The best way to transfer images from your laptop to a flat-screen TV is through a wired cable connection.

Whether you want to stream a video your Android smartphone TV box can’t handle, have a scheduled Zoom call with a family member, or want to play a PC game on a larger screen, connecting your computer to your TV is made easy with the right cable.

Why Casting Isn’t Always Ideal for Laptop-to-TV

You have several ways to go from a computer or laptop to your TV, starting with casting via Bluetooth.

Some flat-screens allow you to cast to them. That is, to send video remotely. If you have a Chromecast, this is easy to do through your browser. Screen-mirroring is also an option. The problem, however, with these is video quality is lesser than it would be through a straight connection.

You may find your video quality is choppy, having to stop and buffer frequently, or is simply unplayable.

What’s the Right Cable For My Laptop-to-TV Connection?

Almost every flat-screen TV sold today uses HDMI as its main port, though the same cannot be said for laptops.

HDMI cables are the best way to transmit high-quality audio and video within the same cable. If your laptop has an HDMI output port, this will be the easiest way to transmit signal.

You may find your laptop or computer having a DisplayPort output port instead of HDMI. This is common.

Unfortunately, DisplayPort is rarely found on flat-screens or TVs of any type. Therefore, one will need to purchase an adapter to make the connection.

Then, there are DVI cables. Though DVI is an outdated standard, it is still found on many older laptops and computers which is in part why it’s still a popular option. There are a few different types of DVI cables – just like HDMI, USB, etc. – so be sure to select the right cable.

DVI only transfers video which means you will require an alternative means of amplifying any audio.

What to Do After You’ve Connected via DVI Cable

Once you have your DVI cable or adapter and have connected your laptop to the TV, things aren’t done yet.

Go into your laptop and get ready to make some tweaks. If the image on your TV is blurry or pixelated, right-click on your desktop screen and go to ‘Display Settings’. Go down to ‘Multiple Displays’. Here you can set the display resolution and optimize the video output.

With the right DVI cable, HDMI cable, or adapter, anyone can hook up their laptop to a TV. PrimeCables.ca has everything you need, cables and adapters alike, to get you started. Order yours today.