Before my project is finished, I will have a receiver that supports HDMI--presently my receiver does not support HDMI, but Im not worried about that because Im buying a new one that will have 3 HDMI ports.

Last question: Do I need to run a VGA cord if Im going to get a laptop with HDMI? In order to run the VGA, I need 2" conduit and Home Depot and Lowes don't have that big, they only have 3/4". Should I just forget the VGA and get the the 3/4".....I found a place that sells 2" and its EXPENSIVE!

Quote (ProjectorBoy on Feb 26, 2011 11:22 AM): I suggest you forget the HDMI switch and buy the HDMI receiver. That will actually save you some money because you're going to buy the receiver anyway. I don't know much about computers, but I think you'd just need to run the HDMI cable. In regards to the 2" conduit, if you need it, I would use the 2" PVC in the Plumbing Dept.

So what your saying is I don't even need the switcher if I have an HDMI receiver? So how would that be connected? I think I may need one because my HDMI Receiver would only have 3 inputs.

Projector
HDMI Receiver
Playstation
Cable Receiver
Dvd Player
HDMI Computer

The solution is quite simple.

Buy a receiver with enough inputs to handle what you are trying to do, don't buy something you KNOW won't do it from day one.

It seems like you are trying to learn before making some purchases and decsisions, so why not ask about what type of receiver to get? While this forum has some great projector and connection info, I would go to a website like Audioholics to try to get some solid information, or take a look at this thread:
http://forums.highdefdigest.com/home-theater-gear/79806-build-your-own-htib-400-800-a.html

I would avoid Sony receivers and if possible, Onkyo, but Pioneer, Yamaha, and Denon are top notch products which will last for years.

Keep in mind if you buy a receiver and you NEED to use a composite, s-video, or component video source, and your receiver does NOT upconvert to HDMI, then you will be in trouble if all you ran was HDMI to the projector.

Also worth mentioning, you don't need to run VGA for the projector... Even if you end up needing it later, you can use CAT-5/6 cabling and use what are called baluns to convert from VGA to cat-5 and back again.