Using my TV as a Second Monitor

[2dt Drifter]

Watching a movie last night with the girl made me think of how I could hook my computer up to the 56" 1080p TV we have. If successful I'd like to stream video, audio and input to my TV from the office. Watching utube, browsing sites and streaming music would be the sole purpose.
My question is this: my office is about 15-20' from my family room and I can run all the necessary cables through the basement, would this be the cheapest / easiest way to accomplish the job?
Edit: Computer is the i7 in my sig
Here's a sketch I made of how I was thinking of doing it:

http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr75/GZDonner/scan.jpg

After some thinking, I would need 20+ feet of each cord:
DVI to HDMI (found some online for about 26 bucks)
USB Type A Male to Type A female for wireless K/M input etc
3.5mm audio jack for sound (I don't need awesome glorified sound quite yet) so I would just use the green jack from my box to the green jack on the back of the TV

Also, would any of the cords need to be shielded in any way?

The setup would cost me about 100 dollars and all I would need to do is cut two holes in my wall and run the lines in the basement.

Any input from you guys on how to better efficiently do this would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[sdifox]

did you check monoprice for cable?

you will definitely want a good quality cable, namely bigger gauge conductors. I am not sure you can run a usb cable that far.

also, you don't have an audio system in the living room? IF you do, you should run a digital out from the computer to the audio system.

the iffy part is keyboard and mouse.

 

[sivart]

Here is what I would do.

1) Video card with HDMI out that can also carry audio (I bought one for my HTPC for $35)

2) 1 HDMI cable carrying audio and video to TV (or HDMI surround sound receiver)

3) Bluetooth keyboard something like the Logitech diNovo Mini

Assuming that the BT will reach through the floor and your distance, you should be set. You could set the monitors to mimic each other so that what is on the TV and your PC monitor are the same. When the TV is on another input or off, no issues.

 

[sdifox]

Or you can just get a WD TV HD live

http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digit...K-NESN/dp/B002KKFP9Y/ref=cm_lmf_tit_6_rsrssi1

 

[2dt Drifter]

I currently do not have a stereo in the family room. Damn that WD TV HD box looks promising.. all Id have to do is run cat5 to it?

 

[sdifox]

I currently do not have a stereo in the family room. Damn that WD TV HD box looks promising.. all Id have to do is run cat5 to it?

Basically that is it. I figured you are just going to enjoy content as opposed to using your tv for internet. I would run Cat6 though.

 

[2dt Drifter]

Great, thanks sdifox. Hopefully I can get this project up and going after christmas.

 

[sdifox]

Great, thanks sdifox. Hopefully I can get this project up and going after christmas.

Just remember power tools and alcohol don't mix

 

[sivart]

Cat5e would be sufficient for short runs of less than 100 feet. Unless of course you really want to be ready for whatever comes after gigabit LAN. Of course, if Cat6 is the same price go for it.

I have Cat5e in my house and with gigabit, I can transfer a 5GB file in less than 5 minutes...the bottle neck being the write speed of some my computers hard drives

I went Cat5e...well...because it was leftovers and the 250 feet I needed for my runs was no cost to me

 

[sdifox]

Cat5e would be sufficient for short runs of less than 100 feet. Unless of course you really want to be ready for whatever comes after gigabit LAN. Of course, if Cat6 is the same price go for it.

I have Cat5e in my house and with gigabit, I can transfer a 5GB file in less than 5 minutes...the bottle neck being the write speed of some my computers hard drives

I went Cat5e...well...because it was leftovers and the 250 feet I needed for my runs was no cost to me

Price difference in home use is negligible. The labour is the determining factor in this case. Even if you are doing it yourself, why risk doing it twice for a very small difference in materiel cost?