Trying to use laptop as HTPC - Assistance needed :)

[Mohdoo]

Howdy all,

I have recently decided that I want to try to save some money by, instead of buying a new computer as a HTPC, simply use my laptop, a Lenovo T400.

The T400 has a VGA out, and of course a headphone jack.

The TV I am trying to use is a standard definition TV with an input that uses s-video, as well as yellow white and red, then yellow white and red, and then component.

I am running Windows 7 64-bit on the T400.

What is the recommended way to go about this? I have, so far, tried using This Cable to connect the VGA to the TV. I have tried both s-video and RCA. Both individually and together, but all I get is a really distorted awful picture on the TV. I am able to get sound working peachy, but nothing in regards to video.

For a bit more specifics on what I mean by distorted, it looks like the whole screen is moving sideways, it is black and white, and the whole picture is skewed.

I tried setting the resolution to 640x480, but it still did not seem to want to work.

Can anyone give me some tips on how to get this working? I am willing to go out and buy any cable!

Thanks!!

 

[sivart]

Best way to connect it (if you don't have HDMI on your laptop) is to use a VGA to VGA cable. Then you set the resolution of the laptop at the native resolution of your TV.

Does your TV have a VGA (computer) input?

 

[Modelworks]

That cable is made for a specific video card. VGA does not output composite or s-video. If all you have is vga out on the laptop and the tv has no other connectors but composite or s-video then you will need a converter.

The boxes sell retail from $30 to $200 depending on the features. For what you want a cheap $30 box will work.

The cheapest I see is on amazon.

$29 from amazon themselves
http://www.amazon.com/High-Resolutio...1937273&sr=1-8

$19 from a reseller
http://www.amazon.com/VideoSecu-VGA2...937273&sr=1-12

 

[sdifox]

So the laptop's s-video out is no good?

 

[Modelworks]

You cannot just connect the component colors to the vga colors and get a picture. The two signals are not the same. RGB on the computer is Red , Green, Blue color information only, there is no horizontal or vertical sync in the color information.

You can combine the sync pulses back into the green using a circuit that results in what use to be known as sync on green connections. Sony made a lot of monitors that use that. It is still not a component signal. Component expects only the luminance on green, it isn't the color green. Blue is sent as blue-luminance and red is red-luminance. The color green is never sent.

 

[Mohdoo]

Best way to connect it (if you don't have HDMI on your laptop) is to use a VGA to VGA cable. Then you set the resolution of the laptop at the native resolution of your TV.

Does your TV have a VGA (computer) input?

The TV only has: S-video, Composite, and Component inputs.

That cable is made for a specific video card. VGA does not output composite or s-video. If all you have is vga out on the laptop and the tv has no other connectors but composite or s-video then you will need a converter.

The boxes sell retail from $30 to $200 depending on the features. For what you want a cheap $30 box will work.

The cheapest I see is on amazon.

$29 from amazon themselves
http://www.amazon.com/High-Resolutio...1937273&sr=1-8

$19 from a reseller
http://www.amazon.com/VideoSecu-VGA2...937273&sr=1-12

Thank you very much! I will try buying this and see what I can come up with

So the laptop's s-video out is no good?

My laptop does not have s-video

 

[AndroidVageta]

Would something like this work?

http://www.amazon.com/EFORCITY-Premi.../ref=pd_cp_e_0

I could use this info as well lol.

 

[Modelworks]

Would something like this work?

http://www.amazon.com/EFORCITY-Premi.../ref=pd_cp_e_0

I could use this info as well lol.

The only way a cable without a converter will work to connect a vga to component is if the video card maker has the option in the drivers.

 

[Mohdoo]

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to let you guys know that the coverter box did the trick. Everything is working like a charm.

Big thanks to you guys, I really appreciate it!

Cheers!