42" LCD/Plasma as desktop monitor

I have a dell 30" but I want something bigger. The idea of using a large 42" tv as my main monitor is appealing because it can still use a nice high resolution but of course everything (icons, text, etc) will be much larger. less eye strain is always nice.

I am out of the game so to speak on new lcd/plasma technologies and computers. Who is running the show? samsung, sharp?

no price limit really.

95% it's going to be used for browsing, email and about 5% of the time some WoW/casual gaming.

thanks!

I have a 42" Vizio for a monitor and I'm happy with it. If price wasn't an issue I think I'd go with something like a Samsung LN40A650, though Samsung panels are 40" not 42.

If you're using it as a monitor you don't have to worry about a lot of normal hdtv features like the scaler, tuners and video processor, just the panel. Since you're not interested in those features you might be happy with a lower end tv that still uses a decent panel; the main thing to look for is a pc or game mode that will bypass the tv's internal processor.

But like I said you probably can't go wrong with a 600 series Samsung.

This is just my opinion, but I wouldn't choose a plasma TV for this purpose. Some will tell you that image retention and/or burn-in is not a problem these days, but I would still use LCD just to be safe (I'm not sure which technology the mentioned models use).

If you do get plasma though, make sure it uses square pixels. Some 42" plasma panels are (were?) 1024x768, but stretched. I don't think video cards can handle this properly in the drivers, so you'd need some kind of other software to fix it.

Drexl said:

If you do get plasma though, make sure it uses square pixels. Some 42" plasma panels are (were?) 1024x768, but stretched.

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Also, don't go below native 1080p res. Anything less at that size is too few pixels for crisp text. IMO 42" is the absolute limit even for 1080p if web browsing is the primary use.

yea i was getting a 1080p for sure.

maybe ill check out the 40" samsung's...wish i could bring my computer to the store and test it out.

there are just SO many LCD's out there and no one really tests them for full PC use as a main monitor. the samsung's have the 500,600, 700, 800, and even 900 series now. have no idea which is best for PC use.

i know westinghouse and vizio are fairly popular but i think that's mainly due to the price.

love to hear some more experiences with 40-42" lcd's as main computer monitors

rls669 said:

I have a 42" Vizio for a monitor and I'm happy with it. If price wasn't an issue I think I'd go with something like a Samsung LN40A650, though Samsung panels are 40" not 42.

If you're using it as a monitor you don't have to worry about a lot of normal hdtv features like the scaler, tuners and video processor, just the panel. Since you're not interested in those features you might be happy with a lower end tv that still uses a decent panel; the main thing to look for is a pc or game mode that will bypass the tv's internal processor.

But like I said you probably can't go wrong with a 600 series Samsung.

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What Vizio are you using? I'm about to pull the trigger on a SV420XVT.

I have an older model, a VU42LF. At the time it was about the same price as a Samsung 275T monitor. Like most TVs the built-in speakers are crap, not an issue for me since I either use headphones or a separate amp and speakers. The VU's remote is fully backlit (the SV's isn't IIRC) which is nice, but I've never used it as a TV so I have little use for it.

If you're going from 1600p to 1080p you might notice the sudden drastic loss in pixels, which might suck.

I used a 32" Samsung a550 for a while and thought it looked great on web pages and desktop but when I ran a game, the colors, black crush, and other issues were horrible, not to mention having unbearable input lag for gaming.

Look for anything you would look for in a good HDTV + a good response time. It might be worth it to get 120HZ.

i've had just a rough experience with tv's and computers. my first exp was with a rear projection 720p set which had awful overscan, blurry txt...just awful.

now i have my computer hooked up to my 1080p projector and of course it's not 1:1 and there is some overscan but it's fine for casual use/watch movies.

just never seen a tv LCD used as a main computer monitor. gonna miss my current tri-mon setup... =)

http://www.coolslice.com/2007/08/when-30-is-just-not-big-enough.html

I am using a Samsung LN-T4665F for a monitor...I would say 30% wow, the rest XBox 360 and web browsing. I like it, seems to work great but I have terrible eyes so i wouldn't know if it was terrible anyway

The blacks are decent, the backlight has some bleed but I only paid $1k for it.

I got a Panasonic TH42PZ85U 42" Plasma HDTV and omg I love it. It has its ups and downs. For one the picture is amazing, movies are great, but on the other hand some crispness is lost because of the size of the screen with a 1080p resolution (1920x1080). I went from a 1920x1200 24" PC monitor to this 42 and I will NEVER look back for gaming/movie watching. Now text is a different story. I would much prefer test on a computer monitor because it is much more crisp, but after about a weekof using it I got used to it and I can deal with it. Already I'm wishing I would have bought the bigger 46" model. I only paid $1k for 42 and the 46 was about 5-600 more so I settled.

All I have to say it give it time for you to adjust to it. I was very worried the first 2 nights when I walked away with a headache and my eyes and neck felt strained/sore. This is probably because your not used to looking at a screen that big and your eyes have to do a lot more looking around along with some more neck movements (if you not used to useing your eyes) until you get used to it. Now I don't notice strain or headaches at all. In fact I played WoW for around 18 hours straight when it came out with no ill effects.

Don't EVEN consider getting less than a 1080P and for sure don't get a plasma if your going to use it on a computer. I'm sure the newest ones are better at not getting screen burn-in but I wouldn't chance it. I tried hooking an older 42" plasma TV up to my computer once and it had already burned the Windows loading screen in by the time It actually got into windows. That fast! It finally went away but it took awhile.

Unless you are sitting a few feet away from it a 42" for a monitor might be a little too much. It really depends on how close you are to a monitor as to what is the max size.

yea, i might keep my 30" on the desk for text and close up browsing.

i am looking at a 40-46" LCD for sure.

I will sit about 4.5 ft away from screen

thanks for everybody's advice and if anyone can post screenshots of their setup that would be awesome!

DReborn said:

yea, i might keep my 30" on the desk for text and close up browsing.

i am looking at a 40-46" LCD for sure.

I will sit about 4.5 ft away from screen

thanks for everybody's advice and if anyone can post screenshots of their setup that would be awesome!

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I just got back from Sam's. I had originally planned on getting the 42" Vizio, but I went with the 47" instead. I'll let you know how it works out.

I have 0 burn in on my plasma running at around 300 hours up time now. first 100 hours on a panasonic is the "burn-in" period so keep settings below 50% (brightness,picture) so as to not burn in the screen. Also make sure you have the pixel orbiter turned on and you are golden. Like I said played WoW for 18 straight with NO burn in issues at all.

I went down from a 37 inch Westinghouse to a 30 inch Dell and I was so happy! And I play WOW as well.

I'm currently using the Samsung A650 40 inch 1080p LCD as my PC monitor and its just wonderful. The text is crisp and clean , the backlighting is very uniform and the color accuracy is great too, It makes a great PC moniotr (HDMI2 has a PC mode function once you enable it and this results in a fantastic picture and basicly no input lag). Not to mention is also makes a great tv, has 4 HDMI inputs , 120hz mode (which Samsung 120hz processing is one of the better out there) and a pretty rose color hinted frame.

I would suggest against a plasma as a PC monitor for a few reasons, I also own a 42 inch Panasonic 1080p plasma and I tried to hook up my PC to it and getting the full resolution was kinda of a hassle , maybe it was the ATI drivers but it seems this isn't a uncommon problem for some people as Panasonic plasma TV's process incoming signals in a different format than straight up 1080p/60hz and the internal scaler kept upscaling the signal instead of just passing it (likely do to the fact that Panny plasma's dont have a PC mode for HDMI , they just have VGA output which limits the max resolution so I recommend against it). I also noticed burn in within a good 30 mins of messing around with my driver issues (this tv has atleast 500-600 hours on it and no burn in previously so the 100 hour burn in period is well over also my brightness and contrast were lowered as well) and after I used the scrolling white bar and waited a good 20 mins , the taskbar burn in finally faded. Needless to say I HIGHLY recommend against using a plasma tv as a PC monitor.

You can get a Samsung A650 for about 1300 on newegg right now but I bet if you go on black friday you could probably get it a decent amount cheaper from a local store or even from newegg.

that's great to hear G-dmachine....i am concerned that i have been spoiled with pretty good monitors. i guess i'll just have to buy one and see how it looks!

do you mind posting a pic of ur setup?

thanks!

Sure I can post some pics once I get my bro's camera later on this week

I have my PC outputting to a 50" Kuro plasma via HDMI and I was able to get pixel perfect native resolution with ease, The picture quality is fantastic and text is perfectly crisp, I was in awe the first time I even saw the desktop load I mainly use it as a secondary monitor for PC gaming & movies and ill use my CRT when browsing the web etc.

mathesar said:

I have my PC outputting to a 50" Kuro plasma via HDMI and I was able to get pixel perfect native resolution with ease, The picture quality is fantastic and text is perfectly crisp, I was in awe the first time I even saw the desktop load I mainly use it as a secondary monitor for PC gaming & movies and ill use my CRT when browsing the web etc.

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Ya Pioneer Kuro's have a better internal processor than the Panasonic's and they have a auto-detect HDMI 1080p/60hz mode that works well. I would still be careful with burn in though.

Godmachine said:

I'm currently using the Samsung A650 40 inch 1080p LCD as my PC monitor and its just wonderful. The text is crisp and clean , the backlighting is very uniform and the color accuracy is great too, It makes a great PC moniotr (HDMI2 has a PC mode function once you enable it and this results in a fantastic picture and basicly no input lag). Not to mention is also makes a great tv, has 4 HDMI inputs , 120hz mode (which Samsung 120hz processing is one of the better out there) and a pretty rose color hinted frame.

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How far are you sitting away from it? After trying a couple of TN panels I tried the ln32a650. While it is nice, it is just too big for this desk space (sitting a little more than 3' away). I'm really gonna regret taking it back, but also after purchasing a ln42a650 this just seems overkill. What's also funny is both panels in a mid sized room--I can't help but have my Harmony control both sets The menus I can get away with, but forget about the volumes and on/off.

To the OP, these sets are a beauty. The blacks on the clearp panel look great. As I said, I know I'm gonna regret it, but I also don't watch tv on it or PC game really anymore. Some of the wallpapers from interfacelift are just You won't regret it.

R0achTheWarHero said:

I used a 32" Samsung a550 for a while and thought it looked great on web pages and desktop but when I ran a game, the colors, black crush, and other issues were horrible, not to mention having unbearable input lag for gaming.

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Does anyone with a LN32a550 want to vailidate this comment especially in concern with the unbearable input lag? I've heard nothing but good things about this TV and am planning to pick it up.

I have a Sony 46 120hz and (just got it so not to much testing) man is it super! LOL for me its just to big but in games I cant see playing anywhere else. Smooth and fast plus text looks veyr nice and easy to read.