Which 1080p 40" LCD TV for computing/gaming

DrMekon

DrMekon

DrMekon

Associate
Joined
15 Dec 2005
Posts
597
I know more and more people are turning to using their tv's as monitors, particularly since the growing popularity of media centre pcs...

I need a "BIG" screen due to having poor eyesight, and yes, Ive tried enlarging the text etc.. but its not quite the same as having a larger screen... I tend to be sat about a foot away from a 22" montior set at 1280x720 to be able to see it well enough...

Im hoping that by getting a 40" lcd tv, I can perhaps sit further away, using the same resolution. I want to go for 1080p on the assumption that the pixels will be smaller than a hd ready tv, and therefore 720p on a 1080p screen will be that much sharper. Plus this also does give me the opiton to game at 1080p.

I know most sets these days are around 6-8ms which should be good enough formgaming... obviously the lower the better...

But are there any particular sets/brands or a model I should be looking at??? I have a budget of around £500...

Thanks
 
Because you will probably get the best answer from here. I have a sony 40v4000 easy enough to setup and looks good when I run the pc through it.

You can possibly get them for around £500 now.

Aero
 
RicherSounds are doing the UT42MX70 which is 42", 1080p screen for only £499. Click here

RicherSounds said:
The Hitachi UT42MX70 is the thinnest 42" screen we've ever sold! Okay, at just 35mm it's so thin that Hitachi couldn't even fit a TV tuner in but, provided you have a SkyHD, VirginHD, freesat box or DVD recorder with HDMI this is no problem at all. Furthermore, if the screen is being used as part of a home cinema system then a monitor represents excellent value as you're not paying for a part of the TV you don't need.

Coming complete with an HDMi input it's easy to connect the UT42MX70 straight up to an AV receiver or media source of your choice. Boasting Hitachi's IPS Alpha panel with PICTURE MASTER FHD Engine, the UT42MX70 offers full 1080p resolution and 100Hz technology. With this technology you'll enjoy 1080p HD quality images from the IPS screen that are every bit as good as normal, "full fat" 1080p LCD screens. In addition to the HDMI there's also a VGA socket that is perfect for a PC or, with an adaptor, any analogue source you care to add.

In addition to being a third of the thickness of a conventional LCD TV, the Hitachi UT42MX70 is lighter. In fact, this screen is so much lighter than other 42" TVs that it can make the most of a wider range of wall brackets, including swivel-type brackets with a lower weight bearing. To keep the appearance neat and tidy, Hitachi has designed special cable channels. The beautiful finish has also been designed to look sleek from any angle - perfect if the TV is stand mounted in the centre of a room.

For a fuller picture from a thinner screen, the Hitachi UT42MX70 is without competition.
Click to expand...
 
BeatMaster said:
RicherSounds are doing the UT42MX70 which is 42", 1080p screen for only £499.
Click to expand...


Is this screen actually any good for general viewing. I don't play games but am in the market for a new TV for mainly SD stuff.

Can't help being tempted when other shops have that listed for well over £1000?
 
I did think about that... will have to see if any reviews put it in a good light...

Still, I know RS down a 7 day home trial/refund, so I could always get one and see..!!
 
Looks like a brilliant deal, although it seems really bizarre that it has so few inputs... no SCART, no component, no DVI, no S-video etc which when combined with the lack of a TV tuner limits your options a bit. Fine for a PC monitor but perhaps not for older consoles or people without HD telly. I know it's thin, but 1x HDMI 1x VGA seems fairly paltry by modern standards.
 
Aero said:
Because you will probably get the best answer from here. I have a sony 40v4000 easy enough to setup and looks good when I run the pc through it.

You can possibly get them for around £500 now.

Aero
Click to expand...

I'm running the exact same screen with my HTPC. Looks amazing. :)
 
I'm running the exact same screen with my HTPC. Looks amazing
Click to expand...

Cool.. thanks...

Can I ask what res you run it on??

As I mentioned, Im likely to be using it in 720p format, and occasional 1080p... have you or can you try 720p and comment?

Thanks
 
Text is quite small on 1080P televisions, a 720P set seems more ideal for you. You can still get a 40" set that is 720P and it will look good still.

I sat less than a foot in front of my 37" 1080P set, I'm happy to be back on a monitor though as the novelty wears off and going on brighter websites blinds you. If I could find the old pics of my old TV being used on my PC I'd show you, but don't expect the text to be very big, on 720P though it will be more suitable.

That said nothing is stopping you from using 720P for general use and then setting it to 1080P for films and games.
 
That said nothing is stopping you from using 720P for general use and then setting it to 1080P for films and games.
Click to expand...

Thats what I intend to do... Im just trying to establish whether 720p for a pc on a 1080p panel is still sharp and clear, especially for text... I would expect this to be better than on a native 720p screen as the pixels would be smaller on the 1080p set....

Thanks
 
DrMekon said:
Cool.. thanks...

Can I ask what res you run it on??

As I mentioned, Im likely to be using it in 720p format, and occasional 1080p... have you or can you try 720p and comment?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I run at 1080p. If i get the chance to run at 720p tonight i'll post my results. :)
 
DrMekon said:
Thats what I intend to do... Im just trying to establish whether 720p for a pc on a 1080p panel is still sharp and clear, especially for text... I would expect this to be better than on a native 720p screen as the pixels would be smaller on the 1080p set....

Thanks
Click to expand...

720P on my 42" plasma up close is actually too sharp for text I think, I only use the PC input for watching TV and films though. :)

I'm sure it will be sharp enough on a 40" LCD too.
 
I run at 1080p. If i get the chance to run at 720p tonight i'll post my results.
Click to expand...

Would really appreciate that... If you could comment on general desktop appearance, browsing, and working with documents, that would be great!!

Ive ordered one in, as my local RS is out of stock.. so should be in by end of next week...

Gerneal reveiws I have read say it is a great panel, only downside is connectivity and lack of tuner, but Im not interested in any of that... just want a good screen.

Thanks
 
Ok.. heres the confusion...

I got the tv...!! Went for the 37" as they had no 42", but glad I did, 42" would have been a bit too big...

Connected via hdmi.. and I thought things looked a little fuzzy..ok, but not very sharp.. I was messing about with connecitons, and connected the vga cable up, and set to 1280 x 768 and I was blown away with how sharp everything is...

Why is the vga conneciton so much better than the hdmi...???
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom