I have a Samsung WS32Z409TQX HDTV with A/V in, S-Video in, Component in, HDMI and Scart.

I have a laptop with S-Video and SVGA outputs.

I have HD videos on my laptop and would like to watch them on my HDTV in their full glory. What cables/equipment do i need to do this, if i can at all, because i assume that just using S-video won't work.

Now i think i may need a DVI output, which i have on my PC, but is there anything i can do with my laptop to watch the high definition videos?

Thanks

You could get a DVI to HDMI adapter

If your TV has a standard VGA connector (many do these days), then you can use the standard monitor output, and that is sufficient for HD content (but not HDCP protected stuff).
Last edited by RobAnt : 27-11-2006 at 01:41

You're right, Svideo isn't an HD capable connection, it's SD only (just like composite......and scart too IIRC?).

I have the WS32z419d (which is the freeview version of your '409 TV).

It drove me nuts working this out but for me it came down to a decent graphics card capable of outputting the HD via the component dongle.
Component can handle all resolutions (but I think there is some industry agreement that it can't carry more than 720p/1080i......which is fine for our CRT HD TV's)

I had tried a DVI - D > HDMI cable and that didn't work, then a DVI-I > Component cable and that didn't work either but taking the signal from the graphics card dongle to component did the trick (I have a Nvidia 6800Ultra card).

There is a long thread on this at the avforums if you're interested.

(one guy there has gotten an aging FX5200 card to work on his Sammy so if it can be done with one of those it can be done on almost anything newer......sorry Allen! )

BTW, stick with it the results are stunning.

(but watch out for low bit-rate HD stuff, it'll look little better than SD stuff)
Last edited by gixxerman 001 : 27-11-2006 at 01:43

Great thanks, just out of interest, i haven't actually bought this TV yet, but i am about to but just trying to sort out what i can do with it ( as you can probably guess from your reply to my other post!) but i have just seen the TV you have, i guess it is much better for around the same price as it is freeview. IS this the only difference if you know. And also i have seen the WS32Z429TQX which i cannot find any specs on, it seems about the same as mine but cheaper, if you could shed any light onto which of these i should choose would be greatly received.

Oh so if the HDTV has a VGA connector, and i plugged cable in my laptop, this will produce a HD video? nothing else needed?

Yep. VGA is HD at high enough resolutions.

Someone else will tell you which, I forget - but I would look for the native resolution of your TV/Monitor (was probably printed on the box it came in) and see if you can set the video card in your laptop accordingly. You MIGHT need to de-activate the laptop's monitor to get the right resolution - it all depends.

- Yeah, freeview and a completely (very stylish) black finish.


- On the US avsforums there is talk about a newer spec with 2 x HDMI & 2 x Component inputs; I had thought that was what the '429 was about but apparantly not.

They also mention (@ avs) that the latest models have a 0.3" longer tube 'neck' to overcome the geometry lottery some have found with these TVs.

(mine is superb but other people have reported dodgy geometry).

It might be worth checking if Currys are still doing this but I got a £20 off voucher, free delivery and a little Goodmans surround sound system thrown in.....which I didn't need and sold on ebay - so mine cost me (net) about £400.
Total bargain.

Good luck.

OK so basically a component will work also? What do you mean by a graphics card dongle BTW?

James, if your graphics card can output an HD signal by the dongle connector then you're in business.

(it's the little round connector that looks like an svideo connection, usually found between the DVI & VGA connectors)

My Gainward golden sample 6800 ultra can do this, it comes with a dongle that has the 3 component connectors as well as an svideo and composite connector all going into one.

I don't think they all can do this though, some G. cards come with a dongle that is only to a 4 pin svideo cable and svideo can't do HD.

But like I say that was what worked for me (and pressing the 'i' button on my TV proved it was receiving 720p & 1080i signals).
Other folks at the avforums had joy with a simple DVI > HDMI cable.