Connecting your television to a computer is an easy way to turn your TV into a large PC monitor for work or play. While TVs can make suitable computer monitors, there are some pros and cons to be aware of compared to using a traditional computer monitor.
Can You Connect a TV to a Computer?
Fortunately, it‘s quite simple to use a TV as a computer monitor. Most modern TVs can be connected to a computer using an HDMI cable. Both desktop PCs and laptops with HDMI outputs can usually be directly connected to the HDMI port of a TV. This will extend your computer‘s display onto the TV screen.
Some older computers may only have VGA outputs. In this case, you can use a VGA to HDMI adapter to connect to your TV‘s HDMI port. As long as the TV and computer both support the same resolution, the TV will work as an external monitor.
Pros of Using a TV as a Monitor
There are some advantages to using a TV instead of a regular computer monitor:
- Size – TVs are available in much larger screen sizes than typical computer monitors.
- Price – Large TVs are often cheaper than similarly sized monitors.
- Built-in speakers – Most TVs have onboard speakers, reducing cable clutter.
- Multiple HDMI ports – Allows connection of multiple input sources like game consoles.
For gaming or watching movies, a large TV can provide a more immersive experience than a smaller monitor. The big screen real estate is also nice for productivity tasks.
Cons of Using a TV as a Monitor
However, there are some downsides:
- Resolution – Many TVs max out at 1080p, lower than 4K monitors.
- Response time – TVs generally have higher response times leading to ghosting/blurring.
- Refresh rate – TVs often top out at 60 Hz, while gaming monitors can reach 144+ Hz.
- Input lag – TVs tend to have more input lag than monitors, especially without game mode enabled.
- Viewing angles – TVs typically have poorer viewing angles compared to IPS monitors.
For serious gaming or professional color critical work, a monitor designed for computers will outperform an equally priced TV. Input lag and slow response times make TVs suboptimal for fast-paced competitive gaming.
Picking a TV for Use as a Monitor
When selecting a TV to use as a PC monitor, look for the following criteria:
– Resolution of 3840 x 2160 (4K). This matches the resolution of most 4K monitors and allows sharpest text clarity. A 1080p TV will look pixelated up close.
– Response time under 10ms. Faster is better to reduce motion blur. IPS panels tend to be fastest.
– Refresh rate of at least 60Hz. 120Hz is preferred for gaming and rapid screen updates.
– Low input lag. Look for a gaming mode or PC mode to minimize processing lag. Input lag under 20ms is good for gaming.
– Size between 32" to 50". Smaller than 32" will feel cramped as a monitor. Larger than 50" may lead to eyestrain from scanning across a wide display.
– Ergonomic stand with tilt, swivel and height adjustability. This allows you to position the TV at the proper angle and height.
Popular models that meet the above criteria include LG C2, Samsung QN90B, and Sony X90K. Check detailed monitor reviews for input lag, response times, and viewing angle measurements.
Setting Up the TV as a Monitor
Once you‘ve connected your TV to your computer via HDMI, you may need to complete the following steps to properly configure it as a monitor:
– Set the TV input mode to the HDMI port connected to your computer.
– Disable any special image processing like motion smoothing which increases input lag.
– Select a Game Mode or PC Mode on your TV if available. This reduces lag.
– Match the TV resolution and refresh rate to your computer‘s display settings for optimal image quality.
– Adjust the TV picture settings like backlight, brightness and contrast for comfortable viewing at close range.
– Position the TV at eye level and an arm‘s length away to prevent neck strain.
Refer to your TV manual for the exact menu options to adjust based on your model.
Text Readability at 4K Resolution
One downside of using a 4K TV as a monitor is that text may appear too small or fuzzy at the high native resolution. There are a few solutions:
– Adjust the computer‘s display scaling to 150% or 200% for larger readable text.
– Set the TV resolution to 1080p if mainly doing office work with small text.
– Use a 40-43" 4K TV for better pixel density at a reasonable size.
– Sit further away, around 2-3 feet back to make text appear larger.
You may need to adjust the scaling depending on the task. Larger UI scaling is ideal for spreadsheets and word processing. Smaller scaling works for watching movies and gaming.
Gaming Considerations for a TV Monitor
For gaming, response time and input lag are critical. Faster response times reduce motion blur in fast-paced games while lower input lag means more responsive controls.
Look for TVs with gaming features like:
– Response times under 5ms – Ideal for fast action games.
– Input lag under 20ms – Provides responsive feeling gameplay.
– Refresh rate of 120Hz or 144Hz – Smooths out motion and reduces tearing.
– Variable refresh rate support – Syncs the TV‘s refresh rate to the game fps to prevent stuttering and tearing.
– HDR with wide color gamut – Provides vivid, true-to-life colors and contrast.
– Auto low latency mode – Automatically optimizes the TV for lag-free gaming when a game console is connected.
Gaming monitors still have an edge but many modern TVs like the LG C2 or Samsung QN90B excel as 4K gaming displays.
Desktop and Laptop Connectivity to a TV
The best way to connect a desktop or laptop to a 4K TV is via HDMI if your computer‘s graphics card supports it.
For desktop PCs, you‘ll need a dedicated graphics card like an Nvidia 3000 series or AMD Radeon 6000 series GPU. Integrated graphics usually don‘t support 4K output. Connect via any HDMI port on the card directly to the TV.
Many laptops include HDMI ports or USB-C ports that support video out over HDMI. For USB-C, you‘ll need a USB-C to HDMI adapter or cable to plug into the TV. MacBooks with Thunderbolt 3 can also output video over USB-C.
Make sure to set your computer‘s display resolution to 3840×2160 after connecting to match the TV‘s 4K resolution. This is done in Windows Display Settings or macOS System Preferences > Displays.
Troubleshooting Display Issues
Here are some common problems and solutions when connecting your computer to a TV monitor:
Screen split into sections – Change TV picture settings from "zoom" to "full" or "unscaled" mode. Adjust computer resolution if necessary.
Overscanning – TV image is cropped. Change picture mode to "PC" or reduce overscan/zoom on TV.
Blurry text – Bump up display scaling to 150% or 200% for clearer text.
No audio – Make sure audio output is set to HDMI on computer and TV speakers are enabled.
No signal – Try connecting directly to GPU if using a desktop. Update graphics drivers. Replace HDMI cable.
Input lag – Ensure TV is in low latency Game Mode. Disable motion smoothing. Limit processing effects.
Refer to your TV manual as well for device-specific troubleshooting tips. Changing inputs, cables, and settings can often resolve display problems when using a TV as a monitor substitute.
Alternatives to HDMI Connection
While HDMI is the best wired option, there are also some alternative ways to use your TV as an external monitor:
– Wireless display adapters like the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter allows for screen mirroring over Wi-Fi. Useful for laptops with no HDMI. May have more latency.
– Chromecast/Fire TV can mirror Chrome and Android screens wirelessly with minimal lag. Won‘t work for Windows/Mac desktop streaming.
– Miracast is a standard for wireless display mirroring supported on many TVs/laptops natively or via adapters. Also has some lag.
– Steam Link app streams your gaming PC to a smart TV. Great for big screen gaming. Requires a strong 5Ghz Wi-Fi connection.
These wireless options work for casual use but HDMI is preferable for lag-sensitive gaming or office work requiring pristine image quality.
Smart TV vs Monitor for Computer Use
Smart TVs provide all the functionality of a monitor plus streaming and smart software capabilities. This gives you more options for TV shows, movies, music, and apps right on your new computer display without having to connect an additional streaming device.
However, smart TV processing can potentially add a bit of input lag when used as a PC monitor. To minimize latency, be sure to engage any game mode or PC mode available. This will disable unnecessary video processing effects. Regular monitors have less software overhead leading to snappier response times.
If you‘ll mainly use the display for office work, a regular 4K monitor may provide a better experience. But for mixed gaming and entertainment usage, a smart TV gives you the most versatility.
4K Monitor vs 4K TV
While 4K TVs and monitors have the same 3840×2160 resolution, monitors have some inherent advantages:
– Better pixel density for sharper text and UI.
– Faster response times and refresh rates (up to 240Hz).
– Adaptive sync support for variable refresh rates.
– Designed for close up use with better ergonomics.
– VESA mount compatibility for stands and arms.
However, monitors max out around 32-43" for 4K models before becoming prohibitively expensive. Plus you‘ll need to provide external speakers. So 4K TVs can still make sense for a supersized desktop setup.
Why Monitors Are More Expensive Than TVs
For equivalent display sizes and resolutions, monitors almost always cost more than TVs. There are a few reasons behind this price discrepancy:
– Higher refresh rates – Gaming monitors support refresh rates up to 240Hz vs 60-120Hz on most TVs.
– Faster response times – Necessary for reducing motion blur in high speed gaming.
– Low input lag – Critical for competitive online multiplayer games. Requires optimized hardware and settings.
– Adaptive sync support – G-sync and FreeSync allow screens to adjust to variable frame rates output by GPUs.
– More robust stands and ergonomics – Designed for extending, tilting, pivoting and swiveling.
– Greater pixel density – More pixels packed into a square inch means sharper visuals up close.
The specialized performance and design of monitors accounts for their premium pricing over identically sized and specced TVs.
Conclusion
TVs can certainly double as computer monitors with the right connectivity. Just be aware of potential limitations around resolution, response time, refresh rate, and input lag depending on your usage. For serious gaming and professional work, you‘re still better off with a dedicated high-end monitor. But for office tasks and entertainment, a TV can make for an impressively large display at an affordable price.
