Using flat screen TV as a P.C. Monitor?

[mikeandronda]

I was thinking about getting a new monitor today and the thought crossed my mind would a falt screen TV work if I had the right Vid output on my Graphics card.....Anybody here know anything about this?

 

[JB]

Re: Using flat screen TV as a P.C. Monitor?

My Polaroid 20" hdtv has a socket for a VGA input. Haven't used it but given the quality of the picture I bet it would work just fine. Simple remote function to select what input you are using.

Nice TV and was inexpensive, under $270, at Wal Mart.

 

[mikeandronda]

Re: Using flat screen TV as a P.C. Monitor?

See thats what I was thinking was that it might be cheaper........This P.C. Will be used for Video editing and music Recording so I would be using 2 monitors with my Graphics card.......If I could have both hooked up......Im pretty sure My Vid card also has a s-vid out.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Using flat screen TV as a P.C. Monitor?

Yes, it works.

We do that at work for video conferencing. Just plug into the VGA input on the TV and change the input with the remote. Nothing else to do, it works great.

 

[lowkee]

Re: Using flat screen TV as a P.C. Monitor?

I use a JVC 61" 1080p DLP (projection) @ 10,000:1 contrast ratio for my primary (and only) monitor. I can easily say I will never again buy or use a 'normal' monitor at home. I actually sit in a recliner ~7 feet away from it. Makes computing nice and relaxing. I'm a web developer, so you know if I can stare at it all day for programming, anyone else can use it for a few hours reading forums.

I have not used an LCD display, but I'd bet they aren't much different as long you stick to the 1080p ones with a high contrast ratio (very important or you will strain your eyes). If you are going smaller (say, 32"-42") a 720p may work to your liking, as a 1080p will likely display small text and you will have to downshift to 720p anyway. 1080p will end up being a more long term purchase in either case.

In all of this, note the 'p'. *You must get a 'p' not an 'i'*. The refresh rate is flicker hell on the 'i' (interlaced) screens.

If you are curious, I can take a hi-res photo of my screen with the forum on it, so you can see how clear and easy to read it really is.

 

[i386]

Re: Using flat screen TV as a P.C. Monitor?

Most new "flat panel" TVs come with a VGA (regular ol' monitor) connector, so you don't need a special video card with S-Video. If your video card has the new digital DVI connector you can adapt that straight to HDMI (or so I've read) which any new flat panel TV will also have.

I don't want to start another 1080 vs 720 holy war but this is my opinion. If you'll be sitting pretty close to the screen you probably want 1080. If it's across the room 720 may be just fine. At a certain distance, the human eye cannot see the difference in 1080 or 720 pixels.

The last thing is your video card. Make sure it can support the native resolution of the TV you want or else it won't look so good. 1360x768 up to 1920x1080 for example.


I've been meaning to connect my laptop to my TV just to see what it looks like. I think the max resolution on it is about 1280x1024.

 

[Pony]

Re: Using flat screen TV as a P.C. Monitor?

Most new "flat panel" TVs come with a VGA (regular ol' monitor) connector, so you don't need a special video card with S-Video. If your video card has the new digital DVI connector you can adapt that straight to HDMI (or so I've read) which any new flat panel TV will also have.

This is true. We have several computers hooked up to TVs at work. I have a 32" lcd on my desk, and we run a few loops of a powerpoint demo on a 40" and 46" LCD. All but one are hooked up with a DVI to HDMI adapter. They all look great.....just have to mess with the display settings a bit to get it perfect.

At home I use a 42" 1080p lcd with my laptop, I have used my 50" DLP, but not too often.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Using flat screen TV as a P.C. Monitor?

I have hooked up my laptop to my TV using an S-video cable - not too good of an image on the TV. I then connected it using a Monster HDMI cable and WOAAAA. It looked great.

 

[Pierutrus]

Re: Using flat screen TV as a P.C. Monitor?

I've hooked up my laptop to my 42" POS dell plasma and holy cow, what a display. And it's only a 720P. It looked a whole lot better then my desktop monitor. If you got the buck's, go for it.
Just make sure it has a VGA connection on it before you but it.

 

[ebry710]

Re: Using flat screen TV as a P.C. Monitor?

Each TV set is different. There use to be TV's setup for computers. Now they seem to be diverging again. I would say look at the specs and talk to different dealers and computer geek shops. I know they're some but they are always changing.