How to use a TV as a PC monitor

[Shadowtech]

For a while now I've been wanting to figure out how to hook my PC up to my widescreen TV so I can use it as a monitor. I've done a lot of the research already and it seems like a fairly straight-forward process. The problem though, from the tutorials and such that I've read, is that none of them ever seems to mention the exact type of cables you need in order to do this. I've also read that there's at least two different types of cables you can use. One such cable will only let you use very low resolutions. The other type allows higher resolutions. I believe that type is HDMI, of which my video card has a connection. The TV does as well.

I've tried looking for the cables myself but where I start getting confused is when one cable is listed as "female" and another is listed as "male," some say "15-pin VGA port," while others say to use a "29-pin DVI port"... along with other technical jargon that's a bit beyond me. I'm by no means a computer novice; I've had plenty of experience the last 20 years with them. But the one thing I've never been able to figure out is just which cables I need among what seems like a dozen different kinds.

Basically, my question boils down to this: To use high resolutions on the TV as my PC's monitor, what exact type of cables do I need? Links to the proper cables on newegg would be appreciated, as well as any other useful information you might have to offer.

If any of this info is needed to determine what I'd have to get, here are the rest of my specs:

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 @ 2.66GHz
Memory: 2GB System RAM
Hard Drive: 250GB
Video Card: GeForce 9600GT w/512MB RAM
Monitor: Hanns-G 19" LCD Flatscreen @ 1280x1024
Sound Card: Sound Blaster Audigy SE
Motherboard: ASUS P5N-E SLI

And here's the type of TV I have:

Sylvania 32" HDTV

(The following details found on the back panel)

PC-Input
Audio 10w x2
HDMI x2
LCD Color TV
Model #LC320559 A
Serial #J30883547
120v~
60Hz
155w

[Crafty]

I have a pc that is hooked up to my Hd television and my cable looks like this > Link below.

Just one end of the cable into the computer graphics card and the other end into the Hdmi slot on the television, then your good to go.

http://www.edgetechcorp.com/Repository/ProductImages/0/dvi-hdmi-cable.jpg

[Shadowtech]

Okay, thanks for the pic. Does this mean then that the product I want is called a "DVI HDMI Cable"? (Might seem like a silly question, but I just want to be certain I buy the right thing)

[Crafty]

Okay, thanks for the pic. Does this mean then that the product I want is called a "DVI HDMI Cable"? (Might seem like a silly question, but I just want to be certain I buy the right thing)

HDMI to DVI Cable, Yes

[Shadowtech]

Thanks for the help. It's much appreciated!

[Crafty]

One last thing: I notice on NewEgg that some of these cables say "HDMI Male to DVI Male Extension Cable" and some don't. Is this an important factor?

Do you have a pic of this as I am not sure about this.

[Shadowtech]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=dvi+hdmi+cable

Under the "Specifications" description, a lot of them mention "HDMI Male to DVI Male."

Edit: Fixed the link.

[Crafty]

On the back of your graphics card how many pins are their? The connection that goes to the back of my graphics card has 29 pins, it looks like this > Link below. Them male ones you showed me don't look like they have enough pins.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/images/B000GHQO0C/sr=1-5/qid=1247815923/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=560798&s=electronics&qid=1247815923&sr=1-5

[Crafty]

I would say you need the one with 29 pins for the graphics card, I have 3 different computers and they all use 29 pins.

[Shadowtech]

Here's the adapter I use to connect the monitor to the video card:
http://i29.tinypic.com/29w8m1j.jpg

And here's what the port on the back of the video card looks like:
http://i29.tinypic.com/bi027t.jpg

The adapter has 6 pins on the left and 1 big pin on the right. Both above and below the big pin is another set of 2 small pins.

[Shadowtech]

After looking at the port on the back of the video card, there are actually 29 'holes.' 24 small pin holes on the right, +4 small pin holes and +1 one big pin hole on the left. So that's 29 total, like you suggested. This means then that I need an HDMI to DVI cable with 29 pins, correct?

Edit: I do believe I've found the proper cable and ordered one. Thank you again for your help.

[Crafty]

No problem glad I could help 

[neelchauhan]

If you have a HDMI port, you just need a HDMI cable.
If you don't have one, you can get a DVI to HDMI converter which is included with your card or can be bought in a consumer eletronics store or the internet, and a HDMI cable.
If your TV has a DVI port, use a DVI cable.