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#1 2011-10-29 10:33:19

phunni
Member
From: Bristol, UK
Registered: 2003-08-13
Posts: 768

Need help connecting my laptop to my TV

As I've posted in some other threads, I'd like to connect my laptop to my TV.  My laptop is a Lenovo Thinkpad X201 and my TV is a Panasonic TX-L32C3B 720p HD TV

The only display output on my laptop is a VGA port and the TV does not have a VGA input.  I bought a VGA to SCART connector, which didn't work - see here: https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=129032

The TV has the following inputs:

HDMI Input/ Support Feature    2 (rear)/ Audio Return Channel (Input 2)
Composite Video Input    AV2: RCA phono type x 1 (rear)
Component Video Input    RCA phono type x 1 set (rear)
Audio Input (HDMI, PC, Composite, Component)    RCA phono type x 1 set (rear)
21-Pin Input/Output    AV1: AV In/Out, RGB In, Q-Link (rear)
LAN Port    yes

The LAN port is purely for firmware updates and cannot be used to find media on the network.


I've also looked at USB to video options, but I'm told they will be too slow for video.

Is there a solution that I haven't thought of?  Or is it simply going to be impossible to me to connect my laptop with my TV?

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#2 2011-10-29 12:33:36

hokasch
Member
Registered: 2007-09-23
Posts: 1,461

Re: Need help connecting my laptop to my TV

If it works at all, it will surely be quite hackish... The first links here should get you an idea.

EDIT: Also had this here: http://www.nexusuk.org/projects/vga2scart/

Last edited by hokasch (2011-10-29 12:38:14)

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#3 2011-11-01 12:49:20

phunni
Member
From: Bristol, UK
Registered: 2003-08-13
Posts: 768

Re: Need help connecting my laptop to my TV

Thanks for the reply - hacking together some sort of converter seems a little beyond my skills at this point...

Hopefully this doesn't mean that the idea is dead in the water - although I'm guessing it does...

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#4 2011-11-01 12:52:04

phunni
Member
From: Bristol, UK
Registered: 2003-08-13
Posts: 768

Re: Need help connecting my laptop to my TV

It looks like too expensive an option, but would a VGA to HDMI converter such as this one: http://www.ebuyer.com/227474-startech-c … vgahd2hdmi work?

Obviously HDMI is capable of much better results than VGa, so it seems like a waste to use HDMI, but if there is no other way...

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#5 2011-11-01 12:54:34

Gusar
Member
Registered: 2009-08-25
Posts: 3,605

Re: Need help connecting my laptop to my TV

Only 82 pounds? Interesting, these things usually cost more than a whole TV. You could try with that, but honestly, if I were you, I'd buy a new TV. Sell this one, buy another that has VGA input. Or buy a new laptop, but I think the "sell old tv, buy a new one" scenario will be cheaper.

Last edited by Gusar (2011-11-01 12:57:14)

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#6 2011-11-01 12:57:36

phunni
Member
From: Bristol, UK
Registered: 2003-08-13
Posts: 768

Re: Need help connecting my laptop to my TV

The TV is too new - and the laptop too expensive to seriously consider replacing.  Especially since they both cost way more than that adapter.  Trouble is that I really don't want to spend more money on something that I'm not certain will work - after doing exactly that with the VGA - SCART adapter...

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#7 2011-11-01 12:58:02

RichAustin
Member
From: Wakefield, Yorkshire, England
Registered: 2011-07-27
Posts: 186

Re: Need help connecting my laptop to my TV

I connect mine via XBox 360 using a program called uShare https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/UShare and it works brilliantly. However, I don't suppose you have an XBox or PS3, so you do actually have an option which is a VGA to HDMI converter. This is just one link I found for one http://www.amazon.co.uk/HDfury-1080P-HD … B000SOPWS8

It's fairly reasonable price, £57.80, I suppose if it works okay. You could always buy one and if it doesn't do what you want just send it back and get a refund.

Last edited by RichAustin (2011-11-01 13:00:08)

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#8 2011-11-01 13:02:36

phunni
Member
From: Bristol, UK
Registered: 2003-08-13
Posts: 768

Re: Need help connecting my laptop to my TV

I don't have an XBoxor PS3 unfortunately.  I spotted this though: http://www.amazon.co.uk/KanaaN-Audio-HD … omputers_3 and am quite tempted - although, again, nervous of buying without being sure...

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#9 2011-11-05 12:23:11

phunni
Member
From: Bristol, UK
Registered: 2003-08-13
Posts: 768

Re: Need help connecting my laptop to my TV

OK - so I bought the KanaaN VGA-HDMI mentioned in the last post and it works! It's a tiny bit fuzzy, but far from awful - especially when watching videos, which is what I wanted this for. The graphics performance, when working with multiple displays is far from perfect.

Can anyone give me some tips on the best way to disable the laptop monitor and also any tips on improving performance?

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