Any downside to using an LCD TV

[zod96]

Is their any downside to using a regular LCD TV for your main pc, to surf the internet play games etc?

 

[fastman]

I do on occasion and haven't gone blind, so no there is not.

 

[Absolution75]

Most TV's have a large amount of input lag compared to their LCD Monitor breathern, but its not so much to go crazy over if you play games occasionally.

 

[Lonyo]

Plus LCD TV's generally have a much lower resolution that monitors, and you might want to see how much power the LCD TV uses.

 

[zod96]

I would be using it via HDMI and the resolution would be I believe 1920x1080 or whatever FULL HD is...This would be on an ATI 4890 btw..

 

[yusux]

other than the high inputlag I've had with the samsung, my 42" sharp (banding) and 37" sceptre wasn't bad, too bad I couldn't catch that 32" 1080p deal at costco

 

[Winterpool]

My main concerns with HDTV as computer monitor are dot pitch and resolution (only 1080 vertical). The former could probably be taken care of simply by sitting at the right distance, but in that case your work environment probably wouldn't comprise the usual 'desktop' -- ie you'd be sitting at least a few feet from the monitor and perhaps from your desk. Despite at least a decade of industry attempts at 'interactive TV', human beings seem to prefer 'working' (especially reading and manipulating content) at about arm's length. If sitting more than a few feet from the display, we tend to go into 'kick back' mode. I've yet to meet anyone who really felt comfortable reading and typing pages of text at two or three metres from the display.

This year I've been shopping seriously for a qualite widescreen monitor as well as an HDTV. A good IPS monitor 24 inches or more can cost as much as a good 32-inch HDTV. Heck, today I saw the Samsung LN46A650 at Fry's for $1300, about the same price as the 25.5-inch NEC LCD2690WUXi. Even though I realise a 46-inch TV can't replace a 24 or 26-inch monitor (qv working distances above), the price equivalence makes it very difficult to justify buying a $1000+ monitor. Which is probably why I 'settled' for a 22-inch Dell 2209WA at $212 last month.

At least from my reading on AVSForum, it seems the vast majority of HDTVs are M/PVA panels of one sort or another (this might affect input lag and colour accuracy viewing angles). It wasn't clear whether IPS panels are even made in sizes larger than 37 to 42 inches. Also, I believe HDTVs generally produce a wider colour gamut than sRGB, though that seems to be increasingly true of large monitors as well.

 

[AstroManLuca]

I've had trouble getting my LCD TV to use its native resolution over HDMI. Maybe I'm just doing it wrong, but as far as I know it has a native res of 1366x768, but when I set it to that, it doesn't work. 1280x720 works but I'm concerned it's having to interpolate pixels.

 

[hans007]

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca
I've had trouble getting my LCD TV to use its native resolution over HDMI. Maybe I'm just doing it wrong, but as far as I know it has a native res of 1366x768, but when I set it to that, it doesn't work. 1280x720 works but I'm concerned it's having to interpolate pixels.

It probably won't have to interpolate that.

IT will just cut off. Its probably your video card's drivers that are not allowing 1366x768.



Another advantage of using an LCD tv is that basically every LCD tv over 26" is IPS

 

[daveybrat]

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca
I've had trouble getting my LCD TV to use its native resolution over HDMI. Maybe I'm just doing it wrong, but as far as I know it has a native res of 1366x768, but when I set it to that, it doesn't work. 1280x720 works but I'm concerned it's having to interpolate pixels.

I was also having the same exact problem as you with my 32" tv. I gave up finally as the text looked awful at 1280x720.

I switched over to a VGA cable and it went to 1366x768 on the first boot and looks wonderful.

The text is also very sharp now and like hans said, IPS panels are nice, my games look more vibrant and colorful on this tv than they did on my 19" LCD monitor.

 

[hans007]

Originally posted by: daveybrat

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca
I've had trouble getting my LCD TV to use its native resolution over HDMI. Maybe I'm just doing it wrong, but as far as I know it has a native res of 1366x768, but when I set it to that, it doesn't work. 1280x720 works but I'm concerned it's having to interpolate pixels.

I was also having the same exact problem as you with my 32" tv. I gave up finally as the text looked awful at 1280x720.

I switched over to a VGA cable and it went to 1366x768 on the first boot and looks wonderful.

The text is also very sharp now and like hans said, IPS panels are nice, my games look more vibrant and colorful on this tv than they did on my 19" LCD monitor.

I have noticed that as well...

on my vizio 32" I tried hooking up a computer with a DVI to hdmi cable and it was really difficult to get the exact resolution. It depended on the brand of video card though, I used an intel IGP dvi and it wouldnt really work at all, but an nvidia card would get the right resolution.

analog though worked fine for pretty much any brand card.

 

[SickBeast]

Don't listen to these guys. Gaming on an HDTV blows away gaming on a computer monitor.

I have a Sharp 46" 1080P HDTV and love it. It has a 4ms response time.

I also tried it on my friend's LG 50" plasma and it was just as good if not better.

 

[mrrman]

Can someone recommend some models that you are using. I am looking for a 32" LCD TV for as PC monitor. I dont game, i want to use it just to crusie the net and use my guitar software on it( Guitar Pro 5 and Monkey)

 

[zod96]

Does Vysnc work when you use your LCD TV? I just tried playing BF2 and its was screen tearing pretty bad and that was with Vysnc forced on in the CCC, it works ok if I use my monitor, so I'm thinking it doesn't with the LCD TV.

 

[MTDEW]

I'm typing this on a Toshiba Regza at 1080p hooked to a GTX 280 over HDMI and it looks GREAT!
Im coming from a 24" dell 2405fpw monitor and the jump to a 32" LCD was trouble free for me.
Gaming at 1920x1080 vs gaming at 1920x1200 doesnt really make much difference to me since i usually have Aniso and AA enabled anyway.
And my Regza has a gaming mode setting to eliminate any ghosting, which i dont see any with it on or off anyway.
And this Regza makes an excellent pc monitor, text is sharp and clear.

Here is what i have.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16889253134

Oh, i forgot to add.
1: I run my desktop at 1920x1080 (looks GREAT)
2: And its nice to have my xbox 360 hooked up here beside my desk also, so switching from pc gaming to console gaming is as simple as pushing the input button the remote.

As a matter of fact, the only downside i can think of would be an LCD tv doesnt turn off with your pc, youve gotta hit the power button on the tv remote when you shut your pc down. BIG WHOOP!

 

[mrrman]

Originally posted by: MTDEW
I'm typing this on a Toshiba Regza at 1080p hooked to a GTX 280 over HDMI and it looks GREAT!
Im coming from a 24" dell 2405fpw monitor and the jump to a 32" LCD was trouble free for me.
Gaming at 1920x1080 vs gaming at 1920x1200 doesnt really make much difference to me since i usually have Aniso and AA enabled anyway.
And my Regza has a gaming mode setting to eliminate any ghosting, which i dont see any with it on or off anyway.
And this Regza makes an excellent pc monitor, text is sharp and clear.

Here is what i have.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16889253134

Oh, i forgot to add.
1: I run my desktop at 1920x1080 (looks GREAT)
2: And its nice to have my xbox 360 hooked up here beside my desk also, so switching from pc gaming to console gaming is as simple as pushing the input button the remote.

As a matter of fact, the only downside i can think of would be an LCD tv doesnt turn off with your pc, youve gotta hit the power button on the tv remote when you shut your pc down. BIG WHOOP!

Thanks for the info...I am currently looking at the vizio 37" model VO37LF

 

[MTDEW]

Originally posted by: mrrman

Originally posted by: MTDEW
I'm typing this on a Toshiba Regza at 1080p hooked to a GTX 280 over HDMI and it looks GREAT!
Im coming from a 24" dell 2405fpw monitor and the jump to a 32" LCD was trouble free for me.
Gaming at 1920x1080 vs gaming at 1920x1200 doesnt really make much difference to me since i usually have Aniso and AA enabled anyway.
And my Regza has a gaming mode setting to eliminate any ghosting, which i dont see any with it on or off anyway.
And this Regza makes an excellent pc monitor, text is sharp and clear.

Here is what i have.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16889253134

Oh, i forgot to add.
1: I run my desktop at 1920x1080 (looks GREAT)
2: And its nice to have my xbox 360 hooked up here beside my desk also, so switching from pc gaming to console gaming is as simple as pushing the input button the remote.

As a matter of fact, the only downside i can think of would be an LCD tv doesnt turn off with your pc, youve gotta hit the power button on the tv remote when you shut your pc down. BIG WHOOP!

Thanks for the info...I am currently looking at the vizio 37" model VO37LF

Then read this for an opinion of the Vizio V037LF as a monitor.
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1361417

And the best place to find out what you wanna know about the Vizio, go here and search.
I'd do it for ya but i forgot my username/password and they locked me out from trying again for 15min...LOL
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=166

 

[SickBeast]

Vsync works. If you're having trouble with it, try disabling TwinView and set your HDTV as your only monitor. That fixed it for me in the rare case where I was having problems with it.

 

[cbn]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
Plus LCD TV's generally have a much lower resolution that monitors, and you might want to see how much power the LCD TV uses.

http://www.samsung.com/uk/cons...odel_cd=LE22A656A1DXXU

What about this 22" Samsung LCD TV with 1680x1050 resolution?

Would this suffer any problems as a PC monitor?

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: Just learning

Originally posted by: Lonyo
Plus LCD TV's generally have a much lower resolution that monitors, and you might want to see how much power the LCD TV uses.

http://www.samsung.com/uk/cons...odel_cd=LE22A656A1DXXU

What about this 22" Samsung LCD TV with 1680x1050 resolution?

Would this suffer any problems as a PC monitor?

At that size, why aren't you just getting a PC monitor? For that matter, why not a 24" screen?

If you want a small HDTV I recommend a 32" Sharp w/ 1080P. Anything smaller than that, and you should go with a PC monitor.

How badly do you need the HD tuner? I use satellite for my tuner so I don't need one personally.

 

[mrrman]

Originally posted by: MTDEW

Originally posted by: mrrman

Originally posted by: MTDEW
I'm typing this on a Toshiba Regza at 1080p hooked to a GTX 280 over HDMI and it looks GREAT!
Im coming from a 24" dell 2405fpw monitor and the jump to a 32" LCD was trouble free for me.
Gaming at 1920x1080 vs gaming at 1920x1200 doesnt really make much difference to me since i usually have Aniso and AA enabled anyway.
And my Regza has a gaming mode setting to eliminate any ghosting, which i dont see any with it on or off anyway.
And this Regza makes an excellent pc monitor, text is sharp and clear.

Here is what i have.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16889253134

Oh, i forgot to add.
1: I run my desktop at 1920x1080 (looks GREAT)
2: And its nice to have my xbox 360 hooked up here beside my desk also, so switching from pc gaming to console gaming is as simple as pushing the input button the remote.

As a matter of fact, the only downside i can think of would be an LCD tv doesnt turn off with your pc, youve gotta hit the power button on the tv remote when you shut your pc down. BIG WHOOP!

Thanks for the info...I am currently looking at the vizio 37" model VO37LF

Then read this for an opinion of the Vizio V037LF as a monitor.
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1361417

And the best place to find out what you wanna know about the Vizio, go here and search.
I'd do it for ya but i forgot my username/password and they locked me out from trying again for 15min...LOL
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=166

Thanks for the post...excellent....Ive saved the OP's presests

 

[Winterpool]

Zod, I've spent a bit more time on Hard|Forum and AVSForum this weekend, and my strongest impression was how many users experienced difficulty getting text to look comfortably legible on their HDTVs. It was doable, but often took lots of fiddling with the telly options. The less patient sometimes gave up and returned their sets. So that might be something to bear in mind.

As to gaming, it will certainly look sweet on a decent TV, but mind the input lag (most HDTVs are PVA panels).

I think if I were forced to choose only one display, I'd rather spend $1000 on a qualite 24 or 26-inch IPS monitor. But I'm not a twitch gamer.

 

[zod96]

Yeah text is one thing that no matter what I do doesn't look to good on the LCD TV. I think I'll just stick to a regular monitor for my PC and games..

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: zod96
Yeah text is one thing that no matter what I do doesn't look to good on the LCD TV. I think I'll just stick to a regular monitor for my PC and games..

Text looks fabulous on my Sharp Aquos. No adjustment required.

I'm glad I ponied up and bought a decent brand name.

 

[mrrman]

Originally posted by: SickBeast

Originally posted by: zod96
Yeah text is one thing that no matter what I do doesn't look to good on the LCD TV. I think I'll just stick to a regular monitor for my PC and games..

Text looks fabulous on my Sharp Aquos. No adjustment required.

I'm glad I ponied up and bought a decent brand name.

what model and size did you buy