New monitor for PC and consoles

Arrow · Post by **Arrow** » 2005-05-23 04:46pm

I've been planning out the next round of upgrades for my PC, and I'd like to get a monitor that also works with new console systems coming out (so that way I won't dominate the main TV). So far I've only looked at this Sony 23" LCD, and it looks pretty good, but I want some input on the idea in general and this monitor/TV in particular.

Any other suggestions?

Post by **Beowulf** » 2005-05-23 05:04pm

I seem to recall the Xbox360 having VGA output, and the PS3 has HDMI out which can be converted into a DVI connector. So you could just get a nice 24" widescreen LCD monitor, and forget trying to use it as a TV.

Getting a real PC monitor for this has the advantage of you getting a nice hi res display to play with. Most PC monitors I've seen that are that big are 1920x1200 pixels. That Sony TV you linked to has a res of 1366x768, which is significantly worse for doing PC type stuff.

Arrow · Post by **Arrow** » 2005-05-23 07:36pm

I thought that a TV DVI signal was different from an PC DVI signal (the manual for my TV says to not use it for connecting to a computer).

Arthur_Tuxedo · Post by **Arthur_Tuxedo** » 2005-05-23 08:52pm

I was thinking along the same lines recently, even though I don't have the money right now. The best one I found was this Samsung.. It's got HDMI and VGA inputs, a 12 ms refresh rate, and a full 1 year warranty on both parts and labor (not this 90 day labor bullshit).

It has received better consumer reviews than the Sony you linked to, which does not state the refresh rate (usually a bad sign).

Arrow · Post by **Arrow** » 2005-05-23 09:01pm

Sweet. I'll have to keep this one in mind. I'd like to find one with a higher res, though.

Arrow · Post by **Arrow** » 2005-05-23 09:10pm

Holy shit: I just came across this Dell monstor.

I use one of its smaller cousins at work (20.1 inch model), and its awesome display (it plays R:TW pretty damn well!).

Uraniun235 · Post by **Uraniun235** » 2005-05-24 01:12am

Arrow Mk84 wrote:Holy shit: I just came across this Dell monstor.

I use one of its smaller cousins at work (20.1 inch model), and its awesome display (it plays R:TW pretty damn well!).

I've heard extremely good things about this monitor.

Arthur_Tuxedo · Post by **Arthur_Tuxedo** » 2005-05-24 03:43am

Hmm. Lack of HDMI would be a sore point for me, since DVI is on its way out. I also read that LCD monitors are not designed with video in mind, and are very poor at it compared to LCD TVs, which are not similarly handicapped when used as computer monitors.

Post by **Beowulf** » 2005-05-24 04:05am

Arthur_Tuxedo wrote:Hmm. Lack of HDMI would be a sore point for me, since DVI is on its way out. I also read that LCD monitors are not designed with video in mind, and are very poor at it compared to LCD TVs, which are not similarly handicapped when used as computer monitors.

Well, that Dell monitor has something like 2 times the number of pixels compared to the LCD TV linked in the OP. HDMI is compatible with DVI, the only thing is you have to get a convertor cable to get the right connections. Most people can manage to watch DVDs and play action games just fine on LCD monitors, so there shouldn't be a problem. Also notable is the fact that the LCD TV linked in the OP can't display true 1080i, because it doesn't have 1080 lines or more of resolution.

Arrow · Post by **Arrow** » 2005-05-24 09:35am

The only question now is should I buy it now, or to winter (when the G70 and dual core AMDs come out) and order it with the rest of my PC parts. I'll probably wait, since either the price will fall or something even better will come out.

Post by **Beowulf** » 2005-05-24 09:58am

Arrow Mk84 wrote:The only question now is should I buy it now, or to winter (when the G70 and dual core AMDs come out) and order it with the rest of my PC parts. I'll probably wait, since either the price will fall or something even better will come out.

It's always better to wait when working with computer components. Something better is always around the corner.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2005-05-24 06:06pm

That Samsung looks pretty sweet, and even here in AU it's not that expensive.

Can LCDs display higher resolutions than their physical resolution?

Post by **Beowulf** » 2005-05-24 11:25pm

Stark wrote:That Samsung looks pretty sweet, and even here in AU it's not that expensive.

Can LCDs display higher resolutions than their physical resolution?

Errr... No.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2005-05-24 11:38pm

I figured: but that samsung has a physical resolution of only 1300ish by 800ish, and thats pretty rubbish on a screen of that size.

Post by **Beowulf** » 2005-05-24 11:42pm

Stark wrote:I figured: but that samsung has a physical resolution of only 1300ish by 800ish, and thats pretty rubbish on a screen of that size.

It's a TV. You're not supposed to look at it any closer than 4-6 feet away. I think it has scaling circuitry inside to resize a 1080i image down to something it can display, but that loses data.