanks to all that can help with this.

P.S. - IMPORTANT: (I think) The TV is currently connected to DISH network's satellite receiver...does this pose any special problems or change the way I should route my connections?

Thanks again for the help...I'm good with computers and cameras...but this stuff is a bit harder than programming my VCR.

If it matters...my software is PowerDVD that came with the DVD burner.

GS

 

[wizard5233]

Right click your desktop and click properties. Then go to the settings tab, then click advanced. There should be a tab that says displays, here you can change your video output from your monitor to your TV. The computer should automatically detect the presence of your TV if you have the S-Video cable plugged in. Usually its best to set the TV as your primary device for display.

As for sound, the mini to phono plugs to Auxillary in for your receiver is correct. In order to get Dolby 5.1 though, you need a digital out cable from your motherboard to your reciever. I have seen them on the Audigy 2 sound cards, but I don't now if your motherboard has it.

Make sure you have PowerDVD with Dolby 5.1 support, because usually they make you buy Dolby 5.1 support as a seperate Audio pack for around 30 bucks. You can check if you have it if you can change your settings on your PowerDVD from 2 speakers to just purely digital out.

Good luck!

 

[Auric]

Dolby Digital decoding is included in the Standard version. DTS and Dolby Virutal Speaker are the extras in the Deluxe version. In any case, if the receiver has a decoder then the decoder in PowerDVD is not required -simply set it to SPDIF output to pass the signal to the sound chip which itself must be set to pass it to the receiver. Hook up both analog and digital if possible and only toggle on analog for surround gaming.