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Laptop -> TV

i n c u b u si n c u b u s Registered User regular
edited May 2009 in Help / Advice Forum
Please forgive me if this question is extremely easy but I have no experience in this area. I just want to know if it's possible and if so how to connect my macbook to my tv. I pretty much am just tired of watching extended videos and movies on a small screen. My tv is somewhat like this model (link) but I'm not sure if thats the exact one. Any help?

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Posts

  • FiggyFiggy Fighter of the night man Champion of the sunRegistered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Can't tell you for sure without the exact model of your TV, but chances are this is an easy process.

    Your macbook has a DVI output on it, on the right side. If your TV has that same port in the back, you just need a DVI-DVI cable to link the two. Then, just set your TV to "DVI," the same way you switch to any other input (from TV, to DVD, to your console, whatever).

    The cables can get pricey because of absurd markups, but you can find them for a couple bucks online.

    Edit: Your sound will still come out of the laptop, so you'll need to output that somewhere else if you want. If you have a home theatre system, that should be an easy process as well. You can go from your output jack on the laptop to RCA inputs on your TV or your receiver. Have fun!

    Figgy on
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  • RUNN1NGMANRUNN1NGMAN Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    If your TV doesn't have a DVI input, you can also get DVI -> HDMI cables. You'll still need a audio line out to something so that you can hear the video.

    RUNN1NGMAN on
  • KalTorakKalTorak One way or another, they all end up in the Undercity.Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    If you have a marginally old TV that only has composite connections (the Red-White-Yellow guys) or S-Video, Apple sells an adapter that goes DVI-> Composite and S-Video, I think it's $19 on their website. You can run a composite (or s-video) cable from that to the TV, you'll probably get the best image by going into your System Preferences -> Displays and hitting "Turn on Mirroring."

    For sound, get a cord with 1/8" headphone-style plug on one end and the Red-White RCA cables on the other end - connect the headphone jack on your laptop to the Red and White plugs on your TV next to the yellow one you plugged in above, you should be good.

    KalTorak on
  • i n c u b u si n c u b u s Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    KalTorak wrote: »
    If you have a marginally old TV that only has composite connections (the Red-White-Yellow guys) or S-Video, Apple sells an adapter that goes DVI-> Composite and S-Video, I think it's $19 on their website. You can run a composite (or s-video) cable from that to the TV, you'll probably get the best image by going into your System Preferences -> Displays and hitting "Turn on Mirroring."

    For sound, get a cord with 1/8" headphone-style plug on one end and the Red-White RCA cables on the other end - connect the headphone jack on your laptop to the Red and White plugs on your TV next to the yellow one you plugged in above, you should be good.

    I actually have the second cable connection you listed, I use it to play my iPod through my guitar amps. I guess I'll have to wait until I get home to check and see just what my TV has on the side. It is only about a year old so I figure it'd be capable of connecting somehow.

    i n c u b u s on
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  • FiggyFiggy Fighter of the night man Champion of the sunRegistered User regular
    edited May 2009
    If it an HDTV, chances are you have DVI.

    03dvi_d-box-l.jpg

    Not to be confused with VGA

    vga_port.jpg

    Figgy on
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  • i n c u b u si n c u b u s Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    It def is an HDTV, I appreciate all the help guys. I guess I'll have to pick a cable up next time I'm in Best Buy or something.

    i n c u b u s on
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  • FiggyFiggy Fighter of the night man Champion of the sunRegistered User regular
    edited May 2009
    i n c u b u s wrote: »
    It def is an HDTV, I appreciate all the help guys. I guess I'll have to pick a cable up next time I'm in Best Buy or something.

    NO. BAD!

    Unless you want to spend $60 instead of $6, order online.

    Figgy on
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  • i n c u b u si n c u b u s Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Figgy wrote: »
    i n c u b u s wrote: »
    It def is an HDTV, I appreciate all the help guys. I guess I'll have to pick a cable up next time I'm in Best Buy or something.

    NO. BAD!

    Unless you want to spend $60 instead of $6, order online.

    Good catch!

    i n c u b u s on
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  • KalTorakKalTorak One way or another, they all end up in the Undercity.Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Monoprice! Monoprice!

    www.monoprice.com

    !

    KalTorak on
  • saint2esaint2e Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Was just popping into this thread to say MONOPRICE MONOPRICE!

    saint2e on
    banner_160x60_01.gif
  • TL DRTL DR Not at all confident in his reflexive opinions of thingsRegistered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Another vote for Monoprice. You will save 90%.

    Look at the TV, since it's new it will have DVI, VGA, or HDMI. If you were doing an older TV, you'd have to go S-Video (composite is iffy, not all video cards support it).

    TL DR on
  • CrashtardCrashtard Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Figgy wrote: »
    i n c u b u s wrote: »
    It def is an HDTV, I appreciate all the help guys. I guess I'll have to pick a cable up next time I'm in Best Buy or something.

    NO. BAD!

    Unless you want to spend $60 instead of $6, order online.

    I was just going to say the same thing, because this is almost literally my experience of mono vs BB. Got the cable I needed for like 80% less at mono. I'm so glad people here suggested it.

    Crashtard on
    Robert Khoo wrote: »
    I pinky swear that we will not screw you.

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  • FiggyFiggy Fighter of the night man Champion of the sunRegistered User regular
    edited May 2009
    When I worked there I nabbed a bunch and gave em to friends. We got stuff at cost + 10%. That $60 DVI cable? $6.20. Even the Monster brand was marked up just as hideously. I got a $200 power bar for $12.

    Figgy on
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  • i n c u b u si n c u b u s Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Thank you for the site recommendation guys, I check my TV when I got home last night and it looks like it only has the blue port at the bottom of the post above so its a VGA?

    i n c u b u s on
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  • CrashtardCrashtard Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Sounds like it's definitely just a VGA. I can't imagine that a year old TV only has a VGA input. That just seems crazy to me.

    Crashtard on
    Robert Khoo wrote: »
    I pinky swear that we will not screw you.

    Crashtard.jpg
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