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I have a Dell Inspiron 9400 laptop with some kind of dvi out (as well as a normal vga out). Can anyone tell me what cable I need to buy to hook it up to my HD tv ?

Some Kind of dvi out, you mean a dvi out? All you need is dvi to hdmi cable, Have one myself for my macbook pro to the hdtv, easy to get
http://www.tvcables.co.uk/cgi-bin/tvcables/scan/ml=6/sf=category/se=HDMI/se=to/se=DVI/se=Cables/tf=sale_price/to=n.html
http://www.maplin.co.uk/free_uk_delivery/HDMI-DVI_Cables_43457/HDMI-DVI_Cables_43457.htm

I dont know if its DVI, HDMI, HD-DVI-MD-DI squared. It just looks like a DVI type connector. Can you find out what it is has ?

Quote from: SamI dont know if its DVI, HDMI, HD-DVI-MD-DI squared. It just looks like a DVI type connector. Can you find out what it is has ?

If that is it then
http://www.maplin.co.uk/free_uk_delivery/HDMI-DVI_Cables_43457/HDMI-DVI_Cables_43457.htm Sort of cable as above is what you want

Sam - has the TV not got a vga in? Thought most HDTVs had them.

My XPS has a HDMI output.
Take a piccy of the connections and well probably be better able to tell exactly what you need.

Nexus picture is spot on.

Quote from: RivkidSam - has the TV not got a vga in? Thought most HDTVs had them.

Yes but doesnt that kinda defeat the point of having these better connections ?

Quote from: neXus

Quote from: SamI dont know if its DVI, HDMI, HD-DVI-MD-DI squared. It just looks like a DVI type connector. Can you find out what it is has ?

If that is it then
http://www.maplin.co.uk/free_uk_delivery/HDMI-DVI_Cables_43457/HDMI-DVI_Cables_43457.htm Sort of cable as above is what you want

Pricey then !

(I really didnt see that picture the first 3 times I read this thread :o)

You can get DVI -> HDMI cables for a lot cheaper from eBay. I paid about £5 inc p&p for a 3m gold plated one to run from my HTPC to my TV.

Radioshack will no doubt have something to help ;)

Quote from: Sam

Quote from: neXus

Quote from: SamI dont know if its DVI, HDMI, HD-DVI-MD-DI squared. It just looks like a DVI type connector. Can you find out what it is has ?

If that is it then
http://www.maplin.co.uk/free_uk_delivery/HDMI-DVI_Cables_43457/HDMI-DVI_Cables_43457.htm Sort of cable as above is what you want

Pricey then !

Just what I got link wise so you know what your looking for, like Nimrod said - ebay is good for cheap cables but good quality but note about hdmi.


There are £40 or stupid price uber gold special coated hdmi cables being sold and countless places have done tests to see the difference between them and £5 - nothing, and like nimrod said you can get gold coated ones for that price anyway.

$30 in radioshack.
Am I right in thinking the dvi is the bigger one?

Yeah DVI is the bigger white one.

Quote from: Sam

Quote from: RivkidSam - has the TV not got a vga in? Thought most HDTVs had them.

Yes but doesnt that kinda defeat the point of having these better connections ?

Depends how anal you are really and the res of the tv. Once you set the resolution up to match the tv I cant see much difference between using my vga connection and my hdmi connection. HDMI is easier I suppose as it carries the sound too.

Quote from: Rivkid

Quote from: Sam

Quote from: RivkidSam - has the TV not got a vga in? Thought most HDTVs had them.

Yes but doesnt that kinda defeat the point of having these better connections ?

Depends how anal you are really and the res of the tv. Once you set the resolution up to match the tv I cant see much difference between using my vga connection and my hdmi connection. HDMI is easier I suppose as it carries the sound too.

There is a definite increase in quality for DVI/HDMI as opposed to analog VGA, the price of the cables are about the same, and the quality of the HDMI cable doesnt affect picture quality, as opposed to VGA which can cause ghosting etc for cheap VGA cables.

Just to clarify, DVI wont have sound (correct me if I am wrong), so plugging in to the TV via DVI > HDMI wont carry sound unfortunately, so will still require a separate audio cable.  

Let me try it tonight, i have a laptop with a dvi and a dvi to hdmi cable.

I know that it didnt work on my PC, but dont think DVI has the required pins for audio

get your wallet out
http://www.gefen.com/kvm/product.jsp?prod_id=3570

unless you plan to use some home theatre sound system for the audio o)

Nope didnt work with sound on mine

I think it depends on the DVI standard and if its HDCP as to whether it has audio pass through as well. The graphics card may also need an audio decoder on it, I could be wrong though.

Quote from: Clockd 0NeI think it depends on the DVI standard and if its HDCP as to whether it has audio pass through as well. The graphics card may also need an audio decoder on it, I could be wrong though.

Not till the new connection is as standard which is being used, dvi is only ever video, you need the audio out to do this, only the special connections on cards and you ship with the adapter also that normally has svideo in an the left right audio connectors. displayport has video and audio.

Quote from: neXus

Quote from: Clockd 0NeI think it depends on the DVI standard and if its HDCP as to whether it has audio pass through as well. The graphics card may also need an audio decoder on it, I could be wrong though.

Not till the new connection is as standard which is being used, dvi is only ever video, you need the audio out to do this, only the special connections on cards and you ship with the adapter also that normally has svideo in an the left right audio connectors. displayport has video and audio.

thought the HDCP standard needs digital audio? so the L & R wont really makep it fully compliant?

The only solution I know is http://www.gefen.com/kvm/product.jsp?prod_id=3570 - for true conversion - obviously you can run a cable & run speakers seperate - like on the XBOX 360 non Elite.
You get HD picture, but the sound is carried seperate & may actually cause a slight delay.

People buying the new Dreambox 800HD are having a simlar problem - due to licencing, they couldnt put HDMI into the box, instead only a DVI port. This is causing all sorts of problems for the satellite enthusiasts
& £200+ isnt exactly what you expect to shell out for after shelling out £400 for the Satellite Box already.

Dvi does carry sound, does on my motherboard, although the graphics card has a sound chip needs an adapter (hence is in a box on the floor gathering dust).  Sometimes you just have to test it to find out if a dvi-hdmi cable will carry sound with the picture with your port.

There are various DVI standards perhaps one of those does indeed carry it?

Ah nah... one I thought would carry it DVI-A doesnt... just stands for analog. :(

Had a look at the cable I use for dvi-hdmi and it is a DVI-D dual link to 19pin hdmi.  Been reading up and if mobo is hdcp then the dvi should carry sound.