In the primary days of figuring, monitors were just televisions. Then came the HD revolution, which put monitors in the spotlight and made it burdensome to use a TV as a Computer Monitor.
Now that we’ve come full circle, there are plenty of options for huge 4K and 8K TVs with tons of HDMI 2.1 ports that are cheaper than high-end monitors.
Can you replace your display with one of the best gaming TVs?
This article will show you how to convert a television into a computer monitor and the basic differences between these two displays.
So without further ado, let’s get started!
Should I purchase a Monitor or a TV for my computer?
If you use your computer for a lot of work, use a TV instead of a monitor. However, if you use your computer primarily for fun activities, you can use your TV as your monitor.
If you use your computer for work, checking e-mail, or surfing the web, you may decide that a big screen TV is not for you.
Large-screen TVs require more neck movement than computer monitors, where you only need to move your eyes to scan an entire page.
Ideally, the top of the monitor should be 2-3 inches below eye level. Using your TV as a monitor makes sense if you use your PC for streaming, gaming, or other leisure activities.
Check your TV’s resolution, pixel density, input latency, response time, and refresh rate.
Role of PPI (Pixel Per Inch) using your TV as a Computer Monitor
Pixel density is important when using a TV as a computer monitor. Televisions were designed to be viewed from a distance.
However, when the screen is used as a monitor at close range, the sharpness and sharpness of the image are significantly reduced.
So why is this happening?
A 27-inch 4k PC has about (3840*2160) pixels. This number indicates approximately 8 million pixels in an area of 27 inches. Consider a 50-inch 4K TV. The area will be significantly larger, but the number of pixels will remain the same.
A 27-inch 4k HD monitor has more pixels per inch to accommodate larger screen sizes. Smaller pixels and more pixels per inch result in more detailed images.
However, the TV has to fit on a 50-inch screen, so it has a larger pixel size and a lower PPI.
Cost to Features
Considering the price, it seems more affordable to use the TV as a computer monitor. TVs are more appealing to casual users who consider value for money.
Compared to smaller computer monitors, you have to know how much does a monitor cost, they are expensive and large, offer better image and video quality, vivid colors, wider viewing angles, and compatibility with native apps on OTT platforms.
But then you realize you have to work. The quality of your experience drops quickly.
An alternative way to use your TV as a Computer Monitor
Additionally, you can use third-party casting software or hardware such as Chromecast, Roku, and Firestick to project your screen from your device to your TV. The streaming stick mirroring option is available for many streaming stick configurations, including Amazon Firestick, ROKU, and more.
Input lag was usually the most likely problem. Some TVs do extensive signal processing, so there may be a 50ms or 100ms delay before the signal appears on the screen.
This is not important when viewing video content but is a serious error on interactive PC displays.
Luckily, modern TV models have improved greatly in this area, and some even offer a “game mode” that turns off video processing. If your TV has one of these, lag is less of an issue. If not, buy somewhere where TV returns aren’t an issue.
While it works well for everyday computing tasks such as watching videos and other media, we do not recommend using this option for gaming. Input latency is almost always present.
This is because a streaming stick or app is used as an intermediary, and the signal is sent over his Wi-Fi. There are too many players present for mirroring to work. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you choose the above cable option.
Movement and Physical Adjustment
Most computer screens are compact and portable (with some exceptions). However, most of the 40+ inch TV display is right in front of you.
It’s large and usually comes with a fixed stand, so you can’t change it. Tired eyes make it much harder to move your eyes around your desk.
As you may have noticed, computer monitor stands are tolerant of movement, and most monitor stands have height adjustment options.
Will it ever work easily?
The short answer is yes; it’s easy to use your TV as a monitor and last for long time. You may need a specific cable, and you may have to check some settings, but connecting a modern PC to a modern HDTV isn’t too difficult.
Some older HDTVs have DVI inputs, and some even have VGA inputs for “PC use” only. If your graphics card supports HDMI output, you should be fine. Simply connect your PC to HDMI with an HDMI cable.
Conclusion
Everything depends on your taste. Some people prefer TV to monitor. If you have a spare TV hanging, go for it. However, I always prefer computer monitors over TVs when choosing a display. There are too many trade-offs for these screens. The distance between the two will grow closer and closer, ideally in a few years, completely.
