Using your HDTV as a Computer Monitor
 

I have ordered an HDMI to DVI cable so that I can hook my laptop up to my HDTV. Will the picture quality look really good? If you're viewing things on youtube, will it make a huge difference? I was thinking about diving into online movie rental, and I was wondering how the picture (and sound) quality would look on the tv.

Re: Using your HDTV as a Computer Monitor
 

[quote=skinsguy;407817]I have ordered an HDMI to DVI cable so that I can hook my laptop up to my HDTV. Will the picture quality look really good? If you're viewing things on youtube, will it make a huge difference? I was thinking about diving into online movie rental, and I was wondering how the picture (and sound) quality would look on the tv.[/quote]

How much was the cable? I have a HDTV as well, and I've been interested in hooking up my computer, but I've never gotten around to it.

Re: Using your HDTV as a Computer Monitor
 

I think it depends on your Tv and your video card. CNET has some pretty good reviews for each tv model with different inputs. I have used mine once before (Aquos 52" from a ATI FireGL V7200 card with a DVI to Component converter) and it looked great. I am actually considering building a pc specifically for that purpose...

Re: Using your HDTV as a Computer Monitor
 

[QUOTE=GMScud;407820]How much was the cable? I have a HDTV as well, and I've been interested in hooking up my computer, but I've never gotten around to it.[/QUOTE]

Got mine off of ebay for about $7 bucks. That's with shipping included.

Re: Using your HDTV as a Computer Monitor
 

[QUOTE=BleedBurgundy;407821]I think it depends on your Tv and your video card. CNET has some pretty good reviews for each tv model with different inputs. I have used mine once before (Aquos 52" from a ATI FireGL V7200 card with a DVI to Component converter) and it looked great. I am actually considering building a pc specifically for that purpose...[/QUOTE]


I don't have the latest and greatest video card in my laptop. My laptop is two years old (I know, ancient.) It's a Dell 9300 with a 128MB Radeon Video card. It does have a DVI out.

I guess my next question (or comment) is, I'd probably only be able to send the video siginal to my TV (since it's only connecting to the DVI video,) and I'd have to hook the sound up seperately. That is one thing I do like about HDMI cables, and that's the fact that you send both video and audio through the same cable.

Re: Using your HDTV as a Computer Monitor
 

Not to hijack this thread, but don't you guys think it would be a lot more cost effective to build a pc with separate Blu Ray and HD DVD drives, with net connection than going out and buying the stand alone players? I am really tempted to do this but I'm curious what everyone thinks? I think I can spec out the box for probably 12-1500 and be very happy with everything...

Re: Using your HDTV as a Computer Monitor
 

[QUOTE=skinsguy;407836]I don't have the latest and greatest video card in my laptop. My laptop is two years old (I know, ancient.) It's a Dell 9300 with a 128MB Radeon Video card. It does have a DVI out.

I guess my next question (or comment) is, I'd probably only be able to send the video siginal to my TV (since it's only connecting to the DVI video,) and I'd have to hook the sound up seperately. That is one thing I do like about HDMI cables, and that's the fact that you send both video and audio through the same cable.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, you would have to send a separate audio signal to the TV. That is one of the coolest things about HDMI, it's so much neater. When I decided to get the flat screen, I actually went and bought six female to female HDMI connectors. I then made and put 6 HDMI jacks directly into the wall, 3 along the baseboard, 3 behind the tv's mounting bracket. That way I can just plug the 360, DVD player and whatever else I end up buying directly into the wall without running cable in plain view. I also saved a little money on the DVI cables that way since I was able to buy them in shorter lengths. It does kind of suck that the TV only has hdmi inputs though. Seems like everytime you go out and buy something there's a new standard 2-3 yrs later.

Re: Using your HDTV as a Computer Monitor
 

[QUOTE=BleedBurgundy;407844]Yeah, you would have to send a separate audio signal to the TV. That is one of the coolest things about HDMI, it's so much neater. When I decided to get the flat screen, I actually went and bought six female to female HDMI connectors. I then made and put 6 HDMI jacks directly into the wall, 3 along the baseboard, 3 behind the tv's mounting bracket. That way I can just plug the 360, DVD player and whatever else I end up buying directly into the wall without running cable in plain view. I also saved a little money on the DVI cables that way since I was able to buy them in shorter lengths. It does kind of suck that the TV only has hdmi inputs though. Seems like everytime you go out and buy something there's a new standard 2-3 yrs later.[/QUOTE]


That sounds like a neat setup. I've just moved into my house and have just recently bought my HDTV (it's just a 32" 720p for now,) but I like the fact that that TV has three HDMI inputs. Going back to your earlier comment/question, I think you're onto something with building the computer system rather than to purchase the standalone units. I mean, if I could build a computer within the range that you said, with both drives, then I not only would have a blu-ray player and HD-player, but I would also have a computer as well. Heck, if Microsoft would allow for XBox 360 drives to be added to your system, I'd be in hog heaven (no pun intended to our great Redskins hogs!)

Re: Using your HDTV as a Computer Monitor
 

this is freaky. Saturday I hooked my older desktop, which I don't really use, up to my 42" plasma with an s video cable. I have a wireless keyboard and mouse, so i can sit on the couch and mess around.

I was going to start a thread about how to clean up the images. video and pictures are perfect, but the icons and text on the web are hard to view...

any suggestions?

Re: Using your HDTV as a Computer Monitor
 

[QUOTE=skinsguy;407850]That sounds like a neat setup. I've just moved into my house and have just recently bought my HDTV (it's just a 32" 720p for now,) but I like the fact that that TV has three HDMI inputs. Going back to your earlier comment/question, I think you're onto something with building the computer system rather than to purchase the standalone units. I mean, if I could build a computer within the range that you said, with both drives, then I not only would have a blu-ray player and HD-player, but I would also have a computer as well. [B]Heck, if Microsoft would allow for XBox 360 drives to be added to your system[/B], I'd be in hog heaven (no pun intended to our great Redskins hogs!)[/QUOTE]

They may not *support* this, but it can be done. :)

Re: Using your HDTV as a Computer Monitor
 

I already had the s video hookup in my video card, but cant get it to adjust without turning on high contrast mode (which i hate) or making the icons so big in windows i cant operate the thing... which doesn't help the web text....

Re: Using your HDTV as a Computer Monitor
 

So your text and icons are just small? If this is the case, just raise the resolution, or adjust the text/icon size under the "Appearance" tab of the "Display Properties" window.

Re: Using your HDTV as a Computer Monitor
 

[quote=cpayne5;407865]So your text and icons are just small? If this is the case, just raise the resolution, or adjust the text/icon size under the "Appearance" tab of the "Display Properties" window.[/quote]


okay, i have this friend, and he's a complete idiot... he wants me to ask you how [I]you [/I]would go about raising the resolution, cause he doesn't like the way I do it...

;)

Re: Using your HDTV as a Computer Monitor
 

Step 1. Right click on any open area of your desktop:

[IMG]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2007-8/1275969/step1.JPG[/IMG]

Step 2. Go to the Settings Tab on Display Properties and move the slider til it looks the way you want...

[IMG]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2007-8/1275969/step2.JPG[/IMG]

Re: Using your HDTV as a Computer Monitor
 

mine looks completely different, and it changes the size of the screen when I move it instead of just clearing it up...

Re: Using your HDTV as a Computer Monitor
 

[QUOTE=cpayne5;407863]They may not *support* this, but it can be done. :)[/QUOTE]

Hhhhmmmmm......me thinks I'd like to know about this "unsupported" process for purely personal reasons. :)

Re: Using your HDTV as a Computer Monitor
 

[QUOTE=canthetuna;407899]mine looks completely different, and it changes the size of the screen when I move it instead of just clearing it up...[/QUOTE]

What OS, and what utility? You may have an aftermarket card utility superceding the windows one...

Re: Using your HDTV as a Computer Monitor
 

im running xp on the desktop, but not sure about the rest. wifey's watching a movie now, so I cant play with it until tomorrow afternoon...

I know it has two different pictures of screens, maybe because the s video is hooked up? and when I slide the resolution slider over, it makes the desktop larger than the screen.

Re: Using your HDTV as a Computer Monitor
 

[QUOTE=canthetuna;407912]im running xp on the desktop, but not sure about the rest. wifey's watching a movie now, so I cant play with it until tomorrow afternoon...

I know it has two different pictures of screens, maybe because the s video is hooked up? and when I slide the resolution slider over, it makes the desktop larger than the screen.[/QUOTE]

ok, I left my laptop at work but I know what you're talking about. There's an option there for you to "extend your desktop onto this screen." You probably have that one selected. You'd want to choose the option to use the secondary monitor as your primary. Then adjust the resolution accordingly.

Re: Using your HDTV as a Computer Monitor
 

Also if it keeps "spazzing out" then make sure to change the refresh rate.

Re: Using your HDTV as a Computer Monitor
 

[QUOTE=BleedBurgundy;407842]Not to hijack this thread, but don't you guys think it would be a lot more cost effective to build a pc with separate Blu Ray and HD DVD drives, with net connection than going out and buying the stand alone players? I am really tempted to do this but I'm curious what everyone thinks? I think I can spec out the box for probably 12-1500 and be very happy with everything...[/QUOTE]
Eventually, this is what I am going to do...and you could probably get a very good system for half that and do everything but gaming.

And with Netflix making their "Watch Instantly" feature unlimited, this makes it even more appealing. Being able to queue up a movie instantly on your TV without having to hook the computer up to it.

Re: Using your HDTV as a Computer Monitor
 

[QUOTE=BleedBurgundy;407821]I think it depends on your Tv and your video card. CNET has some pretty good reviews for each tv model with different inputs. I have used mine once before (Aquos 52" from a [B]ATI FireGL V7200 card[/B] with a DVI to Component converter) and it looked great. I am actually considering building a pc specifically for that purpose...[/QUOTE]

I take it you either work in the video industry or you just have massive amounts of cash laying around?

Re: Using your HDTV as a Computer Monitor
 

[QUOTE=mheisig;408012]I take it you either work in the video industry or you just have massive amounts of cash laying around?[/QUOTE]

lol. Neither. Used to work in Video Editing, now I'm just a local net admin.

Re: Using your HDTV as a Computer Monitor
 

[quote=canthetuna;407862]this is freaky. Saturday I hooked my older desktop, which I don't really use, up to my 42" plasma with an s video cable. I have a wireless keyboard and mouse, so i can sit on the couch and mess around.

I was going to start a thread about how to clean up the images. [B]video and pictures are perfect, but the icons and text on the web are hard to view... [/B]

any suggestions?[/quote]


Same with mine. I have a TV-OUT on my video card and ran a cable to my 42" Samsung to play Madden on it. It was nice for that and videos/photos do look good, but text and small details like icons do look like crap.

I'm sure a better video card could help me, but honestly my 19" CRT monitor looks better with the details.

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I've ran a VGA cable from my pc to my Sony 42" LCD and it looks pretty good considering it's only VGA. I play BF2 on it and it looks great. My pc speakers are surround sound so I just leave the audio connected those speakers. Maybe I'll spring for the HDMI > DVI cable, but I'm cheap.

Re: Using your HDTV as a Computer Monitor
 

I have ordered an HDMI to DVI cable from ebay so I can connect my laptop to the HDTV in my living room. I don't know if the cable has arrived yet (I had it shipped to my parents house since there is always someone home to receive shipments.) I was hoping to try it out tomorrow, since I might be snowed in.

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I'm probably going to get that as well... what I can't figure out is how to change the default monitor to my tv. I don't have the reg. monitor hooked up, but it still comes up as the default. I believe this is why when I turn up the resolution, the desktop expands beyond the screen...

I have to actually turn the resolution all the way down in order to make out anything... its weird.