A TFT monitor for both PC and game consoles?

[ranj]

Hi folks

I looking to replace my big 19" CRT Dell monitor which has served me well over the past few years. Man its a bulky thing!!!!

So I been looking at TFT screens and am thinking of buying something which is 20" and above, is widescreen and the main reason is so I can use it as a screen for the PC and also as a screen if i buy a 360 or ps3, which I am thinking of when the prices come down.

Does anyone know if I can use a next gen games console with a TFT. I pretty sure I can do it with a LCD screen from brands such as sony and samsung but am not sure if they are the way to go to use for PC monitors ( I know they all say PC input - but are they actually any good for PC applications?)

Am I also right in saying that the next gen consoles have an HDMI output for the best quality in video gaming so ideally I need one of those for ultimate gaming pictures?

If anyone can advise me on solutions or pitfuls of my ideas, that would be most gratefully appreciated. I dont have a particular budget in mind but dont want to spend more than £350 (GBP).

thank you

[PeterW]

There are plenty of dual input screens about in the 20"-22" size some are dual DVI and others will have 1x VGA and 1x DVI.

A friend of mine just purchased this Samsung and is very happy with it. He uses the DVI from his PC and the VGA from his XBOX 360. It cost about £230 inc.

[ranj]

Yeh, It seems like looking at reviews. I keep coming back to this samsung screen, I have to admit it does look vey nice indeed. The review you posted was especially a good one which answered some questions I had about it. So thanks for that.

[DSapseid]

My mate bought a brand new del with a 19" screen about 18 months ago and got a 360 about 3 months ago and he just bought the 360 vga adapter and it workas fine.

[craiglay]

How about buying a HD ready style monitor so you can run you Xbox 360 at 1080?

Try this http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/128237/rb/0

22" widescreen
DVI and VGA inputs, and will even do HDCP

Then again, its only 1680x1050 resolution so I dunno if it will take a 1080 signal.

For £235, its quite cheap mind,

Craig

[ranj]

Ok after a long deliberation, I think I am going to go with a Samsung 226bw

http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?quicklinx=4GQB

I just have 1 more question on this though, which I hope someone may be able to answer.

1. As this TFT is HDCP compatible. Does it mean I need to purchase a HDMI to DVI cable if I purchased a PS3 at a later date to get them connected.

Also is it true with the 360 that it can connect via a VGA cable. If so is the quality still very good?

thanks

[ranj]

oh my god I dont believe this.

I think I might have found an even better TFT for the price

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/336251...s.html?cpage=2

Its an LG LCD with tuner and nearly all the connections I could dream for.

Any chance of a second opinion. Apart from the contrast ratio. I dont see that much dfifference with the Samsung 226BW but I could be wrong.

It seems very good value for money. My only concerns are LG (not really heard much about them) and I still unsure about these LCDs which can also be used for PCs. Will I see a small difference or a large difference?

[Geoff]

LG stuff breaks in around 10mins atfer being exposed to Oxygen in my experience.

[kearton]

LG stuff breaks in around 10mins atfer being exposed to Oxygen in my experience.

*Slightly* off topic, sorry, but I hope this isn't true. Being from the southern hemisphere, I'd never really seen any LG kit in the shops before, so when I bought a new LCD TV last year I listened to the salesman's story about LG being the biggest electronics company in the world, and how that there are only a few major manufacturers of LCD screens and a lot of the other larger named brands actually had LG screens in them anyway and ended up buying one... ops:

[ranj]

ok so if I went with the Samsung SyncMaster 226BW is there much quality difference between this monitor and using a normal TV screen if i used it with a 360 or ps3. thanks

[ranj]

I just seen this one

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...ctiveda3008-21

This is exceptionally good, it seems it has the same sort of spec as the 226bw but has TV capability

Anyone got this?

[callumtuckey]

There are plenty of dual input screens about in the 20"-22" size some are dual DVI and others will have 1x VGA and 1x DVI.

A friend of mine just purchased this Samsung and is very happy with it. He uses the DVI from his PC and the VGA from his XBOX 360. It cost about £230 inc.

i agree we also have invested in one of those