Tom's Hardware > Forum > CPU & Components > Other Components > [Video card]Watch TV using a video card?
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Anonymous   09-01-2008 at 10:28:33 PM

Hi I'm pretty new to upgrading video cards so I don't know how to use 100% of its potential. I heard that if you plug your TV into the VGA adapter of the card you can watch the TV in HD, is that true?

I have a digital, flat screen TV (not sure if HD or LCD) and the picture quality is pretty good, I'm just wondering if it will be even better if I were to plug it into a video card (I'm getting the 9800GTX+)

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chookman   09-02-2008 at 12:34:39 AM
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Yeh sure you can have the desktop/games on your big screen TV, either via DVI / HDMI / Composite / Component. However, that wont allow you to watch TV off your computer. You will need either a separate TV tuner card or ATI are making a new All-In-Wonder that actually has a tuner chip built onto the video card http://www.motherboards.org/review [...] 811_1.html Although the card itself isnt very powerfull for gaming its a great idea for a HTPC

------------------------------ "This thread made me strap on my lolerskates and head for my roflcopter."
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1HAPLO   09-02-2008 at 02:08:47 AM
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Chookman is correct. Some people see the "TV out" on the card and think they can watch TV on the computer. If the TV does not have a HDMI or DVI then the quality will be reduced. If it has a HDMI you can get a DVI to HDMI adaptor.

1Haplo

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jaguarskx   09-02-2008 at 03:14:32 AM
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As chookman stated you need a TV tuner card, look for something that is HDTV compatible so that you can pick up HDTV signals over the air waves.

An important note, a TV tuner card does not de-scrambled TV signals that have been scrambled or encoded. Therefore, you cannot use it to watch pay-per-view programs, HBO, Showtime, Playboy, Spice, etc.

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chookman   09-02-2008 at 03:14:53 AM
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^Component output will not be reduced quality cards these days output in 1080p without an issue

------------------------------ "This thread made me strap on my lolerskates and head for my roflcopter."
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