Video cards

[zinc]

I am hoping to buy a new video card and i just need some advice. I am soon going to be purchasing a HDTV and i would like this to act as my monitor the TV does not have a VGA input

I have been reading that it is possible to connect a HDTV via the VGA socket in my computer by using an adapter however this set up is not good. I have read that DVI to HDTV via a DVI to HDMI cable is much better.

This then means that i have to buy a new video card that supports DVI as the one that i have now doesn't however the monitor that i have now also does not support DVI what can i do?

Also what type of graphics card shall i buy how do i know if i have got AGP or PCI express?

Thanks.

[jagabo]

Yes, you can use a DVI to HDMI cable. Or there are a few graphics cards with HDMI ports.

Be aware that many HDTVs will overscan the HDMI input -- meaning you won't see the outer 3 percent of the picture on all four sides. If you're going to use the HDTV as your only monitor Windows will be hard to use (for example the Start bar won't be visible). Some HDTVs have the option not to overscan. Samsung models call this "Just scan".

If you don't have a motherboard manual you'll have to open your computer and see if it has an AGP or PCIe slot. It the slot isn't obviously marked use google to find sample images to compare to.

[zinc]

Thank you for your help, jagabo. I have bought a new video card that is AGP it has DVI socket, VGA socket and a TV-out socket.

In order to connect the HDTV to the pc is it correct that all i need to do is get a DVI-HDMI cable and plug the cable into the sockets, is there nothing else i need. what about resoultutions and stuff like that?

Thanks

[MOVIEGEEK]

HDCP may prevent you from seeing any video on the DVI->HDMI cable,make sure you can return the cable before buying.DVI also has different calibration then HDMI so you will have to adjust for extended RGB color space.
I highly recommend buying a HDTV with a VGA port,most 2008 models have a VGA port.VGA is simple and no calibration is necessary.
Samsung and LG LCD's support up to 1900x1200.
Toshiba Regza line support 1280x1024.
As jagabo mentioned get a HDTV with "Just Scan" or 1:1 pixel mapping and "Game Mode",again most 2008 models offer these features.

[jagabo]

HDCP may prevent you from seeing any video on the DVI->HDMI cable

That should only be an issue with Blu-ray and HD-DVD -- and only if your graphics card or TV doesn't support HDCP.

Keep in mind that DVI doesn't carry audio so you'll need to run audio separately.

[zinc]

Thank you for your answers so far, the TV i am looking to buy is not HDCP enabled so does that mean i cannot use it as a monitor and how would i be able to carry audio TV has no VGA output.

The Tv i am hoping to buy is this one:
http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/product/414298/PHILIPS-23PFL5522D-05/tab/specification

it has a tick next to "can be used a pc monitor"

[Ethlred]

I am curious as to what you intend to use this monitor for. The reason is that the specs in your profile and your statement that you bought an AGP card strongly imply that you have a pretty old PC. There is no what that the PC you seem to have is going to support HD tv or high definition gaming. Just too many pixels to push through that cpu. You may even have as much or more memory on your video card than on your motherboard.

I am not spending any money on my old PC except if something goes bang. Again. I didn't even see the magic smoke. Just smelled it. Buying a video card for it would be a waste of money that I could use on a newer machine with a PCI-Express slot.

[jagabo]

the TV i am looking to buy is not HDCP enabled so does that mean i cannot use it as a monitor

It means you can't play Blu-ray or HD-DVD with the official players. You would have to use something like DVDFab HD Decrypter to remove the encryption.

how would i be able to carry audio

Run analog audio via the sound card's output (usually 3.5mm stereo pin-plug) to the TV (usually stereo RCA inputs).

There is no way that the PC you seem to have is going to support HD tv

If he gets a graphics card with hardware MPEG2 and h.264 decoding he'll be able to play high def material (using the right player). It may be hard to find one of those with an AGP interface though.

[zinc]

Those computer details are pretty outdated i have 1gb of ram and have a 200gb hardrive now.

i am not going to use the HDTV as a monitor in order to play games i want it simply because it is larger than my current monitor.

I am buying the HDTV for my xbox 360 and i thought instead of having a TV and a PC monitor why not just have one that can do everything.

[jagabo]

I am buying the HDTV for my xbox 360 and i thought instead of having a TV and a PC monitor why not just have one that can do everything.

You need to find out if the TV supports HDMI input at its native resolution (1366x768) without scaling if you want to have a sharp computer-monitor-like display.

[zinc]

On the comet site it says the pixel resolution is 1366x768 im not sure about scaling what does that mean?

[jagabo]

Most HDTVs overscan the incoming HDMI signal, just like old CRT TVs did with analog signals. This means the 1366x768 image is enlarge to about 1440x800 and only the center 1366x768 pixels are shown. The scaling of the image will result in blurry text on the desktop. If you have an LCD monitor try running it at a resolution a little lower than it's native resolution. That is what a scaled image will look like on the HDTV. What you want when using an HDTV as a computer monitor is one that has pixel-per-pixel display of the HDMI source.

[zinc]

Thank you for your help jagabo how can i ensure that i get a pixel-per-pixel display what feautre shall i look out for that tells me such infomation, once again thank you for all the info you have provided so far you've been most helpful.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Thank you for your help jagabo how can i ensure that i get a pixel-per-pixel display what feautre shall i look out for that tells me such infomation, once again thank you for all the info you have provided so far you've been most helpful.

Like we mentioned earlier:Samsung and LG call it "Just Scan" or 1:1 pixel mapping.
The problem is this feature is only on larger tv's(32"+).
Since you are looking for a 22" screen why not just buy a computer monitor with DVI-D and VGA?They are alot less expensive than a HDTV.

[jagabo]

I have a 19" Samsung LCD HDTV with Just Scan.