Connect my Thinkpad to a TV?

iamlegend · 12-25-2007, 06:06 PM

Hi,

I have an IBM Thinkpad T60 with an Intel 945GM video card. I would like to connect my laptop to my sharp telelvision so I can watch movies on it. Do you know what cables are required to do this. I need both video and sound to appear on my TV. Thanks. Appreciate any feedback

**johnwill** · 12-25-2007, 07:44 PM

What outputs does the laptop have for video? What inputs does the TV have for video?

iamlegend · 01-17-2008, 04:20 PM

Hi,

sorry for the late reply. for the TV, i have audio/video terminals and a S-video port. There are also "component" video output terminals.

For the IBM thinkpad, there is a VGA out port

**johnwill** · 01-18-2008, 03:29 PM

You can get a VGA -> composite adapter to connect it, it's just a simple and cheap thing.

iamlegend · 01-19-2008, 10:15 AM

thanks for the reply johnwill. I had another question. a friend of my mentioned that the HDMI DVI (TV) component cable or the VGA 25 pins (computer) cable would also do the job. is this a better option? is it compatible? will it provide better picture quality? thanks a lot.

**johnwill** · 01-19-2008, 12:59 PM

Again, it's dependent on the capability of the computer and TV. My HP laptop has an HDMI output, and I've connected it directly to my plasma TV, works great.

What outputs does the laptop have, and what inputs does the TV have? You can't convert VGA outputs to HDMI, one is analog, the other digital.

iamlegend · 01-20-2008, 03:44 PM

My laptop doesnt have an HDMI output. Just the regular VGA output. In addition, I am planning to use this cable with my desktop too. The PC also has a VGA output. So I think the VGA composite adapter is the cable that will work. I went to Radioshak and Best Buy but none of them have the cable.

Is this the VGA>composite adapter that you mentioned:

http://cgi.ebay.com/VGA-to-S-Video-R...QQcmdZViewItem

I just want to be sure before I purchase it online. Thanks a lot.

**johnwill** · 01-20-2008, 04:10 PM

What inputs does your TV have? If it has VGA, you can use a 1:1 cable for better quality video.

12-25-2007, 06:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
iamlegend Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 6 OS: XP SP 2	Connect my Thinkpad to a TV? Hi, I have an IBM Thinkpad T60 with an Intel 945GM video card. I would like to connect my laptop to my sharp telelvision so I can watch movies on it. Do you know what cables are required to do this. I need both video and sound to appear on my TV. Thanks. Appreciate any feedback

12-25-2007, 07:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Microsoft MVP Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 45,508 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux	Re: Connect my Thinkpad to a TV? What outputs does the laptop have for video? What inputs does the TV have for video? __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

01-17-2008, 04:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
iamlegend Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 6 OS: XP SP 2	Re: Connect my Thinkpad to a TV? Hi, sorry for the late reply. for the TV, i have audio/video terminals and a S-video port. There are also "component" video output terminals. For the IBM thinkpad, there is a VGA out port Last edited by iamlegend; 01-17-2008 at 04:23 PM.

01-18-2008, 03:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Microsoft MVP Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 45,508 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux	Re: Connect my Thinkpad to a TV? You can get a VGA -> composite adapter to connect it, it's just a simple and cheap thing. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

01-19-2008, 10:15 AM	#5 (permalink)
iamlegend Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 6 OS: XP SP 2	Re: Connect my Thinkpad to a TV? thanks for the reply johnwill. I had another question. a friend of my mentioned that the HDMI DVI (TV) component cable or the VGA 25 pins (computer) cable would also do the job. is this a better option? is it compatible? will it provide better picture quality? thanks a lot. Last edited by iamlegend; 01-19-2008 at 10:22 AM.

01-19-2008, 12:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Microsoft MVP Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 45,508 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux	Re: Connect my Thinkpad to a TV? Again, it's dependent on the capability of the computer and TV. My HP laptop has an HDMI output, and I've connected it directly to my plasma TV, works great. What outputs does the laptop have, and what inputs does the TV have? You can't convert VGA outputs to HDMI, one is analog, the other digital. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

01-20-2008, 03:44 PM	#7 (permalink)
iamlegend Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 6 OS: XP SP 2	Re: Connect my Thinkpad to a TV? My laptop doesnt have an HDMI output. Just the regular VGA output. In addition, I am planning to use this cable with my desktop too. The PC also has a VGA output. So I think the VGA composite adapter is the cable that will work. I went to Radioshak and Best Buy but none of them have the cable. Is this the VGA>composite adapter that you mentioned: http://cgi.ebay.com/VGA-to-S-Video-R...QQcmdZViewItem I just want to be sure before I purchase it online. Thanks a lot.

01-20-2008, 04:10 PM	#8 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Microsoft MVP Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 45,508 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux	Re: Connect my Thinkpad to a TV? What inputs does your TV have? If it has VGA, you can use a 1:1 cable for better quality video. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience