Thread: What sort of monitor to buy nowadays?

Half my computer time is watching downloaded movies/docs/concerts anyway, so looking at changing my standard PC set up to one more like a TV home theater one.

From something like this:



To something like this:





Sofa and coffee table with wireless keyboard and mouse, easy. But what monitors are good nowadays? Wall mounted would be good, size, I don't know, 32 inches and full HD I suppose. Any ideas/recommendations? Would just getting a TV and connecting it be the same?

I've had this for a few years. Download movies to USB drive then plug in to TV. All sorts of choices out there. Just make sure has a built in media player. I normally use speakers that are in TV. They are decent. Also have an external audio system for better sound when desired. Samsung as well.

???????? PA51H4500AK Plasma TV Series 4 51 | SAMSUNG ?????????

Yeah I have a full HD 32" Samsung TV for my PC monitor, works well.

Originally Posted by Norton

I've had this for a few years. Download movies to USB drive then plug in to TV. All sorts of choices out there. Just make sure has a built in media player. I normally use speakers that are in TV. They are decent. Also have an external audio system for better sound when desired. Samsung as well.

???????? PA51H4500AK Plasma TV Series 4 51 | SAMSUNG ?????????

That looks good, and highly affordable. A quick search has it for sale at 16,990 baht.

For a 51 inch Samsung, prices have certainly come down since I last looked!



For me, it's main purpose would be a wall mounted computer monitor. But I guess that it (or similar) would be just as good as a standard large computer monitor?

Originally Posted by nigelandjan

a 48" sony HD smart TV with wi-fi

So what can it do? I'd be interested in comparing the features with just a bog standard HD flatscreen that's connected to the PC with a HDMI or VGA cable.

Originally Posted by Norton

I've had this for a few years. Download movies to USB drive then plug in to TV. All sorts of choices out there. Just make sure has a built in media player. I normally use speakers that are in TV. They are decent. Also have an external audio system for better sound when desired. Samsung as well.

???????? PA51H4500AK Plasma TV Series 4 51 | SAMSUNG ?????????

Which is what i do but with a much less fancy TV. Much better if PC has USB 3 which i don't

What sort of cable is best, VGA or HDMI?

I plugged my LCD flatscreen TV in years ago with the VGA cable that usually goes to the monitor and I remember there was some lag, move the mouse, there's about a second delay with the arrow moving.

Could have been that model TV course. Not sure the PC has a HDMI outlet.

Originally Posted by VocalNeal

Originally Posted by Norton

I've had this for a few years. Download movies to USB drive then plug in to TV. All sorts of choices out there. Just make sure has a built in media player. I normally use speakers that are in TV. They are decent. Also have an external audio system for better sound when desired. Samsung as well.

???????? PA51H4500AK Plasma TV Series 4 51 | SAMSUNG ?????????

Which is what i do but with a much less fancy TV. Much better if PC has USB 3 which i don't

Mine would be a strictly PC monitor that I happen to watch downloaded movies etc on. No pillocking about transferring or saving things to a USB and then plugging that in to the TV.

Originally Posted by Luigi

What sort of cable is best, VGA or HDMI?

VGA is dated garbage mate. Never use it if possible. If the PC only has VGA it is time to upgrade either your motherboard or video card. Don't bother with adapters because they will look just as bad.

Have you looked into Chromecast?

PC is in my office , TV at home! If PC has USB 3 it would take seconds to transfer. But yes if both are in the same room us HDMI, if PC has HDMI.

My 40" TV is hooked up to my computer via HDMI. I use the TV as the monitor. Download stuff and play it on the TV.

Most of the TVs today are designed to hook up to a home network and can read files from over the network that are located on computers on the network. For example I download a movie on my laptop, I can use the TV to browse the downloads on the computer and play them.

ChromeCast.

ChromeCast ChromeCast ChromeCast ChromeCast, ChromeCast Chromecast.

ChromeCast ChromeCast .

Originally Posted by Fondles

Yeah I have a full HD 32" Samsung TV for my PC monitor, works well

how does it handle games ?

Originally Posted by Luigi

What sort of cable is best, VGA or HDMI?

displayport

Originally Posted by baldrick

Originally Posted by Fondles

Yeah I have a full HD 32" Samsung TV for my PC monitor, works well

how does it handle games ?

Candy Crush and angry Bird.... goes ok playing them.

Originally Posted by CSFFan

My 40" TV is hooked up to my computer via HDMI. I use the TV as the monitor. Download stuff and play it on the TV.

Most of the TVs today are designed to hook up to a home network and can read files from over the network that are located on computers on the network. For example I download a movie on my laptop, I can use the TV to browse the downloads on the computer and play them.

Do you know what model TV it is?

Certain TVs if connected to the Internet can record and transmit your voice commands or be hacked so that you can be watched on the inbuilt camera.

Just sayin' like.

Haha. I'm just looking for a HD TV that will be wall mounted and connected to my PC (by cable is okay) as be its main (and only) monitor.

My PC only has a VGA outlet and not a HDMI, so I think I need to upgrade my Video Card with one that has HDMI??

The way I'm set up is with the True cable box on one HDMI input and the computer on another one. To me, it seems the simplest setup.

Any TV these days will have the ports, jacks and holes needed to plug shit into or get an output from.

^ I must say I'm surprised at how cheap they are nowadays.

Samsung LED 40" 9k baht

Sharp 32" LED 4,900b

Sharp 39" LED 7k baht

This is actually a good read, especially about Input Lag.

How to buy the best HDTV for your PC | Digital Trends

Two choices. Physically link the PC/Laptop with the TV via a HDMI cable (best choice for a stable connection), or if your TV supports it a WIDI wireless connection.

Some also have Miracast to display your tablet or smartphone on the TV.

Originally Posted by Umbuku

Two choices. Physically link the PC/Laptop with the TV via a HDMI cable (best choice for a stable connection), or if your TV supports it a WIDI wireless connection.

Some also have Miracast to display your tablet or smartphone on the TV.

Or a Chromecast.

Fuck, why do you people make it so hard for yourselves?

I got a laptop beside the sofa. Projector beside the sofa. Sound system on the other side of the room with a cable link.

Then a separate laptop with a 24 inch monitor for regular computer use. Don't want the neighbours looking through the window at my 3 metre projector picture when I am researching the latest material on Japanese public transport pornography!

Originally Posted by Luigi

My PC only has a VGA outlet and not a HDMI

If you are waiting sensibly for your shit to die, then the only technology through those 2 terminals are this at 2k baht
....




VGA to HDMI 1080P Scaler with Audio - Macrocare