TV as monitor?

[gogatrs]

OK, I have to be honest, I know absolutely NOTHING about computers.
But is it possible to use a regular TV as a monitor for my PC?
If not, is there some sort of adaptor I can buy?

Thanks!

 

[TB]

But is it possible to use a regular TV as a monitor for my PC?!

Absolutely, but you have to have the right output from your video card (DVI, HDMI or HD15) and compatible input for the TV.

 

[daan]

Define "regular" TV? It's a lot easier with an LCD/Plasma than with a CRT.

 

[gogatrs]

Define "regular" TV? It's a lot easier with an LCD/Plasma than with a CRT.

My TV is like 10 years old, it's not flat screen or HD.

@TB
I have absolutely no idea what all that is. I'm a complete PC noob.

 

[daan]

My TV is like 10 years old, it's not flat screen or HD.

Is it big and bulky? It'll be a CRT then. Basically, you can only do it if your graphics card has a TV out socket, and even then you would have to use a ridiculously low resolution and text/internet would be extremely tricky to see.

Old CRT TVs can't cope with PC input.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=790105

 

[gogatrs]

OK then, do you think it would work good for games like rFactor or iRacing?
And yes, it's big and bulky, and TBH, that's all I know!

 

[nick09]

A old TV like that can still have svideo that you can hook up the PC to or convert it to composite cables.

 

[Azuremen]

The only real option with an old tv is S-video, which is basically 640x480 for resolution (480p)

Most games made in the past 5 years are not meant to played at such low resolutions. The HUD and such would look awkward, even the game could even scale that low down. And you'll have to find an S-video setup that works, which means having a dated graphics card perhaps (like my old 7600GT had the option for S-video out), or some VGA/DVI to S-video converter.

 

[itsbenjibrand]

Is there a VGA/DVI to RCA Video cable out there, or possibly a VGA/DVI to RF cable? If his TV doesn't have an S-Video cable, he'd need something like that.

 

[wfooshee]

You will not be happy with anything you can find that will put a computer screen onto a TV.

My TV with S-video can almost reproduce a usable picture from my laptop, whcih has an S-vieo out port, with the laptop set for 1024x768. The picture on the TV is the same shape, and the icons are recognizably the same icons. None of the text is legible, though.

Dropping to 800x600 is better, but still rough.

If you don't even have S-video, then you're S.O.L. for getting PC picture onto a TV. Standard-def TV just doesn't have the resolution for it. As pointed out above, 480 lines vertically, although it's 480i, not p.

 

[BobK]

If the computer in question is a C-64 or a ZX-80/81 then yes, easily.

 

[DQuaN]

I used to use an s-video to SCART adapter. Looked horrible on the dekstop but playing games wasn't too bad.

 

[tankuroded]

Is there a VGA/DVI to RCA Video cable out there, or possibly a VGA/DVI to RF cable? If his TV doesn't have an S-Video cable, he'd need something like that.

Like this? 💡

 

[gogatrs]

Like this? 💡

I think that is what I need.
Can someone confirm this?
And where'd you see that?
Price range?

 

[nick09]

A simple cable will not work right. You have to get a converter like this one and use this cable to play the audio on the TV.

The cable shown before is not possible as you cannot get audio from VGA. The only way a cable could work is if your laptop graphics card has a TV out function on the VGA. It's best to be on the safe side and order a converter box.

 

[wfooshee]

Yeah, you notice how they just sort of fade to white. It's not a real cable adapter. Someone's having a jest.

 

[TB]

^ Double so as HD15 doesn't carry audio, but then audio inputs magically appear.

 

[itsbenjibrand]

Just don't use the white and red connectors. Not that hard, an idiot like me could figure that out. Also make sure your video card can handle it. In my history class I would just hook up a cable to one of the 19" LCD TV's (had no DVI Input) for a dual screen display setup (it was Plug and Play compatible). It used some converter cable. For audio just get some Altech-Lansing PC speakers. Best speakers ever. PERIOD. 100 dollars CDN for some small speakers that pump out some wicked audio, worth it.