Understanding HDTV Connections

Before you actually connect a PC to your television set, let's discuss the different options for connecting video and audio. First, let's take a look at the main options for connecting the PC's video output, in order of desirability:

     HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) Almost all current--generation HDTVs have at least one HDMI port. However, any television with only a single HDMI port will likely have that port occupied by a set-top box or other consumer electronics device. Many TVs have two, and higher-end models often have three or more. An HDMI connection is really your best option, because it takes care of both video and sound—provided your PC is capable of full HDMI support. We'll get to that a bit later.

     DVI (Digital Visual Interface) DVI is the connector that's built onto most modern video cards. If the TV has a DVI port (in addition to its HDMI ports), you've got a useful alternative, particularly if your PC supports HDCP (High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection) for playback of protected content. The downside is that DVI is rapidly disappearing from HDTVs.

     Component video While many TVs have VGA (video graphics array), component video is generally preferable. Most graphics cards today (but not all) ship with component video adapters. And most TVs have extra component inputs but a paucity of HDMI ports. Component video is a breakdown of the RGB (red, green, blue) video signal, but it does not transfer audio.

     VGA The stalwart VGA connection is last on the list, mainly because support across televisions is pretty inconsistent. Some sets actually do a better job of accepting input from a PC through the VGA port, but many lack the ability to display their full resolution through it.

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