Can you use 32" LCD TV as a PC monitor?

juno_first

juno_first

juno_first

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My old crt tv blew up the other day & I was going to get a 32" LCD tv for the living room where my pc is (hey no women round here).

If I used a remote keyboard/mouse then sitting a nice distance from the TV would work ok, so I was wondering if a 32" LCD TV can also double-up as a PC monitor? I'll be using a HDMI converter thingy.

Currently using 19" LCD.

Mainly, as it only has a resolution up to 1366x768, will games find/work at this resolution?
 
Most newer games will work at that resolution, or if not then at 1360*768. It's worth checking the screen can actually do that resolution through the input you intend to use. Also worth pointing out that if you're using DVI->HDMI lead no sound will go to the TV but there's plenty of ways round that.

Only drawback is the 25% loss of vertical resolution versus your 19" TFT can make the web and apps a bit frustrating, but for games/movies it should be fine.
 
Yeah I suppose 768 is not very high, although I'll still have my 19" so I could still use that if need be.

The tv comes with 2x8w speakers so I'll not be using them lol.

I guess XP will find the optimum resolution through HDMI as 1366x768 or I'll have to add the resolution.

I presume if I play a HD video (main reason for doing this) which is 1280x720 then it will expand to 1366x768 ? & loose quality too ? as when eg expanding 1024x768 on my 19" LCD I loose quality.

Is anyone using a 32" TV as a PC monitor ?
 
Your video player software should have a 1:1 mode if you don't want it upscaling. What I meant about the sound is that no sound is output through a DVI socket, so using DVI-HDMI lead or HDMI lead with a DVI adaptor, or DVI lead with HDMI adaptor, you won't get any sound from your TV. Or did you mean the TV comes with seperate speakers with their own inputs? Can't remember seeing any that do.

What you can do is get a TV with VGA input, and then it will usually have a 3.5mm sound input as well that's tied to the VGA, so you'd just need a 3.5mm cable from your soundcard/onboard to the TV.
 
I'll be using PC speakers as they are 5:1 so DVI-HDMI is just for picture.

Basicly the 32" LCD TV will be a 1366x768 PC monitor so I'll be using the PC to play HD videos on it with media player/vlc player etc & when going full screen the player will sort itself out.

Maybe get ps3 when they cheaper to use as HD video player :rolleyes:
Like I use my old xbox now; pity it cant play HD :(
I tried an xbox360 which can play HD though its media centre is a pain as in not playing divx (tried on the fly convert & its naff).
 
juno_first said:
The tv comes with 2x8w speakers so I'll not be using them lol.?
Click to expand...
Ah sorry, somehow I misread this and missed the word 'not'. Can't see anything wrong with your plan. I did try this with my 32" HDTV and a HD movie and got some nasty tearing but I presume that could be fixed with movie software settings.
 
I'd be interested to know how you get on with it. I'm currently using a 19" TFT as my screen, but I'd like to get a 32" LCD from OcUK and use it for watching videos/DVDs from my PC and playing the 360 through it. Like you, I don't care for the monitor speakers as I have some Logitech Z2300's and they're "slightly" better!

OcUK is only a 20 min drive for me, so I could easily pop in on the way to/from work :)
 
Took the plunge & got a samsung 32" 8000:1 contrast & WOW, I'm glad I got 8000:1 as it sooo amazing... I thought my 19" monitor was good with its 1000:1 but this samsung in awsome :cool:

The pc tower is now at home next to the tv :D now sittin on soafa chattin on a 32" msn.
Games look so different/better
 
Vista runs 1360x768 easy though xp is fubar; even with the nvidia hotfix/different drivers (158.27 worked for 1 reset) XP cant do 1360x768 so have to run 1280x720 scaled or 1920x1080 interlaced so IQ is lost.
I'm using hdmi2 on the tv which supports 1:1 pixel too.

Seen on other forums that its a 8800 driver bug in so far as the hd copy protection is messing things up.

People may be having the same problem with 22" monitors too?

Does anyone know how to fix this? thanks
 
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juno_first said:
Vista runs 1360x768 easy though xp is fubar; even with the nvidia hotfix/different drivers (158.27 worked for 1 reset) XP cant do 1360x768 so have to run 1280x720 scaled or 1920x1080 interlaced so IQ is lost.
I'm using hdmi2 on the tv which supports 1:1 pixel too.

Seen on other forums that its a 8800 driver bug in so far as the hd copy protection is messing things up.

People may be having the same problem with 22" monitors too?

Does anyone know how to fix this? thanks
Click to expand...
Its fixed now. Have a similar Samsung HDTV with 1:1 on HDMI2 and mine now works perfectly with this hotfix on XP as Vista already works fine.

http://nvidia.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/nvidia.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=2064
 
Sime said:
Im interested in doing what you have done mate, would you recommend it?

Either getting a 22" LCD Monitor and running my PC and 360 non HD

or

Getting a 32" LCD TV and hooking my PC and 360 upto that


BTW can someone help me with this?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MO-052-LG&groupid=17&catid=510&subcat=

Does this mean it is also HD ready (HDCP Compatible has confused me alittle)
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All PC monitors are HD. They always have been, or everything on the screen would be blury.

HDCP is high definition copy protection AFAIK, and is a heavy form of DRM. Although, this is also the only way to play Blu-ray/HD-DVD in HD.

As for the monitor thing, you have to decide this really. Do you use your PC very often ? I would advise the monitor here, as you will be a lot more comfortable using it. If it is for movies and music, get the 32".
 
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