How to connect a computer to a TV?

There are many ways to connect your computer to your television, either directly or using file sharing devices. Before you make any purchase, you must consider what you hope to gain from the interaction. Learn how to use your television as a monitor (both with and without wires), and how to utilise your gaming console's online potential.

Using a television as an external monitor

This is the most straight forward connection, allowing you to view your computer display on a television screen. This is a useful facility for watching movies (using your laptop as DVD player) or playing games. HDMI cable
The first thing that you must do is to establish the ports available on your television. If it is high definition ready, then you can probably use a HDMI cable. Otherwise, you may require a VGA connection. HDMI cables optimise output, taking advantage of a high definition screen. However, VGA outputs are not unpleasant to look at, and without intricate tweaking, you may not even notice the difference. Neither of these cables are very expensive, and can be bought at most major retailers for under ten pounds. Manual adjustments Making the connection is fairly intuitive and both machines usually amend their display settings automatically. However, if you do experience motion blurring, low resolution or mismatched screen sizing, you may have to make manual adjustments. Display settings are found in the control panel interface, often under the subcategory “personalize”. If you want to use your computer as a wireless external monitor, then you will need hardware such as the Imation Link or the Netgear Push2TV. These products have the same function as HDMI of VGA cables, but without the messy wires.

Indirect connections

Televisual output Most modern video game consoles allow communication with a computer to provide a televisual output. The Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 both allow file transfers from personal computers, so you can play music and movies through your television. Some games even allow use of your music as an alternative soundtrack. Nintendo Wii The Nintendo Wii allows you to surf the internet as it appears on your computer screen. The “internet channel” is free to download, and could be used to retrieve online files, uploaded by your computer. However, this is an inefficient method of connecting your PC to your television.