HTPC connection woes

tlkaufman · Jul 25, 2013

I used to have an ACER Veriton L460 mini HTPC that I had hooked up to my 46 inch Toshiba Regza HDTV...the motherboard needed replacing so as an alternative, I had a Dell GX745 desktop computer in the basement I hooked up instead. The problem I'm having is getting the screen to fill my HDTV....my Acer had an adaptor on and HDMI cord that converted? the video so that it filled the screen, but for this Dell, the adapter wasn't compatible so I purchased a cord that runs to my PC IN port on the back of the HDTV from the computer's VGA out I think. I tried playing around with screen resolution, etc and to no avail so please help a guy out!!
thanks,
tk

As a side note...talking to the fine folks at Best Buy and Future Shop - one told me no such cable existed to hook up this way while the other says you can order it online...a VGA to HDMI cable. I bought one and hooked it up but I get no picture at all!! lol I believe the connection on the Dell is DVI so maybe that is causing the hookup issue?

thee_prisoner · Jul 25, 2013

I'm guessing that the VGA to HDMI cable you bought only supports a lower resolution. Assuming you want 1080p, you want a cable like this: http://www.dell.com/us/dfb/p/optiplex-745/pd

Happy viewing, the Prisoner...

Wolfshadw · Jul 25, 2013

I think the Prisoner mis-linked. You need to let us know which version of the GX745 you own (Mini-Tower, Desktop, Small Form Factor, or Ultra Small Form Factor) from The Prisoner's link. If you own any, but the Ultra Small Form Factor, your best option would be to purchase and install a discrete graphics card. Something like a GT620 or HD6450 would be enough to handle your viewing needs. Which one to get depends on your budget and PC Form Factor.

-Wolf sends

thee_prisoner · Jul 25, 2013

Oops, I did. I meant to link the cable not the computer. here is the cable link:http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102933

If you are a gamer, you may want to consider a new computer.

tlkaufman · Jul 25, 2013

Oops, sorry - it is a VGA connection not a DVI...lol - posted late at night...the Dell is a refurbished desktop computer I bought online through Best Buy a while back.

http

/www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/dell-dell-gx745-desktop-computer-intel-core-2-duo-160gb-hdd-2gb-ram-english-refurbished-gx745/10222716.aspx?path=02b9a95a252f6113a0bae315dfb2b6d9en02&SearchPageIndex=1

All I want to be able to do is surf the internet and watch downloaded tv shows, movies, etc that I store on my external hard drive and have the image fit my screen...I don't play video games with it so not sure if the video card or VGA to HDI converter is the way to go...please advise and sorry for being completely not tech savvy!! lol

thee_prisoner · Jul 25, 2013

Well, 30 bucks for a cable or 30 bucks for a card. The card Wolf recommended, the HD6450, unless you don't want to upgrade the computer then just buy a cable.

It could also just be the settings on the PC and/or the TV.

Wolfshadw · Jul 25, 2013

Looks like you have the Small Form Factor version of the GX745. This system, with it's 275 watt power supply will accept a low-profile PCI-E graphics card.

The problem you're experiencing could be just a matter of under-scanning in which over-scanning (an option in your display's control panel) could resolve the issue. However, if it's not an under-scanning issue, then it's a screen resolution mis-match issue (PC resolution doesn't work well with TV resolution) in which a new graphics card may be in order (like the ones I mentioned above).

-Wolf sends

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