Can modern TVs screen used as Computer Monitors?

Johnmcl7

If you're wanting to keep your budget down that's fair enough although I would say 720p is a low resolution for a PC when stretched over 32in if you're reasonably close to the TV.

Unfortunately no sites seem to allow you to filter by connection types and it can be difficult to immediately tell if a TV has VGA or not as 'PC Input' seems to be the more common name for it. Having a quick flick through it seems many of the entry level TVs from the big brands seem to really skimp on connections which means more than I expected don't have a VGA port.

John

alanrowell

You can buy VGA to SCART leads (ie from VGA output on computer to SCART input on TV). You'd still need an audio lead though

Johnmcl7

That would normally mean a serious downgrade in image quality though particularly as LCD TV's don't handle non-native resolutions very well, I wouldn't recommend it unless scart was absolutely the only option. AMD used to support VGA to component adapters but I don't think anyone does now and component doesn't tend to be any more common than vga.

John

Chickabiddybex

If you do find a TV with a VGA port it's worth buying a VGA with audio cable built in to avoid excessive wires.
NOTE: only works if the VGA ports and audio ports are close together
Here is a pic of what I am talking about: http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTjIacyIFP1qiDBKDXR9t4eq6D0vXRQ8NuIDOOK8GoRrjY7ChEE
It's what I use to connect my laptop to my TV if I want to watch Region 1 DVDs

Sharon87

My old Bush TV had a VGA slot. My new one doesn't, and there is something you can buy to convert VGA into HDMI, it's a little box

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PC-VGA-to-HDMI-HDTV-1080P-Adapter-HD-Video-Converter-Box-For-PS3-XBOX-360-Laptop-/321029432941?pt=UK_Computing_Sound_Vision_Video_Cables_Adapters&hash=item4abed8666d

just need the VGA cable and HDMI cable I believe.

I'm thinking of getting this or something similar for me. Anyone a bit more techie know if it's just the VGA and HDMI cable I need?

custardy

cepheus wrote: »

No the CRT is just the old TV I am dumping forget that.

It is a 1 yr old Toshiba satillite C660 modern laptop I wish to link up, it has a blue D connector VGA. So I may be able to use visual but not audio by the looks of it, unless the TV has an audio input.

sadly the 'easiest' way is to get a computer with HDMI
however I would bet VGA on a big screen run from a laptop isnt much fun.
Are you using it for general PC stuff or to play movies etc?

almillar

VGA is perfectly capable of carrying greater than HD signals, but is hassle with having to add a sound cable.
One other thing to watch out for (and it happens on my TV) is when you DO find a TV with a VGA input, you need to check what resolutions it supports. I've got a 1080p 50 inch screen, but it only supports up to, I think, 1024x800 over VGA!

cepheus

Bought a 32 inch which accepts VGA now. I will be using this as a TV initially, but it would be nice to be able to use it as a computer monitor eventually if I move into bigger house and need bigger TV screen. I like compatibility.

That said I may well get another laptop soon. Present one isn't performing too well today. It just refused to accept an external keyboard via USB, which makes it rather unergonomic working at a desk. It's USB connections always been dodgy accepting peripheries.

custardy

almillar wrote: »

VGA is perfectly capable of carrying greater than HD signals, but is hassle with having to add a sound cable.
One other thing to watch out for (and it happens on my TV) is when you DO find a TV with a VGA input, you need to check what resolutions it supports. I've got a 1080p 50 inch screen, but it only supports up to, I think, 1024x800 over VGA!

and theres the issue
just because VGA can,it doesn't mean it will on the TV
on my TV, I can output at full 1080p on the 50" over HDMI from the PC
However thats still lower than my PCs resolution of 1920x1200
So even HD looks a bit poor next to the PC

cepheus

Probably a daft question, but is my non-High definition hard disk recorder any use for recording (and playing back) in High definition if it receives a High Definition freeview signal via the TV?