Full HDTV as PC Monitor
I’ve been doing my research on Full HDTVs and how good of a PC monitor the can be. So I’ve decided to share my findings and experience.
I was mainly looking at the 32″ range, I found that Panasonic, Smasung and Sony only have a Full HD models (Sony is expected to release them in mid July and Panasonic is releasing same time). If you are in America or can buy from there you can have a look at Sharp as well, the haven’t anounced that they will be releasin any of those models in Australia.
First I’ll start with Sony Bravia:
- Listed modules: KDL32V4000
- Specs:
Picture- Integrated High Definition Digital Tuner: Yes
- Native Display Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- BRAVIA Engine: BRAVIA ENGINE 2
- Panel Bit: 8 bit
- Viewing Angle: 178
- Screen Format: WideZoom/Normal/Full/Zoom
- Picture Mode: Vivid/ Standard/Cinema
- Multi Picture: Yes (Picture And Picture)
- Noise Reduction: 3D Digital Comb Filter
- Brightness: 450 cd/m2
- Contrast: 3000:1 (On-Screen) – Very Low contrast rate, visibly it looks better because of the glossy screen
- Response Time: 8ms – Very slow no improvement whatsoever
Sound
- Audio Output: Yes
- Sound Mode: Dynamic/Standard/Custom
- Surround Mode: S-FORCE/Simulated Stereo/Off
Terminals
- HDMI Input: x3
- Component In: x2
- S-Video in: x2
- Composite in: x3
- Headphone Out: x1
- HD15 / PC Audio Input: x1
- Digital Media Port: x1
Other Features
- Power Saving Mode: Yes
- Clock: Yes
- On / Sleep Timer: Yes
- Teletext: Yes (English) 250P
- Light Sensor: Yes
- Cinema Drive: Yes
- OSD Language: English
- Swivel: Swivel: Yes Tilt: No
General
- Power Requirement: 220-240V 50/60Hz
- Power Consumption: 156w – great power consumption
- Dimensions with stand (WxHxD): 794 x 577 x 242mm
- Dimensions without stand (WxHxD): 794 x 540 x 99mm
- Weight with stand (Kg): 16kg
- Weight without Stand (Kg): 13kg
- Standby Power Consumption: Less than 0.3W
- Not 100Hz
- I also found out that Sony uses Smasung displays.
Second on the list is Samsung:
-
Specs:
Picture- Screen Size: 32″
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Dynamic Contrast Ratio: 15,000:1- very good ratio
- Viewing Angle: 178
- Response Time: 6ms – fastest you can get for a TV
- DNIeâ„¢: DNIe Pro
- HD Ready: Built-in HD Tuner
- Brightness: 500 Nit
- Backlight: CCFL
- LCD 100Hz: No
Sound
- Sound Output(RMS): 10W x 2
- Stereo Type: A2/NiCAM
- Sound Effect System: SRS TruSurround XT
Terminals
- HDMI: x4
- Composite (AV): x2
- S-Video: x1
- Headphone: x1
- WISELINK (USB): WiseLink (USB2.0)
- WISELINK (Multi Memory Slot): No
- WISELINK (etc.): No
- RF Input: x1
- Component(Y/Pb/Pr): x2
- PC input (D-sub): x1
- Video Monitor out, L/R: x1
- Optical sound out: x1
- RS232C (for Service only): x1
Other Features
- Picture-in-Picture: 1 Tuner PIP
- Sleep timer: Yes
- Clock & on/off timer: Yes
- Still picture: No
- Auto Channel Search: Yes
- Auto Power Off: Yes
- Auto Volume Leveller: Yes
- Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC): Yes
- Movie Plus: Yes
- Game Mode: Entertainment Mode
- TTXT: TTXT Level 2.5
General
- Bluetooth: No
- Colour: Rose Black
- Swivel (left/right): Yes
- Front cabinet: Crystal Design
- Back cabinet: Crystal Design
- Set size(WxHxD) with stand: 806.0 x 584.4 x 251.9mm
- Set size(WxHxD) without stand: 806.0 x 528.2 x 81.0mm
- Package(WxHxD): 912.0 x 746.0 x 188.0mm
- Set weight with stand: 13.8Kg
- Set weight without stand: 11.6Kg
- Package weight: 18.4Kg
- Wall Mount: Auto-Wallmount Support
- Remote Controller: TM98A
- Batteries, AAA type: Yes
- Operation power consumption: 200W/180W
- Stand-By power consumption: Under 1W
Third is Panasonic:
- Listed modules: TX-32LZD800A
- Specs:
Picture- Screen Size: 32″
- Screen Type: LCD
- Panel Type: IPS-alpha Progressive Full-HD LCD Panel
- Panel Aspect Ratio: 16:9 (Widescreen)
- Aspect Ratio Control Modes (TV/AV modes): 4:3, 14:9, 16:9, Just, Zoom1, Zoom2, Zoom3, DTV: 16:9 & 4:3 Full
- Aspect Ratio Control Modes (PC mode): 16:9, 4:3
- Comb Filter: 3D Digital
- 100Hz Technology: Yes – recommended if going to be used as PC monitor
- Progressive Scan: Yes
- TV Tuner Receiving System: DVB (Digital), PAL-B/G (Analogue)
- Tuner Type: Integrated SD/HD DVB-T 7MHz Australia, PAL B/G
- Electronic Program Guide (EPG) Support: Yes – 7 Day
- Picture In Picture (PIP): No
- Multi-Window: PAT
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Contrast Ratio: 1:10000 – good ratio
- Picture Adjustment Modes / Film Modes: 24p Film Playback, 3D Colour Management, Sub Pixel Control, C.A.T.S. (Contrast Automatic Tracking System), Video Noise Reduction, Intelligent Scene Controller
- Viewing Angle: 178
Sound
- Stereo: PAL 2CS Stereo
- Audio Output Power – Total (Watts RMS): 20
- Speakers: x2
- Audio Features: Virtual Surround Sound, Bass/Treble, Balance, Headphone Volume
Terminals
- SD Card Slot: Yes, SDHC Compatible
- Component Video Input: x2
- HDMI: x3
- S-Video Input: x2
- PC Input: x1 VGA (15 pin Mini D-sub)
- A/V Input: x4
- Digital Audio Out: x1
- Headphone Jack: x1
Other Features
- Auto Timed On/Off Switch: Off Only
- On Screen Display Languages: English
- DTV Parental Guidance Info: Yes
- Applicable Component Video Input Signals: 576i @ 50Hz (15.63KHz), 576p @ 50Hz (31.25KHz), 720p @ 50Hz (37.50KHz), 1,080i @ 50Hz (28.125KHz), 480i @ 60Hz (15.73KHz), 480p @ 60Hz (31.47KHz), 720p @ 60Hz (45KHz), 1,080i @ 60Hz (33.75KHz)
- Applicable HDMI Video Input Signals: 576i @ 50Hz (15.63KHz), 576p @ 50Hz (31.25KHz), 720p @ 50Hz (37.50KHz), 1,080i @ 50Hz (28.125KHz), 1,080p @ 50Hz (56.25KHz), 480i @ 60Hz (15.73KHz), 480p @ 60Hz (31.47KHz), 720p @ 60Hz (45KHz), 1,080i @ 60Hz (33.75KHz), 1,080p @ 60Hz (67.5KHz), 1,080/24p @ 24Hz (27KHz)
- Applicable PC Input Signals: 640×400@70Hz;, 640×480@60/66/75Hz;, 800×600@60/75/85Hz;, 832×624@75Hz;, 852×480@60Hz;, 1024×768@60/70/75/85Hz;, 1152×870@75Hz;, 1280×1024@60Hz;, 1366×768@60Hz
General
- Remote Control: Standard
- Power Consumption: 152W
- Power Consumption – Normal: 130W
- Stand-by Power Consumption: 0.3W
- Weight: 18.5Kg
- Dimensions Without Stand(WxHxD): 821 x 539 x 98mm
- Dimensions With Stand(WxHxD): 821 x 580 x 255mm
Well now to tell you my verdict. I actually bought the Panasonic TX-37LZD800A (37″, for $200 extra I get a 5 more inches).
At 1920 x 1080 the colour intensity is not that great and if you work quite close to the monitor things tend to look pixelated but i think that on a 32″ monitor it will be much better and also you can always go to some of the lowest resolutions I’ve tried on 1600 x 900 and looks better but then icons are way too big. If yiu okay with the picture settings on the TV you can get a pretty good setting. I lowered/increased everything to 50 (contrast, brightness, color, sharpness) and now am pretty happy with my Monitor/Full HDTV. People often worry that sitting infornt of a big monitor will give them headache and I can tell you that I’ve been using my monitor for 2 days already and have been sitting infornt of it for more than 6 hours and didin’t get a headache. From my research online and going to the shops I can tell you that Panasonic are the best in fast picture quality, they are also not so bad in slow picture quality and color contrast.
Summary on what to look for when buying a Full HDTV as a substitute PC monitor:
- Contrast ration should be between 1:10000 and 1:15000 or more
- Make sure it is 100Hz or more I heard that there are 120Hz but that’s for 42″ and above LCDs
- You should have a good Video card, preferaly with HDMI output (mine is Nvidia GeForce 9800 GX2) if you don’t have HDMI output the max resolution you are going to get is 1366 x 768 which is normal HD
- Look at the Power consumption as well you don’t want a big electricity bill
- Responce time, the lower the better currently the lowest for Fill HDTVs is 5ms
- PIP is a bonus this means you can split your screen and wath tv on one half and on the other do your PC work
