# What do I need to display computer video on a TV? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 16, 2009, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-display-computer-video-on-a-tv/486081 "2009-02-16T12:47:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-display-computer-video-on-a-tv/486081/1 "2009-02-16T12:47:46Z")
What device would I need to display the video from my laptop to a TV, and would this also include audio? ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-display-computer-video-on-a-tv/486081/2 "2009-02-16T13:22:58Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > What device would I need to display the video from my laptop to a TV, and would this also include audio? If you don’t have video out on your laptop you can purchase a usb device that will allow you to do this. You probably have VGA out from the laptop so see if your TV has VGA inputs. Or you can get a converter (I think) that will go from VGA to RCA or COAX. The sound will need to be routed from the speaker output of the laptop to either desktop speakers (sold seperately ;)) or the speaker input of your TV (if it has one). ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-display-computer-video-on-a-tv/486081/3 "2009-02-16T13:33:44Z")
Also, if you are running vista you have Media Center. You can use that to stream video/TV to extender devices. There are wireless ones for a slow as $120, and of course an xbox 360 can server as an extender device as well. ---
**Author:** ![Gbro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Gbro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gbro)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-display-computer-video-on-a-tv/486081/4 "2009-02-16T14:33:16Z")
I have an S-Video output on my laptop:p ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-display-computer-video-on-a-tv/486081/5 "2009-02-16T16:20:28Z")
> [@Gbro](#): > > I have an S-Video output on my laptop:p Me, too. And for audio you can buy a splitter/adapter that plugs into the headphones jack and then splits into the two red and white RCA jacks. ---
**Author:** ![Gbro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Gbro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gbro)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-display-computer-video-on-a-tv/486081/6 "2009-02-16T16:31:30Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > Me, too. And for audio you can buy a splitter/adapter that plugs into the headphones jack and then splits into the two red and white RCA jacks. When i 1st used my s-video connection I couldn’t figure out why there was no sound:dubious: What were they thinking:rolleyes: