HDTV as PC monitor

[mdzapeer]

I am looking for a HDTV (1920X1080) which I can use as a PC monitor, currently i am using a 37" Toshiba Regza HDTV (1366X768) with my PC through the VGA input at 1280 X 786 as this is the best native res the display can accept(I get small black borders at the side ). I thought about getting a proper PC monitor but its hard to find a 37" monitor. I also use it the display to play my PS3 and PS2 on it.

I live in Dubai, so I do not have access to US based HDTV sets, but from what I researched the regional differences are small in terms of the features I require (PC gaming and console gaming). Are there any recommendations for PC friendly HDTVs (DVI input, native 1920x1080 1:1 pixel ratio)?

As mentioned my main usage is for gaming so low response times and gaming modes etc. Also does not matter if its LCD or Plasma. Thanks.

 

[Jesusthewererabbit]

Well, you won't find many TV's that have DVI any more here in the US, it's mostly HDMI, but I don't know about Dubai. That shouldn't be any problem though, all modern cards come with either HDMI output or an adapter.

What video card are you using? You should be able to choose 1366x768 in the control panel, and you won't have the bars.

 

[mdzapeer]

I have a 8800 GT, thought about upgrading but don't really see the need. The problem with my current display is the that it accepts only certain resolutions through the PC input, and only has 1:1 pixel at 1280X768. Rest of the resolutions even if selected at 1360 X 768 come out scaled on the display, which I guess is due to the how the electronics of the display are configured. The HDTV is not really PC friendly(no 1:1 pixel option).

Mainly I am looking for a HDTV which accepts 1920 X 1080(native) on the PC input (Dsub), and as you mentioned DVI is not available nowadays I guess. This will also give me an excuse to upgrade my graphics card , yes its all part of the grand plan

 

[LokutusofBorg]

I think any newish HDTV will work for what you're looking for, unless you buy super cheap or something. Make sure your VGA cable has all 15 pins.

 

[ViRGE]

HDMI - which is the most common digital input for modern TVs - is just DVI + Audio. Any 1080P with HDMI is going to meet your basic requirements because you can just use a DVI to HDMI adapter to hook up a PC to your TV if your PC doesn't already have HDMI. Along those same lines both AMD and NVIDIA's cards can do internal scaling, so you don't have to worry about whether the TV can scale or not (although scaling always looks worse than something rendered at the TV's native resolution).

With that in mind you really just need to find a 1080P TV with low input lag. You may want to try our Audio/Video & Home Theater forum, they probably can give you better advice with respect to TVs than this forum can.

 

[f4phantom2500]

you might want to try getting a dvi-hdmi adapter. i don't know for sure but you might be able to get 720p on your current tv that way.

 

[Kyanzes]

One thing you should look out for is that some TVs can't turn on/off automatically via HDMI when you power on/off your comp even if you have enabled the relevant function. It's can be a major PITA.

I personally went with an S-PVA V5500 Sony Bravia 1920x1080 32". I love it. If you want to use 3D games then make sure your TV can handle 120Hz. Also, the W5500 (which is newer) has some annoying lag.

You could check out prad.de (don't forget to switch to English) and check out the reviews there.

 

[happy medium]

Try powerstrip to manually set your resolution.
Are you using the latest drivers?

http://download.cnet.com/PowerStrip/3000-2193_4-14972.html

http://www.ramelectronics.net/powerstrip.ep

 

[mdzapeer]

Thanks for the replies

I already have a DVI to HDMI adapter, and have used it @720p and 1080p but it has scaling and the picture is not as sharp nor does it have the 1:1 pixel mapping like it does with the VGA D-SUB connection. I have also used powerstrip as well as creating a custom E-IDE, none of these endeavors were as good as 1:1 pixel mapping through VGA @ 1280 X 768

 

[mdzapeer]

oh 1 more thing, my HDTV only accepts PC input on the VGA, the manual states the set does not support PC input through HDMI.

 

[blanketyblank]

I use a 42" plasma for a monitor. I think it works better than a LCD since there will be less ghosting. Don't worry about connections if you're planning on upgrading your graphics cards since every modern TV has HDMI. Video cards have software that will tweak the image to fit the screen if there is any over or underscanning.

 

[mdzapeer]

blanketyblank which manufacturer and model is your plasma? what features does it have and do you have cons about the display?

 

[blanketyblank]

panasonic pz-77u. Not sure about features, but the image is good and it supports 1920 x 1080 and other resolutions perfectly over hdmi once I select the right size in the TV menu and set overscan to 0. I don't really care about features since I disable all of the image processing and sound stuff since I have better speakers and pc software gives me more control anyways. It does have autoturnoff though.

 

[mdzapeer]

disabling all picture processing is a feature for me , makes it more PC friendly. You can disable overscan on the display or are you doing it through the video card settings?

 

[RussianSensation]

I would recommend getting an LCD over plasma for a PC monitor. I can't imagine how a Plasma would not burn in on a PC over extended use. I am the first to recommend Plasma over an LCD for movies though! blanketyblank, I am amazed you didnt' get burn in with static images on a Plasma yet.

 

[toyota]

I would recommend getting an LCD over plasma for a PC monitor. I can't imagine how a Plasma would not burn in on a PC over extended use. I am the first to recommend Plasma over an LCD for movies though! blanketyblank, I am amazed you didnt' get burn in with static images on a Plasma yet.

well people say Plasma has gotten better but right there in the info it usually says will cause burn in with a static images.

here it is word for word from any Samsung plasma manual:

Screen Image retention
Do not display a still image (such as on a video game) on the plasma display panel for more than several minutes as it can cause screen image
retention. This image retention is also known as ‘screen burn’. To avoid such image retention, refer to page 14 of this manual to reduce the degree of
brightness and contrast of the screen when displaying a still image.

 

[konakona]

heh I hear you could get burn-ins on LCD's as well, there is a story of someone who had his friend who paused while watching p0rn and left it there for two weeks... and the guy with the TV now has a nice tities in the background for everything he does on the monitor

but yeah, I wasn't totally convinced with the supposed improvements on the plasmas as far as burn in goes. Hence I have a LCD TV for a monitor now.

 

[blanketyblank]

I use the video cards settings though my TV has 2 different sizes one of which seems to do the job as well though I think it might cut off a pixel or 2.
I don't have a problem with screen image retention, but I was cautious so I burned in the screen before major use. I also set my PC's power settings to switch off the monitor after a few minutes idle. So far I've written word documents and other things on it without problem.

 

[konakona]

don't plasmas have some serious ghosting issues for fast paced games? (could be wrong)
among other things, though I heard they do make plasma TVs with matte finish, every single one I have seen was glossy (sorry, can't live with it)

 

[blanketyblank]

I think you're confused. Plasmas are like CRTs in response time so there should be no noticable ghosting unlike LCDs. There is noticable tearing in some games without vsync, but that's going to be seen in all displays regardless.
I forgot that my set had something called an antiglare finish compared with the pz700u.
The main weakness of a plasma vs. LCD is going to be power consumption. Supposedly it's something like 2-3 times an LCDs power consumption, though the better contrast and response time is worth it to me.

 

[Grooveriding]

I have one of my computers hooked up to our big screen as well, a sony lcd. They're not the greatest for gaming on imo, the dot pitch is way too high, especially of you are close up to it. Games lack the detail of a movie so you really notice the individual pixels of colour imo.

If image quality is not important to you though, it will work out nicely.

If you plan to use the screen for movies as well, I would go with a plasma. Better PQ than LCD for the money, burn in is not that big a deal anymore. Panasonic makes some nice ones.

 

[tweakboy]

It will work just fine. Only problem is the closer to the set you get the worse the fonts look.

A TV will never be a substitude, just because it works. Connect it with RGB calbles and put the highest resolution so it looks almost like a PC mon.. good luck,

thx

 

[konakona]

I have one of my computers hooked up to our big screen as well, a sony lcd. They're not the greatest for gaming on imo, the dot pitch is way too high, especially of you are close up to it. Games lack the detail of a movie so you really notice the individual pixels of colour imo.

If image quality is not important to you though, it will work out nicely.

If you plan to use the screen for movies as well, I would go with a plasma. Better PQ than LCD for the money, burn in is not that big a deal anymore. Panasonic makes some nice ones.

was that 720P? I have a FP2141 sitting next to my TV and the TV looks quite good to me (1080P)

 

[RussianSensation]

was that 720P? I have a FP2141 sitting next to my TV and the TV looks quite good to me (1080P)

I am running 37 inch LCD about 4 feet away from my eyes and it looks great at 1080P. Would I want 2560x1600 on a 37 inch screen? Sure for the extra real estate space though, not because of improved dot pitch!

 

[konakona]

yeah but from what I have heard people that own both the higher dot pitch does help, in gaming and all. I simply don't have enough mulah for an equivalent monitor and a video card setup to match it.
Show me an IPS-based LCD doing 2560x1600 with low input lag and costing under $500 and I will be there oh, and I will need a free 5850 for a CF on top of that

Still, I would have to have some superhuman eyes to be able to pick off pixelation on this monitor though. I watch anime, play games, do some light productivity work (word, excel, powerpoint) all day long without noticing anything.

I prefer the NEC CRT, but that's just for color and higher FPS for extra smoothness while gaming.