TV or Monitor?

Is there any difference between the 2 when used only for computer viewing?

I ask because I have a 32" LCD that is in my guest room and not getting used. Instead of me dropping 200-300 on a 1080p 24' monitor; would I just be better off using the TV and making that my @ home desktop screen?

 

Monitors often have better DPI, but that's probably the only significant difference. TVs come with built-in speakers, but most monitors don't. Anymore they're all the same screens.

 

I was making the same decision a couple months ago. Did some research and went to Costco a few times. Came up with this major difference.


TVs have few resolutions (usually 2 or 3, MAX, MIN). Whereas monitors have MANY resolutions (6+ resolutions typically). So if you ever have/need to change resolutions, you have more options with a monitor over a TV.

Good luck

 

Multiple resolutions does not really concern me as much as something like better performance. Then again, if the TV will only do full 1080p all the time, then that could possibly bog down my video quality; which would be bad. I guess at this point it never hurts to test it out.

 

I've use my TV as monitor. At 1990x1800. I have also my XBox and stuff connected so I can easly swith between them..

 

I have done that as well in the living room while hooked up to my 62" but my main question was not if it can be done, it was if there were any drawbacks/limitations where a monitor would be the better choice.

 

I personally like TVs better then monitors, but I think that is because of the size

 

If you already have the TV just sitting there, why don't you try it out and see if it works for you? Also, being a 32" TV, I really doubt it has a resolution higher than 1366x768.

 

I've been told that there can be some lag due to internal processing of the image by the TV, although there's also often a way to offset this (by setting the TV to "Game" mode or something similar). I think it mostly comes down to limited resolutions being the problem.

 

The same goes for monitors too.

 

Oh? OK. I haven't used a desktop or external monitor in years, so... Put it this way; the last monitor I used is/was a CRT.

 

I set my living room TV to Game and that helped compensate when I play MMO's.

I had my GF check the model number of the TV and its actually a 42"... That just might be a little too big to sit in front of and try to work on...

 

I net'd my 40" 1080p LCD TV as my laptop's main screen. And i don't notice any quality (DP) issue since i don't sit very close to the TV. Resolution stays at 1360x 768 with GPU scaling to fit full screen. I tried to set full 1080p res on laptop to TV but icon just hella small so no go for me. Game good with no performance degradation.

 

That was my issue with my living room setup. The type was so small that I could barely make out any writing. The 42 will be situated on the desk, so I will be a little too close to it... I plan to not live too much after 60, so as long as my eyesight holds up that long, I'm good to go, lol.

 

I actually have quite a few resolutions available. This is showing the highest setting which is (1808x1026) which was achieved with nividia's adjustment tool. Its quite readable and could pretty easily be used at a desk. HDMI makes it pretty easy to set up as well.

I fired up Guild wars and the FPS was pretty low (Compared to the 19' monitor I normally use). It was still very playable though.

Final thoughts **** If anyone has a TV laying around that they don't use very often... I totally suggest this.

 

drawbacks of a TV vs a monitor
-TV has a larger pixel pitch which can detract from the sharpness of text and pictures
-TV cannot run in all the varying resolutions that a monitor can
-TV's on average have a higher input lag due to more image processing circuits that aren't needed
- On average monitors are more likely to properly render a larger amount of the color spectrum and be more accurate
- TV's have built in speakers and a built in tuner to receive television stations.
- On average monitors have a wider range of types of display inputs it accepts over a tv
- Monitor's fastest refresh rate is 120hz TV's fastest refresh rate is 480hz
- TV's come with advanced remotes to control its functions monitors do not
- On average monitors use less electricty then tv's
- this is just my opinion but overall I think monitors have higher build quality
- monitors have easier to use and more accurate calibration tools to get the perfect d 6500 greyscale

 

My 40" LCD TV will handle any resolution my computer can output while connected via VGA. Through HDMI it will only handle 1920x1080 and 1280x720. I obviously have it connected through VGA for this reason, and don't notice a difference in picture quality. Using Xpadder to allow my XBox 360 controller to function as a mouse (with a few buttons mapped to keys and common keyboard shortcuts as well) makes it easy to launch a game from Windows with my controller and start playing on the TV just like it was a console, except without the propietary locked-down hardware and fees to play online.

 

- Most TV should support adjustment of sharpness and blur.
- Newer models should support all resolution inputs and adjust by GPU's control software.
- I haven't notice a lag after gamed a month on it, but friend accidentally bought me gold-plated HDMI 3meter cable, not sure VGA may lag or VGA has the same speed as HDMI as for video data transfer.
- I'm not sure if i could agree on the color spectrum and accuracy because both TV and monitor are based on the same LCD technology.
- Most LCD TVs nowdays should have HDMI, VGA, DVI and USB ports all in one, besure check before buy
- Average LCD TVs refresh rate are 60Hz, unless premium LED TV that goes 120Hz for Bluray 3D with better much richer colors.
- As for the power consumption, mine can use up to 130W max stated on document. But that's when running at max brightness and speakers volume.

It really depends what type of LCD TV out there. Most of the features mentioned maybe not be on old models but somehow my TV has what i need. What a monitor doesn't have to compare to TV is 'Active Contrast' quality which some CRT users boast about.

I saw your TV but the resolution is too large. Try use the native res that you use on your 19" monitor to achieve the icon size you usually see on monitor. And for the Guild Wars runs slow because you used higher resolution that GPU need more power to process.

 

You know they have "50" monitor also

 

Only go for larger screen if you tend to sit further more. I liked Alienware's monitor, but kinda troubling to look for the map on the corners.

 

Haha yeah; I have trouble working on my 28" monitor because I have to turn my neck to see the whole screen (or strain my eyes). Great for games/movies though.

 

I thought that was only a concept.