Viewing a PC on a large screen

[thekitchendesigner]

Was quite disappointed today when i hooked the laptop up to a 37" LCD TV. I could only get it to work using an S-Video cable (which not all laptops have), rather than the monitor cable i bought to do it! Anyone know why this is?

When i got it running, i changed the resolution so it fitted the screen nicely, but i wasnt happy. My CAD software looked 'ok', and the letters/menus were blurry and hard to read, couldnt seem to find a way round this.

I was really hoping to present all my designs on a 37 incher in my new showroom, but after today, not sure if it looks good enough!

What will give the best, or better results??? The TV i was going to purchase was just under £400 so whatever option i use it would need to be around or under this price.

Any suggestions? I really do want to present on a large screen, and it would have been great to have a DVD/The TV on in the showroom when i wasnt using it to present

 

[asonda]

The TV obviously has a VGA connection then? That is purely down to a setting on the laptops part if that wasn't working... If you post what laptop you have, at least then I could guide you through a few of the settings. my Intel Graphics system, Over rides the built in windows settings for external devices...so there are a few ways to go about it!

 

[thekitchendesigner]

Yep, it had a VGA. I've got a 4 year old Acer Travelmate 290, and i also tried it with my year old Acer (basic model).

Did discover afterwards a much bigger range for resolution in the display properties, ranging from 640 x 480 - 2048 - 1536.

I found this afterwards, as i was using the first option(s) which gave either 800 x 600 or 1024 x 768.

 

Has it improved now that you have set the higher resolution ??

 

[thekitchendesigner]

Havent been able to try it as yet

 

[thekitchendesigner]

Can a large format LCD/TFT monitor like this one:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/131064

Be used as a TV or to play DVD's using the HDMI connections?

 

[andysv1k]

Did you get a connection from the VGA?

most laptops need their VGA output switching on, usually a keyboard shortcut.

is it a VGA connection on your screen too?

Do you have a DVI connection available?

Andy.

 

[andysv1k]

Can a large format LCD/TFT monitor like this one:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/131064

Be used as a TV or to play DVD's using the HDMI connections?

well it has a vga conn too so you could use that, or..

if you have a DVI on your laptop, you can convert to HDMI. if you need one, i have them on my ebay shop

www.sound-designs.co.uk/shop.html

Andy.

 

[thekitchendesigner]

My laptop switches from screen to monitor by pressing 'fn' along with 'CRT/LCD' but this didnt work

Both laptop & TV have a VGA connection

 

[thekitchendesigner]

Doubt my laptop would have DVI, how would i check?

 

[andysv1k]

My laptop switches from screen to monitor by pressing 'fn' along with 'CRT/LCD' but this didnt work

Both laptop & TV have a VGA connection

Assuming you have the TV set to the correct input, usually called "computer" or "VGA" it should work ok, the only thing is if you have the resolution set beyond what the screen can display, this could include the frequency.

set the resolution to 800x600 and 50Hz

that should be a good starting point.

Andy.

 

[andysv1k]

Doubt my laptop would have DVI, how would i check?

its usually a white connector, rectangular looks like this...

http://i12.ebayimg.com/07/i/000/af/78/65f2_2.JPG

this is obviously one of the adapters, but the connector will look like just the gold edge of it.

hope that link works!

Andy.

 

[thekitchendesigner]

Na, havent got one of those

 

[andysv1k]

Stick to the VGA then, that should give you decent resolution.

Not too sure why its not working for you, difficult without seeing it. keep playing with the settings i guess!

Do you have a monitor you can try it on, this would rule out the laptop and the cable.

Andy.

 

[thekitchendesigner]

Going back to try again tonight - so basically if i switch to the option where i have more options to change the resolution (rather than 2 options) i stand a chance of getting it to work?

How do i find out what the resolution of the TV is, and what if the options i have for resolution dont exactly match that of the TV?

 

If you bought the Hannspree 37" then your maximum res is 1366 x 768.

Set both to that and let us know the results.

 

[thekitchendesigner]

Gonna try it the Sharp 37" again tonight, and providing i can get it to work, see what it looks like.

Doesnt look like the laptop has 1366 x 768, nearest is 1400 x 1050 or 1280 x 768.

 

[thekitchendesigner]

Got it to work eventually, thank god!

Tried all resolutions....nothing.

Seemed that there were 2 'settings' on the TV for the VGA port, one worked, one didnt! Didnt even need to alter the resolution in the end!!