32" LCD TV for PC use

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Mark_T

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Hi guys,

I'm planning on getting a 32" Sammy or Sony LCD soon to use for TV, Xbox and PC. But I was wondering how well it would perform as a PC monitor. Sitting up close would I experience eye strain? Is it too big, should I rather go for a 23"/24" PC LCD?

Thanks :)
 
I am thinking of doing the same thing. How much is a 32" sammy or sony about?
 
It will suck. It will work for gaming but to run menus and stuff on Windows, the screen resolution is too small for the size.

A giant screen is nice, but when done properly. Rather save up for a 30 inch HP or Dell and use that. You could game on that too. Such a 30inch computer display has a 2560 by 1600 resolution which is about 4 megapixels, while even a full HD monitor is only 2 megapixels and much larger (32 inches or 42). These displays are HDCP compliant so you can run Blurays and games on them if you have connectors and such.
 
i have a 32 as a screen, nothing wrong with it, other than if you need to type lots of stuff and have to look at a white background for a long time i turn down the brightness to min. Other than that its perfect. Plus you don't need monster graphics power to run those huge dell screens.
 
Scooby_Doo said:
i have a 32 as a screen, nothing wrong with it, other than if you need to type lots of stuff and have to look at a white background for a long time i turn down the brightness to min. Other than that its perfect. Plus you don't need monster graphics power to run those huge dell screens.
Click to expand...

I guess it depends on the viewer. I'm using an ATI1900XT from 2006 to run my one so it's not that power hungry. Any R1000 ATI/NVidia card should do it nowadays.
 
I agree that an LCD TV isn't ideal. Although I enjoy it, some people find it strains their eyes. Definitely turning the brightness down helps a bit.

The biggest issue you'll encounter is with overscan. Many graphics cards will allow you to change some settings to fix it. But not all of them. If your graphics card doesn't let you (not likely), then you also have the option of changing it on the TV, IF your TV supports that. Many entry level 32" LCDs don't give you that option. Thus, you will get a scaled image on the screen that you will find fine for pictures and movies, but text will look very messed up.

The overscan issue is only a problem if the TV thinks its getting a video signal. It often happens with HDMI (thus also if you're connecting from your PC's DVI port to the TV's HDMI). Another (much simpler) solution is to just use VGA; then you don't get the overscan issue, because the VGA is (usually) recognised as being a PC format. Then everything looks great. But then you don't get the benefits of HDMI (audio and video to TV over one cable, HDMI-CEC (if available), digital signalling, etc).
 
I have a Samsung 32" LCD that I've been using for 6 months as my only PC screen. Although it's only 1366x768, text is clear and games look amazing. I sit about 1.5m away. Any further and I'd have to lean forward to read text. So if you're going for the Full HD 1920x1080 then you'd have to sit even closer to read text. I'm thinking of upgrading to a 47" 1920x1080 soon. PC games on a big screen look better than their Xbox and PS3 counterparts :)
 
If you get a Full HD screen they are Awesome... been using an LG 32' Full HD for a few months now. sit about a metre and a bit away though, i find it does the job, also use it for the xbox.

Just dont get an HD ready screen, when i turn the res down to 720p it looks horrible, actually just makes the screen look cheap and the "blocks" are very noticeable.

so ya my 2c :p
 
I have the Sony Bravia 32", and the Samsung T260, I use the T260 for all the daily tasks and gaming and then switch to the Bravia when I wana sit back with some movies.

I would have to say that for everyday use I prefer the T260, the bravia is clear and great to look at but strains the eyes.

For the price the T260 is awsome.

I run both off a MSI 275GTX twinfrozr.
 
PeterCH said:
It will suck. It will work for gaming but to run menus and stuff on Windows, the screen resolution is too small for the size.
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Sorry peter IT WILL ROCK just make sure it has 1:1 pixel mapping and it must be full hd 1920 x 1080 i have had this setup for a year now my last sammy la32a550 went faulty and i have upgraded to the led sammy ua32b6000 brilliant for pc, xbox.
 
Blinded

I have a 32" Samsung, and I have used it a few times for COD 4 .. it is really good, the only problem is if you sit too close to it your eyes starts to bleed and uncontrollable convulsions might ocure...:D
The problem is the brightness is a bit much, try and set it down a bit.
 
+1

I have been using a 32" HD ready for quite some time. It has served me well. the only complaint I have is it can be difficult for office type apps, coz of the low res (1366x768)
For gaming its really nice, but I would strongly suggest going the full HD route.

4cer said:
If you get a Full HD screen they are Awesome... been using an LG 32' Full HD for a few months now. sit about a metre and a bit away though, i find it does the job, also use it for the xbox.

Just dont get an HD ready screen, when i turn the res down to 720p it looks horrible, actually just makes the screen look cheap and the "blocks" are very noticeable.

so ya my 2c :p
Click to expand...
 
those of you who find the screens too bright... check out a program called flux
 
Why are people worried about eye strain with a 32" TV as a monitor... you should be more worried about neck strain.
 
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