I just broke down and replaced my 15 year old TV. I had my PC hooked to it with a NVIDIA card and S-video cables. From what I understand, I need to get a new card with HDMI. A search on Newegg yielded nothing with the term HDMI
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Is HDMI just another name for VGA. And then get some sort of adaptor cable? or, is there a special video card? Or, in other words, what should I order from Newegg to hook up my PC?
FWIW, I got a bit over 2 terabytes of movies on hard disk. I want to see dirty harry or the duke on the new tube.
There should be a HDMI port on the back of your comp , it looks kinda wierd , more squared off and with three rows of very small pins - the pins are only on about 3/4 the length of the port . uh , wait , scratch that , you need the card that plugs into the motherboard . Try this page
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this might be what you're looking for . If the link doesn't work ,search term I used was "DVI card" . I buy a buncha stuff from these folks ,but no connection other than a happy customer .HTH--Snag'90 Ultra "Strider"'39 WLDD "Popcycle"Buncha cars and a truck
Karl, New TVs can have the following interfaces (my new LG does) HDMI, DVI, WXGA, normal video, composite video, RS232 and USB2. Please refer to your TV manual for yours. Your new TV is a computer that drives a display. The capability of the TV will be described in the manual in order to determine what resolutions and formats these interfaces will support. All new TVs are not equal. I spent more than 3 months researching this and what I determined is that the manufacturers go out of their way NOT to identify each model's true specifications, because there is a huge difference in real capability from model to model, but when you try to get the specs, the manufacturer states this model is the latest and greatest. Perhaps this is done innocently because their opinion of the general population is that they wouldn't understand them, even if they were clearly stated, but I for one don't believe it. I think their motive is more sinister. Further compounding this is that most of the salesmen are also technically ignorant and cannot answer your questions, even if you knew enough to ask them. I cannot answer your question directly without at least knowing what TV you have purchased, but it is clear that you, like most of the public did not do your homework up front or you would not have asked the question you did. What I can state is that most of the brands use the same screens, there are only a few manufacturers of these worldwide and that their capability is determined mostly by generation. Also the large brands produce TVs for 3 markets Low, Medium and High end. Which model competes in what market is only stated in company books not available to the public. However, even if this is known, it only helps in determining if the asking price is reasonable. Another discovery is that Plasma screens have the best contrast ratio, but the lowest bandwidth and resolution in comparison to LCDs. Plasma TVs consume twice the power and generate twice the heat of the LCD TVs. A further complication is that many of the stated compliances to standards are emulated and not real. Read the specs very carefully. What I am stating is that buying a new TV today is a real mine field and that 1080P is not necessarily 1080P.
On your original question HDMI is a digital plug definition, not a stated performance, as are the other connectors. If you have a 15 pin "D" connecter, it can be VGA, SVGA, XGA or WXGA, these are analog, as are both standard and composite video connectors(RCA connectors). If you have a RS232 connector, it is used for computer control. If you have a USB connector, it is used for displaying pictures from digital cameras on USB memory sticks. As DVI and HDMI are both digital interfaces, they are somewhat similar for video, but not audio. You can find HDMI to DVI cables, but if you want audio connectivity, you will also have to use a separate external audio connection from your PC sound port. On my LG I have 3 HDMI ports, but only one will also support DVI as well. I apologize for rambling on about this, but it is a rather complex subject. I hope I have helped some. Good Luck, Steve
"Karl Townsend" wrote in message news:gasbup$dfn$ snipped-for-privacy@aioe.org...
Unless you are getting true hi-def, HDMI will disapoint you! I have a new 52 LCD with a Blue Ray player. With true hi-def the picture is awesome. Regular/low def broadcast through HDMI cables look like crap! For all around use the best bet is component cables, three cables red/green/blue IIRC, RCA type jacks. You will get a good picture no matter what format the broadcast in in. If you have true hi-def and want the best picture you can get them go with the HDMI cables. Personally I would just go with component cables. My bet you will be very happy with them.
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and
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are good places to buy cables. You can buy certified cables at a fair price. Greg
HDMI is an upgrade to DVI and there are DVI - HDMI adapters.
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Notice that DVI comes in several versions so get a cable that will work with your TV and video card. I don't have a real HDTV yet and can't tell you exactly what you need. I buy this sort of stuff from local computer stores rather than big chains or mail order so I get advice and can return or swap if it doesn't work.
OK, Philips is the same here. The manual shows a straight HDMI connection from the PC as best. As I'm not seeing this option on any video cards, I assume i can only get this with a new PC???
The Philips manual shows option 2 to be 1)DVI video port on PC, 2)DVI to HDMI cable and converter, 3) audio cables from PC speaker port. The manual states this is not as good. But, should I go this route?
I have a 26" HD LCD in my office and view through HDMI most of the time. My large 52" Plasma (3 years old) runs HDMI most of the time.
[ Most means sometimes we view through composite signal lines. ] [ We don't have a blue ray box yet but our Sony DVD/tape Burner provides upconvert and output into composite or HDMI (which we use). ]
When I watch the Weather channel that really has nice High Def both are great. When watching other HD channels it is great. When watching an upconvert DVD to HDMI on the Plasma it looks much better than composite.
What often is the real issue is response time to change. And there is digital tearing on some machines and not on others.
It is very important to understand how the machine works. Watch something that is fast moving - lots of color and shape change. If it can keep up - you will have better pictures.
Some people also watch 'std' TV signals sent by cable or satellite in 1080 or in wide zoom. That distorts pictures. Some TV's are programmed to view only in 1080.
I watch in 4 levels and in I & P modes as the show is generated or transmitted.
Simply - don't downgrade a standard when the source or display isn't set to a compatible level.
Martin
Mart>> I just broke down and replaced my 15 year old TV. I had my PC hooked
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I use HDMI from my cable box. Everything looks great, including standard definition. I bought a cheap HDMI switcher from monocable and feed a Samsung tube HDTV I bought secondhand. When the 1020p HDTV's get cheap enough maybe I'll get one.
Karl, As stated, this is an option. Another option is buying a video card for your PC that supports HDMI. The other options I mentioned depend on whether you have these connectors on your Philips. Your bigger concern should be the resolution the Philips TV supports. Steve
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