# How do I output my PC to a TV?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-output-my-pc-to-a-tv/176176>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 19, 2003, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-output-my-pc-to-a-tv/176176 "2003-05-19T04:04:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\
**Post date:** [May 19, 2003, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-output-my-pc-to-a-tv/176176/1 "2003-05-19T04:04:00Z")

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Ok, I have a PC with a NVIDIA GeForce MX420 video card. I want to watch an MPEG on my telivision.

Should I just be able to run a standard RCA cable from the TV-Out jack on the video card to the Video-In jack on the TV/VCR?

Cause it aint working. All I get is a blank screen (I have the right input mode selected on the TV)

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**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\
**Post date:** [May 19, 2003, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-output-my-pc-to-a-tv/176176/2 "2003-05-19T04:09:52Z")

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Look at Display-\>Properties-\>Settings-\>Advanced-\>Output Device.

You might have to select “TV” as the output device.

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**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\
**Post date:** [May 19, 2003, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-output-my-pc-to-a-tv/176176/3 "2003-05-19T04:12:59Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by msmith537 \*  
> **All I get is a blank screen**

Is that “blank”, or “full of static”? BIG difference!

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**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\
**Post date:** [May 19, 2003, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-output-my-pc-to-a-tv/176176/4 "2003-05-19T04:31:01Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Desmostylus \*  
> Look at Display-\>Properties-\>Settings-\>Advanced-\>Output Device.
> 
> You might have to select “TV” as the output device. \*\*

Ah…that seemed to do the trick…thx

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**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\
**Post date:** [May 19, 2003, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-output-my-pc-to-a-tv/176176/5 "2003-05-19T05:14:05Z")

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Now if anyone can tell me how to fix the mild interference (does it have to do with refresh rate?) that would be swell.