HDTVs as PC Monitors (up close)

Pug · 23 Oct 2006 at 14:55

Was thinking of buying a big monitor (25"+) but they're expensive when compared to HDTVs of a similar size.

OCUK have 26" HDTVs for around £400, as opposed to the Dell ones which cost upwards of £600.

Now they're more expensive because they're better, basically. but i wondered if i could live with a 27" (or 32") panel designed for HDTV as a casual use PC monitor.

Resolutions i would have to contend with would be 1280 x 720 (27") or 1366 x 768 (26") - and so on...

Would this be too low a resolution for use at a desk? i do very little word processing (and could always fall-back on my 19" LCD) if i did a lot. Its generally for Internet, music/video and gaming use... GFX card is a X1900XT 512MB.

Just dont know if a bigger screen with no real increase in res (might be a drop from my 1280x1024 19"?) would be useable froma distance of 2-3 feet...

any opinions?

RichL · 23 Oct 2006 at 17:36

I tried using a 23" HD LCD (1280x720) as a pc monitor and I hated it. The pixel pitch is far too big and that will only get worse on a bigger screen. IQ is much better on a dedicated PC screen imo. Then again I was using windows a lot, for video and games it will be less of a problem.

Pug · 23 Oct 2006 at 22:07

hhhm.... sounds like it may be a problem... Just wish i had one to test and see - 26" would be aboout the size i'd want really, but if its unuseable :/

Tempted so as i can plug my 360 in see

squiffy · 23 Oct 2006 at 22:13

I had a 32" 1366x768, for games it's great. But for Windows/GUI/email not quite as good as a proper PC monitor, but I could certainly live with using one. The pixels are larger, ie my 20" pixels are pin ***** size, but 32" was half pin head size. I would have no problems using a 32" for Windows, although I would probably go for 26" 1366x768 just to get finer pixel pitch if Windows GUI is going to be used more.

I would take your laptop into high street store and ask to plug it into the LCD, ideally with DVI.

I wouldn't say a 32" LCD is "unusable" more like gobsmackingly good, since you've never seen such a huge desktop!

For picture editing I would get a higher rez panel, 1920x1080p

edit 2-3' will be too close though, 4' minimum.

Pug · 23 Oct 2006 at 22:17

squiffy said:
although I would probably go for 26" 1366x768 just to get finer pixel pitch if Windows GUI is going to be used more.

yeah, 26" i think would be the sweet spot.

I'd love to test them, but a few probs with that:

A) dont have lappy
B) mates lappy doesnt have DVI

if i can find a decent priced 26" with DVI & VGA (and SVideo would be nice too

) think i'll give it a punt

Freakish_05 · 24 Oct 2006 at 12:57

I'm using a LG 26" (26LC2R) as a secondary monitor and use it just for games (when using with PC) and it is fantastic!
My 19" TFT is used for everything else (word processing, internet, msn etc).

Your mates Lappy doesn't need DVI for two reasons:
1) Most (if not all) LCD/HDTV's now have VGA ports on the back and Most people prefer connecting via VGA rather than using a DVI to HDMI cable due to lack of HDMI support on GFX cards. However, your graphics card supports HDMI iirc so I'd take advantage of it!
2) With the introduction of HDMI, DVI has slowly been slipping out of newer models so I personally wouldn't bother.

HTH

queamin · 24 Oct 2006 at 18:48

Almost all lcd tv's that can take a pc signal over hdmi will only support hd resolutions i think lg will do most resolutions over hdmi and a lot of lcd tv's willn't support a pc over hdmi it is a hit and miss over hdmi as most got vga for pc input