VGA tp HDMI? Destop to LCD 32 inch Panasonic Viera

Hi, I just bought a TV, it has HDMI, VGA , my computer has VGA. What is the best least expensive way to make it work? Is there an inexpensive way to get a good picture? Do I got VGA to VGA and ? sound cord? Do I go HDMI to VGA? I saw some chords on Amazon but they got bad reviews. Is there a way to do this without buying a converter? I cannot really afford 100 dollars for the converter.

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciate!
Thank you

 

Thank you. I called Dell and they said I need an HDMI to VGA chord, however, they do not carry one. Right now I am using a VGA to VGA chord and it is OK. I have an NVIDIA nForce 10/100 Mbps Ethernet card ( at least that is what the device manger says I have)

I found a few converters online and at Fry's and Best Buy but they cost 99$ before tax.
Is my card good enough or would I have to upgrade?
Right now I am using it as my PC monitor.
Thanks
Raven

 

GeForce 615OSE Nforce 430 Video card

AMD Sempron Le 1300
2.31 GHz
1.93 Gig Ram
Toshiba HD 1T
3 year old Dell Inspiron. Replaced HD and battery in Sept.
Trying to use with a Panasonic Viera TC 32LX44
I only have a VGA port on the computer. The TV has HDMI and VGA
I have searched online and cannot find a converter for less then 100 dollars.
Thanks!

 

EDIT: It completely slipped my mind that the Dell Insperon is a laptop series, and not a desktop.

VGA is capable of good video. If you're really looking to upgrade and use those tempting HDMI ports on your TV, you will be much more satisfied with a new laptop. Converters and cables, such as the ones you are asking about, are unreliable, but cheap. From personal experience, and just quickly glancing over reviews, I wouldn't trust putting 100 bucks into something like that.

 

I've had three different PC's connected to two different HDTV's through the VGA port and the results have been anything but predictable. We'll just have to see how the fourth PC goes. The 32LX44 is a 720p HDTV so if you're currently running 1360x768, 1280x768, 1280x720, etc. through the VGA connection and the screen is displaying it clearly and correctly, you aren't likely to get anything better out of connecting it to the HDMI port.

VGA support is inconsistent from manufacturer to manufacturer and model to model although every 720p set I've messed with does 1024x768 in one form or another.

My current living room music server does 1280x768 on a 720p Sylvania set but 1360x768 setting unexpectedly extends 30-ish pixels past all four screen edges. Unless I lower the resolution down to 800x600, the DVI to HDMI always extends past the screen edges.

The previous music server did 1360x768 on the Sylvania acceptably but the image was never crystal clear. It had no DVI output and for some reason the 1080i Sony downstairs never liked any of its VGA signals beyond 1024x768. The new server looks awesome through DVI to HDMI on the Sony but I don't want it downstairs. I listen to music upstairs.

My best (but not perfect) luck has been with my Acer 1410 mini-laptop. The Sony seems to display the HDMI at 1920x1080 wonderfully but does not recognize the connection 100.0% of the time. Performance is similar through VGA although there's a few resolutions that the TV does not recognize. The Sylvania does both 1360x768 with it through VGA and I forget exactlyx720 through HDMI. x1080 extends past the screen edges just like it does with the music server.

 

Interesting, but quite off topic.

 

Yeah. Nothing at all to do with connecting a PC to an HDTV through VGA and/or HDMI.

 

What I have is a desktop. However, it sounds like I need to save for an inexpensive laptop that has an HDMI port. I don't want to waste 100 dollars on a converter, thanks!

 

Thanks, I am using VGA to VGA and so far it is working fine. I was just hoping I could get it to work as HDMI, but I guess without a new computer that is not going to happen.
Thanks !!! Everyone!