Hardware Requirements for Dell Inspiron 5160 laptop

[lmcmains]

The bad thing about a laptop is you can't upgrade the video card. It is built into the motherboard. To find out what you have. Go to the control panel, click on system then click on hardware. Click on device manager, click on the + sign beside display adapter and it should tell you what type of video card you have.

[bryant]

INCmains: My original post states that my video card is a nVidea fx5200 32 mB. I just need to know if this is fully compatible with the Hoster program, and if not, how much do I need to spend on a really good one that is guaranteed to do the job.
Bryant
Also, is it true that any USB Plextor writer will be sufficient?

[gduns - with the Lord]

I have used a nVidea fx5200 on one of my machines, and it works fine. as long as you have an s-video out on it you will get the second screen fine.

[bryant]

Can the monitor out of the PC be hooked to one of those scan converters that convert computer screen images to TV images and work just as well? (Some people use these to get their computers to TV screens for presentations. ) On these scan converters they have video-out and s-video/out that can go directly to any modern TV set.

[gduns - with the Lord]

You could do that, But usually the laptops I have seen have both a s-video out, and a monitor out on them. so you shouldnt need the scan converter

[MTUSUPPORT]

Download the Hoster Demo and try it on this Laptop to see if it will work.

This is the only true test to find out if it will work or not on this system.

[bryant]

Yes, I am still playing with the Demo as I await the arrival of all my components before I get the full version up and running. I was using the svideo out last night on a TV set at home and found the color was not on the TV set, although color did show when I used the monitor output to the scan converter to the rca video-in on the TV.

[bryant]

Originally Posted by gduns

You could do that, But usually the laptops I have seen have both a s-video out, and a monitor out on them. so you shouldnt need the scan converter

gduns: I see and that does make sense, however, my bigscreen is approx. 50-75 feet away and long svideo cords are extremely expensive. Right now I use a cable(can't remember the name but those cable tv cable-types) with an rca adapter on the end that exits a video switcher as I have another laptop that switches the bigscreen over to videos and/or slideshows during/before/after singers are up.
Please inform once again? thx!

[gduns - with the Lord]

I have an rf modulating switcher. it can take 4 audio and video inputs, and switch them to what is needed. It is from Best Buy, made by rca. you can go into it s-video, and come out either video, or rf (channel 3 or 4) for the tv. If your s-video isnt in color, you may have a bad cable. I had a cable to that once.

each switching channel (4) on the switcher will take in either rca video, s-video and 2 channels audio. it will output s-video, rca video, 2 channel audio, and/or rf out.


Hope this helps.