using 2405fpw as a universal screen

[davet11]

I think I've finally decided on getting the 2405fpw screen for the ol' computer, I currently don't have a tv, but use my 19" crt to watch shows that I download. I have a few questions:

1) what kind of 'tv tuner' card would I need to buy in order to be able to watch cable tv on my monitor? Do these cards add a lot of system resources (such as bloated software, etc.) I try to keep my computer running as 'light' as possible. edit: If I have a cable box, do I need the tv tuner card, or could I get a VIVO card?

2) how would I go about connecting multiple sources, like say, an xbox or something, as well as my computer? Would I be stuck swapping cables back and forth?

3) I currently have a sapphire x600xt (or maybe pro sorry). I'm not planning on playing many games and use this computer primarily for graphics and design. Would I need to upgrade my vid card in order to get the most out of this monitor, even though I don't really play many games? I play civ4 on occasion but that's about it. If it won't run, I won't play it, just concerned about general performance.

Thanks!

 

[davet11]

Sorry, last question, how bad is the motion blur on this thing? Would it be okay for watchign a lot of movies/tv? I notice motion blur pretty easily, so I don't want to spend a tonne of cash on something that is just going to annoy me ...

 

[SynthDude2001]

The 2405FPW has S-Video and Composite inputs (Component too), so you could hook up a cable box or Xbox directly to your monitor that way. You would need to run the audio through your sound card's Line-In or something (or hook it up to separate speakers) though. Since it has those three video inputs (in addition to DVI/VGA), you could hook up multiple sources at the same time (only one per connection type of course), and switch between then by pressing a button on the monitor.

Your card should also be fine for driving 1920x1200 over DVI if you're not really concerned about games.

 

[Markbnj]

There are two big categories of tuner card: analog and digital. Analog is by far the most popular, since digital cards are just gaining momentum. With an analog tuner you can watch all of the analog channels that your cable company offers (they keep transmitting these for compatibility with older sets, and probably due to some fed. regs too). On Comcast in northern New Jersey I get about 70 analog channels.

Digital tuners support QAM decoding, and should allow you to watch the full spectrum of digital cable channels, as well as some unencrypted HD content. The MDP-130 is a good example. These tend to be more expensive, and I haven't tried one yet, although I am getting tempted.

In addition to the basic harwdare you need a TV viewer front-end. Media Center XP has one built in. I use XP Pro and Beyond TV 4.0, which I absolutely love. Basically gives you all the capabilities of a full-featured PVR on your computer.

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: Markbnj
There are two big categories of tuner card: analog and digital. Analog is by far the most popular, since digital cards are just gaining momentum. With an analog tuner you can watch all of the analog channels that your cable company offers (they keep transmitting these for compatibility with older sets, and probably due to some fed. regs too). On Comcast in northern New Jersey I get about 70 analog channels.

Digital tuners support QAM decoding, and should allow you to watch the full spectrum of digital cable channels, as well as some unencrypted HD content. The MDP-130 is a good example. These tend to be more expensive, and I haven't tried one yet, although I am getting tempted.

In addition to the basic harwdare you need a TV viewer front-end. Media Center XP has one built in. I use XP Pro and Beyond TV 4.0, which I absolutely love. Basically gives you all the capabilities of a full-featured PVR on your computer.

I'd like to add to the part of your post I bolded...

"Regular" digital cable channels can be either encrypted or unencrypted too, just like HD channels. For example, when I was last in San Antonio, I picked up 50+ unencrypted digital cable (480i) channels, plus the HD locals and Universal HD. When I'm here at my university, everything is encrypted except the local HD channels. It all really depends on what the cable provider does or doesn't encrypt.

 

[davet11]

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
The 2405FPW has S-Video and Composite inputs (Component too), so you could hook up a cable box or Xbox directly to your monitor that way. You would need to run the audio through your sound card's Line-In or something (or hook it up to separate speakers) though. Since it has those three video inputs (in addition to DVI/VGA), you could hook up multiple sources at the same time (only one per connection type of course), and switch between then by pressing a button on the monitor.

Your card should also be fine for driving 1920x1200 over DVI if you're not really concerned about games.

Thanks for the reply, I guess I'll have to see what the connections look like on the cable box (once I finally decide to get cable tv in my house). I'd rather avoid having to stick another component in my pc. I'm also using a Layla 3G for audio, so it's no problem to hook up an additional source. Anybody have any input regarding the motion blur?? Like say I was watching tennis on tv would it be okay? Yes, I love watching tennis.

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: davet11

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
The 2405FPW has S-Video and Composite inputs (Component too), so you could hook up a cable box or Xbox directly to your monitor that way. You would need to run the audio through your sound card's Line-In or something (or hook it up to separate speakers) though. Since it has those three video inputs (in addition to DVI/VGA), you could hook up multiple sources at the same time (only one per connection type of course), and switch between then by pressing a button on the monitor.

Your card should also be fine for driving 1920x1200 over DVI if you're not really concerned about games.

Thanks for the reply, I guess I'll have to see what the connections look like on the cable box (once I finally decide to get cable tv in my house). I'd rather avoid having to stick another component in my pc. I'm also using a Layla 3G for audio, so it's no problem to hook up an additional source. Anybody have any input regarding the motion blur?? Like say I was watching tennis on tv would it be okay? Yes, I love watching tennis.

I've never used or seen the 2405FPW in person so I can't comment on its motion blur (or lack thereof). On my 2005FPW it's very mininmal though.

 

[Ronin]

No motion blur on mine, no matter what I'm playing (whether it be games, movies, TV, etc).

 

[videopho]

Originally posted by: Ronin
No motion blur on mine, no matter what I'm playing (whether it be games, movies, TV, etc).

Second here. I use an RCA HDTV tuner component out to my 2405fpw for OTA HD materials (1080i/720p) and DVI to my Dell's 7800GT g/c. It works to my very satisfaction

 

[davet11]

Thanks for the help guys, the price on this for a 24" widescreen is almost too good to pass up (still might wait a few weeks though). Somebody mentioned in another thread that there have been reports of ghosting, since this monitor will be primarily for design, this could really be a problem. I thought the newer lcds don't suffer from this, anybody have any sources?

 

[stelleg151]

You might want to wait for 2407. If you want it as all around, you will probably want HDCP support for when HDDVD or blu-ray dvd's start coming out, because they will require HDCP.

 

[davet11]

Originally posted by: stelleg151
You might want to wait for 2407. If you want it as all around, you will probably want HDCP support for when HDDVD or blu-ray dvd's start coming out, because they will require HDCP.

I'm wondering if eventually there will be some kind of converter or workaround for this. It seems unlikely to me that with the release of vista, that microsoft is expecting everybody to buy new monitors to take advantage of the features. Or perhaps I am misunderstanding. I've also been doing some research on the Samsung 214t, which although not widescreen, looks like a more cost efficient solution, with a better response time. I'm sure that the vertical measurement would be at least as large as a 24" widescreen as well. Might be better for designing web pages as I could use the majority of the screen, whereas with the widescreens, I'd have the edges just sitting there. I guess I could put icons there, DECISIONS DECISIONS.