Connect VGA Laptop to S-Video/RCA TV

Your Laptop (VGA Out)

Your TV (S-Video/RCA In)

If you have both an older laptop and older TV, you probably have the input/output configuration listed above. While you will lose quality going from high-resolution VGA to low-resolution S-Video/RCA, this setup is still better than nothing. To connect your laptop's VGA output to your TV's S-Video/RCA inputs, you'll need the following items.

VGA cable

The VGA cable will carry an analog signal from your laptop's VGA OUTPUT to the VGA to S-Video/RCA converter. Any simple VGA cable will work, so if you have an extra VGA monitor cable lying around your house you can use that and save yourself a few bucks.

VGA to S-Video/RCA Converter

This VGA to S-Video/RCA converter will take your laptop's analog VGA signal and convert it into a format usable by S-Video and RCA cables. Plug your VGA cable into the converter's VGA INPUT and your S-Video and RCA Video cables into the device's OUTPUT.

S-Video Cable

While not completely necessary to connect your laptop to your computer, the S-Video cable makes your picture noticeably crisper than just connecting the converter to your TV using an RCA video cable. Plug one end into the converter's S-Video OUTPUT and the other end into your TV's S-Video INPUT to make the connection.

RCA Video Cable

The RCA Video cable takes the converted video signal from your S-Video/RCA adapter's video OUTPUT and transmits it to your TV's RCA Video INPUT. It is necessary in order for your laptop's video to be successfully transmitted to your TV.

VGA to S-Video/RCA Audio Options

There are several options for transmitting your laptop's audio to your TV's speakers, but the most reliable one in this scenario would be to use a 3.5mm to RCA Stereo Y-Splitter like the one pictured to the left. Plug the 3.5mm end of the cable into your laptop's headphone OUTPUT jack and the other end into your TV's RCA Stereo (red and white) INPUT jack and you're instantly good to go.