Getting a 32" Full HDTV as a PC monitor

ps3ud0

ps3ud0

ps3ud0

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OK Im looking to get a HDTV in August to be my main monitor/TV for my PC/PS3 and VM STB.

Ive decided to go for 32" as it primary use will be as a PC monitor and so needs to be comfortable from around a metre away. It obviously needs to be Full HD and because Im connecting a PS3 it should have 100Hz/24p to make sure Blu-rays play properly (how important is this?!?).

In priority the uses are:

PC Desktop
Watching SD TV via the VM STB
PC/PS3 Gaming
DVD/Blu-ray Films
HD-DVD Films (via XBOX 360 HD-DVD)

The connections I expect are:

3 HDMI (connect PC and PS3)
2/3 SCART (connect VM STB and PS2)
1x Component/Composite/S-Video (for adhoc uses like camcorder)
Digital Audio Output (connect Z-5400s to it)
Useful if it had DVI/VGA to connect my laptop to it...

So Ive got a good idea what I need from it and I think Ive reduced it to 3 choices but open to alternatives and comments:

Panasonic TX-32LZD85
Sony KDL-32W4000
Pioneer KRL-32V

Which one should I get and why?

Thanks

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
I'm not going to search for a TV for you, but I can tell you this, 24fps is not a massive deal, neither is full HD for gaming as most games are made in 720 and will continue to make made like this for the future of the PS3 and 360. You'll be happy with whatever you get (within reason of course), oh and if you connect it to your pc, for christ sake use DVI, you can get all sorts of problems connecting via VGA with some TV's.

Oh and I bought a sony about 6 months ago, wish I bought a panasonic!

Regards,
Drew
 
Ill be connecting the PC via DVI until I upgrade it all to HDMI (need to understand what I need). FullHD is for the desktop as I couldnt use 720p for PC stuff, be too much of a 'downgrade'...

I would have thought 24p from Sony would be as perfect as it can be for Blu-ray since it both their products - naive mistake to make?

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
I would personally get the Sony. For no ther reason than I use a 32D3000 as my monitor and it works flawlessly. I have PC, PS2, PS3, Wii and 2nd Sky box all running through it.

The pixel mapping works fine so no need to fanny about with all sorts of settings.

1920 x 1080 from 1 metre away will look pretty good. I sit about 2m away and I'm about to upgrade to 40" 1080p for gaming.

Bear in mind the PC audio implications though (which I'm sure you have) unless you have a GFX card that does audio over hdmi.
 
Ive been mulling over the audio as Im not really an audiophile, so would like some thoughts...

Firstly I will be upgrading my PC so its HDMI complaint for video/audio, though I really need to move over to C2Q first (on a A64 X2 system still :p). Probably get the 4870 and one of those new HDMI audio card (asus or auzentech) eventually.

The sound system (Logitech Z5400s) will be hooked up by optical for the PS3/PS2; analogue jacks for the PC and digital coax for the TV (so that it supports the VM STB and Freeview)...

Im trying not to upsell myself to the 40" model :p - anyone care to stop me or give me reasons why I shouldnt?!? Moving from a 24" atm...

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
40" gaming on a 1080p LCD is superb. Although for a normal PC monitor bit too big, I'd use a 20"-24" Maybe have primary/secondary with 40" for gaming? I have a 20" and 24", and had a 40".
 
Ive got a 2407WFP atm and I really cant justify keeping it if I get the TV - I could have a 19" 4:3 as a secondary monitor as Ive got one spare here - though its a bit small for desktop work :p...

Perhaps I should just keep it to 32" - serves both desktop/gaming/movie purposes in one monitor - more a compromise rather than best of both worlds...

*starts looking at 32" FullHD TVs :p*

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
I have a 40 inch 1080p tv that I use as a monitor and even though it's awesome, it does indeed feel too big. Things can start to look a bit rough at 1080p without aa while sitting at normal pc monitor distances. Your definately on the right track looking at 32 inch 1080p models, it will look a lot crisper and far more sensible on a desk.

And if you want a big screen for movies, get a projector.;)
 
Cool - sounds like Im making the right choice - just gonna wait until mid-August to get it...

Anyone got any comments on my sound setup - not that clued up Im afraid...

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
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LOL £1500+ for a 32" 1080p today, get other better branded/mature LCD's at 46" for same price and same spec 1080+100hz etc etc.

Sharp, Sony, Samsung etc.

Pioneer were always overpriced and they were Primary Plasma but now left the sinking ship.
 
a 32" TV is going to look horrible at standard monitor distances isn't it :/

especially as the pc monitor ress for only 30" is 2560x1600 not 1900x1080...
heck for 24" it's 1920x1200
 
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Tefal said:
a 32" TV is going to look horrible at standard monitor distances isn't it :/

especially as the pc monitor ress for only 30" is 2560x1600 not 1900x1080...
heck for 24" it's 1920x1200
Click to expand...

No it looks crystal clear, I use a 37" as a PC monitor and it looks lovely.

A TV without 1080P would look horrible close up however.

You can get a lovely 32" Samsung on a certain website for about £532, 1920x1080, that'll do you nicely.
ugly ferret said:
I have a 40 inch 1080p tv that I use as a monitor and even though it's awesome, it does indeed feel too big. Things can start to look a bit rough at 1080p without aa while sitting at normal pc monitor distances. Your definately on the right track looking at 32 inch 1080p models, it will look a lot crisper and far more sensible on a desk.
Click to expand...
I sat literally about 50cm away from my TV, 37" @ 1920x1080 and never really had any issue with things looking rough, everything looked superb.
 
Tefal said:
a 32" TV is going to look horrible at standard monitor distances isn't it :/

especially as the pc monitor ress for only 30" is 2560x1600 not 1900x1080...
heck for 24" it's 1920x1200
Click to expand...
Nahhh it will be pretty much fine since the dpi decrease is so small it would be visually difficult to tell the difference between 24" 1080p and 32" 1080p even at say 2 feet away...

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
ps3ud0, what did you do about this in the end? what did you get?

I've been doing a lot of research myself lately on using an lcd tv as a monitor. I want to use it mainly for pc gaming and maybe for general desktop use too. I'm unsure on the quality of a 720p image on a 32" tv from a pc for desktop and gaming. I'm worried you will lose quality in games because of the smaller res being stretched to a 32" screen area.

If you go to the sony site the manual for Sony KDL-32W4000 states the max res over vga/hdmi for pc input is 1360x768 if I read it correctly. It's dissapointing that sony cannot provide full hd support for pc use.

I'd rather go full hd on a lcd tv for pc use if the price is right, but I would make do with a 720p if the quality is still amazing, especially at a near distance - in which case the Sony KDL-32V4000 would be good.
 
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Hi mate,

Im afraid I found out that my monitor (Dell 2407WFP) supported HDCP over DVI so basically decided that it was a bit stupid spending £700+ to replace it when it was still doing everything I needed...

Im sure the 32W4000 does 1080p over HDMI and component and that only VGA is restricted to 720p. Essentially I was expected to use my PC via a HDMI-DVI cable so the VGA wouldnt really have made a difference. Which probably would have made me buy a HDMI capable GFX card (so I could route audio and video)

It would be unacceptable if the said TV did not support FullHD connection with my PC - 720p should only be used on 19" monitors :p.

It sounds like for you that your main use will be gaming and not desktop so if 32" isnt a restriction then plasma might be ideal (if its only rare desktop use). 32" 1080p just isnt value for money and I doubt it will be any time soon (for £100 more you can get the 40W4000 :/)...

One good idea might be to inspect Freeview pics on such TV since they will be 720p (your expected games resolution?) so you could see if there are any loss in clarity. Yes the pixel depth will be larger but I doubt its readily perceptible...

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
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BassPwr said:
I'd rather go full hd on a lcd tv for pc use if the price is right, but I would make do with a 720p if the quality is still amazing, especially at a near distance - in which case the Sony KDL-32V4000 would be good.
Click to expand...

Mate, I game at 1366 x 768 on my 32D3000. It's fine, in fact it's very good. However, if you are a detail junkie, even with AA applied it's never jawdropping.

If you sit close, you will see the pixels. With 1080p on 32" you will struggle to see them as much (more pixels in same screen area).

If you can, try both before you part with the cash. I've had 3 good years on a 720p set but I'm now going to make the step-up to a 1080p set for PC use.
The reason I say try it is that a 720p set, with it's relatively low resolution, can actually benefit if you don't have a current gen card as you tend to get pretty decent FPS on most games.

So, if you like the look of a 720p set, 1st it'll be cheaper and 2nd'ly there's less chance you'll have to also splash out on a GPU to keep up decent FPS. Worth considering.
 
Margaret said:
A TV without 1080P would look horrible close up however.
Click to expand...

Just an update to this...I was actually wrong, I now use a Sony KDL-32V4000U (720P) as a secondary for movies and tv shows and when I was right up to the panel it was crystal clear, minor text distortion but that goes away when you move just a bit back.

Not sure if this will apply to all 720P sets though, but the Sony actually looks good close up despite the 1368x768 res on the 32" screen.
 
i'm looking at dropping ~£500 on a Toshiba 1080p 32" TV - primarily for PC desktop, gaming and PS3.

Leaving the 720p 37" in the lounge for V+

we'll see...
 
Pug said:
i'm looking at dropping ~£500 on a Toshiba 1080p 32" TV - primarily for PC desktop, gaming and PS3.

Leaving the 720p 37" in the lounge for V+

we'll see...
Click to expand...

Make sure you aren't sacrificing quality for the resolution, I made that mistake with my LG and it's light years behind my Sony despite the higher resolution it has.
 
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