Computer to TV / HDTV Connection
Use your HDTV as a computer monitor
Many people want to view their computer video output on a big screen
television set instead of a traditional computer monitor. This can be done IF you have the proper hardware, settings and cables. The potential problem for viewing computer video on a TV set is that
computer video and TV video work in
very different ways. Those differences create potential issues that must be
overcome to make a computer?s output signal compatible with a television.
WARNING: Following the guidelines below could potentially result in damage to your TV due to the incompatible properties of computer signals and television signals. Do so at your own risk!
The following are four primary challenges that must be addressed when connecting a computer to a television:
? Colorspace compatibility
? Resolution compatibility
? Refresh Rate compatibility
? Overscan
If you have an HDTV with a VGA input, you probably are most of the way there. Most computers offer VGA output. Check to make sure the HDTV input accepts the
output resolution and refresh rate your computer video card offers as they must be made compatible.
If you do not have an HDTV with a VGA input, there are still ways to make a successful connection, however, you must overcome the four problem areas above in order to get acceptable video from the computer to the TV. Just using a cable with matching connectors at each end will not get the job done, as the signals are usually not compatible unless you use a signal converter/adapter. Some adapters are just passive however, and will not do any signal conversion. They just allow a cable connection between computer and TV.
Video signal converters or scalers can be "active" not just passive, and actually do signal conversions. These products are available and usually run $100 to $300. That said, you may still have to make adjustments in one or more of the four problem areas mentioned above, on your computer using your DISPLAY SETTINGS screen or vendor supplied software designed specifically to adjust video settings on your computer.
Understanding video signals - Colorspace
VGA - (Computer)
VGA is a generic term sometimes applied to ?HD-15?
connectors, which are 15-pin connectors. VGA connections
carry an RGBHV signal. ?RGBHV? is sometimes abbreviated as RGB.
RGBHV stands for "Red/Green/Blue/Horizontal Sync/Vertical
Sync". It requires five pathways to pass its signal.
COMPONENT VIDEO - (Television)
Component video uses the ?Y-Pb-Pr? colorspace, and its
cables are often terminated in RCA plugs.
Component video is sometimes erroneously referred to as
RGB due to the common red, green, and blue coloration
of its RCA jacks, causing confusion. Y-Pb-Pr divides the video
information in a particular way, which requires three
pathways to pass these signals.
?Y? = luminance (black & white information) and sync
?Pb? = blue image data,
?Pr? = red image data,
RGB and Y-Pb-Pr employ completely
different colorspaces, and are not compatible with each
other in their native states. Simple ?VGA to Component?
cables are intended for different applications, not signal
conversion ? they simply can?t work in such an application
because they do nothing but change the connector type,
not the signal they carry.
To address this issue, a quality transcoder must be
installed to change the colorspace.
Resolution
Resolution Compatibility -
You must make the computer?s output compatible with the television's input.
Look at the video output settings on your PC
or Mac. You will see a resolution like 1024x768, or 800x600, or 640x480 or the like.
None of these are resolutions that most HDTVs will accept
from their video inputs. Those inputs expect
standard consumer electronics video signals, not VESA
computer standards. TV and HDTV inputs often support
only 480i, 480p, 720p, and 1080i/p signals.
You must adjust your computer?s resolution to one directly
compatible with the HDTV set (1280x720, for example),
or use a third party software program (PowerStrip,
DisplayConfigX) to achieve such a resolution.
Alternatively, another option would be to use an
outboard video scaler. The scaler can be used to make both resolution
and refresh rate compatible without adjusting the computer?s video output.
Refresh Rate
The refresh rate must be compatible between computer and TV. Look at your computer?s settings again - the refresh rate might be anywhere from 60 Hz to 85 Hz, or
above (this is the number of times a device is asked to renew what is on the screen).
Most televisions can only accept 60 Hz refresh rates
? higher refresh rates could even potentially damage your television set!
Computers often run at much higher
refresh rates, so it is important to get the signal compatible with your television set.
Caution: Never apply a custom refresh rate setting
without first confirming your television is compatible
with that setting!
Adjust the computer?s refresh rate to one
directly compatible with the HDTV set (60 Hz, most
commonly) or use a third party software program
(PowerStrip, DisplayConfigX) to achieve such a refresh
rate.
Alternatively, another option would be to use an
outboard video scaler. The scaler can be used to make both resolution
and refresh rate compatible without adjusting the
computer?s video output.
Overscan
Overscan is extra image area around the four edges of a video image that is not normally seen by the viewer. It exists because television sets in the 1930s through 1970s were highly variable in how the video image was framed within the cathode ray tube (CRT).
Overscan tolerance was built into television sets and broadcasts due to several CRT-related phenomena, such
as image centering irregularities and ?stopping? the horizontal motion of the electron beam.
Some video
synchronization information is also drawn in the ?overscanned? area of the image. Today's TV sets can be based on newer fixed-pixel technologies like liquid crystal displays (LCDs), and those with CRTs have much less image drift with crystal-based timing, and so can have perfect image placement. Nevertheless, these sets when used for TV must overscan the image so that older programming will be framed as intended. Even high-definition television sets overscan. It is common to see HDTV sets crop out text and station logos on HDTV programming. In response to different picture ratios, some broadcasters crop, magnify, or stretch the original video, further distorting the image a HDTV set may receive.
Analog TV overscan can also be used for datacasting. The simplest form of this is closed captioning and teletext, both sent in the vertical blanking interval (VBI). Electronic program guides, such as "TV Guide On Screen", are also sent in this manner.
One of the most unique
aspects of computer versus television images is that computers do not overscan at all ? properly adjusted, the
entire image is contained within the frame of the computer monitor. Some may even appear ?underscanned?.
Since televisions generally ?overscan? their video inputs, you must make
the image fit the screen.
In virtually every case, overscan will have to be adjusted within the computer operating system
itself, using software such as PowerStrip for PC (www.entechtaiwan.com), or DisplayConfigX for Mac
(www.3dexpress.de/).
Some manufacturers offer high end graphics card drivers that include an overscan adjustment wizard as well.
Most outboard devices don?t have the ?screen size? controls necessary to make the appropriate adjustments.
UNDERSTANDING VIDEO for PC to TV hook up -
To understand what is and isn't possible, we need to know the differences between a computer's video signal and the one expected by your television (usually NTSC (North America) or PAL (Europe)). Typically, Personal Computer's display in one of 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1280x1024 or 1600x1200. The low pixel addressabilities are supported by VGA. The higher resolutions are typically used when in windowing environments like Win98 or Windows-XP. In addition, computers refresh the screen at varying rates, ranging from 50 to 75 or more Hertz (cycles/s).
Traditional standard televisions are analog devices, designed to accept a broadcast television signal like NTSC. The NTSC standard supports a maximum of 525 lines of resolution. The screen refresh rates are fixed for NTSC as 60 Hz. In addition, the video amplifiers used in televisions are fairly low bandwidth devices, and can't handle high horizontal resolutions like 1024 or 1280 pixels. What this all comes down to is that standard televisions can display a video signal derived from up to a 640x480 pixel mode.
To summarize, a VGA to TV converter can be used to translate the VGA's RGB signal to a TV compatible signal for resolutions up to 640x480. Converters that claim to handle higher resolutions have scan converters in them that reduce the effective resolution to that of NTSC television. i.e. You simply can't display better than 640x480 on an analog NTSC TV.
There are many ways to connect your computer to your TV. How you do it depends on what type of TV you have and what type of computer hookup options you have available. Your TV could be a standard or a high definition TV. Your computer may have only a VGA connection or a fancy video card with many connection options. The key is to make sure the computer is sending a signal the TV can handle.
The following chart shows some of the many possible solutions to hooking up a computer to a TV:
| Your TV type | Your TV ports | | Your Computer ports | Adapter |
| Traditional Analog | RF only | | VGA only | VGA to composite* |
| Traditional Analog | RCA A / V | | VGA only | VGA to composite |
| Traditional Analog | S-Video | | VGA only | VGA to S-Video |
| Traditional Analog | Component video | | VGA only | VGA to component |
| Traditional Analog | S-Video | | S-Video | None |
| HDTV | S-Video | | S-video | None |
| HDTV | DVI | | DVI | None |
| HDTV | VGA | | VGA | None |
* for a TV with only a RF input, use a RF modulator to convert from composite video
Making the connection
You have many options on personal computers today as far as video connections are concerned. The typical low cost computer may only have a VGA port for connection to a computer monitor. Many HDTVs today have a VGA input port, so the physical hookup is easy. Just run a VGA male to male cable from the computer VGA output to the HDTV VGA input.
To make sure the video signal is compatible for the TV, you need to know what refresh rate, resolution and other attributes, such as overscan, are associated with the TV. Some HDTVs can only display certain resolutions and refresh rates. Consult your owner's manual here. Typically the refresh rate is 60 Hertz. The resolution could be 640 X 480, 800 X 600, 1024 X 768 or 1280 X 1024 etc. Your task is to setup the correct parameters in the computer software so the TV can display a good image.
Common screen resolutions are:
VGA - 640x480
SVGA - 800x600
XGA - 1024x768
SXGA - 1280x1024
UXGA - 1600x1200
In the simplest case, the connection from your
computer should match the connection on your TV. For example, if your TV has a
VGA input and your computer has a VGA output, you just need a cable to connect
both together. If there isn't a match of video inputs to outputs, there is still
a good chance that a connection is possible. All kinds of video adapters and transcoders are available to hookup just about any configuration.
Computer connection
Examine the back of your
computer for available monitor connections. Depending on your computer's graphic
capabilities, you should be able to identify one or more of the following:
1) a 15-pin VGA output, almost all computers should have this output. This is the standard computer monitor connection.
2) a DVI connection, composite, component or an S-Video output. These connections are usually available on video cards you install yourself in a slot in your computer.
3) an HDMI connection.
Some newer video cards have the digital HDMI port for hookup to newer HDTVs with HDMI inputs.
Your computer could
support one, two, or all of the connections listed. If you are unsure, refer to
the video section of your computer's user manual or your video/graphics card user manual.
TV connection
Next, you will need to identify the type of television you have. It will be
either an analog or digital TV.
If you own a standard analog television, look for an
S-Video input, a composite video input or just an RF input. If you own a digital television, look for an S-Video, 15-pin VGA,
component video, HDMI or DVI input. See: Audio Video Connections
Many of the newer televisions, such as Plasma,
DLP, or LCD, should have a PC compatible 15-pin VGA input.
Finally, you need to find a matching connection between the two. If you have a
VGA or DVI match, use that as it is the best connection.
If you have a component video
connection on your TV and a VGA output on your computer, choose those
connections. Use S-Video if this is all you have available.
Download and install the latest drivers for your computers'
video card. The most common video / graphics cards are the following:
Always refer to your computer manufacturer's website before installing any
software. Sometimes, drivers are available there. Do not download drivers for a
graphics chip different from what your computer uses.
If you do not own an HDTV but have a standard analog TV:
How to use a standard analog NTSC TV as a Computer Monitor
Most TVs have three types of inputs.
1) coaxial (RF), the same as your cable box signal input or satellite TV box signal input,
2) an RCA composite input (the yellow, red and white inputs) and
3) an S-video connector.
Newer televisions have Component Video, and possibly DVI, VGA or HDMI inputs.
These days computer manufacturers are adding TV compatible outputs on their products, but for the most part you will find the usual 15-pin VGA output that a regular computer monitor uses. The newer multi-media computers will probably have all high definition outputs that connect directly to your TV, but for now, most people have to use existing ports for both computers and televisions.
Adapters for Computer to TV Hookup
You may need to get an adapter so you can hookup your computer to your TV. These have a VGA port on one end and (usually) a selection of outputs on the other (S-video, RCA composite and Component). People without non-integrated video cards installed on their computer (i.e. VGA only) will usually need an adapter of some kind.
Then there is the option to use a wireless adapter. It costs more but it's worth not having a cable mess and not needing to keep your computer near your TV.
If you have a TV compatible output on your computer, such as an S-video jack, just take an S-video cable and connect it to your computer and your TV. If you do not have an S-Video jack, then attach the VGA end of your adapter to your computer and use the RCA, S-video or Component Video cable to attach to your TV input. After you've made the connections, make sure you are on the correct TV video input. Press the input button on your TV or remote until you see your computer's output signal.
Your standard analog TV's usual video signal is based upon the NTSC video standard (PAL if you live in Europe). This signal is different than the one generated by your computer. Computers use screen resolutions measured in pixels: 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1280x1024 or 1600x1200. Most standard TV's can only get about 500 lines of resolution. So the end result is you are left with a maximum resolution of 640x480 on a traditional analog television.
This is enough to play games and watch video, but you will not get the resolution your computer monitor will give you. You can get an adapter for an HDTV that will give you higher resolutions.
You can use your HDTV as a computer monitor if you have the correct compatible hardware, cables and settings. Getting the correct display depends on the video card in the computer, the type of connection and the type of HDTV and its associated video connections.
Some HDTVs are PC ready, meaning the TV display is already setup for a PC connection. Most HDTVs can be connected to a computer. But connecting is one thing, getting successful results is another.
CRT based HDTVs are probably the least desirable HDTVs to hookup to a computer because of the overscan associated with these type of TVs. The fixed pixel HDTVs (Plasma and LCD) generally will be the best type of HDTVs for connection to a PC and many of them are equipped with a VGA port specifically for this purpose. These TVs generally will only require the use of a VGA cable and the setting of the PC video card to match the recommended resolution of the HDTV.
VGA to component video converters allow you to have both your VGA monitor and your HDTV connected at the same time.
Video cards such as the ATI 7500 pci Radeon have both a DVI and a VGA output connector.
Connecting with S-video
To make this connection, you will need the following:
- A computer with a S-Video output
- A TV with a S-Video input
- A S-video cable
- A 1/8" to Left/Right RCA cable (for sound)
- A computer monitor (for setup purposes)
Some computers require a separate adapter to use the S-Video capability of
your graphics card. In many cases, the adapter will need to be plugged in prior
to making adjustments to the output settings of your graphics card.
Connecting with S-Video is the easiest connection to make from your computer.
This connection
will not yield computer quality image results.
- Connect the S-Video cable from the back of the computer to an S-Video
input on the back of your television. Hookup the computer to the computer
monitor at the same time. Connect the 1/8" to L/R RCA cable from the audio
output on your computer to the corresponding audio jacks on your TV.
- Change the input on your television to the S-Video input you plugged the
computer in to.
- Turn on the computer. You should get an image on your computer monitor. If
you get an image on your TV, skip to step 6. If you do not get an image on
your TV, don't panic. Go to step 4.
- Using your computer monitor. Access the graphics card setup menu. You can
usually access these menus by right clicking on the desktop, click on
properties, select the settings tab, and then click on advanced. The software
for every graphics card will be different.
- Locate the menu tab for engaging or disengaging the S-Video output. Once
you turn it on, an image will appear on the TV screen. If there is a selection
to make it your primary monitor, do so.
- The image on the screen has a relationship with your resolution settings.
Although all S-Video outputs use a fixed low resolution to maintain
compatibility with your TV, it scales according to what the resolution of your
computer is set to. Adjust your resolution in the settings tab of your display
properties. Use a selection no higher than 800 x 600 with 16-bit color. A
setting of 640 x 480 will be much easier to see, but icons and windows will
appear very large.
Once complete, you can disconnect your computer monitor. When you boot-up
your computer, the S-video connection should be enabled. In some cases, the
S-video output needs to be enabled on a per session basis. If your software
reflects this, leave the computer in a stand-by or hibernation mode when not in
use. Your current settings will remain intact until the next time your computer
is shut down.
Connecting with VGA/DVI
You can make a connection with DVI by following the same basic steps below.
Substitute a DVI cable in place of the 15-pin VGA cable.
To make a connection with a 15-pin VGA cable, you will need the following:
- A 15-pin VGA output on your computer (All PC's should have this)
- A 15-pin VGA input on your television
- A 15-pin VGA cable
- A 1/8" to Left/Right RCA cable
- A computer monitor (for setup, if needed)
Some televisions may include a 5 wire RGB input (R, G, B, H, V). You can use
this input to make a connection. However, you will need to obtain a 15-pin VGA
to 5-wire RGB cable.
If you've identified a 15-pin VGA input on your television, you will need to
do a little hunting in your manual for compatible display formats. Compatible
formats might be listed on the back of the TV, or in the owner's manual for the
television. If it's listed in letters, a chart is below to explain them. If your
input is PC compatible, it will say one or more of the following:
- VGA = 640x480
- SVGA = 800x600
- XGA = 1024x768
- SXGA = 1280x1024
Your 15-pin input might not be directly PC compatible. If this is the case it
will say one or a few of the following television formats. The compatible PC
resolution is listed next to it.
- 480i - not compatible with PC's
- 480p - 720x480
- 720p - 1280x720
- 1080i - 1920x1080 (interlaced)
- 1080p - 1920x1080
If your input does not list any computer formats, only television formats,
don't worry! You can still get this to work.
If you are hooking up a Plasma, DLP, or LCD television, you should be able to
plug it in and turn it on. However, if you do this and get no picture, use the
computer monitor to adjust settings before plugging the cable into the TV.
- Change the TV input to the appropriate selection to engage the 15-pin VGA
input.
- Connect the VGA cable from the back of the computer to the computer
monitor.
- Turn on the computer. An image should appear on your PC screen.
- Right click on the desktop and select properties. Click on the tab that
says settings.
- If your TV is PC compatible, move the resolution slider to a compatible
selection. 1024x768 is the most common choice. Hit apply. Some
TV's are only compatible to 640x480. If so, it may not be listed on the
slider. Click on Advanced, and select the adapter tab. Press "list all modes" and
select 640x480, High Color (16 bit), 60 Hertz from the list of valid modes.
Click "yes" when it asks you to keep this setting.
- If your TV is not PC compatible, you will need to select a format that is
compatible with your TV. Within the settings tab, click on advanced. Go to the
adapter tab and select "list all modes." Select 720x480, High Color (16 bit),
60 Hertz from the list. Click "yes" if it asks you to keep this setting.
- Unplug the cable from the back of the monitor and plug it in to the TV. If
you made the proper selections, you should have an image on your TV screen. If
your TV was PC compatible, you do not need to take any additional steps.
Connect the 1/8" to L/R RCA cable from the audio output on your computer to
the corresponding audio jacks on your TV.
- If your TV was not PC compatible, you should have an image on the screen.
It's likely that the icons are very big. Using the chart above and the "list
all modes" selection, you can try to find different resolutions that are
compatible with your TV. When selecting resolution, the screen will blank out.
If the image does not return, you found an incompatible display format. Do
nothing and it should switch back to the last setting after 15 seconds. TIP:
you can make more choices appear under "list all modes" by going to the
monitor tab and deselecting the box that says "Hide modes that this monitor
can't display."
Once complete, you can remove the computer monitor. You will be able to shut
down the computer when not in use, or use the standby and hibernation modes.
The computer will keep your current settings unless you physically change them,
or install new drivers for your graphics card.
Connecting with Component Video
To make this connection possible, you must have the following:
- A digital TV with a component video input
- A 15-pin VGA output on your computer
- A high resolution capable VGA to component video transcoder (A transcoder
is a device that transforms RGB signals into component video signals)
- A 15-pin VGA cable
- A component video cable
- A 1/8" to L/R RCA cable
- A computer monitor (for setup)
NOTE: If you have a computer with an ATI Radeon graphics card, ATI sells a
kit to hook up your computer to an HDTV set. If you do not have an ATI graphics
card, you will need to purchase a high resolution capable VGA to component video
transcoder / adapter.
- Change the TV input to the appropriate selection to engage the component
video input.
- Hookup the VGA cable from the back of the computer to the computer
monitor.
- Turn on the computer. An image should appear on your PC screen.
- Right click on the desktop and select properties. Click on the 'Settings'
tab.
- Identify the compatible scan formats for your component video input. The
possible formats are usually 480p, 720p, and 1080i. It is common to find that
many TV's don't support 720p.
- Since the component video input on your TV is not PC compatible, you will
need to select a format that is compatible with your TV. Within the settings
tab, click on advanced. Go to the adapter tab and select "list all modes."
Select 720x480, 1280x720, or 1920 x 1080 (interlaced), High Color (16 bit), 60
Hertz from the list. Click "yes" if it asks you to keep this setting. NOTE:
1920x1080 (interlaced) is a very high resolution, which will make desktop
items and text difficult to see.
- Unplug the computer from the back of the monitor and plug it in to the
transcoder. Hook up the component video cables from the transcoder to the
component video input on the back of your TV. If you chose a compatible
selection, you should have an image on your TV screen. Connect the 1/8" to L/R
RCA cable from the audio output on your computer to the corresponding audio
jacks on your TV.
- Depending on the display format chosen, you might want to try different
choices to maximize image quality. In the "list all modes" selection, you can
try to find different resolutions that are compatible with your TV. When
selecting resolution, the screen will blank out. If the image does not return,
you found an incompatible display format. Do nothing and it should switch back
to the last setting after 15 seconds. TIP: you can make more choices appear
under "list all modes" by going to the monitor tab and deselecting the box
that says "Hide modes that this monitor can't display."
Once complete, you can remove the computer monitor. You will be able to shut
down the computer when not in use, or use the standby and hibernation modes.
The computer will keep your current settings unless you physically change them
or install new drivers for your graphics card.
Using DVI or HDMI
The reason many TV manufacturers include a DVI connection in addition to component video was not to allow the connection of a computer. The main reason was to allow the exchange of video information in a digital format rather than analog. The DVI interface came into being due to the LCD and plasma flat panel computer monitors and projectors, and later DLP and LCOS (D-ILA) displays and
projectors. Since these are fixed pixel devices an interface that would present a digital value for each pixel rather than an analog signal level made sense.
The DVI interface answered the question of, "Why start out with a digital array of pixel values then convert them to an analog signal to send to a monitor only to have the analog signal reconverted back to digital?" With the DVI interface the possibility of the signal remaining all digital is possible.
The DVI interface was also given interaction capabilities between the video card and the monitor. This allowed the computer to inquire of the monitor what the resolution and timing that it supported and then via software in the computer set the video output accordingly.
This capability is actually the essence of the DVI interface, the ability to tell the source what signals the monitor will display. The earliest DVI-I interfaces were actually just VGA analog signals with the digital link to allow the information to be exchanged between the computer and the monitor. There is a cable available to convert a DVI-I output from a video card to a VGA input on a monitor.
The DVI connection that is most desirable for fixed pixel devices is the DVI-D, dual link connection. This is the connection that most HDTV manufacturers use primarily for compatibility reasons.
Adoption of DVI for HDTV Signals
Since the computer was able to ask the monitor to supply information concerning its signal capabilities, as well as other information, the consumer electronics industry saw this interface (and later the HDMI) as a possible answer to the copy protection issue that had prevented HD movies from being made available for broadcast in HDTV.
The entertainment industries were concerned with copy protection and insisted on a method of preventing cloning of their movies. The HDCP protocol was developed and the DVI became the first interface to have HDPC implemented. This allowed the broadcasters to "raise the HDCP flag" that would prevent a recording device connected to the DVI output from recording by shutting off the output. As long as a monitor only device was connected the output was enabled.
Computer Output Compatibility
Many people think that because there is a DVI connection on their HDTV that it should be a matter of connecting a DVI cable between the two and presto! We have computer video on our HDTV screen. This is not always the case.
There are exceptions to this, primarily plasma, LCD displays and projectors. These are generally higher cost display units that are built with the connection of a computer in mind, but many HDTVs are not. Computer monitors today will accept a vast range of video signals. Refresh rates from 50Hz to 120Hz are typical for most computer monitors, whereas most HDTVs will only handle 59 to 61Hz refresh rates. Horizontal scan ranges are also reduced compared to a computer monitor.
It is important to know what is possible for your particular HDTV because serious damage can be done to your HDTV if non viewable signals are sent to your TV. If while trying out different resolutions and timings you hear a high pitched noise from your TV, remove the signal or turn off the TV immediately.
First of all you will need to have a computer monitor connected as well as your HDTV. Since the majority of resolutions that can be displayed on your monitor will not be displayable on your HDTV, you would be operating blind. Some video cards have both a VGA output and a DVI output and if yours is this type, then you can hookup your monitor to the VGA output.
Start by setting your computer to 640x480 and get a stable picture. This should be no problem. Most likely the 16:9 resolutions of 720x480 and 1920x1080 will not be listed with the standard video drivers. In order to be able to set custom resolutions it will be necessary to download a program called powerstrip, which is available here: PowerStrip - English and the home page to read up on the software is here: Powerstrip
The VGA input on a TV will give you the best match for a PC input, for most cases. As far as resolution goes, the VGA output will handle more resolution than the HDMI input port most likely, so picture quality would not be a reason for choosing HDMI over VGA. Now it may be that the TV has some restricted resolutions that it will support through the PC port. Consult your manual on this point, but if it will handle the native resolution of your TV then you should have no problem setting the VGA output on the PC to accommodate the TV.
The HDMI and component inputs will be expecting a video device to be connected to the input and as such those inputs will be set with overscan.
On a fixed pixel TV, overscan is done by the internal scaling processor. Basically the resolution received is scaled up to a slightly larger resolution so the edges of the picture are forced off the screen. This eliminates video noise that almost always exist in the first lines and last lines of broadcast video.
In early CRT type displays, the horizontal and vertical sweeps were enlarged to accomplish the same thing. Newer CRT designs that employ all digital processing treat the overscan the same way as the fixed pixel devices. Employing a scaling processor will usually result in the text being somewhat fuzzy and is not the optimum picture.
Usually when the TV has a VGA PC input port (often referred to as a RGB input) there will not be any scaling processor involved and thus a clear picture.
If you do decide to use the extra HDMI input for the PC and reset the overscan, just be aware that input will not be suitable for a video device until the overscan is restored. I would suggest you use the PC input and see what the picture looks like. Be sure to set your PC video output to match what the TV manual indicates and be sure the refresh rate is set to 60 Hz.
Powerstrip 101 How to use it to
Connect your PC to your HDTV
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