Q about flat TVs for computer use

[Hitman]

I am thinking of using a flat TV both for seeing TV in the bedroom and computer use. What is of big interest to me is the TV loudspeakers, because I normally had been using headphones to save space, and the flat screens for PC I have seen do not have good loudspeakers or sometimes not even loudspeakers at all.

My Q is for someone who has already tried a flat TV as PC screen: Will I lose noticeable quality when compared to a PC screen? I see many modern flat TVs that claim to have PC vga plug and be able to display high resolutions, but have not tested them or seen them with a PC plugged. Can someone tell me his experience and hint at a good model of some 22 inch screen?

Thanks

[danlisa]

Originally Posted by Hitman

My Q is for someone who has already tried a flat TV as PC screen: Will I lose noticeable quality when compared to a PC screen? I see many modern flat TVs that claim to have PC vga plug and be able to display high resolutions, but have not tested them or seen them with a PC plugged. Can someone tell me his experience and hint at a good model of some 22 inch screen?

Thanks

I have tried it. http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=106796

On a 52in LCD tv my observations are that game graphics are fine but text, forums & menu's are very blurry, this maybe corrected with a higher res or by using the VGA connection. In the thread above I was using a standard DVD Cam cable because I forgot that I have a VGA & DVI plug at the rear of my goggle box. Thanks for the reminder. I will test it at the weekend, if you like. You maybe alright if you are limiting yourself to a 22inch'er.

However, if you have an HDCP output/adaptor and a HD TV then no worries.

[Hitman]

game graphics are fine but text, forums & menu's are very blurry

That was my main concern Would like to know how it changes with an VGA input, but then also that DVI idea looks good. Had not thought about it, but my ATI card seems to have one AFAIK. If you do the test with the VGA plug please let me know

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by Hitman

That was my main concern Would like to know how it changes with an VGA input, but then also that DVI idea looks good. Had not thought about it, but my ATI card seems to have one AFAIK. If you do the test with the VGA plug please let me know

Get one with a DVI input (not VGA since you do not want the D to A and then A to D conversion going on if you do not have to) and you should be fine. Get one that at least supports 720p since that translates into 720 verticle lines in progressive - which is the type of output a computer would do. 1080i is actually an inferior spec since that is 1080 lines in interlace, which translates to 540p in terms of progressive - not as good. The best spec, but more rare is 1080p since obviously that is a full 1080 lines of resolution.

Mind you that most computer games do not conform yet to these specs, so expect some dithering, and since it is a large screen, expect that dithering to be pronouced.

-S