Using a TV as a monitor...

[GasX]

I was wondering if you can hook up a PC to a TV to play games. I would love to play some sports games on the TV and am too cheap to buy a playstation...

 

[Yoshi]

Games and movies look fine on the TV screen using a video card with TV out. Text is too blurry for surfing the net or typing email.

 

[chickendinner]

if your tv and your video card have s-video you're in luck.

 

[GasX]

Playing a driving game on the couch would be cool...

 

[TheLizardMan]

I have a coaxial cable for my TV and s-video from my video card. Looks like ill need a coaxial to s-video adapter.

 

[RobsTV]

The quality of the TV has a lot to do with how well games look.
But, most "should" work fine.
If all the TV has is Coax, then you need an RF convertor. Svideo to RF may be hard to find.
You can also use a VCR as the RF converter. If VCR only has composite input, get an svideo to composite adapter.
Note that if all your TV has is Coax, then it is of poor quality, and results will be very poor.
Even composite video is only fairly good. Svideo gives best results.

If you use a video card with built-in TV out, most are limited to 640x480 or 800x600 @ 60hz. Yuck!
But if you do like I do, and use an external scan converter, you don't need TV out on video card,
and can enjoy playing on bigscreen at 1024x768 @ 100hz or higher.

I have a couple friends over every Sat night for some GranPrix III racing on my 53".
For multi-person gaming, a big TV is the only way to go.

 

[QTPie]

<<Using a TV as a monitor>>

OK for videos and games, but not for reading texts, it hurts your eyes (if you don't wanna set the font to size 20 and the screen resolution of 640x480)

 

[GasX]

I have a s-video out Leadtek Winfast Geforce on the way and a 27" flat screen. Would 800x600 be good for gaming from the couch? If not, how much is that scan convertor thingamabob?

 

[Workin']

<< I have a s-video out Leadtek Winfast Geforce on the way and a 27" flat screen. Would 800x600 be good for gaming from the couch? >>

Yes.

<< If not, how much is that scan convertor thingamabob? >>

About $180.