PDA

View Full Version : Recommend me a monitor



Eschatokyrios
March 5th, 2007, 06:18 AM
I'm looking for a (relatively) inexpensive flatscreen monitor for my computer. It is very important that the monitor have inputs for other types of video signal - preferably a standard RCA composite video in and a TV coax in. I want to also use it for playing console video games. I bought this (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16889114015), but it had crappy video quality, and the video from several different sources randomly didn't work. So hopefully one of you all has bought such a monitor that they were happy with and can reccomend to me. Thanks muchly.

tubasoldier
March 5th, 2007, 06:29 AM
I have an acer monitor and love it.

flyingbrass
March 5th, 2007, 06:55 AM
This is useful: http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=31&threadid=1745344&enterthread=y

Recommendations in the first post have been updated fairly regularly.

The best monitor for you depends on what you need and can afford.

mips
March 5th, 2007, 12:49 PM
I'm looking for a (relatively) inexpensive flatscreen monitor for my computer. It is very important that the monitor have inputs for other types of video signal - preferably a standard RCA composite video in and a TV coax in. I want to also use it for playing console video games. I bought this (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16889114015), but it had crappy video quality, and the video from several different sources randomly didn't work. So hopefully one of you all has bought such a monitor that they were happy with and can reccomend to me. Thanks muchly.

This will NEVER work the way you want it to. You are going to compromise when you do this. You effectively purchased a TV and that will not give you the same quality as a real monitor, even HD tv. A computer monitor will not sync on frequencies low enough for composite video either (Older multi-sync monitors did but I have not seen one in ages).

If I was in your shoes I would get a proper pc monitor with dual inputs. Then, depending on what console you have, get a converter for it to output in VGA+ modes so it can be displayed on your monitor. You could even get a box to output tv to a vga monitor.

Foudre
March 5th, 2007, 08:41 PM
here's a cheap 19 incher
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824009083

of course i would recomend this one its only a mere 46 inches in size and cost $3000
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824001093

lol i wish i could afford the 2nd one /have room for it

muguwmp67
March 5th, 2007, 08:53 PM
You could even get a box to output tv to a vga monitor.

I do not know what options are compatible with Linux, but I also suggest either an external TV/PC box like this one (http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSite/us/Products/Consumer+Products/PCTV+Tuners/PCTV+Analog+PVR+(cable_antenna)/PCTV+Pro+USB.htm) or an integrated graphics card like the All-in-Wonder. As a bonus, you should also be able to do Tivo-like recording with one.

As far as monitors go, Samsung's Syncmaster line has traditionally gotten good reviews. I have a SyncMaster 204B and I like it a lot. Its 20" and about $250. I watch a lot of divix video on it, and it looks great.

mips
March 5th, 2007, 09:12 PM
I do not know what options are compatible with Linux, but I also suggest either an external TV/PC box like this one (http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSite/us/Products/Consumer+Products/PCTV+Tuners/PCTV+Analog+PVR+%28cable_antenna%29/PCTV+Pro+USB.htm) or an integrated graphics card like the All-in-Wonder. As a bonus, you should also be able to do Tivo-like recording with one.

When referring to an external box I meant a complete standalone box that does not even connect to the pc, so no compatibility issues. It will take composite, s-video etc from different sources and output it direct to a vga monitor, no pc required.

Something like this:
http://www.svideo.com/video2vga.html
http://www.allthings.com.au/Monitors/vid%20to%20vga%20plus.htm

If you have multiple inputs you could always use a switch-box in conjunction with it. Be carefull though when using the pc input the resolution is restricted to 1024x768 as far as i can tell. Therefore I advise using a monitor with dual(2) inputs so you can connect the pc & converter box directly to the tv.