Laptop to TV

[CJW]

I was hoping I could get some answers & suggestions for connecting my laptop to my older TV.

My TV can take both Composite & Component.
1. Is there a difference in picture quality & if so, which is better to use?
2. Are there any cables that go directly from the laptop's VGA to TV?

 

[DocBrown]

I think I have seen VGA to component cables on eBay

Not sure what the quality/resolution would be on older TV sets

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Just exactly have you got in the way of inputs on the TV? Me I just hook up with HDMI to HDMI and there is usually some form of adaptor that one can get like Doc said with the cables.

 

[grreatpop]

Just exactly have you got in the way of inputs on the TV? Me I just hook up with HDMI to HDMI and there is usually some form of adaptor that one can get like Doc said with the cables.

I tried that and nothing happened - is there a setting I need to make on my laptop?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ok my friend sorry late reply but just what model Toshiba do you have? as I have a feeling you might need to check out the drivers. To see what they are we need that model number.

If you have a Part No: too it would be really helpful.(see my pic)

 

[grreatpop]

Is this enough info?

TOSHIBA Satellite C855D PSC7SU-007002
System Serial Number: 7C217968Q

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Sorry late reply mate give me a while to check out the specs and stuff.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Now mate I am having real difficulty finding out what ports you have on that machine. It looks like a VGA port and two that I cannot quite work out but look like HDMI ports? but two is really unusual.

Have a look at my pic and if you can I would like to see what the info is that is splashed up for the motherboard and the Video adaptor as again it is very difficult for a reason I am not aware of - to find the drivers or info on that machine.

You need to run HW Info > close the right hand panel and then open up the left hand one and "snip" and post some pics back.
HWiNFO, HWiNFO32/64 - Download < 64 bit version and
to post snips see this How to Use the Snipping Tool in Vista
If you have problems I just need the info but it would be good to see what you have.

By the way did this machine originally come with Windows 8 and you installed Windows 7 with an OEM?

 

[grreatpop]

Here is what the right panel had for Motherboard:
Computer
Computer Brand Name: TOSHIBA Satellite C855D
Motherboard
Motherboard Model: TOSHIBA Portable PC
Motherboard Chipset: AMD Hudson-2/3/4
Motherboard Slots: 2xPCI Express x1
PCI Express Version Supported: v2.0
USB Version Supported: v3.0
BIOS
BIOS Manufacturer: Insyde Software
BIOS Date: 06/18/2012
BIOS Version: 1.30
UEFI BIOS: Capable
Super-IO/LPC Chip: Unknown

And here is what is under Video Adapter:

Video chipset
Video Chipset: ATI/AMD Radeon HD 7520G
Video Chipset Codename: TRINITY2 SCRAPPER MOBILE
Video Memory: 512 MBytes of DDR3 SDRAM
Video Card
Video Card: ATI/AMD Radeon HD 7520G (TRINITY2 SCRAPPER MOBILE) [Toshiba AIS]
Video Bus: Integrated
Video RAMDAC: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Video BIOS Version: 015.015.000.001.000000
Performance
Processor Clock: 338.8 MHz
Memory Clock: 800.0 MHz (Effective 1600.0 MHz)
Memory Bus Width: 32-bit
Number Of ROPs: 8
Number Of Unified Shaders: 192
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_9990&SUBSYS_FB281179&REV_00
Driver Information
Driver Manufacturer: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
Driver Description: AMD Radeon HD 7520G
Driver Provider: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
Driver Version: 8.942.0.0
Driver Date: 12-Feb-2012
DeviceInstanceId PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_9990&SUBSYS_FB281179&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&3&08

Win 7 64 came with the laptop.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ok am going to check out some drivers for those items - I might be a while before I get back to you though so please be patient.

 

[Computer0304]

Component seems to be better for me than composite if HDMI, VGA, or DVI is not available. But you will most likely not notice too big of a difference. If there is no component connector on your laptop, you will need get a converter from the output on your laptop to the input of the TV. You will need an active adapter for DVI or HDMI to Component or Composite because one is digital and the other is analog.

 

[grreatpop]

Thanks. I'll keep this advice for the future if nothing else works.

 

[CJW]

Sorry, forgot I started this post.

ICit2lol:
My TV inputs include:
A front panel composite (Video + Audio L & R) + composite & component rear connections

My laptop is a Toshiba Satellite A665-S5184X
Part No. PSW6U-00E024
The laptop ports are: 4 USB, 1 VGA & 1 HDMI

 

[Computer0304]

Sorry, forgot I started this post.

ICit2lol:
My TV inputs include:
A front panel composite (Video + Audio L & R) + composite & component rear connections

My laptop is a Toshiba Satellite A665-S5184X
Part No. PSW6U-00E024
The laptop ports are: 4 USB, 1 VGA & 1 HDMI

It would be better to use a VGA to Component cable since you will not lose quality since they both use analog. If you use an HDMI to Component adapter, you may lose a bit of quality if the adapter is not good. And, a VGA to Component is cheaper.

 

[CJW]

It would be better to use a VGA to Component cable since you will not lose quality since they both use analog. If you use an HDMI to Component adapter, you may lose a bit of quality if the adapter is not good. And, a VGA to Component is cheaper.

I've looked on Ebay & Amazon & a little confused at some of the listings.
Some say I need a converter box, others say just the cable will do. Which is it?
I JUST want to be able to attach the VGA part to my laptop & the component part to my TV, will this one work for me?

 

[Computer0304]

It should, since since both are analog, unlike HDMI, which would need a converter box.