Using TV set as a monitor

[shaolinthug]

Hi guys and girls...

i was thinking about this and decided i need some help.

im thinking of buying an "Aopen XC cube AV" (a barebone system with instant-on)

and i already have a good computer, so i wanna connect the Aopen to a TV set.

i think it is possible if i get a tv out graphics card

but my real question is, will the quality be any good on the TV set?...say if i watch a dvd, or browse the web with my computer, with a TV set acting as a monitor?

[shaolinthug]

come on guys help me out please...will a tv set be good enuff quality to use as a monitor for a computer?

[invalidpagefaul]

For games,DVD it's fine but for web browsing umm honestly no.. unless it's TFT based or one of those HDTV jobbies.You would need to up the size of the font to make any pages readable.

[Mblaster]

I think it's fne for watching DVD's etc, dunno about games, but browsing the web is not gonna be nice, I have only used on an old TV, my be different on TFT and newer (better) TVs.

[unrealrocks]

In my now 5 monitors (4 + TV) setup I sometimes like to use my wireless keyboard and use MSN on the TV ... I have to upsize everything to make it readable. Games are exellent and DVDs are good (not as good as a real DVD player but its good for *cough* DVDs )

[Spritzup]

If I remember correctly, a TV is set at 640*480 and 60Hz, just to give you an idea of what to expect.

[azrael1]

I feel sorry for ure eyes hehe! I hope when ure eyes ge bad it was worth the saving the money

[tfboy]

Originally Posted by Spritzup

If I remember correctly, a TV is set at 640*480 and 60Hz, just to give you an idea of what to expect.

that's the US standard.

If the TV is not that recent and isn't multistandard, i.e. accepts 60Hz, you'll have to stick to 50Hz.

So whilst it's OK-ish for games and DVDs. try writing a document on a white background and your eyes will very quickly let you know.

Most graphics cards will allow you to modulate any resolution to the TV output, but bearing in mind the TV resolution isn't any more than about 570 visible lines, there's no point going above 640x480.

Of course, if it's a TFT or Plasma, then you're OK (and one of those would probably have a 15pin VGA input anyway)

[unrealrocks]

Originally Posted by tfboy

Of course, if it's a TFT or Plasma, then you're OK (and one of those would probably have a 15pin VGA input anyway)

That is still only around 800x600.

[Mblaster]

Originally Posted by unrealrocks

That is still only around 800x600.

But at least your eyes won't suffer

[unrealrocks]

Originally Posted by Mblaster

But at least your eyes won't suffer

Fair point, lol.

[Ferral]

I used to use my Maxi Gamer (Guillemot TNT 2 card) on an old TV connected via s - video and sound leads. Could only run games in 640x480 and had to set the TV as a plug and play monitor in Windows (granted it was only 98 I was using then). Seemed ok with the web browsing when I was using it but sometimes was a little blurry if there was alot of text on the screen.