[neilinguis]

I have a dell dimension e520 desktop and i would like to connect it to my hdtv so i can download hd videos to watch on my tv. i have my computer connected to my tv with a vga lead at them moment but i have no hdmi output on my computer. how can i add a hdmi output to my computer?

This post has been edited by neilinguis: 26 May 2011 - 02:38 PM

[smax013]

neilinguis, on 26 May 2011 - 02:36 PM, said:

I have a dell dimension e520 desktop and i would like to connect it to my hdtv so i can download hd videos to watch on my tv. i have my computer connected to my tv with a vga lead at them moment but i have no hdmi output on my computer. how can i add a hdmi output to my computer?

The only way to add HDMI port to your computer is to get a new graphics card that has an HDMI connector.

Does your current graphics card have a DVI port? If so, then the other option would be to use a DVI to HDMI cable. You would still need to use a separate audio cable unless you get a "converter box" that "combines" the digital DVI video signal with the analog or digital audio signal.

Now, in general, that VGA connection should be able to give you HD output along as your graphics card can support higher resolutions. 720p is basically the same as a "computer resolution" as 1280x720 and 1080p is basically the same as a "computer resolution" of 1920x1080. And VGA connections can certainly support computer resolutions that high.

[myloginname]

Exactly what smax said. Just take a peek at the back of your computer. See if you can find any VGA, DVI, or HDMI ports. There should be an extra one, aside from the one currently hooked up to your monitor.

If it is an HDMI, just run a regular cable right to your TV. Very simple. If you have DVI, find a DVI to HDMI adapter online. They are very cheap, and work just as well as HDMI. However, like smax mentioned, you'll need a separate cable for audio, though taht shouldn't be too hard.

Finally, if it is VGA, check if your TV has a "PC" port. Many new TV's have one these days. If your TV has one, hooking it up will be very simple. If not, you'll have to get a VGA converter. Those aren't too hard to find online either. Just remember, you'll also need a standard audio cable.

[LiveBrianD]

smax013, on 26 May 2011 - 03:32 PM, said:

neilinguis, on 26 May 2011 - 02:36 PM, said:

I have a dell dimension e520 desktop and i would like to connect it to my hdtv so i can download hd videos to watch on my tv. i have my computer connected to my tv with a vga lead at them moment but i have no hdmi output on my computer. how can i add a hdmi output to my computer?

The only way to add HDMI port to your computer is to get a new graphics card that has an HDMI connector.

Does your current graphics card have a DVI port? If so, then the other option would be to use a DVI to HDMI cable. You would still need to use a separate audio cable unless you get a "converter box" that "combines" the digital DVI video signal with the analog or digital audio signal.

Now, in general, that VGA connection should be able to give you HD output along as your graphics card can support higher resolutions. 720p is basically the same as a "computer resolution" as 1280x720 and 1080p is basically the same as a "computer resolution" of 1920x1080. And VGA connections can certainly support computer resolutions that high.

Note: DVI is electrically compatible with HDMI - the only difference being that it lacks digital audio and it is a larger (physical) connector.

[LincolnSpector]

neilinguis, on 26 May 2011 - 02:36 PM, said:

I have a dell dimension e520 desktop and i would like to connect it to my hdtv so i can download hd videos to watch on my tv. i have my computer connected to my tv with a vga lead at them moment but i have no hdmi output on my computer. how can i add a hdmi output to my computer?

Hi, Neil.

If you're downloading, rather than streaming, the videos, there may be another and easier option. Many HDTVs and Blu-ray players have USB ports. You can put the video on a flash drive, plug the drive into your TV, and watch it directly.

Lincoln

[LiveBrianD]

LincolnSpector, on 27 May 2011 - 09:20 AM, said:

neilinguis, on 26 May 2011 - 02:36 PM, said:

I have a dell dimension e520 desktop and i would like to connect it to my hdtv so i can download hd videos to watch on my tv. i have my computer connected to my tv with a vga lead at them moment but i have no hdmi output on my computer. how can i add a hdmi output to my computer?

Hi, Neil.

If you're downloading, rather than streaming, the videos, there may be another and easier option. Many HDTVs and Blu-ray players have USB ports. You can put the video on a flash drive, plug the drive into your TV, and watch it directly.

Lincoln

And many of those can directly stream. For instance, I've streamed netflix movies on a Sony blu-ray player. I think the Sony HDTV can do that too (I've never tried it though). Oh, and many gaming consoles and DVRs (not ones provided by cable providers tough) can do that too.

[waldojim]

smax013, on 26 May 2011 - 03:32 PM, said:

neilinguis, on 26 May 2011 - 02:36 PM, said:

I have a dell dimension e520 desktop and i would like to connect it to my hdtv so i can download hd videos to watch on my tv. i have my computer connected to my tv with a vga lead at them moment but i have no hdmi output on my computer. how can i add a hdmi output to my computer?

The only way to add HDMI port to your computer is to get a new graphics card that has an HDMI connector.

Does your current graphics card have a DVI port? If so, then the other option would be to use a DVI to HDMI cable. You would still need to use a separate audio cable unless you get a "converter box" that "combines" the digital DVI video signal with the analog or digital audio signal.

Now, in general, that VGA connection should be able to give you HD output along as your graphics card can support higher resolutions. 720p is basically the same as a "computer resolution" as 1280x720 and 1080p is basically the same as a "computer resolution" of 1920x1080. And VGA connections can certainly support computer resolutions that high.

The only major limitation of VGA though, is HDCP. That is becoming increasingly important these days that your connections all remain HDCP compliant.

[LiveBrianD]

waldojim, on 28 May 2011 - 07:20 AM, said:

The only major limitation of VGA though, is HDCP. That is becoming increasingly important these days that your connections all remain HDCP compliant.

I forgot to mention that! That's only an issue with Bluray content though. Internet content works just fine without it.

Also, I've heard that VGA doesn't look good with high resolutions like 1080p. On the other hand, one of my 19" 1280x1024 monitors uses DVI and the other VGA, and I can't notice any more blur in the text with cleartype on with the VGA one. I can see a tiny bit of blur without it though.

[waldojim]

LiveBrianD, on 28 May 2011 - 10:46 AM, said:

waldojim, on 28 May 2011 - 07:20 AM, said:

The only major limitation of VGA though, is HDCP. That is becoming increasingly important these days that your connections all remain HDCP compliant.

I forgot to mention that! That's only an issue with Bluray content though. Internet content works just fine without it.

Also, I've heard that VGA doesn't look good with high resolutions like 1080p. On the other hand, one of my 19" 1280x1024 monitors uses DVI and the other VGA, and I can't notice any more blur in the text with cleartype on with the VGA one. I can see a tiny bit of blur without it though.

This is not limited to blu-ray content. I found out myself the hard way! The AMD video card in my Sony apparently won't make a secure link, and neither iTunes nor Amazon Unbox will allow me to watch HD content when using that video card and an external TV (via HDMI). Both packages report HDCP as the issue.

As for VGA and high resolutions - that depends 100% on the cable. I have done resolutions on my 21" Viewsonic CRT that LCD panels can only aspire to produce these days (try 2048x1536) and it was beautiful! Nice sharp display, with excellent color... I was so sad when it finally croaked... I got saddled with a crap (by comparison) LCD. Granted the Samsung does ok, but it doesn't even compare to a quality CRT.

[LiveBrianD]

Dang... I didn't even realize those services could check for HDCP! I guess that means problems for me if I ever want to do that with my desktop - the monitors on it are older and were made before crap like HDCP came out.

[waldojim]

LiveBrianD, on 28 May 2011 - 12:24 PM, said:

Dang... I didn't even realize those services could check for HDCP! I guess that means problems for me if I ever want to do that with my desktop - the monitors on it are older and were made before crap like HDCP came out.

Sadly, this is why I have been forced to UN DRM everything I purchase. I know that I shouldn't, but I am left with little choice. Same as the entire blu-ray movie issue. It is such a freaking pain to watch a movie, that I use MakeMKV to stream to VLC. Works every time, and I don't have to play games with three different software packages trying to find one that will actually work for a week.

[LiveBrianD]

waldojim, on 28 May 2011 - 01:35 PM, said:

LiveBrianD, on 28 May 2011 - 12:24 PM, said:

Dang... I didn't even realize those services could check for HDCP! I guess that means problems for me if I ever want to do that with my desktop - the monitors on it are older and were made before crap like HDCP came out.

Sadly, this is why I have been forced to UN DRM everything I purchase. I know that I shouldn't, but I am left with little choice. Same as the entire blu-ray movie issue. It is such a freaking pain to watch a movie, that I use MakeMKV to stream to VLC. Works every time, and I don't have to play games with three different software packages trying to find one that will actually work for a week.

It's too bad the movie producers are idiots... when you DRM things, you'll piss off legit customers, and pirates will STILL find a way around it... have they ever thought of that?

[smax013]

waldojim, on 28 May 2011 - 12:21 PM, said:

LiveBrianD, on 28 May 2011 - 10:46 AM, said:

waldojim, on 28 May 2011 - 07:20 AM, said:

The only major limitation of VGA though, is HDCP. That is becoming increasingly important these days that your connections all remain HDCP compliant.

I forgot to mention that! That's only an issue with Bluray content though. Internet content works just fine without it.

Also, I've heard that VGA doesn't look good with high resolutions like 1080p. On the other hand, one of my 19" 1280x1024 monitors uses DVI and the other VGA, and I can't notice any more blur in the text with cleartype on with the VGA one. I can see a tiny bit of blur without it though.

This is not limited to blu-ray content. I found out myself the hard way! The AMD video card in my Sony apparently won't make a secure link, and neither iTunes nor Amazon Unbox will allow me to watch HD content when using that video card and an external TV (via HDMI). Both packages report HDCP as the issue.

As for VGA and high resolutions - that depends 100% on the cable. I have done resolutions on my 21" Viewsonic CRT that LCD panels can only aspire to produce these days (try 2048x1536) and it was beautiful! Nice sharp display, with excellent color... I was so sad when it finally croaked... I got saddled with a crap (by comparison) LCD. Granted the Samsung does ok, but it doesn't even compare to a quality CRT.

Are you sure that VGA has an issue with HDCP? It is an analog signal, so it should not be an issue. I might have to experiment with my MBP using an VGA connection and playing one of my iTunes movies (which like you I _KNOW_ has HDCP...at least the AppleTV does when playing iTunes Store purchased videos...I can't recall if I came across it with my old MBP or not).

[smax013]

LiveBrianD, on 28 May 2011 - 03:08 PM, said:

waldojim, on 28 May 2011 - 01:35 PM, said:

LiveBrianD, on 28 May 2011 - 12:24 PM, said:

Dang... I didn't even realize those services could check for HDCP! I guess that means problems for me if I ever want to do that with my desktop - the monitors on it are older and were made before crap like HDCP came out.

Sadly, this is why I have been forced to UN DRM everything I purchase. I know that I shouldn't, but I am left with little choice. Same as the entire blu-ray movie issue. It is such a freaking pain to watch a movie, that I use MakeMKV to stream to VLC. Works every time, and I don't have to play games with three different software packages trying to find one that will actually work for a week.

It's too bad the movie producers are idiots... when you DRM things, you'll piss off legit customers, and pirates will STILL find a way around it... have they ever thought of that?

It is not the producers...but more the studios.

And you need to think like a movie studio exec...in their minds, we are all criminals out to steal their priceless movies.

[LiveBrianD]

smax013, on 28 May 2011 - 03:30 PM, said:

Are you sure that VGA has an issue with HDCP? It is an analog signal, so it should not be an issue. I might have to experiment with my MBP using an VGA connection and playing one of my iTunes movies (which like you I _KNOW_ has HDCP...at least the AppleTV does when playing iTunes Store purchased videos...I can't recall if I came across it with my old MBP or not).

Yes I'm sure. On my desktop, with one monitor DVI and the other VGA, looking at the nvidia HDCP settings, it says the one that's connected with DVI is not HDCP compatible (that makes sense, it's 7 years old), but the VGA monitor doesn't even show up there.

smax013, on 28 May 2011 - 03:32 PM, said:

And you need to think like a movie studio exec...in their minds, we are all criminals out to steal their priceless movies.

Or rather we all will be - when we get pissed off at their decision to use DRM and use torrents to avoid it.

[waldojim]

smax013, on 28 May 2011 - 03:30 PM, said:

Are you sure that VGA has an issue with HDCP? It is an analog signal, so it should not be an issue. I might have to experiment with my MBP using an VGA connection and playing one of my iTunes movies (which like you I _KNOW_ has HDCP...at least the AppleTV does when playing iTunes Store purchased videos...I can't recall if I came across it with my old MBP or not).

The analog part is the very problem. The software cannot create a 'secure' digital connection. Break out your iTunes HD movies (in my case Doctor Who) and you will see what I mean.

[waldojim]

LiveBrianD, on 28 May 2011 - 04:09 PM, said:

[/size][/font]Or rather we all will be - when we get pissed off at their decision to use DRM and use torrents to avoid it.

Too many people watching the torrents now... too expensive to get caught. Rent the movie at a RedBox and copy!

Seriously though, the DRM is there to keep honest people honest. Nothing more, nothing less. They want to make sure that average Joe cannot easily make copies of Rocky 5000 and hand it out to his friends in XHD. Only the bad, evil pirates know how.

[smax013]

LiveBrianD, on 28 May 2011 - 04:09 PM, said:

Yes I'm sure. On my desktop, with one monitor DVI and the other VGA, looking at the nvidia HDCP settings, it says the one that's connected with DVI is not HDCP compatible (that makes sense, it's 7 years old), but the VGA monitor doesn't even show up there.

But have you actually TRIED HDCP protected content through the VGA connection? The reason that the VGA connection might not show up is that it is an analog connection. Thus, HDCP does NOT strictly apply at all to it (HDCP is a DIGITAL copy protection...i.e. high-bandwidth DIGITAL content protection).

I am not saying it not an issue. I honestly don't know how VGA would work with HDCP stuff. In the "TV world", they typically don't object to being able to play copy-protected (i.e. HDCP) being played through an analog connection because the analog output is going to be "standard def"...i.e. crappy. Thus, in the "TV world" analog connection can tend to bypass HDCP protection. I honestly don't know if VGA is afford the same luxury since VGA _CAN_ actually handle higher resolutions, which might mean they want a way to block it in case someone tried to "record" that VGA output. Thus, it is possible that they cripple the ability to do VGA output somehow.

Now, that I think about it, I have watched iTunes movies on my 24" external monitor, which I connect by way of a VGA connection typically (I use the DVI connection to connect to my Windows desktop...I can then switch between my MBP using the VGA connection and the Windows desktop using the DVI connection...kind of like a V part of a KVM switch). Thus, I am pretty sure that HDCP stuff (at least iTunes stuff) can play at full resolution through the VGA port...although I will still try to test it again if I remember to do so.

[LiveBrianD]

Are there any free sites with content that you know use DRM? I don't have an itunes account. Also, remember that component video can do 720p and 1080i resolution, which is HD (not full HD though).

[smax013]

LiveBrianD, on 28 May 2011 - 05:28 PM, said:

Are there any free sites with content that you know use DRM? I don't have an itunes account.

Dunno. As to an iTunes account, I honestly don't recall if you can setup an iTunes account without a credit card so that you can download free content or not. If you can, there are free HD TV episodes (mainly just little summary types stuff, but still a few actual full episodes of some shows).

Quote

Also, remember that component video can do 720p and 1080i resolution, which is HD (not full HD though).

Yes...if I recall correctly, this is what I used with my AppleTV with my original HDTV as it was not HDCP compliant so I could not use the HDMI port on the AppleTV. And since all of iTunes stuff is 720p, it still worked just fine (plus that HDTV was only 720p anyway).