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Using my HDTV as my computer monitor. HELP!

S

saintbert

Junior Member
OK, first off- this is my HDTV. It has an available component hook-up in the back that I plan to use to connect my computer to. My PC is a newer Compaq Athlon XP+ desktop with an available AGP slot.

So, there are 2 things I need:
1.)A video card that has DVI, supports widescreen resolutions, and HD support would be
an awesome plus, too.
2.)a DVI-to-component adapter.

Here is where I have questions though. Is there a particular kind of video card I need that will support widescreen resolutions or do all newer video cards support widescreen? Will text be hard to read even though I am hooking up through DVI and my HDTV is a top of the line? And finally, could you offer any video card recommendations that have the things I am looking for? Thanks!
 
Basically any video card today will support widescreen/HDTV resolutions, sometimes with a little tweaking in the drivers or something. Since you need Component output, you could buy a card that has that already (some of the 6600GT's do), or otherwise get an ATI card, for which there is an inexpensive (~$30) DVI->Component adapter (and it does not work with Nvidia cards). How much are you looking to spend (and are you intending to play demanding games)?

I've only hooked up my computer to one HDTV before and I believe it was an LCD rear projection (as opposed to a direct view CRT), but as long as your TV is decent (which from your link, it seems to be), you will have no problems reading text as long as you are not too far away. I used essentially 1080i on the HDTV I linked to (probably was a 42" or a little bigger, not sure exactly) - I would assume that 720p would be good for a slightly smaller TV like yours.
 
Wow nice TV. Well, any video card supports widescreen, so that's not the issue. Do you plan on playing games or do you just want to use your computer for normal functions on your TV? Depending on what you're going to use your computer for, the video card recommendations would vary.
 
You can get VGA to component adapters as well so you might be good with the card you have. What is your current card?
 
nice tv, since its a CRT tv it will work with one of those adapters but you going to have to mess with powerstrip for awile to get rid of overscan.
 
OK, well to reply to a few of your questions....

1.)I plan on using my monitor only for normal functions (surfing net, homework, adobe photoshop editing). I will not need it for gaming, I just want a high quality image because I take my photoshop editing very seriously.

2.)The video card I have right now is some integrated/proprietary deal.
 
Originally posted by: saintbert
OK, well to reply to a few of your questions....

1.)I plan on using my monitor only for normal functions (surfing net, homework, adobe photoshop editing). I will not need it for gaming, I just want a high quality image because I take my photoshop editing very seriously.

2.)The video card I have right now is some integrated/proprietary deal.
Click to expand...

Cool, that makes it much less expensive since you won't be gaming. 😛

How much are you looking to spend? I'd personally recommend the ATI card/DVI adapter combo, I've used them before and it works well (and a 6600GT with component is probably too expensive if you're not going to be gaming). Maybe you could find a 9600XT or something, let me look for a link.

Edit: Perhaps this video card with this adapter 🙂
 
Originally posted by: saintbert
2.)The video card I have right now is some integrated/proprietary deal.
Click to expand...

Well then, with a VGA to component adapter and enough tweeking with powerstrip you could get it working, but getting a new card such as any of the ones mentioned by others above would make things simpler. Also note that you can use a DVI to HDMI addapter to send a digital signal to your display instead of having the card convert it to analog as you wil be doing with component addapters. So, even a cheapy 6200 or 9550se will do you fine for photoshop and such as long as you have an addapter to hook it up to your TV's HDMI or component inputs.
 
I am planning to hook my Hitachi HDTV up to my computer. I would like to use HDMI, but my TV manual says not to hook up a PC through the HDMI connection. Is there any mechanical reason or is this just to keep the warranty intact?
 
Originally posted by: seedogg2000
I am planning to hook my Hitachi HDTV up to my computer. I would like to use HDMI, but my TV manual says not to hook up a PC through the HDMI connection. Is there any mechanical reason or is this just to keep the warranty intact?
Click to expand...

HDMI combines video and audio onto one connection, no PC will offer this because PCs have seperated video and audio processing chips/boards/connections. You'll need to use DVI or component for video.
 
Originally posted by: Continuity27
Originally posted by: seedogg2000
I am planning to hook my Hitachi HDTV up to my computer. I would like to use HDMI, but my TV manual says not to hook up a PC through the HDMI connection. Is there any mechanical reason or is this just to keep the warranty intact?
Click to expand...

HDMI combines video and audio onto one connection, no PC will offer this because PCs have seperated video and audio processing chips/boards/connections. You'll need to use DVI or component for video.
Click to expand...

The video pins for HDMI and DVI are exactly the same. I know of no reason why you couldn't use a DVI to HDMI cord and hook it up to your tv. There may be one though, I'd call Hitachi and ask them why not to hook it up that way.
 
I have a 6600GT in my HTPC and it has a VGA port, a DVI port and a video out port that has component cables. The new Nforce drivers have a special section just for TV's and I'm currently running at 720X480 (720p).

By using a card like this you won't need an adapter.
 
I have the same TV as the OP and I too would like to hook up a computer to it. I'm buying a new system soon, and it will probably have a 7800 GTX card in it. Would that be good enough for HDTV output into my TV?

I will be doing school work, watching movies, and playing tons of games. Is this type of setup good or no? Or is a monitor like the Dell 2405fpw better equipped to handle my needs?

 
Originally posted by: DVad3r
I have the same TV as the OP and I too would like to hook up a computer to it. I'm buying a new system soon, and it will probably have a 7800 GTX card in it. Would that be good enough for HDTV output into my TV?

I will be doing school work, watching movies, and playing tons of games. Is this type of setup good or no? Or is a monitor like the Dell 2405fpw better equipped to handle my needs?
Click to expand...

Your 7800GTX will be fine...I only quickly glanced at the TV's specs, but it appears to have an HDMI input, so you should be able to get a simple DVI-HDMI adapter and plug your card's DVI output into it that way. 🙂

Edit: Given the choice though, I would personally choose the 2405FPW... resolution is higher and with my usage, the smaller size doesn't matter...hell, I game and watch HDTV on my 20" widescreen (2005FPW) and I'm perfectly happy with it. 😉
 
Originally posted by: DVad3r
Also I am thinking about getting this TV for my room, would this be a good option for everything I need to do above? Would I be able to see what I am typing in documents like word and play a game like half life 2 in widescreen?

LMK

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/prodde...N&sku_id=0770HDS0010058588&catid=11302
Click to expand...

I'm really not too familiar with CRT HDTV's specifically, but if it can display 720p natively (which the specs seem to indicate it could, but I'm not sure), it should work well. (I would recommend 720p over 1080i for text applications - for games it doesn't really matter, since a 7800GTX should have no real problems gaming at 1920x1080...) It depends on your intended viewing distance as well...
 
I would be about 7-9 feet away from the TV. Hmm so your saying the 2405fpw eh? Ahh decisions decisions....

:S
 
Originally posted by: DVad3r
I would be about 7-9 feet away from the TV. Hmm so your saying the 2405fpw eh? Ahh decisions decisions....

:S
Click to expand...

Man, if you're 7-9 feet away, you should be looking at something bigger than a 2405. I was looking at a 76" image up until this summer at about that distance and it was comfortable.
 
if you are using that TV for a computer monitor, you are going to be in a word of hurt and confusion. check out the threads at www.avsforum.com for the work arounds and such. it is a great tube tv, but not modern (per se). very hard to set up to work with computer output. then if you get it working under powerstripe or whatever, then the glitches begin (with gaming).

good luck to you.

liver
 
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