Looking for a 32"-37" TV to use as a monitor

[ghost recon88]

I bought a el cheap Insignia 32" 1080p to use as a PC monitor. It works great for TV and my Wii, however when displaying 1920x1080 from my computer, none of the text looks as sharp as it did on my 24" and there appears to be some ghosting. Also there is a bit of backlight bleeding and a few dead pixels. Needless to say, I'm not that impressed and am going to return it. I already did the calibration using a THX HDTV app from a DVD. My question is, what are some good screens that are ether 32" or 37" that can be used as a PC monitor. I'm probably gonna get something that's 60Hz, as 120Hz is just too expensive for my blood at this time. Dell has some good deals on 37" Vizios. I was looking at this one, however I see they also have the two different VO37OM listed. I should note I plan on using this as a TV for my Wii, and some over the air watching. I'm looking at spending around $500-525 max. Any ideas, thoughts, suggestions?

 

[kalrith]

How far are you from the screen? That will determine whether the 32" or 37" would be better. I was looking at getting the Toshiba 32AV502R. It's supposed to work really well as a PC monitor. If you go to bing.com, search for "buy it now" (without the quotes), and click on "www.ebay.com Bing Cashback" at the top of the hit list, you'll get 8% cashback on your ebay purchase. That would make the Toshiba TV $344.

 

[oatmealstorm]

That TV is 720p. Do some research at least. :thumbsdown:

 

[kalrith]

I searched beachcamera's ebay site for their Toshiba 32" TV. Last time it was their 1080p model. I assumed this was the same, but it is not. Sorry for that, OP. The TV I meant to link is the Toshiba 32RV525R. It's the replacement for the 32RV530u model (Source). If you search hardforum for 32RV530u, you'll find a ton of threads about how great the TV is as a computer monitor (Google finds 8,370: search link).

Beachcamera.com had the TV for $400 up front and $388 after Bing cashback. They had it for an even better price on ebay after cashback. Unfortunately they are not carrying it right now, but that gives you an idea of what the price has been in the past. The best deal I could find right now is at Tiger Direct. It's $450 up front and $414 after 8% Bing cashback. Search Bing.com for "tigerdirect" (without the quotes), and you'll see the cashback link at the top (unless you have Adblock Plus turned on).

 

[ghost recon88]

How far are you from the screen? That will determine whether the 32" or 37" would be better. I was looking at getting the Toshiba 32AV502R. It's supposed to work really well as a PC monitor. If you go to bing.com, search for "buy it now" (without the quotes), and click on "www.ebay.com Bing Cashback" at the top of the hit list, you'll get 8% cashback on your ebay purchase. That would make the Toshiba TV $344.

When using the screen as a PC monitor, I sit about 2 feet away from it :hmm:

...The TV I meant to link is the Toshiba 32RV525R. It's the replacement for the 32RV530u model (Source). If you search hardforum for 32RV530u, you'll find a ton of threads about how great the TV is as a computer monitor (Google finds 8,370: search link).

Beachcamera.com had the TV for $400 up front and $388 after Bing cashback. They had it for an even better price on ebay after cashback. Unfortunately they are not carrying it right now, but that gives you an idea of what the price has been in the past. The best deal I could find right now is at Tiger Direct. It's $450 up front and $414 after 8% Bing cashback. Search Bing.com for "tigerdirect" (without the quotes), and you'll see the cashback link at the top (unless you have Adblock Plus turned on).

I'll give that TV a look, thanks.

Also I've been using the HDMI connector for 24/7, but someone on a different forum just suggested I use VGA for normal use, and HDMI only when gaming, any reason why?

 

[0roo0roo]

its never going to look sharp.
30" computer monitors have twice the pixels of hdtvs.
spreading 1080p desktop to 37" is really just pushing it. video is fine, but for text? ugly as hell

 

[rcpratt]

its never going to look sharp.
30" computer monitors have twice the pixels of hdtvs.
spreading 1080p desktop to 37" is really just pushing it. video is fine, but for text? ugly as hell

A 1080p monitor has the same number of pixels as a 1080p TV. TV pixels are wider though, which causes some problems.

 

[kalrith]

When using the screen as a PC monitor, I sit about 2 feet away from it :hmm:

Also I've been using the HDMI connector for 24/7, but someone on a different forum just suggested I use VGA for normal use, and HDMI only when gaming, any reason why?

I don't know why someone would suggest using VGA. Most/all TVs' VGA inputs are limited to a lower resolution (1024x768 or 1280x1024), so you don't want to use it unless you have no other choice (which you do). Stick with HDMI.

If your eyes are literally 2 feet away from the screen, then I think a 32" TV will be too big. Using this viewing-distance calculator you'll see that 2 feet from a 32" TV puts you at a 60° viewing angle. I try to shoot for around a 36° viewing angle, which is the recommended THX viewing distance. I achieve that (technically 40.6° viewing angle) by sitting 2 feet from my 24" 1920x1200 resolution monitor.

Obviously some preference comes into play, but you should be able to fully resolve the 1080p resolution from 3.5 to 4 feet away from the screen (use this chart for seeing what resolution you can resolve from a certain screen size and certain viewing distance). Being 2 feet away from the screen means you're likely to see pixelation and the limitations of 1080p and would require a resolution like the 30" computer monitors have (2560 x 1600). Those are actually made to be viewed from 2 feet away, and they have almost twice the number of pixels as a 1080p TV.

A 1080p monitor has the same number of pixels as a 1080p TV. TV pixels are wider though, which causes some problems.

I think you're confused. There are some TVs that have wider, rectangular pixels (like 42" widescreen plasmas with 1024x768 resolution). However, most/all 1080p are not like this (Hitachis might be the one exception here). A TV with a 16:9 aspect ratio and 1920x1080 resolution will have the exact same pixel structure as a monitor with a 16:9 aspect ratio and a 1920x1080 resolution.

Edit: After rereaing rcpratt's post and seing MrEgo's post, I'm guessing you meant that the pixels on the TV are larger rather than wider. When it comes to resolution, it's all about screen size and viewing distance. If his viewing distance were 3 feet instead of 2, then 32" 1080p would probably be just fine. At 2 feet something closer to 24" 1080p or 30" 1600p would be better.

 

[MrEgo]

A 1080p monitor has the same number of pixels as a 1080p TV. TV pixels are wider though, which causes some problems.

But how many 30"+ monitors use 1080p resolution?

 

[0roo0roo]

A 1080p monitor has the same number of pixels as a 1080p TV. TV pixels are wider though, which causes some problems.

yes but 30" monitors are 2560x1600 aka twice the hdtv resolution. not 1080p

 

[ghost recon88]

Problem is the only 30" I would consider getting is the Dell one, and it's a bit too pricey. I believe that one does 1600p if I'm not mistaken. I'm pretty sure ether way the 32" Toshiba linked above would be better then this Insignia, so I'll probably end up grabbing that and just using it as a TV/monitor, and then move my chair back a couple feet.

 

[kalrith]

Problem is the only 30" I would consider getting is the Dell one, and it's a bit too pricey. I believe that one does 1600p if I'm not mistaken. I'm pretty sure ether way the 32" Toshiba linked above would be better then this Insignia, so I'll probably end up grabbing that and just using it as a TV/monitor, and then move my chair back a couple feet.

Is there a reason why you're not using your 24" any more? I was torn between a 24" monitor and a 32" TV, and for a while lamented the fact that I chose the monitor. However, if I had a 32" TV, I'd just have to sit farther away from it and would have the same viewing angle that I have with my 24" monitor. I guess it just doesn't seem like an upgrade to me since you're just going to have to sit farther away from the TV.

If you're set on getting one, then I think the Toshiba is the best buy out there. There are a lot of good TVs, but many of them don't have reviews for being used as a PC monitor. That gives the Toshiba a big advantage as you can be quite certain that it'll work well as a PC monitor. One thing I didn't mention is that the Toshiba has a semi-gloss screen. It's about half way between a matte screen and a glossy screen. That was the only negative I found regarding the TV.

Good luck!

 

[ghost recon88]

Well I wanted something with a built in ATSC tuner, and my 24" didn't have that. I also wanted something a little bigger to play my video game systems on and watch movies on. Plus a few days after getting this TV, I sold my 24" so there's no way I can get it back plus they don't make it's model anymore.

Some people on newegg report the Toshiba has fuzzy text when used as a computer monitor.

Edit1: Before I order the Toshiba, I see LG also has a 32" priced near the same (http://www.amazon.com/LG-32LH30-32-...3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1262805518&sr=8-3). Any reason to get that over the Toshiba?

Edit2: After reading around, it appears LG switched out the S-IPS panel after November to some type of PVA panel, you think if I order one from Amazon now it will still be from a November batch? Or do they go through TVs pretty fast?

 

[ghost recon88]

Alright after a lot of reading around, I've narrowed it down to ether the LG 32LF11 or the Panasonic VIERA TC-L32S1. Any thoughts?

 

[Synomenon]

I just got a Viera TC-L32S1 and it's great as a monitor. The picture is sharp and input lag is very, very low.

Use one of the HDMI inputs instead of its VGA input. I uses an IPS panel as well and so far, I have seen that its viewing angles are very good.

 

[tweakboy]

I second that a TV used as a PC monitor will never be as sharp and sharp text like a real PC monitor. Which is why if you want a 30" PC Monitor it will cost you a arm and a leg @ 2k or 3k ,,, ...

Its built as a TV, and not meant for PC, the pixels like the guy said are bigger and font is ugly videos are ok. I would ditch the idea of getting a TV monitor as a PC mon,

Just go and buy a nice 25.5 or 26 inch Samsung or Sony PC Monitor and your set.

You can go higher resolution then 1080P ,, 1920x1200 ,

Also watch out for the new TV's and mons with 120hz refresh on them,, good stuff,, gl