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View Full Version : Using a TV as a monitor..How?

ThaPharCyde
10-31-2005, 05:40 PM
This has probably been asked but I'd like to know how I can use my nice 27" TV screen for a monitor instead of my lame-ass 15" computer monitor. Do I need a card? Is there a USB to TV cable? It'd be awesome if I could do this; especially for movies and games (and of course 27" ebaums :bigwink: ). Anyways, any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
DevinBre
10-31-2005, 05:43 PM
The resolution would be terrible and you wouldn't be able to read anything.
mgunit
10-31-2005, 05:48 PM
If it's not HD, it's not worth the bother. I think standard TV's boast a max resolution of around 640x480 (That wouldnt be so bad for running emulated games, watching downloaded movies)

If you tv has an S-Video input, just get a graphics card with S-Video out, and connect the two, then you could set it up as the primary (not sure how) or set it up as a second monitor in the display properties box.
J.T.
10-31-2005, 06:16 PM
I've got a high def tv, and it STILL Sucks!

You need a VIDEO card with TV OUT, and a good set of cables.

Games kind of suck, you cant see the smaller icons well

watching WMP files and looking at pics are AWESOME though!
Nocturnal
10-31-2005, 06:33 PM
I ran Mechwarrior 4 on my tv, it looked pretty good. (It's probably the best non HD you can get) Text was still terrible though, I think the only reason mechwarrior looked good on it was because of it's size (27). pics and mpegs were great though, umm movies of butterflies and stuff....
ThaPharCyde
11-01-2005, 07:15 PM
I've got a high def tv, and it STILL Sucks!

You need a VIDEO card with TV OUT, and a good set of cables.

Games kind of suck, you cant see the smaller icons well

watching WMP files and looking at pics are AWESOME though!

Thanks for the help guys..if the video card is cheap with the TV out I might do it. I think I have one empty spot in the ole' CPU. And the resolution; I know that's an issue but I'll see how it works out. Thanks again; I got some good ideas. :)

edit: MG - By S-video do you mean the left-right, video input that any new TV has? (red, white, yellow)
.Communist
11-03-2005, 12:08 AM
I wasted 90$ doing it, and it was a TERRIBLE waste.... just save up for a better moniter...
FsB_BeN
11-04-2005, 09:55 PM
u should try using a projector as a comp moniter :-)
Quick_Nick
11-05-2005, 10:42 AM
since were on this topic can you use a comuter moniter as a tv ?? always wanted to kno that and if so how.
a/k
11-05-2005, 10:51 AM
It would be a better idea to invest in projector. Much better resolution than a TV.
JerkyMyTurky
11-05-2005, 11:18 AM
since were on this topic can you use a comuter moniter as a tv ?? always wanted to kno that and if so how.

You would simpley need to buy a TV Tuner Card. The cheapest start at around 4 dollars. Here are some newegg.com listings for some...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Submit=Go&DEPA=0&type=&description=tv+card&Category=0&minPrice=&maxPrice=&Go.x=0&Go.y=0

As has been said, the resolution on the television set will be sub par. My nephew was running his shelf top pc off the television set and you could barely read anything off the screen. It was only good for watching movies, reading any kind of text or browing the internet was a challenge. Keep us updated on how it works out.