EggXpert

PC/Monitor Upgrade or TV?

 

Current PC Setup:
PSU: Single-Core 3.00ghz
MEM: 1gb
PSU: 650 watt
GPU:  ATi Radeon HD2900
Sound: No sound card
HD: WD 250gb 16mb cache
Monitor: Samsung SyncMaster191T (ANCIENT) ghosting monitor

Current TV Setup: 10 year old 52" Sony DLP
Console: Xbox360 (willing to get a ps3, for blueray + free online gaming + better looks <lol>)

My budget for a tv: $550  (the rest for ps3, only want cod 4#2)
My budget for a PC build + Monitor: $750

I can't afford both, and I would like to go with one route for media use as well. The LCD TV would mainly be used for gaming.  I heard plasmas are for movies/tv, and LCDs are preffered for console gaming.

I don't watch much tv; just Comedy Central.  I would like to start watching blue rays on a 1080p television.  Question about a gaming LCD TV..1080i or 1080p, 60hz or 120hz? (60hz is used for actualy movie theatre screens) Any input? 

Update: Is there a cheaper route for console gaming? Can I use a monitor with a 1900x1080 resolution, and use it for a ps3?  I don't watch TV, but I do enjoy watching movies..and most importantly playing call of duty on a console game! (I came from playing counter-strike for 6 years on a PC, to being OK with console gaming <it's fair for everyone, same system, getting use to one type of controller>. So how is the quality difference on a 24" Acer product like.. Newegg.com - ASUS VW246H Black 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 (ASCR 20000:1) Built in Speakers - LCD Monitors ... how does it compare to an actual LCD TV <for gaming>?  Which has the best picture, and response time?

Depends on how far away from the screen you plan on being..

I'm running 1600x1200 on a 19" monitor now and I can still see a little bit of jaggies with 2X AA enabled..   Running only 1920x1080 on a much larger screen either means you're going to be sitting at least 4 or 5 feet back that you won't notice the jaggies or using massive amounts of anti-aliasing..   Running higher resolutions is ALWAYS better than cranking up the anti-aliasing, so if you can find a 24" with higher resolution than 1080p, you'll be a lot better off for PC gaming.  LCD TVs are generally pretty low resolution for their size because they're meant to be viewed from a distance, if you start getting up close to it, you're going to see jaggies like crazy, even with lower levels of AA that most consoles do nowadays...  That's one of the things I love about PC gaming is if you've got the money, you can wipe the floor with any console out there with a decent SLI/crossfire setup..

My eye-sight isn't the best in the world.. 20-30 vision, and some family members have noticed I sit too close to my PC monitors.   The only reasong I mentioned a LCD monitor with a 1900x1080 resolution, because I can use the monitor to attach it to a console (and eliminate the high costs of a LCD TV).  The question is: What is the main difference between a 1900x1080 24" LCD *comps* and a 1900x1080 37" tv* for console gaming?  What about the color, since the computer monitor is a TN panel... it has 6 bit color and a low response time, what about a comparison to a TV @ 37" inches 1080p and 120hz?

Sidicas:

Depends on how far away from the screen you plan on being..

I'm running 1600x1200 on a 19" monitor now and I can still see a little bit of jaggies with 2X AA enabled..   Running only 1920x1080 on a much larger screen either means you're going to be sitting at least 4 or 5 feet back that you won't notice the jaggies or using massive amounts of anti-aliasing..   Running higher resolutions is ALWAYS better than cranking up the anti-aliasing, so if you can find a 24" with higher resolution than 1080p, you'll be a lot better off for PC gaming.  LCD TVs are generally pretty low resolution for their size because they're meant to be viewed from a distance, if you start getting up close to it, you're going to see jaggies like crazy, even with lower levels of AA that most consoles do nowadays...  That's one of the things I love about PC gaming is if you've got the money, you can wipe the floor with any console out there with a decent SLI/crossfire setup..

LCD TVs and LCD monitors are more alike than they are different.. As far as color, brightness, contrast, response time, etc. That just depends on the make/model of the monitor or TV that you get and how much you're willing to pay. Some are good, some are not so good.. Just read reviews. do a lot of research and you won't go wrong with either..  There are some monitors that are better than the majority of TVs in color, brightness, contrast, response time, etc.. However there are also some TVs, such as the Samsung LED backlit TVs that are better than the majority of LCD monitors in color, brightness, contrast,  response time, etc 

Again, there's a big difference between a 24" screen and a 37" screen, and it has more to do with how far back you're going to be from it when you play, not to mention the price tag..

I'd say a computer monitor if you're going to use it for PC gaming. If console gaming is an issue than an HDTV.

Some other thoughts are ...

 Sound - If your are gaming and want to keep the rig small then you might want some speakers on the monitor. The TV will probably have better speakers then the monitor. The TV will also likely have a tuner of some type built in.

HDMI - Either that you get should have an HDMI input. Keep in mind that in most cases you are going to be running at 1920*1080. I have the Hanns-G HG281D. $300 and this thing has a great picture for both my PC and my PS3. No sound though...

 I do agree that the deciding factor needs to be the room setup. In my mind bigger is what I want. My rig is on my desk and I am literally 3 feet away but it looks very good...

 

Good Luck!