LCD TV as a Computer Monitor

milodesc

Distinguished
Nov 18, 2005
2
0
18,510
Hey everyone -

Was wondering if anyone uses an LCD TV as their main computer monitor. I have an all-in-wonder video card (9800 Pro) and i'd like to hook it up to an LCD TV and use that as both a monitor and television.

Does anyone forsee any problems w/ this type of setup? would it be better to just get a bigger LCD monitor?

Does anyone out there have this type of setup or experience w/ this type of setup?

Does anyone have any specific recommendations for a tv around 26" - 32"?

Thanks for your input.
 
I'm currently looking for a new LCD display - A main problem with LCD TV's is that they usually have a much lower resolution and coupled with the display size and text etc will look pretty poor.

Also, a lot of LCD TV's have crappy response times of 25ms which means you'll get a lot of image distortion (blurring and ghosting) if your playing games, particually FPS.
 

milodesc

Distinguished
Nov 18, 2005
2
0
18,510
hmmm..

So from what I understand from your response is that as the screen size increases a higher resolution screen is necessary in order to get a clear, crisp picture. If the resolution doesn't increase as the screen size increases the pixel size must increase, which makes the picture blurry. So if i decide to go w/ a 32" screen as opposed to a 26" screen, the 32" needs a higher resolution in order to provide the same picture quality.

so is there any standard rule I can go by like a 1280x768 resolution would look ok on a 26" screen but not on a 32" screen? or is that just something you have to test out yourself?

Also, I'm considering two 26" LCD TVs. One has a 1366x768 resolution and one has a 1280x768. Does this imply that the 1366x768 screen will have a "wider" picture since the number of horizontal pixels is greater or does it mean that the screen still has a 16:9 ratio and the pixels are smaller on the 1366x768?
 

Crashman

Polypheme
Former Staff
No, what he's saying is that most LCD TV's are made for 480i/480p resolution, and 720x480 is really bad for a computer display. If you're using one that supports 720p (720x1280) you'll be fine.

Many LCD TV's have a VGA input, which is also fine, but DVI would be better. Video cards convert digital to analog for VGA, then the TV converts back to digital if it uses a VGA input, better to go straight digital than do the back and forth conversion.
 

RamaX

Distinguished
Dec 3, 2005
67
0
18,630
Its so good to be back on TomsForums~! I was away so log my old accnt got nixed hehe. Ok i rejoined almost explicitly to ask these same questions and let me fill you in on what ive found so far. Apparently the compatibility issues do often revolve around the odd resolutions that LCDs often display at. 1366x 768 is probably the most common LCD res, and that can be a hard setting or many PCs (unless you hve a graphics card that allows you to specify that well, and then you actually hav to remember to set it). Ater a bit of research it looks like thas why ive settled on he new Westinghouse LVM-37w1. It has a resolution of up to 1920 x 1280 not only much higer than vitually any other one i was able to find (and i was shocked to find that LCD as generaly higher resolution capabities than plasma, even tho LCD nearly aways displays HDTV at 760p and Plasma with lower resolution often does HDTV at 1080i-explain that~!) So not only is the res high but 1920x1280 is also a COMMON resolution setting (if not often used, its one of the more standard settings found). If anyone can give me some hints on this issue im still learning, id like to pick up 1 or more of these sets before Xmas, so im on a steep learning curve here. I have yet to find the dot pitch and response times for this set, so if anyone can get that info, please post it. Let me know what you all think as im lookin for feedback myself. As an aside this set is one of the first to boast 1080P, so im thinkin it may be perfect, although ive heard a few not so great things about picture clarity for analog signals. Last i saw BestBuy has it for 1799, but there was alot of talk around other forums ive read about it recently being there for 1499, and i found other websites like off Bizrate that offer it for 1599, so i/you may be able to beat down BestBuy back to 1499 or 1599 at worst.
 

RamaX

Distinguished
Dec 3, 2005
67
0
18,630
FYI: i dont know why i said i couldnt find dot pitch...prob cause im brain dead from reading about this all night. But i was able to find out that the response time of that set is 12ms. Im thinking good, but im a bit behind the times, so can anyone let me know how good a time that is..?

Mucho gracias
 

Crashman

Polypheme
Former Staff
First of all, 720p works for most larger LCD TV's, but stretching to fit an odd screen always causes the display to be less crisp. An option for many displays is to view such images at native resolution, 720x1280, with black bands filling the remaining screen (a dozen or so pixels on each side).

You really have to go by reviews to find out the true nature of an LCD screen, as response times are scewed in favor of the manufacturer, not the buyer.
 

ZombieStomach

Distinguished
Dec 31, 2005
1
0
18,510
I have a Westinghouse 37" LCD TV model LVM-37W1. It is more of a monitor then a TV since it has no tuner. I love it. It has native 1920x1080 support (1080P) and you can find them for only about $1500-$1600.

I sometimes sit as close as 3-4' and the resolution is crisp and clear. The response time is not to much of an issue at 12ms. Some people say they can see flicker at 12ms. For most people the threshold seems to be 16ms.

It is an LCD so you have to be realistic about the picture. It may not be as great as on some CRT or high end plasmas but gaming with my xbox and PC, even with first person shooters, Halo, and Doom3 is great.

Hope that helps
 

Jason B

Distinguished
Sep 8, 2007
4
0
18,510
I bought a Visio 26" Lcd TV with native res of 1366x768. I set my ATI card for 1360x768 the closest I have. It does not look right!!! I see less on the screen than I did with my 17" sqaure LCD. Everything is much bigger, my email program gets cutoff and I see less of my in/out box, everything it too big.

If I change the resolution to 1360x1024, it helps images and my email program, but text is fuzzy, and print looks weird.

My current video card, while old, (ati all in wonder 9200) supports tons of different resolutions, high and low. A newer card isn't going to fix my issue, is it?

After doing some more searching on resolutions... Is the problem because the native resolution of this 26" LCD is 1366x768? I want to use it strictly as a PC monitor only (word processing, typing, spreadsheets, work), not for outputting videos or playing games.

For ex, if you look at PC monitors only, I see 26" ones with resolutions of 1920x1200. Is that was I should have bought? Still learning.
 

bigbeef2604

Distinguished
May 8, 2007
157
0
18,680
Since people brought up using a Westinghouse I guess I should share..

i currently use a Westinghouse 47" 1080p tv as a monitor. It has a 6.5ms response time and looks beautiful. In my opinion its a bit too big for FPS games, but for multitasking stuff for work or school it's great. I can have 3 "full size" windows open on the screen at once. Meaning if i'm doing a research project for a business class I can have excel, word, and internet explorer all open at once and visible on the screen.
As for games, they're spectacular on this monitor. Command and Conquer 3 is insane. In FPS games I usually have to back away from the monitor a bit to get a big full view.
 

JMecc

Distinguished
Oct 26, 2006
382
0
18,780
A standard 1280x1024 monitor means 96.4 DPI for a 17" and 86.3 DPI for a 19". This is about the same as a 1080p TV at 25.5" and 23".

Size Resolution DPI
17" 1280x1024 96.4
19" 1280x1024 86.3
17" 1440x800 96.9
20" 1600x1200 100.0
23" 1920x1080 95.8
26" 1920x1080 84.7
32" 1920x1080 68.8

For the 1080p DPI use (2203/TVsize).

So even with 1080p it will be harder on the eyes so sit a few feet back.

Jo
 

miahallen

Distinguished
Oct 2, 2002
572
0
18,990

Samsung's smallest 1080p TV is 40". The only manufacturer to make a 32" model with 1080p resolution is Sharp, the LC32D62U and the LC32GP1U. I have the first, and I love it! The dot pitch is about 0.35mm (24" displays are 0.27mm, Dell's 27" is 0.303mm). I sit back about 3ft and it's wonderful. Check out the link in my sig.
 
That Westinghouse 1080p is VERY popular for use as a PC monitor, there is a monster thread on it at hardocp http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1088497

It's a bit long but if you start at the beginning you'll learn a lot shortly. This TV was on sale for $600 or so (refurb) at PC connection just recently. And then there's miahallen's model mentioned above. I'd say it's best to go 1080p if you want a usable picture and be sure to buy a set others have pr oven is viable as a primary PC monitor.
 

knudsenm

Distinguished
Sep 22, 2007
3
0
18,510
I use the Samsung 52" 71F and love it. The tv supports 1920 x 1080. Company of Hero's and Madden look fantastic on it. Does cause a bit of eyestrain at 10" though.
 

chrispyski

Distinguished
Jun 7, 2006
60
0
18,630
2005? Why pull up such an old thread? I bet you'd be hard pressed to find any new LCD with a 25ms spec. these days (at least stateside).