Tom's Hardware > Forum > Computer Peripherals > Flat Panels/ LCDs > Can a 30in PC mionitor do double duty as a television??

Can a 30in PC mionitor do double duty as a television??

Forum Computer Peripherals : Flat Panels/ LCDs - Can a 30in PC mionitor do double duty as a television??

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frankienyc123   12-08-2006 at 06:36:09 PM

I'm currently in the market for a new television for my bedroom in thee 27-32in size range. My Pc is also in the bedroom and I was thinking of maybe killing two birds with one stone and getting one of the real big 30in computer monitors and using it as both a tv and pc monitor. Is it possible?? The screens ive seen from Dell and Apple don't seem to have any sort of video inputs for connecting a cable box or dvd player directly to the monitor?? I'm thinking id have to get some sort of video capture card and plug my cable box into it and watch tv though my pc? Would something like this work?? I have an ATI AIW 800xl which has video capture built in and has video inputs, but it only has s video and composite I believe, my HD cable box has component or dvi outputs. Are there any capture cards that accept a component video or dvi input??

My other option I thought about was buying a 32in lcd tv and using it as a pc monitor and television. Ive tried it with my brothers 37in Sharp lcd tv and wasn't really happy with the results when using the pc with it, it wasn't nearly as sharp with text as a regular pc monitor. I'm wondering if the new 1080p lcd tvs would look better with PC since they have a higher resolution? But they don't make 32in 1080p televisions yet.

Any ideas?? Thanks

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mpjesse   12-09-2006 at 04:10:08 AM
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It's totally possible. All you need is a HDMI to DVI cable. You can also find component to DVI cables/dongles on eBay. One thing you might want to do though is find a LCD monitor w/ HDCP. That way you can use the digital out on a bluray, hd-dvd, or hdcp enabled cable/satellite box. But that's not absolutely required.

As for capture cards w/ component, the answer, so far as I know is NO. Believe me, I've looked. But it's been a while.

As far as 1080p monitors, the answer is yes. 1080p has pretty much been the standard for years now, even on CRT's. Some cheaper LCD's, namely those with analog inputs, are typically not "true" 1080p. So always get an LCD w/ a DVI interface.

Reply to mpjesse
Hose   12-09-2006 at 11:51:50 AM
- 0 +

Quote :

I'm currently in the market for a new television for my bedroom in thee 27-32in size range. My Pc is also in the bedroom and I was thinking of maybe killing two birds with one stone and getting one of the real big 30in computer monitors and using it as both a tv and pc monitor. Is it possible?? The screens ive seen from Dell and Apple don't seem to have any sort of video inputs for connecting a cable box or dvd player directly to the monitor?? I'm thinking id have to get some sort of video capture card and plug my cable box into it and watch tv though my pc? Would something like this work?? I have an ATI AIW 800xl which has video capture built in and has video inputs, but it only has s video and composite I believe, my HD cable box has component or dvi outputs. Are there any capture cards that accept a component video or dvi input??

My other option I thought about was buying a 32in lcd tv and using it as a pc monitor and television. Ive tried it with my brothers 37in Sharp lcd tv and wasn't really happy with the results when using the pc with it, it wasn't nearly as sharp with text as a regular pc monitor. I'm wondering if the new 1080p lcd tvs would look better with PC since they have a higher resolution? But they don't make 32in 1080p televisions yet.

Any ideas?? Thanks



No LCD TV will be a satisfactory PC monitor unless you view it from a normal TV viewing distance, including 1080p.

However, an LCD Monitor is an OK TV. To have all the bases covered for all the various inputs, the best minimum all-around LCD would be a 24", 1900x1200.

Reply to Hose
frankienyc123   12-09-2006 at 08:23:42 PM
- 0 +

Thanks, 24in is way to small, its got to be at least as big as my current 27in 4:3 crt hdtv. So 3I figured the 30in wide screen monitors would be roughly the same size. Does anyone else make 30in pc monitors besides Dell and Apple?? What is it that makes even a 1080p television not look as clear as a computer monitor on text?? Is it the size of the pixels are smaller and closer together on a pc monitor?? Im surprised that there isn't more demand for LCD screens that do both television and PC equally well, with the PC becoming more and more a general purpose media device you would think many people would be interested in such a screen? I mean i would love to have only one screen in my bedroom for both television and my pc and i believe many people with smaller apartments would also find it useful.
Thanks
Frank

Reply to frankienyc123
Hose   12-09-2006 at 10:28:56 PM
- 0 +

Quote :

"... What is it that makes even a 1080p television not look as clear as a computer monitor on text?? Is it the size of the pixels are smaller and closer together on a pc monitor?? Im surprised that there isn't more demand for LCD screens that do both television and PC equally well...



Yes.

If it were possible, there would be GREAT demand for a combo PC/TV monitor. However, they are not as similar as they appear.... mostly because one was designed to be viewed up-close at higher resolution, the other viewed from a greater distance and lower resoluton.

Reply to Hose
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