How to Use a Television As a PC Monitor

by Isaac Carlson

Overview

Using a television as a computer monitor can be cost effective and may also become your preferred method of computing. Making this connection may seem complicated, but it often requires little more than acquiring the right cable and the press of a button.

Step 1

Determine your TV connections. Most television sets have a coaxial connection for cable/satellite, RCA input (the red, white and yellow inputs that appear adjacent to one another) and an S-video connection. Some high definition television sets have additional VGA, HDMI and/or DVI inputs.
Step 2

Determine your PC output connections. Some modern PCs have an S-video or DVI output. However, it is more common to find the standard VGA output that is traditionally used to connect to a computer monitor.
Step 3

Find the appropriate cable/adapter. If your television set and your computer have the same type of input/output (i.e. S-video and S-video, VGA and VGA), then you just have to find the cord with appropriate input/output. If not, then find the cable adapter that suits the connections of the television set and your PC. These can be typically found at electronic shops like Radio Shack.
Step 4

Connect the television and the computer with the cable or adapter. Press the TV input button on your television remote or set until your see your computer's signal.

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Desktop computer Television set Cable/adapter with the appropriate input/output
Desktop computer
Television set
Cable/adapter with the appropriate input/output
There are also wireless S-video to VGA wireless adapters available, although typically at much higher cost. Some connections, such as DVI to DVI standard, only carry a signal for video, and a separate 1/8-inch mini stereo-to-RCA cord will be needed for audio.
There are also wireless S-video to VGA wireless adapters available, although typically at much higher cost.
Some connections, such as DVI to DVI standard, only carry a signal for video, and a separate 1/8-inch mini stereo-to-RCA cord will be needed for audio.