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Is there anyway to run my PC games on my TV?

PariahKingPariahKing
edited July 2009 in General Chat
I've a Wii and an Xbox, and I'm wondering if I can buy any cables or programs to run what's on my laptop on my TV so my dad can watch me play something like Day of the Tentacle on his couch comfortably?

I ask you guys because you are all super geniuses.

Comments

  • ShaggEShaggE
    edited July 2009
    You'll want a VGA cable. The type depends on the TV you have, and whether or not you want it wireless, but just Google "vga cable" and you'll be able to narrow it down.
  • zmallyzmally
    edited July 2009
    depends.. a lot of newer computers have HDMI ports which just work out-the-box.

    But really, depends entirely on the ports on the computer
  • PariahKingPariahKing
    edited July 2009
    The super geniuses bit sounded like sarcasm, but it wasn't meant to be. Sorry.

    Anyway that was quick. Thanks.

    So I'm gathering I need to 1) check to see if I have these ports on my laptop (I got it last month as a surprise present so it's at least relatively new)
    2) find the vga cable I need

    How can I research if my Compaq Presario CQ60-211DX has this nifty feature?
  • zmallyzmally
    edited July 2009
    if it's brand new I imagine it probably has a HDMI port.. has your TV got a HDMI port? Or an S-Video port?

    If your TV and computer have one of these in it just get the right cable and plug it all in :)

    hdmi_socket_big.jpg
  • PariahKingPariahKing
    edited July 2009
    I am 99.9% without looking it's got a HDMI port (I'd look but my stepmom is watching TV) considering it is also a very new, very large HD TV.

    How totally awesome. Thank you so much - I can't believe all I needed was a simple cord.
  • zmallyzmally
    edited July 2009
    PariahKing wrote: »
    I am 99.9% without looking it's got a HDMI port (I'd look but my stepmom is watching TV) considering it is also a very new, very large HD TV.

    How totally awesome. Thank you so much - I can't believe all I needed was a simple cord.

    A HD TV you say, I reckon it's a safe bet you have one :)

    If you live in the UK check out http://www.ebuyer.com/product/130507
  • PariahKingPariahKing
    edited July 2009
    Nah, don't live in the UK. I'm a capitalist pig from America.

    Hm. Hope these things have stupidly long wires due to the insanely dumb way my living room is set up. Wired ones seem to be really expensive.
  • zmallyzmally
    edited July 2009
    you might be able to get a wireless adapter.. although it could be very, very expensive
  • smashingsmashing
    edited July 2009
    zmally wrote: »
    you might be able to get a wireless adapter.. although it could be very, very expensive

    Not worth it at all. Just plug in the PC and make it into a home theater PC. Watching youtube, surfing the net and playing video has never been easier and better.

    Just make sure you have a wireless desktop (mouse + keyboard) installed.
  • PariahKingPariahKing
    edited July 2009
    Found out the TV (a hitachi 57f59a - my father has an obsession with excessively large TVs) has wheels so I'll be OK. Just researching what kind of cable I'd need that'd work with a new Compaq laptop and the TV at the moment.

    I've a wireless mouse coming in the mail. I plan to play games on the TV mostly. Any game requiring keyboard I'll map to Xpadder with the wired Xbox 360 PC controller I've got coming in the mail. If I find the wired controller cumbersome I'll probably get one of those adapter things that plugs into the PC and use a wireless Xbox 360 controller.
  • JakeJake Telltale Alumni
    edited July 2009
    HDMI --> DVI: http://www.newegg.com/product/ProductList.aspx?DEPA=0&type=&Description=hdmi+to+dvi&Submit=ENE&N=0&Ntk=all

    HDMI --> HDMI: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=hdmi+cable&x=0&y=0

    Newegg might have some good prices.
  • JakeJake Telltale Alumni
    edited July 2009
    HDMI --> DVI: http://www.newegg.com/product/ProductList.aspx?DEPA=0&type=&Description=hdmi+to+dvi&Submit=ENE&N=0&Ntk=all

    HDMI --> HDMI: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=hdmi+cable&x=0&y=0

    Newegg might have some good prices.
  • PariahKingPariahKing
    edited July 2009
    Thanks everyone. I appreciate this.

    Unfortunately I just realized the laptop although new did not come with an HDMI port. I didn't buy it as it was a present and I misread one of the labels on it. Sorry for wasting everybody's time.
  • zmallyzmally
    edited July 2009
    It probably has an S-Video, DVI or VGA port tho
  • PariahKingPariahKing
    edited July 2009
    It apparently has a VGA port. Huh.

    (I am not very computer savvy.)
  • guitarsareboringguitarsareboring
    edited July 2009
    PariahKing wrote: »
    It apparently has a VGA port. Huh.

    (I am not very computer savvy.)

    Well in that case you should be able to get VGA >> Scart but it might be a bit expensive :/
  • PariahKingPariahKing
    edited July 2009
    guitarsareboring wrote: »
    Well in that case you should be able to get VGA >> Scart but it might be a bit expensive :/
    There aren't VGA (laptop) to HDMI (TV) cables?

    EDIT: After calling Hitachi they told me not to do it as it would cause an image burn. Hm. I think I'll save money for awhile and just get a Plasma TV with a VGA output to avoid all this insanity.
  • smashingsmashing
    edited July 2009
    Any other ports available on your TV set? Check if there's DVI or VGA port.
  • PariahKingPariahKing
    edited July 2009
    Neither. Just HDMI.

    I'll keep all of the cool stuff you guys told me in mind and figure out a good plan on how I want to proceed.
  • axelineaxeline
    edited July 2009
    Go control panel - display - Advanced - then the GeForce FX 5200 tab - go down to Full screen video - in that tab you will see Full Screen device - make sure that it is set to Secondary display. Then hit apply and OK.

    Now you can play your video on your TV while at the same time be able to do what ever you want on that computer and it doesn't show up on the TV screen.

    But make sure that you have GeForce FX 5200 card - NVIDIA software.
  • LinqueLinque
    edited July 2009
    That's strange, most TVs have a VGA port, especially high-end ones. But I checked the specs and indeed, no VGA or DVI port, just S-Video, HDMI and Component.

    There's no way to turn a VGA signal into HDMI without an expensive adaptor, so you're out of luck there. You can however get one of these (costs 60 euros in Finland) to convert the VGA signal from your laptop into S-Video for the TV.

    http://www.grand.com.tw/pctv_handview2.html
  • wispwisp
    edited July 2009
    Linque wrote: »
    But I checked the specs and indeed, no VGA or DVI port, just S-Video, HDMI and Component.

    hmm, but s-video might work...some notebooks have s-video outputs and if the tv has it as well, that should do the trick.
    the s-video port looks a bit like a ps/2 mouse port, but they're usually marked with a small "video out" icon....aaand the pins are totally different.:D
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