How to get computer to play on TV screen?
#1
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How to get computer to play on TV screen?
I know the easy answer is to get some fancypants LCD with 32 different inputs including a VGA, but I don't make a lot of money.
So, I have a Dell X400, a PS3, and a standard CRT TV. Using some combination of the three, is there a way (and by way I mean some cheap cable or converter box) to get the picture from the computer onto the TV? Watching torrents on the computer monitor sucks.
So, I have a Dell X400, a PS3, and a standard CRT TV. Using some combination of the three, is there a way (and by way I mean some cheap cable or converter box) to get the picture from the computer onto the TV? Watching torrents on the computer monitor sucks.
#2
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a video card with S-video output(provided your tv accepts s-video)
or do what I do and run a DSM-520. out for a few years now so you can find em cheap. http://search.ebay.com/dsm-520_W0QQf...itleZdsmQ2d520
try craigslist.
or do what I do and run a DSM-520. out for a few years now so you can find em cheap. http://search.ebay.com/dsm-520_W0QQf...itleZdsmQ2d520
try craigslist.
#3
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video card. If your computer as an AGP or PCI-X slot, you can get a bad *** card for almost nothing.
If you have just a PCI (not eXpress), then you can get a lame *** card for next to nothing. But beware, you may also need to upgrade the power supply too, unless you find a real low demand card.
$30-35 on a card, or up to $60 if you need a p.s. too.
If you have just a PCI (not eXpress), then you can get a lame *** card for next to nothing. But beware, you may also need to upgrade the power supply too, unless you find a real low demand card.
$30-35 on a card, or up to $60 if you need a p.s. too.
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Wait.
I used to play torrent directly off my PC onto the big TV, using an ATi video card with SVHS out. It was ok, but not great. PC video outputs just never look all that awesome to me.
Then I bought an Xbox360. With this machine, using the Windows Media Player 11 "sharing" feature, I stream all of my video from the PC to the Xbox, and use the Xbox to feed the TV (component video) and the amp (S/PDIF) which looks and sounds absolutely wonderful.
IOW, I can't view the actual PC desktop on the TV, but I can directly play the videos that are stored on the PC through the Xbox, which is all I really wanted in the first place.
Does not the PS3 have some equivalent feature? I mean, it has a web browser for crying out loud!
I used to play torrent directly off my PC onto the big TV, using an ATi video card with SVHS out. It was ok, but not great. PC video outputs just never look all that awesome to me.
Then I bought an Xbox360. With this machine, using the Windows Media Player 11 "sharing" feature, I stream all of my video from the PC to the Xbox, and use the Xbox to feed the TV (component video) and the amp (S/PDIF) which looks and sounds absolutely wonderful.
IOW, I can't view the actual PC desktop on the TV, but I can directly play the videos that are stored on the PC through the Xbox, which is all I really wanted in the first place.
Does not the PS3 have some equivalent feature? I mean, it has a web browser for crying out loud!
#9
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Ok, we'll do it the simple way, then.
First off, what is a Dell X400? I can't find anything on a Google search for that name. Laptop? Desktop? What kind of video output port(s) does it have? If desktop, does it have an AGP or PCI-e slot open?
The most basic method, assuming you have no expansion slots and no video output of any kind from the PC (RCA or SVHS) will be a two-part solution.
First, a VGA to video converter such as this: http://cgi.ebay.com/Grandtec-PC-to-T...QQcmdZViewItem
Many different ones are available, this is just an example. Said box will take VGA in and give you SVHS and composite out.
Then, plug that output into an RF modulator such as this: http://cgi.ebay.com/Philips-RF-Modul...QQcmdZViewItem
That box will take the SVHS output of the first box and modulate it to an NTSC RF signal which your coax-only TV can accept.
Frankly, the quality of such a setup will be less than amazing.
EDIT If by coax you mean a yellow RCA jack and not a threaded F connector, then you can skip the second box (the RF modulator) and just use the first box. Still, some details on the PC may lead us to a better solution.
First off, what is a Dell X400? I can't find anything on a Google search for that name. Laptop? Desktop? What kind of video output port(s) does it have? If desktop, does it have an AGP or PCI-e slot open?
The most basic method, assuming you have no expansion slots and no video output of any kind from the PC (RCA or SVHS) will be a two-part solution.
First, a VGA to video converter such as this: http://cgi.ebay.com/Grandtec-PC-to-T...QQcmdZViewItem
Many different ones are available, this is just an example. Said box will take VGA in and give you SVHS and composite out.
Then, plug that output into an RF modulator such as this: http://cgi.ebay.com/Philips-RF-Modul...QQcmdZViewItem
That box will take the SVHS output of the first box and modulate it to an NTSC RF signal which your coax-only TV can accept.
Frankly, the quality of such a setup will be less than amazing.
EDIT If by coax you mean a yellow RCA jack and not a threaded F connector, then you can skip the second box (the RF modulator) and just use the first box. Still, some details on the PC may lead us to a better solution.
#15
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Yup. The MediaCenter app sucks ***, but the MP11 library sharing is pure awesomeness. Frankly, it's about all I ever use my XB360 for. One dedicated PC with a 500GB hard drive that does nothing but run uTorrent and dish media out to the Xbox.
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