Choose a display for the Raspberry Pi

The Raspberry Pi is designed to be connected to either a television or a computer monitor. If connecting a Pi to a television, there are two methods: a digital connection via an HDMI cable – the same type of cable a Blu-ray player uses – or analogue through a composite video cable. For the best image quality, use the HDMI connection by connecting an HDMI lead from the port on the bottom of the Pi to your TV.

If using an older TV that lacks HDMI, connect a composite video cable from the yellow port on the top of the Pi to the TV’s yellow composite socket. If the TV lacks a composite input but does have a Scart socket – the wide, flat connector type used by older video recorders – then composite-to-Scart adapters can be purchased at most electrical shops.

You will also need an audio cable with a 3.5mm jack and a pair of phono plugs. This should be connected to the black audio port on the top of the Pi, with the two plugs on the other end going into the TV’s audio inputs or the Scart adapter.

Some older PC monitors are not suitable for use with the Pi, as it can’t connect to a VGA socket.

For monitors with HDMI, just connect an HDMI cable to the port on the bottom of the Pi and the monitor. If the monitor has a DVI input instead, buy an HDMI-to-DVI cable. Plug the DVI end into the monitor, and the HDMI end into the port on the bottom of the Pi.

More in the Raspberry Pi series:
Download an operating system
Install Raspbian
Raspberry Pi hardware
Connect peripherals to the Raspberry Pi
Connect the Raspberry Pi to a network
Log on to the Raspberry Pi
Explore Raspbian
Build or buy a case