Difference between revisions of "LCD Computer Monitor vs LCD HDTV"

Revision as of 11:22, 21 November 2014

You can use practically any modern LCD TV, including what is called an LED TV, as a monitor for your computer. An LED TV is simply an LCD TV that uses diodes for the back light. Most LCD televisions in addition to having one or more HDMI connectors also have an analog VGA PC video connector. Some additionally include the bonus of a DVI connector for a PC with a modern video adapter. An HDTV with the optional DVI connector is a good choice to use for a personal computer display.

Productivity workstations are best coupled with an LCD display manufactured specifically for use with a computer. Yet people often consider using an LCD TV as a display for their home computer for a number or reasons. Sometimes televisions are less expensive. Gamers like the idea of having a larger display for computer gaming. Others don't want to mess with an HDTV tuner of they want to occasionally watch television on their computer display. These are all valid reasons for the consideration of using a television as a computer display. It isn't even a new concept. Long ago in the 1970's people were using their color CRT television sets for connecting to those early kit computers as a display. And modern video game consoles such as the PS3 and Xbox 360 are high end personal computers designed specifically for graphics and gaming.

Some LCD televisions are rated 720p, which indications a pixel resolution of 720 and p for progressive scan. 720p is inferior to the resolutions of an LCD computer monitor, making such a television inadequate to use as a computer display. The television will display resolutions up to 1280x720 or 1366x768. It will serve as a computer display, however, due to the lower pixel resolution the definition will not be crisp. It will still beat older VGA CRT monitors in most cases for clarity with the exception of some very high end CRT monitors.

An LCD television rated at 1080p with a native resolution of 1920x1080 may serve well as a PC monitor in most circumstances. However, there are other things to consider in addition to pixel resolution. Another consideration of refresh rate and also the timing chip. A rating of 8ms GTG (gray to gray) delay time is common for lower end LCD TV displays. This is inadequate to serve as a computer monitor. The monitor will not be able to keep up with visual motion in certain windows activities and especially in gaming, causing visual anomalies known as artifacts. Try to find a TV with a GTG timing of 6ms or less, such as 2ms.

When considering using a television for a computer display make sure you select a manufacturer that advertises the input lag.

• response time != input lag

Respond time is not the same as input lag. The response time is the GTG timing rating. It measures how quickly it can change its pixels from black-to-white or gray-to-gray. However going from black-to-white takes longer than it does for it to go from gray-to-gray. The "black to white" time is not going to be as good as the "gray to gray" time. Manufactures will use the most flattering number to advertise their product, which will end up being the GTG time. They call this GTG rating their "response time." Some say it is not an important statistic to consider, however, it does indicating how much ghosting a display has. Ghosting is undesirable so the response time is still a consideration.

Even more valuable than the GTG timing, otherwise known as "response time" is the input lag. If you are a gamer than this factor will be especially significant to you. Whether you are connecting your PS3 to the HDMI port on a TV, or you are a PC gamer using an LCD television as your monitor, you will want a reduced input lag value. The faster the response time of a display is, the quicker it can display an image. Before your mind can even perceive action in a game, your eyes have to witness it on the display. If the display lags then you lose that slight edge in reaction time. It is important to know the combined response time and input lag of the LCD television you are planning to use as a computer display.