How to Hook Up a Computer and Surround Sound to a TV

Improve your computer experience using a television and surround sound as output devices.

Computer technology is constantly improving, producing higher-quality pictures with better sound capabilities. If you frequently watch videos, DVDs or require a lot of graphics capabilities for gaming, improve your experience by connecting your computer to a television and surround sound system. Think about your computer as any other accessory you would connect to a television, such as a DVD player; all you need is the right cable connectors.

Things You'll Need

• Connectors (determined by television and computer type)

Instructions

1. Look at the video output connection on your computer. There will be either a DVI port, an HDMI port, a VGA port or an S-Video port. If there is an S-Video port, count the number of round dots. Most computers use a seven-pin port, meaning there are seven dots. Some use a four-pin port.

2. Look at the video input connection to your television. Most high definition televisions have an HDMI cable to connect them. There should also be an S-Video connection.

3. Buy the cable that meets the output-to-input needs of your computer and television respectively. For many newer computers connecting to HDTV sets, the cable is a DVI-to-HDMI cable. You may use an S-Video to S-Video for older devices. Your local electronics store will have a wide range of cables with different input/output interfaces.

4. Buy the right audio cable that outputs from the computer and inputs into the surround sound. Surround sound systems use a red and white RCA cable adapter. To fit into the computer you will most likely need a 3.5 mm stereo mini plug for output. So the wire should have the mini plug on one end that goes to the red and white RCA cable plugs on the other.

5. Make sure all components are off. Plug the video input into the television, the output into the computer. Plug the audio input into the surround sound receiver and the output to the computer earphone jack.

6. Make sure all other speaker wires are properly connected to each surround sound speaker.

7. Turn on the components. The television should recognize the computer as a component. You may need to toggle through the components menu to find it.

Tips & Warnings

• The computer is a device that your television will search for. If you they don't seem connected, turn the television off while the computer is on. Turn it back on and toggle through "Auxiliary Components" on your remote to find it.

References

• Online Tech Tips: connect your laptop/pc/computer to your tv
• Ram Electronics: Computer Out to Stereo In
• Life Hacker: how to watch video files form yor computer on your tv