PC Place

PCs, Macs, software, viruses, highjackers. It's all here.

Return to PC Place

Message Sort: Post Order or Asylum Reverse Threaded

TV as a monitor

24.26.107.223
Posted on December 28, 2004 at 05:38:57
jmlrotel


 
Can anyone tell me what is needed, to use a TV as a computer monitor ?
I would also like to retain the use as a TV, hooked to a cable box, for regular viewing. The current TV that I would like to use is a GE
stereo monitor #32GT740, 32".
If it can be done will the computer image be different than what my regular monitor displays ? I do have a seperate video card in the computer.
Thank You

 

Hide full thread outline!
    ...
Re: TV as a monitor, posted on December 28, 2004 at 15:06:05
dwill123
Audiophile

Posts: 2162
Location: Philadelphia
Joined: September 7, 2003
 All you would really (theoreticaly) need is a graphics video card that had S-video output. Be warned using a standard TV for computer output blows (unless we're talking flat panel plasma). ATI All-In-Wonder cards should support your needs.

 

Re: TV as a monitor, posted on December 29, 2004 at 06:37:24
jmlrotel


 
dwill123;
That was going to be my next question. Would there be a significant difference between a Plasma and a LCD. If not would price be the only determining factor ?
Also is a DVI connection different than my regular monitor connection on the computer ?

 

Re: TV as a monitor, posted on December 29, 2004 at 13:50:20
dwill123
Audiophile

Posts: 2162
Location: Philadelphia
Joined: September 7, 2003
 From a TV perspective plasma vs LCD they're both too expensive for me. But from a pc monitor perspective LCD will be more cost effective. More variety to choose from and much better cost. You'll need to research an issue with "dead pixels". Apparently pixels can die leaving black or "dead" dots on the screen. The warranty only covers the monitor if a certain number of pixels die (around 8 or 10). I don't think this is too frequent but something to beware of. Regarding your connection you probably have an analog connector. There are adapters to convert this to digital. Good luck.

 

I've tried it, with both failure and success ..., posted on February 28, 2005 at 18:02:08
vacuous
Audiophile

Posts: 4515
Location: Corvallis, Oregon
Joined: August 25, 2000
Contributor
  Since: November 7, 2020
 I've used a TV for video output from my PC for several years. My first go at it was with a Matrox TV graphics card, and a 13 inch Sony TV. It worked fine for playing back recorded video, but it failed as a device that would let me read text from my computer desktop. Text ended up looking smeared, fuzzy, and unreadable.

My second go-round with a TV as a computer monitor has been more successful. I have a 34 inch widescreen Sony TV, with very high screen resolution. And I use an ATI graphics card with S video output. Now I can actually read text on the TV, even though it is kinda fuzzy. I can read Asylum pages without too much squinting.

The very best image quality from computer to TV can be done with a DVI connection. Some televisions, like my Sony widescreen, have a DVI input. In principle it's possible to connect the DVI output on a computer graphics card to the DVI input on the TV. And the image quality is reputed to be fantastic. But setting everything up is not simple. The screen resolution and refresh rate must exactly match what the TV can handle. Otherwise, there is a the possibility of frying circuitry in the TV.

If you are interested in DVI output to a TV, there is a good forum on the web for that. I'll dig out the link if you request it.

Good luck!

 

Page processed in 0.017 seconds.

[ Top Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]