LCD TV as monitor ?

**Crazybanana** · Feb 12, 2008, 15:35

Hi

I was thinking about building a new pc to my son and was thinking about using a 40" LCD TV as monitor, but I am unsure of the quality of written text with this setup. On a normal CRT TV the text is unreadable when using it as monitor so it's useless as a pc monitor, is this the case with LCD too ?

The reason I want to use a lcd TV and not a monitor is that it will be used as a regular TV, connected to my satellite antenna, and I will hook up his dvd/surround system to it, the pc and also his xbox and other gaming consoles. with this setup it will not take up so much space..

So it will be used to watch Tv/movies, browsing the internet, school work (word, excel etc) and for heavy gaming on both pc games and xbox/ps3/gameboy, video editing etc..

So... what do you think, will a 40" LCD TV do the job or will the text be just as unreadable as on the CRT TV ?

**chris_fuel** · Feb 12, 2008, 18:08

Depends on how you're connecting to the LCD TV. If it's a standard VGA input, you're probably not going to get the greatest resolution ever. If it's DVI however, you'd want to check the documentation to see what the maximum resolution is.

**wwb_99** · Feb 12, 2008, 18:19

I've put more than my fair share of VGA/DVI output on LCD TVs . . .

Bigger issue is the "nature" of LCD TVs vs LCD monitors. TVs are tuned for big, bright moving pixels. Monitors do better with duller, more static ones. Best bet is to plug something in and see how it looks, but I suspect you will be more satisfied with using a true to life monitor as opposed to the TV.

**Crazybanana** · Feb 12, 2008, 19:22

Thanks guys,

This was what I had in mind for using here:

if going for a Tv: Samsung-LE40M86BD 40" Lcd Tv http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/Samsung-LE40M86BD/

and if I had to go with just a monitor then maybe this could do the job?
Samsung-SyncMaster-400PX-display-widescreen http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-Sync.../dp/B000KHVG1U

what do you think?

**Crazybanana** · Feb 14, 2008, 10:12

hmm.. no opinions on this..

I guess I might just have to go with the monitor then...

**monderin** · Mar 18, 2008, 07:20

hmm too complicated for me.. I'll go for monitor.

**motoridder** · Mar 18, 2008, 07:49

Go for the LCD TV.

It depends with what resolution are you used to: if the browsing and te Excel/Word stuff time is more than 70% of the usage, go for the monitor, else, everything is pointing for the LCD TV.

Realize that the games/movies do need a better monitor, and the difference in pricing the two models (LCD TV and that monitor) is about double....

**mmj** · Mar 19, 2008, 06:30

LCD televisions typically have quite low resolutions for their size.

This one has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 which is decent, but roughly comparable to that of a 20" LCD monitor.

They're intended for viewing from much further away so if you get up close, you'll see the individual pixels and the resolution won't look too great. Basically you have almost the same number of pixels covering four times the screen area of a 20" screen.

But if you are using it in the living room and sitting 4 or 5 feet away it should look great and you'll be impressed.

That samsung panel is a great one and will make a good TV.

I'd look into hooking it up via DVI using a cheap DVI to HDMI converter.

**angilina** · Mar 23, 2008, 08:28

I suggest to use a 19" or 21" for PC. For all other things, 40"LCD is awesome, but you will not be comfortable with using such a big LCD for a PC.

**pinkyslide** · Mar 25, 2008, 06:39

monitor, unless you plan on watching just as much TV as PC time. TV that are marketed as TV's either LCD or whatever are usually somewhat distorted when you use it as a monitor.

**vgarcia** · Mar 25, 2008, 08:29

TVs and monitors have different usage patterns. You're not supposed to sit 1-3 feet away from a TV like you do a computer monitor, that's why the resolutions are lower.

Your son would be better served with a good 24" LCD monitor that has lots of a/v inputs unless this computer's going to be in your living room.

**pinkyslide** · Mar 27, 2008, 08:16

you can always use a LCD monitor as a TV... usually that direction is better than using a LCD TV as a monitor.

**felgall** · Mar 27, 2008, 13:30

If you are going to use a TV you should sit about three times the diagonal size of the screen away from it as that is the optimal viewing distance. A monitor on the other hand is designed to be viewed from about one third that distance.

The other main difference is in the refresh rates for the screen as TVs are intended to display contantly changing dynamic images while monitors are designed to display mainly static images.

**Crazybanana** · Mar 27, 2008, 15:44

Thanks all

hmm... I guess I can forget about the TV.. but he don't need the tuner so it's ok.

what he need is a good large screen which can be used to surf the internet, do school work (word, excel etc), do some heavy gaming on both xbox, pc, gameboy, ps3, watch TV from my satellite antenna, video editing etc..

it is very important that text is readable, because of the school work and internet. he now uses a 17" monitor to be able to read things and it is also connected a 28" CRT TV to the pc. this is what I wanted to get rid of, so he only had one big screen.. but maybe I have to go with 2 lcd screen then. one large to play and watch TV on and another smaller for surfing and school work.. but this sounds strange and will still take up quite some space...

Originally Posted by vgarcia

Your son would be better served with a good 24" LCD monitor that has lots of a/v inputs unless this computer's going to be in your living room.

24" is not big enough for gaming and TV..

**mmj** · Mar 28, 2008, 01:16

In summary:

Using an LCD television as a computer monitor is acceptable at greater viewing distances. From the couch it'll be fine, but not up close. I wouldn't therefore recommend one for doing schoolwork which requires lots of text and concentration.

Use an LCD computer monitor as a television should be fine as long as the monitor supports the right inputs. Look for one with an excellent viewing angle. If it doesn't have an excellent viewing angle, black areas could get greyer and 'milkier' when viewed slightly to the side, which is bad in a TV.

LCD televisions that are bigger than 30" and yet have a high enough resolution to use as a good computer monitor (1920x1080) are available now but are currently around $3000 and upwards (in Australia, probably $2400 in US cos for some reason it's cheaper). And they'd still be slightly better when viewed from a distance.

So I'd say you will be looking for separate screens.

**felgall** · Mar 28, 2008, 02:03

For a 30" tv screen used as a computer monitor you need to make sure that there is about eight feet between where you are sitting and where the screen is. Obviously that means that you and it can't share the same desk (unless you have a really huge desk).

**Crazybanana** · Mar 28, 2008, 05:00

hmm.. not good, not good..

but if it is so difficult on a 40" screen, I'll get two seperated screens. the samsung lcd TV and a 22"-24" lcd computer monitor. it will still save some space compared to the 28" crt TV he now has, as this new one will be wall mounted.

Thanks for your help

**vgarcia** · Mar 28, 2008, 05:57

Originally Posted by Crazybanana

24" is not big enough for gaming and TV..

24" at 1080i/p is just fine if you're close enough to the screen. Or you can buy a 27" and get the same pixel resolution in something slightly larger. Otherwise enjoy your horrible text when using a TV as a computer monitor.

As others have said, separate is probably better in this case

**mmj** · Mar 28, 2008, 07:47

Originally Posted by Crazybanana

hmm.. not good, not good..

but if it is so difficult on a 40" screen, I'll get two seperated screens. the samsung lcd TV and a 22"-24" lcd computer monitor. it will still save some space compared to the 28" crt TV he now has, as this new one will be wall mounted.

Thanks for your help

Sounds like a great setup, I'd love to have one of those Samsung TVs

**peterlh3** · Apr 22, 2008, 06:25

lol can you even use the tv lcd to hook it up to pc?

**davidfield375** · Jul 29, 2008, 01:58

Of course you its possible, but as far as I'm aware, its not going to be suitable for playing games, the refresh rate will be too slow.

**mmj** · Jul 29, 2008, 03:03

Nah the refresh rate is fine. Television has a refresh rate of 50 or 60Hz (NTSC being 60Hz). That's the same as an LCD computer monitor. It's the resolution that may disappoint, but the people in this thread are aware of that.

**davinneal** · Jul 29, 2008, 21:13

LCD Monitor-----------> You can use it for anything (Game, TV....)

LCD TV as computer screen not a good option

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