Use televison as PC monitor

[Gigadi]

Not exactly as the monitor but whenever I want to watch my fansubs. It's not exactly comfortbale to sit at computer chair and watch. I would rather watch from the comfort of my bed. I want to know what tools I would need to use my 27' Flat Tube SDTV as my temporary viewing screen. If it helps I have a S-Video, Componet and Composite video slots. Also my TV is close to my monitor, the monitor is just SO small.

[Mana]

I know you'll need appropriate ports and a video-out cable. We have our TV set up to act as a second monitor here, but Roark was the one who set it up.

[Tyrdium]

Does your computer have S-Video out? If so, all you need are the appropriate cables. Grab an S-Video & RCA audio cable (video and audio in a single cable) and a miniplug to RCA adapter from Monoprice (http://www.monoprice.com/). I love 'em. Very inexpensive, and their cables are quite decent quality.

Edit: The first cable you want is this (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10207&cs_id=1020703&p_id=127&seq=1&format=2&style=). You can get it in a different length if you need.

[PsychoSaiya-jin]

Check your graphics card and see if you have an s-video tv-out. If so, you'll be laughing :D

[Gigadi]

I don't. I did just realize that I can buy a VGA cable that goes to S-Video. I'm not sure if this handles the sound as well but any further information is appericated.

[Ritalin]

I do this for all my videos/movies. All you need is a video card with video-out, along with the cables and such Tyrdium linked.

And, when/if you get it set up, yes: fonts will look horribly blurry or difficult to read on your TV but video will be perfectly fine. You might need to adjust your computers resolution a bit, too.

[Gigadi]

Thanks, I appericate the help.

[Tamanegi Sensei]

I was actually thinkin about doin the same thing.

Theres this video output that may or may not come with your tower. I got it, but it's too short. Best thing I can say is, if you can find an RGB cable long enough to reach your TV, then you do that.

[punkusa20_2001]

My favorite suggestion, with the least amount of mod to your comp is just to by a monitor/tv like an hd with vga input. Thats what I have, and I found it at a steal of $200 at my local pawn shop.

[Tyrdium]

I don't. I did just realize that I can buy a VGA cable that goes to S-Video. I'm not sure if this handles the sound as well but any further information is appericated.No problem, Monoprice carries the adaptor (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10401&cs_id=1040113&p_id=2509&seq=1&format=2&style=) for that as well. It won't carry sound, though. You'll need the miniplug to RCA adaptor for that. It plugs into the jack you normally plug your speakers or headphones into. Do you know what outputs your graphics card has? If not, could you post a picture of it? Better yet, do you know what model it is?

[Tamanegi Sensei]

http://www.svideo.com/displayvideo.html

Thank you Google.

Wait a tic, thats not it.

I think I got an idea.

These http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v237/Alchemistice/RGBCables.jpg
have to have this
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v237/Alchemistice/Svideoinput.jpg
Your graphics card or video card has to have the Svideo thing. Connect the cables to the card and the TV and your set to go.

Is that simple enough?

[Tyrdium]

Your graphics card or video card has to have the Svideo thing. Connect the cables to the card and the TV and your set to go.

Is that simple enough?Not all video cards have S-Video out. I've seen plenty of low-end ones that lack it.

[Gigadi]

No problem, Monoprice carries the adaptor (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10401&cs_id=1040113&p_id=2509&seq=1&format=2&style=) for that as well. It won't carry sound, though. You'll need the miniplug to RCA adaptor for that. It plugs into the jack you normally plug your speakers or headphones into. Do you know what outputs your graphics card has? If not, could you post a picture of it? Better yet, do you know what model it is?

I'm not exactly sure when it comes to technical term regarding chips and cards but this might be it. "Intel Extreme Graphics 845GV". Also could you further explain the part regarding the sound, I really don't grasp that.

[Tyrdium]

Ewww, 845GV. Do yourself a favor and order one of these (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1010677&CatId=0). It's extremely low-end, but it's much better than what you have now. You'll notice a huge difference if you play any computer games.

As for the sound part, I'll take some pictures for you tomorow and show you what I mean.

[Tamanegi Sensei]

Not all video cards have S-Video out. I've seen plenty of low-end ones that lack it.

Hmm... I thought all video cards had it. I mean this Nvidia GeForce4 I got for free has that output for Svideo and the cord I got is far too small to connect it to the 19 inch Sharp next ot it. Would any computer store including Micro Center might have a video card with an Svideo output, and if I were to go to any computer store, would I be able to find RGB cable that can connect to my card?

[Tyrdium]

Would any computer store including Micro Center might have a video card with an Svideo output... huh? I *think* you're asking if most computer stores would carry a video card that has S-Video out. The answer would be yes. Micro Center tends to be a bit pricy for components, though.

If I were to go to any computer store, would I be able to find RGB cable that can connect to my card?Yes, but for a heck of a lot more than an SVGA cable should cost. Grab one from Monoprice instead. Is the Sharp an LCD or a CRT?

[Tamanegi Sensei]

... huh? I *think* you're asking if most computer stores would carry a video card that has S-Video out. The answer would be yes. Micro Center tends to be a bit pricy for components, though.

Yes, but for a heck of a lot more than an SVGA cable should cost. Grab one from Monoprice instead. Is the Sharp an LCD or a CRT?

Well Monoprice has some impressive prices, but no webcams, thats ok I got one anyway. I'm suprised theres a place called Cucamonga.

As for my TV or TVs, plural, the Sharp I use is a CRT. Analog is the term for it or somethin. It's only got Audio/video output (yellow/white). I'm sure that could still work with an SVGA cable right?

Ah, this is what I got for free. Maybe Monoprice might have somethin like this but 25 feet longer.
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0204188

[Senshi]

I wanna know kinda the opposite of his question: how to play Playstation on a monitor? I like to watch TV when I play video games...

Multitasking ftw

[Ritalin]

I wanna know kinda the opposite of his question: how to play Playstation on a monitor? I like to watch TV when I play video games...

Multitasking ftw

I do this as well sometimes. :XD: Buy a VGA box (http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-ei-49-en-70-7m.html). That's the one we have. If you have an LCD display the picture quality will probably look worse than on TV (bends, etc, it can be tuned though), but on CRT's it looks like normal.

Also if your monitor can switch between analog and digital display it's even better. I always hooked mine up to analog and would press the button on my monitor to switch between game/internetting. :)