Dual Monitor and TV Tuner question

[alanngray]

I have a NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT gaphics card.

I just got a second monitor, an Acer 20 inch widescreen.

I want to use both my monitors. I also want to connect my console to one of the monitors.

Is it possible to connect a console via a TV tuner and user one of the monitors as a monitor for my console and and when i wish?

Also do tv tuner cards support 5.1 audio, or does it depend on the card

[guns1inger]

Very few tuner cards support 5.1 input. I can't think of any off hand, although there are specialist audio cards that do. You will also get lower resolution in most cases using a tuner card, as you will be playing through a preview window. Unless your console supports VGA output or your monitor has it's own video in connections you will need a converter box or some type, and will still only get medium to low resolution.

[alanngray]

sorry i dont think i was clear enough

I want to be able to connect the console thru the TV tuner card and play the console on the monitor thru the PC

[guns1inger]

You were clear, I just don't believe you can do what you want in a satisfactory manner. TV tuner cards generally accept only analogue input at standard definition resolution, so you will be inputing at 720 x 576. On a 20 inch monitor that is less than one quarter the monitor's default resolution. You may be able to maximise the video, but that will just give you soft and fuzzy. You cannot plug a PS3 into a TV tuner card on a PC and get 1920 x 1080 input, for example.

[alanngray]

bummer so i'm still stuck with a TV too

[edDV]

Also the delay through the tuner/NVidia card will be substantial enough to affect game play.

If your console is an Xbox360, you can get VGA out cables cheap which will connect direct to the computer monitor at 1360x768.