i want to watch stuff on my tv from my computer?

Read in the manual of your computer if it has a graphics output. If it's hdmi, you just need a hdmi cable. If there's only dvi, then you'll need to get a dvi-hdmi adapter and a hdmi cable. If it's vga look if your TV as a vga input (some do). If not, you'll need to get a vga-hdmi (analog-digital) converter. When you plug the computer in, it should mirror the screen of your computer automatically. If not, right anywhere on the desktop, click the AMD, Nvidia or Intel control panel, and set it up from there.

It depends what each has.

The skinny is that except for same connections, DVI-I (which is a combo DVI/VGA connection some computers have) to VGA or DVI anything to HDMI, you need a converter box to convert one signal to another. What other cables you see are for something else, or a joke.

Depending on what you got.

For video + audio: Best.

- 1st hdmi cable to hdmi out on computer/laptop to hdmi in on receiver for surround sound audio, then 2nd hdmi cable to hdmi out on receiver to hdmi in on tv for tv video.

or

- dvi-d + s/pdif to hdmi converter and then use the above setup.

or

- Hdmi cable to hdmi out on computer/laptop to hdmi in on tv for tv video and tv audio.

(Instead of to tv, you could go from receiver first with any video cable, then hdmi from receiver to tv and maybe your receiver can upconvert/upscale other video signals other than hdmi-set the settings).

For video: From best to least.

- hdmi out on computer/laptop to hdmi in on tv.

or

- dvi out on computer/laptop to dvi in on tv.

or

- dvi-d to hdmi cable (does not carry audio).

or

- vga out on computer/laptop to vga in on tv.

or

- component out on computer/laptop to component in on tv.

or

- s video(super-video) out on computer/laptop to s video in on tv.

or

- composite video (video) out on computer/laptop to composite video in on tv.

or

- coax video out on computer/laptop to coax video in on tv.

(For audio, it is possible to go to tv with hdmi cable, then tv's audio outs go to receiver).

For audio: From best to least.

- hdmi out on computer/laptop to hdmi in on receiver.

or

- s/pdif coaxial or s/pdif optical out on computer/laptop to s/pdif coaxial or s/pdif optical in on receiver.

or

- rca, Red (right channel) and white (left channel) stereo out on computer/laptop to in on receiver or tv.

Now there is usb options.

- Like displayport cable to hdmi adaptor, or use a regular usb on a blu-ray player.

For audio:

- You have to use a hdmi cable for audio if you have a 8 channel=7.1 surround sound speaker system hooked/wired up to your 7.1 receiver. You want to use hdmi cable for audio if your receiver supports the dolby-true-hd or dts-hd surround sound formats.

- You need to download k-lite codec pack for windows media player or media player classic and use ffdshow decoder (output -> ac3 s/pdif encode mode+48000 hz+many other settings) to send a surround sound signal through a s/pdif cable.

For computer speakers for sound card audio:

- If you have a sound card that supports multi-channel audio (select output + 5.1 or 7.1.ect speaker setup).

- Some computers have a sound card that can decode audio to a receiver.

For video:

- You need a video driver that supports multiple monitors and/or can use dual/clone view.

or

- If you cannot use the above (if your video driver is up to date and is not able to do multiple monitors or dual/clone view),

- Method 1: Use a control center for your video driver or windows media center so you can set your tv as your primary monitor+many other settings.

(I have a ati display driver, so I downloaded a matching version of my ati display driver with ati/amd catalyst control center).

- Method 2: Shut down computer, hook up video cable, disconnect your monitor (vga), turn tv onto either video 1 or hdmi or w/e works, then turn on computer and video will display on tv.