VGA to HDMI?

I have a thinkpad t61 from 2007. I just bought a 26 inch westinghouse tv for my dorm. I want to connect my laptop to the tv, so that the resolution looks good and is HD and not crappy when I just use a vga cable. Any cost effective way of doing this to get the tv working as a computer monitor that I can use it to do work on and watch movies on? Here are my computer specs



Hardware

Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 processor at 2.0 GHz
(4 MB L2 cache, 800 MHz FSB, 64-bit CPU)
2GB RAM
15.4” WSXGA+ (1680x1050) TFT display
160GB 5400RPM hard drive with Intel Turbo Memory hard drive cache
128MB NVIDIA Quadra NVS 140M graphic processing unit
CD writer/DVD writer (dual layer)
10/100/1000 on-board Ethernet and 56K modem
802.11a/b/g/n integrated wireless
Ports 3 USB 2.0, Docking/Port Replicator, External Display,
Headphone / Line out, Microphone / Line in
PC Card Slot, ExpressCard Slot, Media Card Slot
UltraNav (touch pad/TrackPoint) pointing device
Fingerprint Reader
Bluetooth
Firewire (IEEE 1394)
9-cell Lithium-ion battery (one-year warranty)

Three-year manufacturer's warranty
Three-year ThinkPad Protection (accidental damage)

Considering the output is VGA...even if you got a VGA to HDMI adapter, it would still appear the same as VGA ... you'd need HDMI to HDMI. Your laptop doesn't have an HDMI port?

[quote04b8c73889="TFOAF"]Considering the output is VGA...even if you got a VGA to HDMI adapter, it would still appear the same as VGA ... you'd need HDMI to HDMI. Your laptop doesn't have an HDMI port?[/quote04b8c73889]

I just realized that I would need a converter box. No, I don't see a fricken HDMI port.

You could always buy a VGA to DVI adapter ... and then DVI to HDMI.

Hmm, I am looking for the cheapest and best solution. I think what you said might be doable. Hopefully DMorris will chime in.

It will look like crap, however. The only best way to see it is HDMI to HDMI. \

[quotee98a6a61ce="TFOAF"]You could always buy a VGA to DVI adapter ... and then DVI to HDMI.[/quotee98a6a61ce]

I was going to recommend this... although it still won't look that good...

[quote507b2c22ef="manOFice"][quote507b2c22ef="TFOAF"]You could always buy a VGA to DVI adapter ... and then DVI to HDMI.[/quote507b2c22ef]

I was going to recommend this... although it still won't look that good...[/quote507b2c22ef]

It would be better to just use VGA then haha. Thanks FOAFY lol.

A VGA to DVI adapter, like the ones that come with video cards, will NOT work to convert to HDMI. HDMI is a purely digital signal. VGA is an analog signal, and those adapters just convert from VGA to [i22c16d9785]analog[/i22c16d9785] DVI. You'd have to actually buy a converter box that converts the analog VGA signal to a digital DVI or HDMI signal. They're not that cheap either.

VGA is easily capable of higher than HD resolution, that's not a problem. If you have a decent videocard, monitor, and cable, you really can't tell the difference between VGA and DVI/HDMI image quality at HD resolutions. Digital doesn't give you a higher resolution, it reduces the potential for interference and electrical noise, and allows for additional data signals to also pass through the same cable, such as monitor controls, DRM, audio, etc.

The potential issue with using VGA on a TV is that many TV's cripple their VGA timings to only support a subset of common computer resolutions, and sometimes don't support HD resolution.

[quote5deb76148a="dmorris68"]A VGA to DVI adapter, like the ones that come with video cards, will NOT work to convert to HDMI. HDMI is a purely digital signal. VGA is an analog signal, and those adapters just convert from VGA to [i5deb76148a]analog[/i5deb76148a] DVI. You'd have to actually buy a converter box that converts the analog VGA signal to a digital DVI or HDMI signal. They're not that cheap either.

VGA is easily capable of higher than HD resolution, that's not a problem. If you have a decent videocard, monitor, and cable, you really can't tell the difference between VGA and DVI/HDMI image quality at HD resolutions. Digital doesn't give you a higher resolution, it reduces the potential for interference and electrical noise, and allows for additional data signals to also pass through the same cable, such as monitor controls, DRM, audio, etc.

The potential issue with using VGA on a TV is that many TV's cripple their VGA timings to only support a subset of common computer resolutions, and sometimes don't support HD resolution.[/quote5deb76148a]


How about VGA to component, are both of those analog? What I want to do is hook up my laptop to the tv and get the best resolution i can. i want to be able to use it as a computer monitor. What is the cheapest and best solution for me?

VGA and component are both analog, but are not directly compatible signals, so you'd still need a converter. If your TV had RGB inputs (BNC connectors), that would be VGA compatible and you could use a cable to convert. Component does not carry RGB signals, it carries luma, red, and blue color components instead.

[quoteb3639e9c30="dmorris68"]VGA and component are both analog, but are not directly compatible signals, so you'd still need a converter. If your TV had RGB inputs (BNC connectors), that would be VGA compatible and you could use a cable to convert. Component does not carry RGB signals, it carries luma, red, and blue color components instead.[/quoteb3639e9c30]

What do you recommend that I could do?

Options are limited with a laptop. If it were a desktop I'd say buy a videocard with DVI or HDMI out. With that TV and a VGA-only laptop, you'd have to buy a converter.

Monoprice happens to make one[=http//www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10114&cs_id=1011404&p_id=4629&seq=1&format=2]make one that will take your laptop's VGA and audio outputs and convert both to an HDMI output. It's only $40, so not too bad. However from reading the customer reviews, you will have to cook up some custom monitor timings to get 169 HD resolution out of the thing, which depends a lot on your video drivers. Since you have an Nvidia GPU you shouldn't have much trouble if you've ever done so. The folks in the HTPC forum over on AVSForum might be able to help or suggest something better.

ah thanks )

vga can handle 1080p. It all depends on how much your video card can handle.

Since you're running a laptop unless the card is a geforce 7800 or greater it'll probably lag running at 1080 unless you have set your fan on super high and have a laptop cooler on the bottom.

Oh and w/ the vga cable attached, right click on your desktop-> properties-> settings tab -> and set up your tv as your sole monitor for running 1080.

try it with the vga cable, it's just as good(click on 1080 to test)

http//www.apple.com/trailers/mgm/valkyrie/[]http//www.apple.com/trailers/mgm/valkyrie/

btw, nice buy. That tv is really nice.

EDIT if you're still having troubles make sure you're setting it at a 60hz.

DOuble Edit ...what Dmorries said, except that I'm pretty sure your lappy ,unless it's over 4 years old, can handle 1080p with vga if you provide enough cooling to your GPU.

[quotefbed65e06f="Iloveipods2"]DOuble Edit ...what Dmorries said, except that I'm pretty sure your lappy ,unless it's over 4 years old, can handle 1080p with vga if you provide enough cooling to your GPU.[/quotefbed65e06f]
Except? I [ifbed65e06f]did[/ifbed65e06f] say VGA could easily handle well beyond HD modes. ;)

[quotefbed65e06f="dmorris68"]VGA is easily capable of higher than HD resolution, that's not a problem. If you have a decent videocard, monitor, and cable, you really can't tell the difference between VGA and DVI/HDMI image quality at HD resolutions.[/quotefbed65e06f]

His laptop is of recent vintage C2D T7300 with an Nvidia Quadro 140 GPU, which is an 8400G/GS optimized for workstation use. It should handle 1080p fine, but it might not be a native timing supported by the stock drivers. He may have to run a custom timing mode, either through an Nvidia tweak utility or PowerStrip if his stock drivers don't support custom resolutions.

My bigger concern, as I mentioned, is that not all HDTV's support VGA modes very well at all. Some limit you to 1024x768, for example. I offered the converter suggestion for that case, and also because he seemed determined to not use VGA.

[quote0131123b83="dmorris68"][quote0131123b83="Iloveipods2"]DOuble Edit ...what Dmorries said, except that I'm pretty sure your lappy ,unless it's over 4 years old, can handle 1080p with vga if you provide enough cooling to your GPU.[/quote0131123b83]
Except? I [i0131123b83]did[/i0131123b83] say VGA could easily handle well beyond HD modes. ;)

[quote0131123b83="dmorris68"]VGA is easily capable of higher than HD resolution, that's not a problem. If you have a decent videocard, monitor, and cable, you really can't tell the difference between VGA and DVI/HDMI image quality at HD resolutions.[/quote0131123b83]

His laptop is of recent vintage C2D T7300 with an Nvidia Quadro 140 GPU, which is an 8400G/GS optimized for workstation use. It should handle 1080p fine, but it might not be a native timing supported by the stock drivers. He may have to run a custom timing mode, either through an Nvidia tweak utility or PowerStrip if his stock drivers don't support custom resolutions.

My bigger concern, as I mentioned, is that not all HDTV's support VGA modes very well at all. Some limit you to 1024x768, for example. I offered the converter suggestion for that case, and also because he seemed determined to not use VGA.[/quote0131123b83]

I did some tests on my friends TV which is one model down, and it supports 720p resolution on the v through my laptop after doing some adjustments. I noticed that my tv is advertised as a 720p, but it also says it can do 1080i which should be a higher resolution, but based on the resolution they give for the tv it seems like it's only at 720p. This seems to be what it is for most tv's out there that are not 1080p. Now it is my fault the resolution isn't perfect on the tv since it doesn't support the high resolutions like my computer (well actually slightly more than 1080i since it is less than 1920 x 1080).

I thought you had said your TV was a 1080p set. A 720p/1080i HDTV only has a native vertical resolution of 720 pixels. 1080i is an interpolated, interlaced mode -- you don't have 1080 vertical pixels. Modern VGA computers don't generally support interlaced video, so with a 720p TV all you can hope to get is a 720p VGA resolution. In that case I definitely wouldn't go to the expense to try and get a digital signal, you're just not going to see a difference, especially since you've already figured out how to get your max 720p VGA output.

You're never going to get better than a 720p resolution on that TV.

[quoteea7b5fd160="dmorris68"]I thought you had said your TV was a 1080p set. A 720p/1080i HDTV only has a native vertical resolution of 720 pixels. 1080i is an interpolated, interlaced mode -- you don't have 1080 vertical pixels. Modern VGA computers don't generally support interlaced video, so with a 720p TV all you can hope to get is a 720p VGA resolution. In that case I definitely wouldn't go to the expense to try and get a digital signal, you're just not going to see a difference, especially since you've already figured out how to get your max 720p VGA output.

You're never going to get better than a 720p resolution on that TV.[/quoteea7b5fd160]

Yeah, thanks for the help dmorris. I realized this. For some reason I thought I could get 1080i. The tv kept giving me that awkward resolution at 1024 x 768 , but I tweaked some things, and I get the 720p resolution when I hook it up. ;)