HD Display for PS3 Advice

cmorgan

Hi

Just got a PS3 as my son's Xmas present, but he know wants to buy a HD display to go with it (currently got an old CRT TV). All he wants is to use his PS3 on it so doesn't need the tv tuner. The question is can I connect a PS3 to a widescreen monitor such as this;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pixmania-H-350WDB-wide-format-Screen/dp/B001O6E2RG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1230298457&sr=1-2

I believe I should be able to connect to the DVI port with this;

http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/4-/3518875/5m-HDMI-Male-DVI-Male-Converter-Cable-HDTV-LCD-PC-Sky+/Product.html?cm_mmc=Froogle-_-Electronics-_-Accessories-_-5m%2BHDMI%2BMale%2BDVI%2BMale%2BConverter%2BCable%2BHDTV%2BLCD%2BPC%2BSky%2B&source=5065&engine=froogle_electronics&keyword=5m+HDMI+Male+DVI+Male+Converter+Cable+HDTV+LCD+PC+Sky%2B

This seems to work out cheaper than buying an HD Ready Tv such as this;

http://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials/Other+products/19%22+Arianet+HD+Ready+LCDTV+with+Freeview+?productId=34460

He wants to spend as little as possible for maximum benefit, ie the less he spends the more games he can buy.

Would be interested in the pros and cons of such an approach and indeed whether what I am suggesting will work.

Many thanks in advance.

Colin

Zapp_from_Planet_Zogg

What size is the old CRT?

You will not get the best output from the PS3 on a pc monitor as they do not (usually) support the correct resolution. The PS3 will display at widescreen (tv) aspect ratio 16:9, a PC monitor uses 16:10.

In plain English, this means that a pc monitor will always give a vertical stretch to a PS3 input.

Not sure that you will see much benefit of 'HD' on a sub 37" screen anyway.

You are probably best keeping a scart cable to the crt tv and saving for a full hd tv - one that supports 1080p (or 1920x1080) with a true 16:9 aspect ratio.

SatanicHare

Fairly certain that any display will need tobe hdcp enabled toview high def content, my son has a ps3 and you can connect via dvi, but he has now got a dell S2409WFP monitor wich will run at 1080p. Dosn't seem to be available direct from dell at the moment but often available on special price varies from £170 to over £220 depends on their offer at the time. I've copied a link from ebay because it shows you excellent pictures and gives a good description as well.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160293674017&cguid=0fd94c6c11d0a0aad201c641fffcf94f

cmorgan

Zapp_from_Planet_Zogg wrote: »

What size is the old CRT?

It is a 20" panasonic.

I appreciate that to view full HD you need a much larger screen but was hoping that he could take advantage of a higher resolution than his current CRT. With the best will in the world he is not getting a 37" TV for his bedroom. Also he is having problems playing the blue ray dvd that came with the PS3 as it only plays in black and white (whilst games and other non blue ray DVD's are fine).

Take your point regarding the aspect ratio.

Thanks

cmorgan

I have done a bit of research and the Dell 24" monitor seems to be a great monitor for connecting to the PS3. Only thing is it is beyond my son's budget but seems to tick all the right boxes, which cheaper alternatives don't seem to live up to. If he can't afford the DELL thinking that an HD ready TV maybe better. Will the Aria I listed above show a significant improvement over his current CRT style TV and for a screen of this size is any increased resolution necessary anyway?

Welcome anyones views on this.

thanks
Colin

SatanicHare

this may be an option
http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Displays/Monitors/TFT+20+-+23/22%22+CIBOX+C2202+D+Widescreen+LCD+TFT++5ms%2C+DVI%2C+speakers+?productId=30283

cmorgan

SatanicHare wrote: »

this may be an option
http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Displays/Monitors/TFT+20+-+23/22%22+CIBOX+C2202+D+Widescreen+LCD+TFT++5ms%2C+DVI%2C+speakers+?productId=30283

So a bigger screen and better resolution. Not quite full HD but near enough and less expensive than the TV. I guess I would need to connect via the DVI socket and attach separate speakers to the PS3? Very tempted.

thanks

SatanicHare

Yeah, an hdmi to dvi cable would be required, and don't think the built in speakers would be up to much but then again i don't suppose the speakers on the aria tv would that good either

cmorgan

SatanicHare wrote: »

Yeah, an hdmi to dvi cable would be required, and don't think the built in speakers would be up to much but then again i don't suppose the speakers on the aria tv would that good either

I understand that audio won't work via a DVI connection anyway. So the monitor speakers wouldn't work whether they were any good or not. Just need to work out how to connect a set of pc speakers to the PS3 for now via a headphone jack. I believe I need one of these;

http://www.cyberguys.com/templates/SearchDetail.asp?ProductID=4196&PFID=k164179

Just can't find a UK source for them! and right now I do not want to invest in a surround sound system.

Nearly there I think, although am beginning to wonder with all this technology why a PS3 couldn't have something as simple as a headphone socket! Nothing simple!

thanks for all your help.

SatanicHare

No probs, have read on some sites that peopole are using basic 2.1 systems such as these
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/product.php?sku=122347&camp_id=ppc_Froogle_search

Will ask my son when he comes back from work how easy it is to connect them, don't want to go poking about the back of his unit, and not too what outputs are on a ps3

M4RKM

personally, if you want to watch blu ray on it as well as play games, then you're best off getting a proper HDTV rather than just a monitor, because then you can use proper HDMI Cables..

http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/product/477044/HITACHI-26LD4550U

that will do the job, but it isn't 1080p, you'd have to go up to a 32" screen to get that specifications.

As for someone recommending a 37". Well, in a way they are right, but haven't thought about the context of the usage. This is a bedroom tv, which is replacing what probably is a rather old CRT, personally I think that the basic LCD that is 720p will do the job just fine, and your son will see a huge improvement on quality, and be able to watch his blu ray discs just fine! (and no pfaffing about with cables and speaker sets etc etc.. )

M