Using a TV as a computer monitor

[Doctawho]

I built my desktop for gaming even though I don't game anymore. To me, it's the hardest way most normal people use a computer for and I want my setup to excel at it. My custom desktop was built a year ago and will be able to handle most things I throw at it. My question is:

What kinds of things should I look for in a TV that will make it excel at computer related tasks like gaming?

I know to look for a DVI and a few HDMI plugs, and high resolution. I'm looking for a something around a 32" TV.

[incredablehefey]

i have been using a 32"vizio as a monitor for 3 years or so and it has worked out well for me, but it is an older 720p model and it uses a weird resolution

the newer 1080 tv's look a lot better and i think just about any decent tv that has hdmi inputs would work well as a monitor assuming you have a video card with hdmi outputs

just like anything you will get what you pay for

[venturasurf]

To be honest with you man even a high end 32" 1080p HDTV is going to look like hell compared with an actual 32" computer monitor. Something that does a 2560x1600 resolution. Something like this:

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=224-9949&dgc=SS&cid=39715&lid=1003767

If you use a 1080 HDTV you're only going to run at 1920x1080, and since that monitor is pretty large - it means the pixels are larger. If you really want to just use an HDTV, look at stuff like contrast ratio, fast response time and decent color.

[Rivers]

For gaming, a fast refresh rate is important. Make sure it's 1080p too.

[redrex]

Ok, there have been some good points made and I just want to add to them.

LCD is better the Plasma for gaming. Plasma is a state chaged matter that needs to "disopate" as opposed to just being turned off. This is why if you are in a totally dark room with only your plasma on and you turn it off there is that weird glow from the tv. Think of a glow stick, it doesn't just turn off it has to fade out. LCD isn't like that. When it's off, it's off. And because of this it has a faster and crisper refresh rate.

HDMI and DVI are compatible. You can run DVI out of your box, pop a converter on the other end that looks like THIS and then plug right into HDMI with no signal loss. I'm doing it now.

Now, get a tv tray or small folding table, your chair, a wireless mouse and keyboard and site about three to four feet from it and prepare to be immersed

Oh, don't forget to pipe your sound to your home theater setup.

I have a 20 foot cable that connects my pc to my 50" plasma (yes I know what I said but when I bought this the lcd's were stupid expensive)(and yes I know about signal loss, I bought good cables and it looks damn good) I game some on the tv, i push movies on to the tv and I also sometimes surf the web from the couch.

I'm sure people are sick of me saying this but I am in the game industry and I can tell you that most of the guys in my office have Samsungs. One guy with too much money has a pioneer and as I am the bottom line first type (COO) I have an LG and I love it. I honestly love the stuff LG makes. What can I say the Koreans are making hot stuff these days.

[Yugo]

Fixed it for yah

Ok, there have been some good points made and I just want to add to them.

LCD is better the Plasma for gaming. Plasma is a state chaged matter that needs to "disopate" as opposed to just being turned off. This is why if you are in a totally dark room with only your plasma on and you turn it off there is that weird glow from the tv. Think of a glow stick, it doesn't just turn off it has to fade out. LCD isn't like that. When it's off, it's off. And because of this it has a faster and crisper refresh rate.

Plasmas are better than LCD there refresh rate is 600htz. And does it really matter if you see this when you turn off the TV? (I turn my TV off and turn my head and move on with my business.)

HDMI and DVI are compatible. Remeber DVI does not suport/carry sound You can run DVI out of your box, pop a converter on the other end that looks like THIS and then plug right into HDMI with no signal loss. I'm doing it now.

Now, get a tv tray or small folding table, your chair, a wireless mouse and keyboard and site about three to four feet from it and prepare to be immersed

Oh, don't forget to pipe your sound to your home theater setup.

I have a 20 foot cable that connects my pc to my 50" plasma (yes I know what I said but when I bought this the lcd's were stupid expensive)(and yes I know about signal loss, I bought good cables and it looks damn good) I game some on the tv, i push movies on to the tv and I also sometimes surf the web from the couch.

I'm sure people are sick of me saying this but I am in the game industry and I can tell you that most of the guys in my office have Samsungs. One guy with too much money has a pioneer and as I am the bottom line first type (COO) I have an LG and I love it. I honestly love the stuff LG makes. What can I say the Koreans are making hot stuff these days.

Samsungs are the worst TV's they fool you with all the vibrant colors (calibrate it if you can and you will see they no good)

LG (FULL PANEL LED) is the only LCD that is worth buying (Black levels almost like a plasma) And the guy in your office that has the pioneer is the smartest one of the group ( I take it he has a pioneer plasma the older ones all black?)