The flat screen High Definition LCD and plasma television sets now on the market, together with digital programming by the broadcasting networks, open up new options for high quality video content via the computer.

For a High Definition Television (HDTV) to receive a High Definition signal, the TV set will normally provide inputs for either DVI (Digital Video Interface) or HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) connections from the computer – and of course the linking cables must be DVI or HDMI specification. HDMI is backward compatible with DVI.

However, some of the new range of LCD sets (by Samsung for example) do not provide PC access through the DVI/HDMI socket but have a dedicated PC-IN socket, so it's best to consult the TV manual before investing in a new cable.

The practical difference between DVI and HDMI is that HDMI carries both video and audio signals, whereas a DVI connection needs a second cable pair to carry the audio signal. An HDMI cable can be of greater length and is less bulky than a DVI cable. A DVI-D cable carries only digital signals, whereas DVI-I carries both digital and analog signals and requires a slightly different connection.

Many of the latest computers and laptops provide output connections specifically for HDTV, or you can add a DVI video card. A DVI–I socket looks like this:

S-Video and composite connections are not suitable for HDTV. If DVI or HDMI are not available, component video connection is the best option, using the VGA (Video Graphics Array) output on the computer.