Monitor vs LED TV...

Soldato
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I have a £1000 budget for a monitor/TV.

I'm edging towards TV.

I'm after a 45''+ screen. Bigger, the better. I would like it to be "sexy looking" so those borderless designs I'm really drawn towards.

I need to low input lag for gaming.
I need it to be good for watching HD TV shows from my HTPC.
I'm guessing I need it to be LED/LCD because I'm PC gaming/don't want much IR.



So what are my options please people? Finding a good review site with input lags etc. is hard.
 
http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/news/category/reviews

Points of interest for PC usage are 4:4:4 compatibility (for text clarity) and low input lag (for gaming). And don't expect any miracles, pretty much every modern monitor beats a TV in regards to input lag.

Do note, the search tool is not working like it's supposed to (especially the "Price" and "Screen Size" filters). You're probably better off going through the list manually. And remember, these are EU models (UK, more specifically).

Also, if you're looking for 45"+, you should be prepared to accommodate for a substantial viewing distance (1.5m+). Otherwise the image might be blocky. Though your own sight has a huge impact on that.
 
thank you, which monitors would you reccomend?

I am considering getting a monitor + TV combo for under £1k but i don't know if thats possible?
 
Personally, I would take my chances with Philips 42PFL6907 or 42PFL6678 (47" models also available). Not reviewed in the above mentioned site, though, so emphasis on "taking chances". And these are not the usual models (nor the brand) people often recommend, LG and Samsung are more common alternatives. Especially LG has lately provided features that are useful for PC users. Though input lag varies greatly between models, so very important to first check via reviews. LG's LM6 serie from last year seems quite consistent with regards to input lag and 4:4:4.

If going for PC monitors, then Dell U3014 and HP ZR30W might be viable contenders, both around £900. That's about as big as you can go on PC monitors.

And regarding £1k for monitor AND television:
Not impossible by any means. Though I would personally go with only one, as it's quite a hassle to change between them all the time. Unless of course, you intend to keep the TV as a separate device and go for a monitor for PC exclusively. In which case I would recommend taking a look at the upcoming BenQ GW2760HS, which should be below £250, and would still leave a considerable budget for a TV.
 
Would a plasma TV such as the 50GT50 or the 50VT50 not be a viable option?

I would be using the gaming PC for emulation and gaming mainly.. also HTPC use with XBMC so a few static backgrounds?

also I know this is a stupid priority but are there any monitors which look a little more sexier? i.e. thinner/no bezel et.c
 
Hi was thinking the same getting a large screen to go LED TV router but if you are a gamer and want High res don't get a TV screen

get a monitor but I only draw back will be size for you .....
 
Regarding frameless:

There have been few manufacturers touting "frameless" monitors and TVs. But once the hype is over and the units are released into the wild, they usually end up having 1cm or more frame. I think LG was one of the first to get some flack for this. They had marketing pictures where it shows pretty much non-existant frame, but in reality the image is photoshopped, and there's an "inner frame" which makes the actual wasted space 5 times larger.

Alternatively (especially the case with Philips TVs), they use the images of 55" models (which might not even be photoshopped) to all the models of the specific serie, which makes the frame look relatively thin, but once you unpack the 32-42" models, it's now considerably bigger when compared to the overall size.

If any manufacturer touts a "frameless" design, then check the real user footages from youtube videos/unboxings, they usually show the actual case.

Regarding nice looking TVs in general:

Philips have a "Design Line", which focuses on aesthetics. They look nice, but apparently they also always come with a glass front. While some people actually like this, personally I detest them, as they bring along more reflections, too. And a price premium, for that matter. Design line is separated from the normal series with the moniker PDL, instead of PFL (for example: 42PFL6907T vs. 42PDL6907T). Also, many Philips TVs have the unique "Ambilight" feature (check youtube), which makes for a nice addition to the overall impression.

With LG, I think the LM669 seems quite nice.

Regarding TV, resolution, gaming:

While higher resolution is nice indeed, it also requires more horsepower from the rig, too. And like said before, own sight and viewing distance has a huge impact for the actual need for the higher resolutions.

Regarding plasmas:

Sorry, I have very little knowledge of them. Can't give recommendations on those.
 
Plasma response times, motion processing and black levels are usually much better, but the same things apply regards view distance. There's no way you want to be sitting under 2m away from a 50-inch screen. The pixel density on even a small pc monitor is much better.


Modern plasmas generally suffer no screen-burn as long as you're sensible with the usage.

The simple truth is that watching TV and gaming require different screens. One size fits all will require a compromise somewhere. Either buy a 30" monitor and put up with the size, or buy a 50" TV and put up with the lag/picture quality.
 
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