# Windows 7 VGA output to television? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 23, 2010, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-vga-output-to-television/558123 "2010-10-23T20:02:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2010, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-vga-output-to-television/558123/1 "2010-10-23T20:02:18Z")
Our HP laptop has VGA outs. From what I understand (very little), VGA works in a different color space than a television, so a simple [VGA-to-Composite cable](http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882339047) won’t necessarily be enough. I seem to recall that Win 7 has utilities to easily output to projectors, etc. Will this cover the television? The cable in question has both composite and S-Video outs. It’s Win 7 Home, if that makes a difference. (Note to anyone stumbling along this thread later—the linked cable has\* female\* ends. You still need the regular RCA/S-Video cable to connect it to a display.) ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2010, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-vga-output-to-television/558123/2 "2010-10-23T20:22:29Z")
> [@](#): > > Our HP laptop has VGA outs. From what I understand (very little), VGA works in a different color space than a television, so a simple VGA-to-Composite cable won’t necessarily be enough. right. VGA out puts Red, Green, Blue, HSync, and VSync and can be any of a wide number of scanning/refresh rates. Composite video is NTSC or PAL/SECAM which are by definition 525/576 lines interlaced at 59.96 or 50 Hz. The adapter you linked is simply a dumb cable; it can only work if the video card is able to switch its output mode from RGBHV to composite video when it senses the adapter is attached. > [@](#): > > I seem to recall that Win 7 has utilities to easily output to projectors, etc. Will this cover the television? The cable in question has both composite and S-Video outs. no. first and foremost the computer’s video _hardware_ has to be able to do what you need, until you know that then you shouldn’t buy any adapters. what kind of PC/video card and TV do you have? ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2010, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-vga-output-to-television/558123/3 "2010-10-23T20:52:54Z")
Thanks. It’s an “HP Pavilion dv6t Entertainment PC,” with an “Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD”. Looking at a few [hits](http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Graphics-Media-Accelerator-4500MHD-GMA-X4500MHD.9883.0.html)for the card, I’m not seeing any mention of the capability. We got the machine to have a portable workstation when we travel–the TVs we’d be connecting to are those non-HDMI sets in hotel rooms. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2010, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-vga-output-to-television/558123/4 "2010-10-23T22:24:35Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Thanks. > > It’s an “HP Pavilion dv6t Entertainment PC,” with an “Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD”. Looking at a few [hits](http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Graphics-Media-Accelerator-4500MHD-GMA-X4500MHD.9883.0.html)for the card, I’m not seeing any mention of the capability. > > We got the machine to have a portable workstation when we travel–the TVs we’d be connecting to are those non-HDMI sets in hotel rooms. DV6t specs > **[HP® Computer and Laptop Store | HP.com](https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop?jumpid=re_r11662_redirect_ETR)** > > Find a great collection of Laptops, Printers, Desktop Computers and more at HP. Enjoy Low Prices and Free Shipping when you buy now online. Your only video outs are VGA and HDMI. Even if you do get a VGA\> Composite/RF adapter you had best double check that the hotel TV you want to use has accessible jacks. Many in room hotel TVs are made just for hotels and do not have accessible inputs or removable cables. Most better hotels will rent you a multi-media monitor with various inputs for displays.