HDTV panels can be connected to the PC using one of the following connection types, listed by image quality order, from best to worst:
- DVI
- VGA
- Component Video
- Separated Video (S-Video)
- Composite Video
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Figure 1: Connectors normally found on a video card.
DVI connection is the best because it uses digital transmittion, while the other connection types use analog transmittion. Thus, if your HDTV panel has DVI connector, use it. If it doesn't have one, use the VGA connector then. If your HDTV panel doesn't have DVI nor VGA connectors, then the solution is using video component.
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Figure 2: DVI and VGA connectors on a HDTV panel.
Connecting your HDTV panel to your PC using DVI or VGA connectors is really simple: just plug one end of the cable on the corresponding video card output and the other cable end to the correct connector on the panel.
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Figure 3: DVI cable connectors.
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Figure 4: DVI cable connected to HDTV panel.
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Figure 5: Other end of the DVI cable connected to the video card.
For more information on DVI connection, please read our tutorial on the subject.
The connetion using component video is more complicated. Let's talk about it.
