Best Computer (VGA) to HDTV Options (1 Viewer)

[ebresie]

Okay, I have an older Toshiba Laptop (see specs at the bottom of this post) and newer HD Projection TV with DLP (see listing below for local list).

I don't have a DVI or HDMI output from my laptop.

What would be the best option for hooking up my Computer to my HDTV to give me the best quality of audio and video?


The only options I see are the VGA and the TV-Out.

The TV-Out seems to have only two connections (one for audio and one for video), which leads me to believe I won't get as good a video (no RGB) or audio (mono I guess) out. I suspect for the HD video this would be an option, but may not prove the best output from my computer.

This leads me to want to look into the VGA out.

I was thinking maybe a VGA to DVI converter cable, with a DVI to HDMI but I am uncertain how that would degrate the signal, plus I don't believe that would handle the audio. If I went this route, would I need to use the DVI-I to allow it to handle the Analog signal or is this an example of a DVI-D capable situation?

I've heard of some "transcoders" which takes VGA to HDMI, but these not only seem to be a little more expensive then I was planning, but I'm not sure if this is the best option either. If this is the best option, what are the better "transcoders" to select from?

To avoid any video or audio loss and get the best performance for HD purposes, what is the advisable way of hooking up my computer.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Eric


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Laptop Specs:
=========================================
Graphics/Video
• Toshiba Personal Theatre 15.0” SXGA+ active-matrix display;
internal display supports up to 16M colors at 1400 x 1050
• NVIDIA GeForce4 440 Go graphics controller; 32MB 220MHz
DDR external video memory
• 3D Graphics Accelerator, AGP bus support; 2D Graphics
Accelerator, BitBLT hardware, Hardware cursor, Direct Draw
support
• External Color Support/Refresh Rate:
800 x 600; 100Hz Non-Interlaced @16M
1024 x 768; 100Hz Non-Interlaced @16M
1280 x 1024; 100Hz Non-Interlaced @16M
1600 x 1200; 85Hz Non-Interlaced @16M
1920 x 1440; 60Hz Non-Interlaced @16M
2048 x 1536; 60Hz Non-Interlaced @16M
Input Devices

Ports
• RGB (monitor) port
• 3 Universal Serial Bus ports
• TV-Out (NTSC/PAL output; 3.5mm mini jack, bundled RCA
conversion cable)
• S/P DIF – headphone port (integrated to S/P DIF), Dolby AC3 Digital support (S/P DIF Optical)
• I.Link (IEEE 1394) port

Sound
• Yamaha YMF753 Codec Chip
• 16-bit stereo, Windows Sound System Ver. 2.0; SoundBlaster
Pro compatible (in DOS box only)
• Built-in harman/kardon Stereo Speakers with subwoofer
• 3D sound support with HRTF 3D positional audio; Direct 3D
Sound (supported by sound driver); Hardware acceleration for
DirectSound and DirectMusic; Full Duplex and MIDI (play back)
support, 64 voices
• Sound Volume (by Dial)
• Ports: External Microphone port, headphone port (integrated to
S/P DIF), Line-in port, Line-out (unified with TV-Out), Dolby AC3
Digital support (S/P DIF Optical)

TV Specs:
=========================================
Rear:
3 x Component video input (RCA phono x 3)
2 x S-Video input (4 pin mini-DIN)
2 x Composite video/audio input (RCA phono x 3)
2 x Audio input (RCA phono x 2)
1 x Audio output (RCA phono x 2)
1 x Composite video/audio output (RCA phono x 3)
2 x G-Link Interface (19 pin HDMI Type A)
2 x HDMI input (4 pin FireWire)
2 x IEEE 1394 (FireWire/i.LINK) (F connector)
2 x RF input (RCA phono)
1 x Digital audio output (coaxial) (4 pin mini-DIN)

Front:
1 x S-Video input (4 pin FireWire) - Front
1 x IEEE 1394 (FireWire/i.LINK) (RCA phono x 3) - Front
1 x Composite video/audio input - Front

 

[John Lloyd]

Try an RGB->component transcoder.

They are available at www.copperbox.com as well as other places. I see some there for around $100.