After purchasing your very own Playstation 3, the hardest part is over. Connecting your PS3 to the television is extremely simple, and shouldn't take more than half an hour.
 | Always keep your television and your PS3 switched off and unplugged, unless instructed otherwise! |
Step 1: Identify the type of TV you have
There are three ways to connect the PS3 to your TV. The method you choose depends on the type of TV you have.
If you have a traditional non-Hi-Definition TV, your TV will probably only have the RCA jack - the one with the red, white, and yellow jacks.
If you have a Hi-def TV, you can use the High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable, which gives better quality video and sound.
Step 2: Connect the RCA cable
You can safely skip this step if you're using a HDMI cable, but if you are not, connect the red, white and yellow RCA plugs to the jacks of matching colors in the TV. Then connect the plug on the other end of the cable to the Multi-out jack in the back of the PS3. If your TV has the component video jacks, simply connect the red and white plugs to the red and white jacks, and proceed to plug the red-tipped, blue-tipped, and green-tipped jacks to the sockets with matching colors in the TV.
 | For most television sets, each group of jacks (whether it's the RCA jack or the HDMI jack) may correspond to a particular channel on the TV. Consult your television's manual for further information. |
Step 3: Connect the HDMI cable
Again, you can safely skip this step if you're using an RCA cable. However if you are not. just connect one end of the cable to the HDMI OUT socket at the back of the PS3. Then connect the other end to the socket at the back of the TV labeled HDMI IN. Remeber that the PS3 does not come with the HDMI cable or an Optical cable. You will need to purchase them separately.
Step 4: Connect the Optical Cable
You can also choose to use an Optical cable to transmit digital audio. This is typically not necessary if you're using HDMI, as the HDMI cable is perfectly capable of transitting digital audio output. But if you choose to use an optical cable, do note that you will still need a video connector, whether from the yellow RCA cable, the component video cable of the component RCA, or a HDMI cable.
On a final note, if you're switching from one connection type to another (eg. from RCA to HDMI), you may need to reset your PS3 after changing the connections. To do this, turn the PS3 off, then turn it back on again. When you're turning it back on, hold the power switch until you see something on the screen. You can then proceed to adjust the video settings.
