[coors00]

HI- I WOULD LIKE TO USE MY PANASONIC TC-P42S1 HD PLASMA TV AS MY MONITOR. MY COMPUTER IS GENERIC. IT HAS AN AMD SEMPRON(tm) PROCESSOR 2600+, 1.60 GHz, 480 MB OF RAM WITH PHYSICAL ADDRESS EXENSION. I'M RUNNING XP PROFESSIONAL VERSION 202 & SERVICE PACK 3.
I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.
THANKS

[hulkinator]

First I'd ask that you don't use ALL CAPS when writing posts; it tends to distract from the content of the message.

I'm guessing your TV has lots of choices for inputs (probably the old school yellow RCA composite plug, perhaps an S-Video, and then HDMI). Look on the back of your computer to see if you already have an output type that your TV can accept as input. If so, all you will need to do is purchase the appropriate cable and possibly update your graphics drivers and you will be good to go. If you do not, you will have to purchase a graphics card with one of these outputs. There are also converters to go from a VGA monitor signal to various TV formats; I have never used one and don't know how reliable or expensive they are.

Also note that if you use RCA composite or S-Video, you won't be able to use your television to replace your regular monitor for Web browsing and word processing because the resolution will be far too low. No matter what you set your output resolution to, you won't be able to read it on your TV screen. If you use HDMI that won't be a problem.

[JohnWill]

Get an HDMI to DVI cable and connect it. That will give you the best resolution possible with the combination. Of course, you'll have to see if your video card supports DVI and the exact native resolution of the TV.

[coors00]

Thanks for the information. You definitly pointed me in the right direction. Do you recommend a Video card?

[JohnWill]

I recommend you find out what capability you currently have first. Does your video card have DVI connections, or is it just a VGA

DVI Connection






VGA Connection

[coors00]

Hi John - My video card is a VIA/S3G Unichrome Pro IGP. I found the specs at http://www.notebookcheck.net/VIA-S3G...ro.6947.0.html but I don't understand most of them. However, I have the feeling that I will need a new card.
Thanks for your help.

[JohnWill]

That appears to be a notebook, which probably eliminates most options. I suspect that machine has a VGA port only, so if the TV doesn't have a VGA port, this will be somewhat expensive.

[coors00]

Hi John - It would appear that a notebook video card was installed in my desktop. I double checked the card listed in device manager to be sure I had it right.
Thanks

[JohnWill]

If it's a desktop, you can replace the card if it doesn't have a DVI output. You can get video cards with DVI for $30 or less.