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VGA VS HDMI from laptop

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RGA

I have been using a VGA to my Samsung 37 inch screen for a few years but my laptop has HDMI and I am planning to buy a new 55 or 60 inch TV. The newer TVs I am told don't have the VGA input.

So I plugged in the HDMI and after screwing around with various settings - it works. BUT, the picture quality seems to me to be worse - it's brighter on the one hand but when I have my internet screen up it's harder on my eyes.

This morning the picture was occasionally dropping out - every once in a while the screen would go black then come back on with the 1080p 120hz box. I removed the cables from both ends - it is possible that the plugs are a bit dirty since I've had this gear for 3 years and never plugged stuff into them before - but it was not doing this last night.

I will buy some new HDMI cables to test it out tonight but I am more curious as to why the VGA would look better navigating google etc. Lastly how are VGA to HDMI cables? If I buy the new TV that only has HDMI and if my laptop struggles with the HDMI output - Gotta look at back-up options - don't want to have to buy another computer.

The LCD I am looking at are the 55 (I believe KDL 829) and 60 (KDL W850) inch Sonys as they are on demo close-out here in Hong Kong. Although the dealer was pushing a slightly more expensive new Sharp which did look good. Dealer is telling me the Sharp panels are Japanese while the Sony screens are made in China.

Hong Kongers like to buy Chinese made stuff even less than North Americans. Still the Sony gets good reviews especially for motion which is highly useful for video games which I admit I partake in via PS3.

Follow Ups:

RE: VGA VS HDMI from laptop - mrdavis842 15:29:53 05/28/15 (1)
You are dealing with two different standards with VGA vs HDMI. They have different specifications like their color space. If you calibrate your TV for the HDMI input the picture quality should look better than VGA. Even your new TV will need some calibration to look its' very best. For your current TV try making a few common adjustments like brightness, contrast, sharpness, color and tint. Also, you might want to try setting your computers resolution (and your PS3) to the same native resolution as your TV in case your computer is not doing it automatically. If your TV has a game or graphics mode try it too, and disable any extra video processing, overscanning etc.

I don't have any first hand experience but if you use your TV a lot for internet and viewing text you may want to make sure that your new TV has 4:4:4 chroma subsampling. I keep seeing where people say it makes a difference but that may also just depend on the TV too. Something to look into though.

You would need an active converter, not just a cable, for HDMI to VGA but I would avoid it if possible and stay with HDMI all the way through and skip the extra conversions which do not help picture quality.

Although China does produce a lot of cheap products, products that are engineered in Japan or the U.S. and built in China to very strict standards (including materials used) and high quality control are actually quite good. I would guess that that is the case with the Sony panels.
- RE: VGA VS HDMI from laptop - RGA 20:01:36 06/09/15 (0)
  Turns out the HDMI port of my laptop gave up the ghost - did not work at all with the new Sony.
  
  So I bought a PC with HDMI output connected it up and perfect - no need to do anything - reads the Sony TV and model number and automatically adjusted the settings for resolution. I almost bought another laptop but now I don't have to deal with things like extend the screen or duplicate screen - try it 5 times to get it to work etc. Windows 8 is a bit annoying with things on the right side of the screen and having to right click to close but it is faster.
  
  Thanks, for the help.

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