PC to High Def TV

[tycho]

I have just bought a Toshiba 32" LCD tv and it has a vga connection which supports 1024x768. Is it possible to get a convertor to take the VGA (d-sub?)feed from my laptop and convert it to an HDMI connector and therefore allow me to use powerstrip to set the res to the highest the panel can support (1300x800 ish)All I really want to do is be able to use a spare cheap laptop to surf the net and get email using the telly. I have connected it to the VGA input but get 2 2" bars down the side. I am aware that there is a DVI to HDMI adaptor but my laptop doesn't have a DVI out. Could I possibly use a VGA to DVI and then a DVI to HDMI or would this degrade the signal too much?

[ErnestM]

There are all sorts of boxes, adapters, connectors out there. However, I would caution that you should remember that you are going from analog out to digital in and that there will be degradation in signal.

For the best possible signal with your new LCD, you would want hook up some sort of media centre PC - or - at the very least, a PC with a digital out (DVI) card with appropriate drivers based resolution for your TV.

HTH

ErnestM

[tycho]

It is only a temporary measure and I only want to surf and email. I am going to make a Media Centre pc in a few months when I can afford to do it properly. Just thought there may be a £20 adaptor which would work. The VGA picture is ok but would prefer to have a full screen picture.

[_dobbo_]

If you are getting bars it's possibly because the aspect ratio your laptop is outputing doesn't match the screen.

For example you might have the choice of resolutions

1280x1024
1280x968

These are different ratios, so setting a different one on the lappy might rid you of the bars?

[tycho]

Apparently the max resolution of the vga input is 1024x768 which is why I would prefer to use the HDMI input. The PC which I will be building in a few months will have a DVI output and I will convert this to an HDMI input as the TV doean't have a DVI input.

The HDMI input can go up to 1300x800 ish as it is high def compatible.