# LCD TV as computer monitor:practical? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 13, 2009, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-tv-as-computer-monitor-practical/485658 "2009-02-13T05:16:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-tv-as-computer-monitor-practical/485658/1 "2009-02-13T05:16:05Z")
I recently received a Sharp LC-15SH7U LCD television as a very late Christmas gift. I know many people who use very big LCD’s as their computer monitor, and I’m shopping for a new computer right now. Is this practical for a smaller LCD? What will I need to do for it to work properly? The manual doesn’t give directions on how to set it up, but neither does it forbid using it as a computer monitor. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-tv-as-computer-monitor-practical/485658/2 "2009-02-13T06:23:52Z")
A [Sharp LC-15SH7U](http://www.buy.com/prod/sharp-lc15sh7u-15-bk-lcdtv-450-1-contrast-ratio-1024-x-768-pixel/q/loc/111/204090633.html) has a resolution of 1024x768. Its a 4:3 monitor, so the aspect is probably 1:1 or close, so I think it might make a very reasonable computer monitor. However… looking at the link above, the monitor does not seem to have a VGA or DVI or HDMI input. If you don’t have one of these, you’re SOL – you can’t (reasonably – there are convertors, but they’re pricey) connect this monitor to your computer. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-tv-as-computer-monitor-practical/485658/3 "2009-02-13T06:25:36Z")
So have you looked at all the inputs on the monitor? What are they? ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-tv-as-computer-monitor-practical/485658/4 "2009-02-13T06:38:39Z")
It has an S-Video input. Some PCs have an S-Video output (my laptop does.) ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-tv-as-computer-monitor-practical/485658/5 "2009-02-13T08:51:44Z")
Regardless of the monitor resolution I don’t think S-video will give a clear enough picture because of the s-video limitations on resolution. It’s fine for watching standard television if that’s your only goal. ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-tv-as-computer-monitor-practical/485658/6 "2009-02-13T09:06:52Z")
TVs, even the latest ones with VGA or DVI outputs, do not support all resolutions. I tried using my 32" full HD Samsung as a computer monitor and was frustrated. During boot-up for example, or when playing older low-resolution games I would get a blank screen and a message that this resolution is not supported. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-tv-as-computer-monitor-practical/485658/7 "2009-02-13T09:41:09Z")
To take advantage of your TV’s full HD resolution, you need to connect your computer via HDMI. That little S-Video cable or VGA cable won’t cut it. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-tv-as-computer-monitor-practical/485658/8 "2009-02-13T12:01:27Z")
DVI will serve you better than HDMI, unless the NATIVe resolution of the TV is either exactly 720 or 1080p, otherwise you’re not going to get the native res and your desktop will be blurry and or distorted. Any applications that will want to set the resolution at some point other than the native resolution of your monitor will look like crap or might not display at all. My recommendation, specially if you are looking to go small say 17" or 19" is to go with a PC LCD. The pixel density will be just right for the size and you’ll avoid most resolution headaches. Plus, they’re cheap now a days. I saw one on sale at my local micro center for around $100. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-tv-as-computer-monitor-practical/485658/9 "2009-02-14T05:56:48Z")
[quote=“1920s Style “Death Ray”, post:4, topic:485658”] It has an S-Video input. Some PCs have an S-Video output (my laptop does.) [/QUOTE] S-Video is limited to NTSC or PAL resolution, about 720x480 NTSC or 720x576 PAL, or around 1/4 of your monitor’s resolution. > [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > To take advantage of your TV’s full HD resolution, you need to connect your computer via HDMI. That little S-Video cable or VGA cable won’t cut it. You’re right about S-Video. You’re not right about VGA, which can certainly drive a 1024x768 signal, although since it involves a conversion to analog, the VGA signal will not be as sharp as HDMI/DVI. > [@Kinthalis](#): > > DVI will serve you better than HDMI. HDMI _is_ DVI. HDMI is a DVI signal with high-bandwidth audio added. You can buy an HDMI\<-\>DVI adapter for around $20, because they’re basically the same signals (ignoring HDCP DRM, which isn’t relevant for this thread). ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-tv-as-computer-monitor-practical/485658/10 "2009-02-14T06:14:35Z")
Having used a TV as a computer monitor, I’ll just say that I really wouldn’t recommend getting one with a smaller vertical resolution than 1024 pixels. Almost everything these days assumes that you’re running on a minimum of a 1280x1024 monitor, so stuff tends to look pretty squished and ugly when you go lower than that. Horizontal scrollbars = Not fun. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-tv-as-computer-monitor-practical/485658/11 "2009-02-14T10:24:16Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > You’re right about S-Video. You’re not right about VGA, which can certainly drive a 1024x768 signal, although since it involves a conversion to analog, the VGA signal will not be as sharp as HDMI/DVI. But 1024x768 is horrible. It’s a barely tolerable resolution for temporary use, but I couldn’t stand to work on it all day. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-tv-as-computer-monitor-practical/485658/12 "2009-02-14T13:48:23Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > But 1024x768 is horrible. It’s a barely tolerable resolution for temporary use, but I couldn’t stand to work on it all day. I have a 19" monitor, and anything over 1024x768 yields painfully small text on most pages. I’d rather not have to wear [these](http://snapshot.parade.com/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=910142&g2_serialNumber=3)just see details on my screen. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-tv-as-computer-monitor-practical/485658/13 "2009-02-14T14:07:12Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > HDMI _is_ DVI. HDMI is a DVI signal with high-bandwidth audio added. You can buy an HDMI\<-\>DVI adapter for around $20, because they’re basically the same signals (ignoring HDCP DRM, which isn’t relevant for this thread). It’s been my experience that HDTV’s will ONLY accept input from HDMI (from a PC) in steps, usually in the form of 480p, 720p and 1080i/p. With some slight variations. But seldom have I been able to set a PC to output to say a 1333x768 TV at that specific resolution. Instead I have to output at 720p and the TV then upscales and it looks pretty ugly outside of video, or 1080i and then it downscales and it looks terrible, outside of video. I guess YMMV, I haven’t tested this on a TV for about a year, I guess things might have changed since. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-tv-as-computer-monitor-practical/485658/14 "2009-02-14T16:01:53Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > But 1024x768 is horrible. It’s a barely tolerable resolution for temporary use, but I couldn’t stand to work on it all day. Sure, agree, but 1024x768 is the resolution of the OP’s television, so that’s all that’s available. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-tv-as-computer-monitor-practical/485658/15 "2009-02-14T16:02:00Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I have a 19" monitor, and anything over 1024x768 yields painfully small text on most pages. Then adjust the screen DPI so it displays larger characters. I have a laptop with a 12" 1400x1050 screen and it’s awesome. Although it’s also true that a majority of laptops sold today have 1280x768, 1280x800, or similar resolution. Most software and web pages will work just fine with 768 vertical pixels. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-tv-as-computer-monitor-practical/485658/16 "2009-02-14T16:07:17Z")
> [@Kinthalis](#): > > It’s been my experience that HDTV’s will ONLY accept input from HDMI (from a PC) in steps, usually in the form of 480p, 720p and 1080i/p. I believe you, but that would be a property of the television, not HDMI or DVI, which can drive any resolution (within reason). ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-tv-as-computer-monitor-practical/485658/17 "2009-02-14T16:26:56Z")
FWIW, 1024x600 is the resolution of EeePC and similar laptops, so resolutions on that scale are not at all uncommon these days.