# Watching downloaded movies on TV **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 5, 2008, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-downloaded-movies-on-tv/458867 "2008-08-05T01:36:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TazMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f04885/32.png) [@TazMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TazMan)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-downloaded-movies-on-tv/458867/1 "2008-08-05T01:36:34Z")
My PC is over 8 years old, so I’m going to give building one a shot. I’d like to be able to download movies, YouTube videos, etc., and watch them on my TV without downloading them to a disc. Before I purchase parts, I was wondering if any of today’s video cards would be okay or should I be looking for one with certain features. Also, is using the onboard audio from a motherboard okay, or do I need an audio card? What other hardware will I need (cables, etc.). I have an older 27" TV that accepts S-Video, Component and Composite, but I will purchase an LCD TV in a few years. Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Stealth\_Potato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Stealth\_Potato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stealth_Potato)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-downloaded-movies-on-tv/458867/2 "2008-08-05T01:56:25Z")
If your TV accepts S-Video input, as long as you have a graphics card that does S-Video output, you should be able to hook your TV directly to the back of your PC and display things on it as though it were a secondary monitor. This is probably the simplest way of doing it, and since many graphics cards on the market today support S-Video out (such as [this inexpensive nVidia 8600GT from EVGA](http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130085)), it might be your best option. Aside from the card, all you’d need is a standard S-Video cable.