Using TV as a monitor.. possible?

vengeance32 · 18 Sep 2012 at 01:30

Hey,

I'm about to buy a system with a 7950 graphics card,. and I was just wondering if I am able to use my TV: 40in samsung 5500 (Resolution 1920x1080, 100hz) as a monitor to play games?

Im sorry but im a bit of a newbie when it comes to all of these things. this is probably a really stupid question to ask.

One · 18 Sep 2012 at 01:33

Looks like it from the specs. It has a VGA input. Assuming this is your tv http://www.samsung.com/us/video/tvs/UN40D5500RFXZA-specs

Surveyor · 18 Sep 2012 at 01:43

Or use a HDMI input.

Note that it won't be working at 100/120Hz in the same way that a proper monitor would.

Why not use a 100hz TV rather than an expensive 120hz "gaming" monitor?

vengeance32 · 18 Sep 2012 at 02:21

desires said:
Looks like it from the specs. It has a VGA input. Assuming this is your tv http://www.samsung.com/us/video/tvs/UN40D5500RFXZA-specs

Yeahh, this is the TV I have.

vengeance32 · 18 Sep 2012 at 02:23

Surveyor said:
Or use a HDMI input.

Note that it won't be working at 100/120Hz in the same way that a proper monitor would.

Why not use a 100hz TV rather than an expensive 120hz "gaming" monitor?

so, would you recommend me to buy a separate monitor instead so that there would be no lag when i do play games?

cyanide5000 · 18 Sep 2012 at 13:29

Is there even a huge difference between 100 and 120mhz?

andybird123 · 18 Sep 2012 at 14:52

cyanide5000 said:
Is there even a huge difference between 100 and 120mhz?

no, but TV's don't work at 100hz either... if you hook up via VGA or HDMI they will commonly work at 60hz, the 100 or 120hz bit of the TV is upscaled internally and what this means for gaming is massive input lag (HDMI is preferable to VGA)

I used a TV for as a monitor for a while and it was fine, I didn't even really notice the difference between it and my 120hz monitor so I sold the monitor and just used the TV... input lag can be an issue with TV's but they will also often have an option to rename the HDMI port you are using to PC or GAME so that it cuts out all the internal processing on the TV to reduce input lag

I have since moved to a 2560x1440 monitor but that's a different story

dowcow · 19 Sep 2012 at 14:31

It's possible. I used a 40inch LCD for gaming for years, and adapted to the lag unknowingly. It was one of the first 1080p screens under £1300, that being how long ago I bought it!

Anyhow, I was using it on Game Mode, but then read that almost all TVs even on game mode had input lag of at least 30ms. Doesn't sound like a lot, but it's 2 frames at 60hz. I fetched my old 21inch CRT down, and played some more BF3 and even at 85hz, the lack of lag combined with smoother gameplay meant I had to ditch the TV. I now have a 144hz Asus 27inch monitor, and my game has improved a lot. I mean, an awful lot.

If you play RPGs and a lot of single player then a TV would be fine. For FPS games you really want a 120hz monitor though.

Beren · 1 Oct 2012 at 10:22

Is this still the same though with TV's like the LG 7600 which is supposedly 240hz but really works at 120hz?
Likewise the new plasma TV's seem to be pretty good lagwise...
I guess I am more wishing than hoping as I would love to be able to run an FPS on a TV, though mostly I play single player or MMO so it might not be too much of a big deal for me.