# Would my computer look ok on this TV? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 8, 2003, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-my-computer-look-ok-on-this-tv/217737 "2003-12-08T18:31:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-my-computer-look-ok-on-this-tv/217737/1 "2003-12-08T18:31:45Z")
[http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1051806307849&skuId=5341061&type=product](http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1051806307849&skuId=5341061&type=product) I would be running Windows Xp and a 128MB GeForce4 My friend had a similar, though cheaper, tv and his looked pretty blurry. I was wondering if this would look the same but I don’t really know anything about TVs. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![fezpp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fezpp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fezpp)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-my-computer-look-ok-on-this-tv/217737/2 "2003-12-08T18:58:37Z")
Generally the answer is no. The key is that televisions work on much lower resolutions than computer monitors. A low computer resolution is 800x600 (that is 600 pixels deep), the television you linked to can only display 350 lines. That means that you only get about half of the information on the screen. Watching something designed for tv (ie a dvd) is ok as there are only the limited amount of lines in the picture in the first place. This is a simple explanation but it’s a good place to start… I’m sure someone will come and give you a really techy explanation in a bit! ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-my-computer-look-ok-on-this-tv/217737/3 "2003-12-08T20:20:04Z")
Is there a decent sized TV in the $250-$350 price range that would serve as an OK monitor? I ask because my company gave me a $275 gift card to Best Buy and I need both a monitor and a tv. I would like to considate them into one unit if possible. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-my-computer-look-ok-on-this-tv/217737/4 "2003-12-08T20:32:51Z")
I think you’d do better getting a nice monitor and getting/adding a TV-In card of some kind, then using your monitor as your TV. TVs are generally not good choices for computer monitors, because of their limited resolution. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-my-computer-look-ok-on-this-tv/217737/5 "2003-12-08T20:50:46Z")
I second that - you can get a decent, stereo, cable ready PCI card for less than $75 & a nice CRT monitor for $200. PVR type cards are more, but cool if you want DIY ‘Tivo’. Or add this software to any supported card: [http://www.snapstream.com/Products/Products\_PVS3.asp](http://www.snapstream.com/Products/Products_PVS3.asp) ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-my-computer-look-ok-on-this-tv/217737/6 "2003-12-08T21:04:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jasg \* > \*\*I second that - you can get a decent, stereo, cable ready PCI card for less than $75 & a nice CRT monitor for $200. PVR type cards are more, but cool if you want DIY ‘Tivo’. > > Or add this software to any supported card: > [http://www.snapstream.com/Products/Products\_PVS3.asp](http://www.snapstream.com/Products/Products_PVS3.asp) \*\* Well, if I was going to go CRT I would want at least 21" and they start out around $475. Just out of curiosity, could I play my Xbox on this monitor? ---
**Author:** ![Ryle\_Dup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Ryle\_Dup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryle_Dup)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-my-computer-look-ok-on-this-tv/217737/7 "2003-12-08T21:14:47Z")
With the right tv-out cards and adapters, yes. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-my-computer-look-ok-on-this-tv/217737/8 "2003-12-08T21:23:47Z")
I just saw this on Penny Arcade, it may interest you. [http://www.x2vga.com/](http://www.x2vga.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-my-computer-look-ok-on-this-tv/217737/9 "2003-12-08T21:32:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GMRyujin \* > \*\*I just saw this on Penny Arcade, it may interest you. > > [http://www.x2vga.com/](http://www.x2vga.com/) \*\* Man that looked awesome until I saw this: > [@](#): > > Does X2VGA support DVD display in the Xbox? > The Xbox console can only display DVD’s in 480i mode (480p mode is disabled by Microsoft); therefore, it is not suitable to use X2VGA together with Xbox when you want to play DVD’s. (We know that some users can play DVD’s in 480p mode with X2VGA through some modifications on the Xbox console. However, we don’t suggest in doing this way.) 75% of my Xbox usage is as a DVD player. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-my-computer-look-ok-on-this-tv/217737/10 "2003-12-08T23:57:07Z")
So is the final consensus on my OP question ‘no’? If so could this be moved to the Cafe or IMHO with the standing question being “What would be my best bet for around $250-$350”? Thanks! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-my-computer-look-ok-on-this-tv/217737/11 "2003-12-09T05:38:54Z")
Ok, I have another question. Will the TV (the one linked in the OP) look good enough to, say, read a webpage? If it’s blurry could prolonged use damage my eyes? Would it look better from a distance? ---
**Author:** ![Alereon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Alereon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alereon)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-my-computer-look-ok-on-this-tv/217737/12 "2003-12-09T08:55:40Z")
No, you cannot read text using a TV as a monitor unless zoomed to ridiculous levels. It couldn’t damage your eyes, but would cause eyestrain. It would look better at a distance, but not enough to make it a usable alternative to a conventional monitor. The only real use for a TV connected to a computer is for video or games. Your best bet is a DVD-ROM drive (Lite-On XJ-HD166S 16X DVD-ROM drive, $35), TV-tuner card (ATI TV Wonder Pro, $70, $100 with remote), and whatever monitor you choose (Samsung 955DF is awell-regarded 19" and goes for only $179). ---
**Author:** ![Alereon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Alereon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alereon)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-my-computer-look-ok-on-this-tv/217737/13 "2003-12-09T09:24:06Z")
This [Leadtek Winfast Deluxe TV2000XP TV Tuner/FM Card](http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-122-132&depa=1§ion=1) is under $50, and has an even more impressive feature set than the $100 ATI TV Wonder Pro Remote Edition. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-my-computer-look-ok-on-this-tv/217737/14 "2003-12-09T15:38:57Z")
What about something like [this](http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1051826213965&skuId=5445388&type=product&productCategoryId=cat03003) with a “3-line digital comb filter”? I’m shooting in the dark here :). ---
**Author:** ![Running\_with\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Running\_with\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Running_with_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-my-computer-look-ok-on-this-tv/217737/15 "2003-12-09T16:41:46Z")
No, it’s still the same issue. The reason that computer monitors cost more than equivalently sized TVs is that high resolution requires better quality CRTs and power supplies, among other things. Even if you found a true HDTV direct-view TV, while it would be usable (and outside your price range), it still would not have the resolution of a dedicated computer monitor. I think your best bet would be a 19" CRT, which is equivalent in size to an 18" TV. Once you go above 19" the price really jumps. ---
**Author:** ![Running\_with\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Running\_with\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Running_with_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-my-computer-look-ok-on-this-tv/217737/16 "2003-12-09T16:54:33Z")
Just to clarify, I meant a 19" CRT computer monitor… ---
**Author:** ![herman\_and\_bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f1d935/32.png) [@herman\_and\_bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/herman_and_bill)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-my-computer-look-ok-on-this-tv/217737/17 "2003-12-09T20:26:12Z")
Check Walmart prices, you can get a 19 inch tv for around $120 and a 19 inch monitor for about $150 or so. I think two discreet devices would be the best way to go. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-my-computer-look-ok-on-this-tv/217737/18 "2003-12-09T21:31:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by herman\_and\_bill \* > \*\*Check Walmart prices, you can get a 19 inch tv for around $120 and a 19 inch monitor for about $150 or so. I think two discreet devices would be the best way to go. \*\* Touché, but my gift certificate is for Best Buy. ---
**Author:** ![Running\_with\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Running\_with\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Running_with_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-my-computer-look-ok-on-this-tv/217737/19 "2003-12-10T01:54:24Z")
BB will match competitor’s prices. Good luck.