Good to use my 720p HDTV as PC display?

gizzaciggy · 20 Dec 2009 at 21:06

Just bought a new PC (should arrive tomorrow from OcUK), but I haven't bothered to buy a new display.

I have a 26" HDTV which supports 720p and 1080i which I've been using for the past few years to display my PS3 and 360 games. I'm hoping that the TV will be able to display a pixel sharp resolution for PC gaming too. I have a ATI Radeon HD 5850 on its way. Not gamed on a PC for a long time, will I simply be able to set my PC resolution to 720p or 1080i on my new PC to get a good picture?

Thanks in advance.

G-Dubs · 20 Dec 2009 at 21:36

Will look ok for gaming if used at a sensible distance 6-8 foot or so. But will look awful as a monitor if you're sitting up close.

gizzaciggy · 20 Dec 2009 at 21:38

Awful as in it won't display 1:1 pixels and will be blurry?

DireEmblem · 20 Dec 2009 at 21:39

awful as its not a decent resolution for that size of screen.

BeeP · 20 Dec 2009 at 21:47

you will notice it most when displaying text.

Quixote · 20 Dec 2009 at 21:49

it'll display 1:1 & those resolutions are natively supported by modern graphics drivers & games. He just means TVs aren't designed to be looked at up close but 26" isn't that big, so the pixels aren't that big, I think you'll be fine.

gizzaciggy · 20 Dec 2009 at 21:49

I understand.

Is there a way to display the PC in the supported 1080i by the TV? Would this look poo also?

Just want to try it out before making a decision whether to buy another display.

SlugForAButt · 20 Dec 2009 at 21:53

I used to use my PC on my 32" TV at those res and it did indeed look poo.
Mind you, my 6 inches more might make all the difference?

Quixote · 20 Dec 2009 at 21:54

I think that PC's are always Progressive scan. So you may have to do 720P. But you should check the documentation for your TV (online if you don't have the printed copy) to check what resolution it supports for PC. I just don't know.

gizzaciggy · 20 Dec 2009 at 21:56

Thanks guys. I'll find out soon enough.

reiyushin · 20 Dec 2009 at 22:00

You can run it at 1080i (it'll drop the refresh rate to 30Hz)

I'm using one now, for games its fine but for web browsing (anything with text) it's horrible

MatzeR · 20 Dec 2009 at 22:11

Apologies for the thread hijack

My partner is looking at using a 19" TV for her PC.

Sovos SVTV19D 19"
720p
Resolution: 1680 x 1050 Screen

Any ideas how bad the text will be on that? bearing in mind i dont expect her to run over 1280x1024

TheTard · 21 Dec 2009 at 01:19

MatzeR said:
Apologies for the thread hijack

My partner is looking at using a 19" TV for her PC.

Sovos SVTV19D 19"
720p
Resolution: 1680 x 1050 Screen

Any ideas how bad the text will be on that? bearing in mind i dont expect her to run over 1280x1024

If she runs it at 1280x1024 it will be perfectly fine, even if she runs it at 1280x720 it will be fine for a monitor that size