Using a TV as a monitor for a computer on the example of LCD (LCD) Samsung TVs of different generations.
At the beginning of the article I will give an example of the design of my workplace and recreation area at the same time. A 40-inch TV is a monitor for a computer and stands on a stand on wheels - if necessary, I can easily change the distance to the chair. Such a TV in monitor mode is much more efficient due to the large diagonal. You can fully use the resolution of 1920x1080 pixels and not squint because of small letters. After such a screen, using ordinary small monitors is like changing from a Mercedes to a Cossack. Comfort is further enhanced by the fact that there is no system unit itself. It is hidden in the closet and in no way interferes with life. Outside, everything is wireless. No tablet-laptop can even come close to such comfort. Rather, a laptop is generally a useless ugliness, and a tablet only adds to the comfort, acting as an apartment mobile phone.
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To date, only TVs with LCD (LCD) matrices are practically suitable as a monitor. CRT TVs are a thing of the past, and a competitive format - a plasma panel, has too low characteristics for this, there are so many shortcomings that, in my opinion, it is time to remove them from production. And, finally, OLED TVs, judging by the first LG 55EA980V TV presented in the store, are also less suitable as a monitor because of their shortcomings.
1
How to connect
The TV has two types of ports:
- Analog. PC IN (D-sub, aka VGA), as well as completely outdated S-Video, SCART and others).
- Digital. DVI / HDMI or similar DisplayPort.
2
How to setup
After connecting, in the computer, in the video card settings, you need to set the parameters to 1920x1080, 60 Hz and check the scaling settings so that the image becomes full screen and "pixel by pixel". On the TV, adjust the scale with the P.SIZE button (on the remote control). You can play around with pixel formats a bit. There are several of them in the video card settings:
- YCbCr 4:4:4
- YCbCr 4:2:2
- RGB 4:4:4 Studio (Limited RGB system)
- RGB Standard PC (Full RGB System) - I recommend this one.
photo1
ZhK (LCD), inversion.
As I already wrote, digital HDMI (DVI) ports are not identical. Different socket numbers can only be reassigned to certain modes. The ultimate clarity is achieved in the "PC" mode - with it, various video processing modules are turned off on the TV, which create doubling and toffee on complex color transitions (up to 3px horizontally). The pictures below show a comparison between normal mode and PC mode.
Samsung LE40M87 (2007), blue-red color transition.
Samsung UE46D7000L (2011), blue-red color transition.
Samsung LE40M87, blue-red color transition, PC mode.
Samsung UE46D7000L, blue-red transition, PC mode.
In addition, in the "PC" mode, the minimum input lag, i.e. lag of the formed picture on the screen from the input signal (inertia of the processing circuits). A large delay (input lag>50ms) on movies is not critical, but on the Windows desktop it will be difficult to use the mouse, and you will not play games. But there are also disadvantages of the "PC" mode. The Clear Motion Rate (Motion Plus) floater is turned off, and in TVs of recent years, non-linear color span correctors - the picture becomes less colorful (not to be confused with saturation!). Therefore, saturation and color gamut settings will only be available in the computer's video card.
To switch the Samsung UE46D7000 port to PC mode:
button " source", entrance " HDMI1/DVI1", then, until the menu goes out, press the button " tools", mode " edit title", choose " PC". Attention! Changing functions only works for HDMI1 / DVI1 input and parameters 1920x1080 60 hertz.
For TV Samsung UE32ES6307- HDMI 3 port.
For TV Samsung UE40F6100- HDMI 2 port.
For TV Samsung LE40M87- HDMI 2 port.
As for other TV manufacturers, they can also reassign ports, turning off unnecessary image processing functions, but each has its own and, according to some messages from the forums (iXBT conference), it is not always possible to achieve the desired result.
The picture below will help you evaluate the visibility of details at contrasting transitions.
visibility of details on contrasting transitions.
3
Samsung TV tests in monitor mode
At the beginning of the paragraph, I want to show an example of how easy it is to cause discomfort when viewing a simple picture, due to the imperfection of a person's optical system of vision. As an abstract example of an emerging optical illusion, I will show below an ordinary static picture. The whole paradox is that it seems as if it is pulsating.
Optical illusion.
Therefore, many technically more advanced products, subjectively, turn out to be not so good.
The first thing you should pay attention to is soreness for the eyes. I have been using the Samsung LE40M87 as a monitor since 2008 and it fits perfectly in this parameter, you can work for hours and your eyes do not get tired. But in 2011 I bought a Samsung UE46D7000 to replace it. Duck, when reading small text and a distance of about a meter, my head ached. It's like an invisible flicker. Although, the flicker itself is not noticeable, just when you try to read a seemingly clear text, you notice that everything in your eyes begins to double and swim, it’s hard to focus. Moreover, the old Samsung LE-40M87 is great as a monitor. To reduce the brightness of the LED backlight (Edge-LED), PWM modulation is used, as in the backlight lamps (CCFL) of previous models. But lamps are inertial and smooth out flickering, while LEDs are not. Take a pencil and shake it like a fan in front of the TV - you will see some clear pencils - that's it, evil. But the main problem seems to be the flickering of the matrix itself (perhaps poor Vcom voltage settings, crystal inversion). Maybe the problem is in the direct form of the subpixel, the sequence of turning off its sectors when the brightness decreases - more visibility of the grating. The mutual influence of all these shortcomings can lead to a complex interference pattern and errors in visual perception (optical illusion). Perhaps there is another reason, or marriage.
This first point is the most important of the shortcomings, but it is difficult to describe. Here's an example. My vision is minus one diopter, i.e., a slight deterioration in the distance. So, when reading black and white text with a line thickness of one pixel (for example, the text of this article), from a distance of 1 meter, I can distinguish it almost 100% on an old TV, and on a new one, despite the large diagonal, it’s hard to focus. The eyes are tired. In glasses, of course, everything is clear, but the feeling of discomfort does not disappear. This topic is well developed on the Internet, read The same problem with newer TVs that I was able to test - the E series Samsung UE32ES6307, and from the F series line - Samsung UE32F6100. And the reason here is obvious - the matrices of these TVs are the same, type S-PVA manufactured by S-LCD Corporation (Samsung Display). Perhaps modern matrices from other manufacturers are better suited for this parameter, but I have no information.
The second point concerns the unevenness of the LED backlight compared to the lamp. The Samsung UE46D7000 has a photo of 1920x1080 RGB (55,55,55) on a gray background - vertical light stripes are noticeable - like a wood texture. Less noticeable on white. Can interfere when working in Photoshop, unpleasant when panning (panorama shift), when there is a uniform background (for example, a blue sky) - fixed dirty stripes appear slightly on a smoothly moving background. The reason is not clear - either this is a lack of backlight technology, or poor zone calibration of the LCD matrix itself. Against a white background, the edges appear slightly pinker than in the center (due to the angle of view).
In the Samsung UE32ES6307 TV, there are also backlights and not small ones, in one place the impression is that they were in a hurry during assembly, pulling the screw from the edge. With the light hand of Samsung's magicians, all manufacturers are forced to release their TVs with this stupid side LED backlight (and now with a thin frame), which means with strong unevenness. As for the Samsung UE32F6100, it seems that the manufacturer heeded the pleas of users a little - the design of the diffuser screen has been changed, the TV has become thicker and less uneven. But the Samsung UE55F9000 Ultra HD (4K) TV was a pleasant surprise - the backlight uniformity turned out to be very good (not counting the edges), I practically did not notice stripes and spots on light and gray backgrounds. In another Ultra HD (4K) Sony KD-55X9005A (matrix, probably AMVA3 manufactured by Chinese AU Optronics, Acer), which I managed to test in the store, the backlight unevenness was seriously manifested in stripes and highlights, and this is strange, if, of course, to believe that the Triluminos screen is used with a mixed type of backlight, where "quantum dots" are partially used (rear, not side). The third competitor, the LG 65LA965V, had such severe backlight unevenness that it was probably just a defect.
LG 65LA965V, backlight irregularity in the form of a ring
In addition, a strong glare from the glass surface does not cause a desire to consider it as a potential monitor. To a slightly lesser extent, but still, I noticed a similar unevenness in another Ultra HD (4K) competitor - the Panasonic TX-LR65WT600. And this is not surprising, because the matrix has AS-IPS technology manufactured by LG Display.
Another issue to watch out for is TVs with thin bezels around the perimeter. On the Samsung UE-46D7000 TV, a blackout (rim) 3-8 pixels wide is clearly visible around the outer perimeter (clearly visible below). If you submit a white background photo 1920x1080 RGB (255,255,255), the dark rim further towards the center noticeably brightens relative to the general background, and only at a distance of 20-40 pixels from the outer perimeter the background is uniform. A senseless flaw, similar to sabotage. It's not noticeable when watching movies, but as a computer monitor (on a desktop) it's pretty nasty. The old Samsung 40 M87 (LE-40M87BD) has a high uniformity in both brightness and color.
Samsung UE55F9000 has similar problems. By the way, in the first Samsung UE65HU9000T curved Ultra HD LED TV, this shortcoming is already absent, despite the thin frame. At TVs Samsung UE32ES6307, Samsung UE32F6100 the frame is not thin, which means that this meaningless defect is absent. In Sony models, this drawback is almost not manifested.
Samsung LE40M87
matrix, 40", 2007
Samsung LE32A656
matrix, 32", 2009
Samsung UE46D7000
matrix, 46", 2011
Samsung UE32F6100
matrix, 32", 2013
In addition, these photos show that the RELATIVE distance between pixels is greater, the smaller the matrix size. Therefore, theoretically, a large diagonal as a monitor is preferable - the line structure of the raster is less noticeable.
The photographs below show how the visibility of image details changes due to the sub-pixel sectors being turned off when the brightness is reduced. It can be seen that with a decrease in brightness to about 30%, the visibility of the line structure in the new matrices increases sharply.
Samsung LE40M87, S-PVA matrix (2007), black-white gradient.
Samsung UE46D7000, Samsung UE32F6100, S-PVA matrix, black-to-white gradient.
Samsung LE40M87, details on black at 30% brightness.
Samsung UE46D7000, Samsung UE32F6100, detail on black
LE40M87BD, detail visibility on white at 30% brightness
UE46D7000L, detail on white at 30% brightness
Those. in the new S-PVA matrices, when the brightness is reduced to 30%, the luminosity of the pixel gradually decreases only in one of the two sections (and more). And the second one still shines at 100%, dramatically increasing discreteness. LG LCD matrices with an IPS matrix, the pixels of which I happened to examine in the store, do not have such a problem (there is one section).
With heavy test static images, cross-distortions, for example, RGB subpixel dot-inversion (160,0,160)-(0,160,0) , Line-paired pixel dot-inversion (160,160,160)-(0,0,0), etc. (see . photo1), are more noticeable in TVs with new matrices than in the old one. While this is not a drawback, it probably also adds to some of the apparent graininess in smooth gradients of photographs and soreness to the eyes. And in general, the shape of the pixel, the flicker of the matrix, etc. - the mutual influence of all these parameters, if the viewer sits close to the screen and sees the line structure of the raster, is rather unpredictable.
From the general recommendations, I advise you to choose a TV with a glossy finish such as Samsung Ultra Clear Panel, which provides maximum black depth, while black cannot be achieved on matte surfaces even in the dark. Here I note about the Sony KD-55X9005A TV, which has a similar glossy finish but with less deep blacks. Perhaps this is due to the fact that Sony uses a glass screen. Of course, there is an anti-reflective coating, but the reflection coefficient is still higher than that of Samsung. In addition, an underlayer of polarizing film, required for passive 3D, enhances glare and reduces black depth, giving the TV a slight bronze tint. And, surprisingly, the Sony KD-65X9005B has a darker screen. Perhaps the differences in the Sony KD-65X9005B and Sony KD-65X9005A models - one with 3D shutter technology, the other with 3D polarization technology, and, in one of them, be especially careful not to drink valerian later, the lines are doubled (the effect is noticeable through one). To put such rubbish on the market and at such a price! But, I’ll make a reservation right away, I didn’t connect these TVs to the computer, but only tested it in the store.
Now about screen sizes. With a resolution of Full HD 1920 × 1080 pixels, it is comfortable to work with a diagonal of 40-46 inches. As for Ultra HD 3840 × 2160 pixels, the diagonal must be at least 65 inches, otherwise it makes no sense, and, in my opinion, such a TV should be curved. Because the brightness and color of LCD TVs change depending on the angle of view. And since the TV is large, this drawback can be very significant when working at close range. For a comfortable distance from the eyes will be about 0.5-1 meters, and it is easy to imagine at what angle from the perpendicular the edges will be. I cannot recommend a TV with the type of matrix that has the least sensitivity to the viewing angle, but, most likely, this drawback will disappear only with the rejection of LCD (LCD) technology as such. I think that new matrices, such as AMOLED, will soon replace them. Yes, and the announcement of these TVs should have begun back in 2009, but everything is slowed down by the crises of the past years, and now the interest in the world is shifting to the confrontations of entire empires and the "muscle game". There is no time for the development of technology, well, perhaps the military ... A small selection of the advantages and disadvantages of OLED (AMOLED) technology can be read on the page "review of 4K TVs".
I managed to look at the store on Full HD OLED TV LG 55EA980V. So far, there are very few impressions from him and not the same as I expected. In accordance with the topic of the article, I will describe it as applied as a monitor. Of the pluses, I will highlight the fact that there is no usual ripple in the eyes like from LCD TVs when you stand close and see the pixels. Secondly, a very wide viewing angle is immediately noticeable. A noticeable plus is that there is no two-section pixel off when the brightness decreases, which is typical for Samsung LCD TVs with S-PVA matrices (see paragraph 3.4). Of the minuses - although I didn’t have a test picture, it seemed that the image changes at different viewing angles (turns yellow, perhaps due to passive 3D). I could be wrong - I'll continue testing in the near future. In addition, the visibility of the pixels turned out to be no less, and even greater, than that of the adjacent LG LCD with an IPS matrix. And all because the LG 55EA980V LED pixel looks like three narrow colored vertical threads, and even vertically separated from neighboring pixels by noticeable horizontal black lines, wider than LG LCDs with an IPS matrix. Hence the noticeable discrepancy. Well, the main fly in the ointment, according to reports from other sites, is the "memory effect", that is, a short illumination of the field by the contour of the last picture after changing the image, which is characteristic of plasma technology, although it is not so pronounced. So, as a monitor, it is not suitable. That's all for now.
Other pages on my site may be helpful:
- 2011-2013 Test TV Samsung LE40M87, UE46D7000, UE32ES6307, UE32F6100, connection to a computer
- 2013.11.10 PICTURE comparison of Samsung UE55F9000 and Sony KD-55X9005A 4K TVs.
Hello, friends! In today's article, I will take a closer look at the pros and cons of using a TV as a monitor for a computer. Despite the external similarity of modern monitors and TVs, they have many internal differences.
To make the right decision, we must identify these differences and, based on the information received, decide whether it makes sense to use a TV instead of a computer monitor.
To accurately determine the possibility or impossibility of using a TV as a PC monitor, we must compare these two devices according to certain parameters:
- The convenience of use;
- screen type;
- Visible area options;
- The type of connection to the computer.
Now about everything in detail and in order.
It was not in vain that I put ease of use as the first point, since for many it will become a determining factor when choosing one or another device as a computer screen and there will be no need to read the article further. I must say right away that regular monitors are much more convenient to use than TVs.
- The TV does not have height and tilt adjustments like most monitors, which creates some inconvenience when placed on a table. If you use a TV mount on a bracket, then this drawback can be avoided, but you need to allocate quite a lot of space, which not everyone can afford;
- TV is much larger in size and weight than monitors, which also imposes certain requirements on its location.
In the correct position, the person sitting near the monitor should be at a distance of 50cm. Under such conditions, the convenience of using monitors, as well as TVs instead of monitors with a diagonal of more than 27 inches, becomes uncomfortable due to the inability to cover the entire screen at once. When working with many small elements, eye jumps from one place on the screen to another cause very rapid fatigue, which seriously affects performance.
Optimally convenient, in terms of the visible area, I consider displays with a diagonal of 26 or 27 inches with a resolution of 1920 × 1080 to 2560 × 1440. No wonder one of the best computer monitors from Apple is 27 inch.
Decide on the type of screen
There are only two main technologies for manufacturing TV screens today. Based on liquid crystal matrices and plasma panels. The latter will most likely be abandoned soon (if there are no breakthrough technologies), since in all respects, it is inferior to LCD in all respects, the cream for transferring image color (especially black). The use of a plasma TV as a computer monitor is highly discouraged, since the screen resolution on them is much lower than that of their counterparts with LCD matrices. Only available for watching videos.
Outdated or specific types of screens (CRT, Projector, projection TV) I will not consider in this article. Laser televisions have also begun to appear on sale, but they are very expensive, and the impact of this method of imaging on human health has not yet been fully studied.
We immediately weeded out the plasma as an unusable option. As a result, we were left with only liquid crystal technology. Although the technology is the same, the approaches, methods and materials themselves are different, which creates such a variety of technical characteristics of various devices. We have decided on the type of screen, now let's move on to a detailed study of its characteristics, which greatly affect the ability to make a TV a PC monitor.
Visible Screen Area Options
- Screen size (diagonal);
- Permission;
- Pixel size;
- Pixel response time;
- Screen refresh rate;
- color depth;
- Viewing angle.
Screen size or diagonal is a definite plus in favor of connecting TVs as PC monitors. In the vast majority of cases, the question of using TV as a computer monitor arises precisely because of this parameter.
If for computer monitors a diagonal of 32 inches is the maximum, then for TVs this is very small. The most popular TV models start from 42 inches and go up to 50. Moreover, the demand for larger diagonals is growing.
LCD TVs, comparable diagonally to monitors, are always inferior to the latter in quality. Usually they have lower screen resolution and matrix quality. Therefore, if you are faced with the choice to take a TV instead of a monitor with a diagonal comparable to computer monitors, then the answer is definitely no. Any, even the cheapest monitor of this size will be an order of magnitude better than a TV.
Connecting to a computer 3D, full hd TV or just a TV with a larger diagonal than the monitor has both positive aspects and disadvantages.
The advantages include:
The large screen size and adaptation of the settings specifically for watching videos make it much more comfortable to watch movies, photos, etc. materials;
If there is not enough space in an apartment or room to accommodate a full-fledged computer with a monitor, connecting a TV will be a good solution, and by connecting an antenna you can watch TV channels. Switching between monitor and computer modes is done in two seconds using the remote control.
Minuses:
At first it is difficult to get used to this screen size. You have to look at one corner of the screen, then the other. You get used to it over time, but you have to choose the distance at which it becomes convenient to work;
With the same resolution of the monitor and TV, but with different diagonals, the last pixel size on average will always be almost twice as large, which will be very noticeable when viewed from a close distance (grainy will appear in the image). With such large diagonals, the pixel is as small as that of a computer monitor, you can use a 4K TV. Resolution starts at 3840×2160 (Ultra HD). But there is a small point here. In order for a computer to pull such a resolution, a rather powerful video card is needed, which is not cheap, and the TVs themselves are much more expensive than usual ones.
The next drawback that prevents replacing a computer monitor with a TV is input lag. This is such a technical feature in which the electronics have some delay in processing the signal coming from the mouse or keyboard. Many people confuse this feature with pixel response time, but this is not the case.
On a physical level, this is very noticeable in the movements of the mouse on the screen. If on a computer monitor, when moving the mouse, the cursor instantly repeats your actions, then on TV this happens with a rather noticeable delay, which creates discomfort. It looks like the cursor is floating.
This trouble is measured in ms (millisecond). The Input Lag will have a particularly strong impact on those who want to play computer and online games on a large TV (and why else do we need it :)). For a comfortable game, this indicator should be no more than 40 ms. On many modern TVs, it is larger. The best values that I know of are achieved on SONY TV Input Lag is no more than 14-16ms, but not on all models).
Therefore, when choosing a TV for games for a computer, pay the most attention to this parameter - the rest is secondary. Owners of game consoles should not worry about this, since the creators of games have provided for this moment and are invisible.
The response time of a pixel, at the present stage of development, does not play any significant role in the choice. Average value for TV and monitor = 5-8ms, which is absolutely not noticeable.
The screen refresh rate is also not critical. On monitors, this is at least 60 Hz, which is quite enough for dynamic games, and even more so for watching movies. Almost all TV models install various technologies to improve this parameter. An ordinary 100 Hz TV with their help gives out just an excellent picture in the video, but how these capabilities will affect when connected to a computer can only be verified in practice.
The color depth and viewing angles of modern LCD matrices are identical. And if work is still underway to improve the coverage of the color gamut, then the viewing angles have reached the limit (especially on IPS matrices) and viewing the image from different angles does not lead to loss of color and distortion.
All modern TVs have very high brightness and contrast. When using a TV instead of a monitor, this is a disadvantage, since at high values of these parameters, the eyes get tired very quickly. In many models, this parameter can be adjusted to acceptable values, but TVs are far from the capabilities of computer monitors.
TV to PC interface
Finally, I want to say that it is very easy to connect a TV to a computer if the video card is equipped with an HDMI connector. All modern TVs have this connector. You will need an HDMI to HDMI cable, which is available at every computer store. Also, most TVs have an outdated VGA connector, which can also be used to connect the TV to a computer or laptop. Its disadvantage is that the image quality will be worse than via HDMI and the inability to transmit sound. The choice is yours.
Conclusion
You can definitely use your TV as a monitor. It will show itself perfectly when viewing various video information, if you slightly increase the budget, then you can quite comfortably play computer and online games.
In general, its main advantage (large size) is also a disadvantage. Depending on the size, you will have to increase the distance to the screen. This will immediately affect the convenience, as more space is needed.
The keyboard and mouse also have a finite wire length (replacement with wireless devices will save).
As a temporary measure, you can use an old TV instead of a monitor, but only for a short time. For example, a computer monitor is out of order, but there is no money to buy it yet. It is quite possible to sit for a couple of weeks, but I think vision is more important than saving on a high-quality computer display.
On standard TVs, the pixels are almost twice as large as those on a monitor, resulting in grainy images. If we want to get rid of this, then we will have to buy a TV set with a resolution of 4K, and this is the price tag at the time of writing about 40 thousand wooden ones for a 43-inch model, which is at least 2 times higher than usual + we add an upgrade of the video card, and the whole computer, since pulling such a resolution requires serious power.
As usual, in our life, very often everything depends on financial opportunities. If you have finances and desire, then you can assemble a workplace at a computer using a TV. It will take a little time to get used to such a screen and that's it.
You can connect the TV to the computer as a second device, but this is a topic for another article.
This is where I wanted to end. This is my first post on this site. Please leave your comments and wishes. All for now.
Modern televisions may well replace the computer display. But how is the computer to the TV?
We have compiled various ways to solve this common problem.
Connection selection
First, attention will be paid to the best options regarding image quality, with which you can easily connect. After that, several additional methods will be given.
There is a possibility that the user will need to buy a cable in the store. Usually it is not very expensive, and various devices can be purchased at a specialty radio store or a retail chain that sells consumer electronics.
Please note that the presence of gold plating on expensive cables does not affect the quality of the displayed image.
So, here are a few options for connecting a computer to a TV:
- HDMI- ideal, because to work with it, you just need to connect the connectors. As a result, not only the sound, but also the image will be well transmitted. Only one problem is possible - sometimes it may not work from a laptop.
- VGA- one of the easiest to implement ways to connect television. To do this, you only need a cable that is sold complete with monitors. There is a possibility that the user has an unused device at home. If necessary, you can buy it in a specialized store.
- With cable from DVI things are the same - to work with it, you only need to buy an adapter and a cable.
- Alternatively, you can use a composite cable S-Video. You can work with it both through a cable and through an adapter. That's just it is considered not the best way to connect, because the image may not be very clear. So such a connection does not apply if there is modern technology. The connection is the same as when working with consumer players.
Connecting with HDMI
Surely many users have heard about this connector. It is on all modern TVs.
An HDMI cable has the same connectors on both ends.
You can buy a cheap cable. But if the user plans to work in 3D mode, it is better to use the latest version of the HDMI cable.
Look carefully, a similar socket is located on the video card near the monitor connection.
If there is no discrete graphics card, the socket will be located on the motherboard, that is, near the USB port. However, it will look the same.
With a laptop, everything is much simpler - it has the same HDMI socket. That's just it is on different sides, depending on the model with which the user works.
Sometimes the TV hangs on the wall and it is very difficult to insert the cable from behind. It is for this situation that a cable with plugs at right angles is sold.
Alternatively, buy a dedicated HDMI corner.
VIDEO: How to connect a computer to a TV via HDMI
How to connect a computer to a TV via HDMI
Connecting a TV to a computer via a VGA connector
Video Graphics Array is an interface designed to receive and transmit analog video signals. Sound transmission in this option of connecting a TV to a computer is completely absent.
Before connecting, make sure that both devices - both the computer and the TV - are equipped with VGA connectors and that a special cable is available.
To make such a connection, your computer must be equipped with an operating system of at least .
Connect the PC and the TV with a VGA cable in the off state, then press the SOURCE button on the TV remote control (in some models it may be INPUT) and in the menu that appears on the screen, specify as an external signal VGA(on some models - PC or RGB).
After that, confirm the selected changes by pressing the OK button.
Right-click on an empty space on the desktop and in the drop-down list go to the menu.
In this menu, you are given the choice of using both a TV and a computer monitor, as well as setting the required resolution.
In addition, you can select the option to use multiple screens, in which the following options will be available to you:
- Duplicate Screens- a function that allows you to get the same image on the monitor and on the TV screen;
- Expand screens- will allow you to simultaneously watch a video on a TV screen, and, for example, print text on a computer;
- Display desktop 1 or 2- this function operates only one of the available screens - either a monitor or a TV.
In general, the process of such a connection is not difficult, however, it creates some inconvenience associated with the transmission, in this version, of sound.
It will have to be connected with a separate cable or use an external speaker system for this purpose.
S-Video
Another option for connecting a TV to a computer is to connect using S-Video connectors.
This option is convenient because all TVs and computers (except very old ones) are equipped with an S-Video connector.
All that is required of you is to connect these devices with an S-Video - S-Video cable.
Before connecting, both the TV and the computer must be de-energized, after that you insert one end of the cable into the connector on the video card of the computer, which is a round black socket, and the other into the S-Video socket on the TV.
During the loading of the operating system on the computer, the TV screen will blink - thereby indicating that an external signal source has been detected.
The next step is to set up the video card. To do this, click on the free space on the desktop and in the menu " Properties» go to tab « Options» .
Then choose the item « Additionally» and in the window that opens opposite the name of the video card, activate the item « Clone» .
After applying this parameter, click on the item « Display" and from the available list, select the name of the TV.
Then on the TV, search for the signal source and adjust the image.
Miracast
Miracast technology differs from DLNA in that such an option for displaying multimedia information from a TV to a PC simplifies the task of viewing not only recorded files stored on the gadget’s hard drive, but also played online on one of the built-in ones.
That's just the Miracast technology has the only drawback - it is very demanding on computer resources.
So it is supported only by individual computers, as well as tablets and laptops that have powerful hardware stuffing.
It is important to implement such modern technologies in the TV itself.
If the TV only optionally supports Miracast, then you will have to spend extra money on an adapter that easily connects to the HDMI port.
The wireless monitor technology is very simple - the displayed image is compressed using a special algorithm.
After that, it is mirrored via Wi-fi to a large TV display.
In this case, there is no need to connect the TV to one of the local networks using a router.
Thanks to the receivers, a separate mini-network is organized, which simplifies communication with a PC.
To successfully transfer the image, install the Wireless Display add-on on your computer and start broadcasting.
Make sure that the Miracast function is activated in the TV menu. This can be done in the settings if you enter the tab "Networks" and go to the sub-item Intel WiDi.
VIDEO: We connect the smartphone to the TV via Miracast
We connect the smartphone to the TV via Miracast
PC and Smart TV connection
As many of you probably know, a home network can be created without the use of a router. In this case, the role of the access point will perform.
This is done in several ways:
- You can create a connection in one of the dedicated management consoles;
- Alternatively, use ;
- Use third-party programs, for example, Virtual Router Plus.
Keep in mind that most built-in Windows tools are more reliable and stable.
In addition, users no longer have to waste time searching for programs and installing them on a personal computer. So the registry will not be too clogged.
This method is considered one of the simplest.
Logging in as an administrator, proceed to launch the command line. To cope with this Windows 8 task, use the key combination Win + X.
When the menu appears, select "Command Prompt". In the seventh version of the operating system, you must press the key combination Windows + R in the window that opens, and also write cmd and press Enter.
Be sure to write the following command netsh wlan set
and after that press Enter .
After that, the creation of a new network will be completed and you can start launching it. To do this, write on the command line
hostednetwork
It is important to say that you can create a virtual network only once.
However, after the module is reloaded, the user must enter a command to successfully start the Internet.
As a result, the user will only have to connect to the computer by performing the necessary steps that have already been done when working with the router.
You can control TV from a PC via a Wi-Fi wireless network using the same programs.
Various add-ons are known, with the help of which it is much easier to control the TV using a smartphone.
In this case, the phone is used as a control.
So, this article shows the main ways to connect a computer to a TV.
It is very easy to cope with this task if you choose the appropriate option and follow the instructions given. Then the user will not have any difficulties with the connection.
VIDEO: We connect a TV with Smart TV to a computer (Wi.Fi - Lan) - using WINDOWS
We connect a TV with Smart TV to a computer (Wi.Fi - Lan) - using WINDOWS
Image Adjustment
If the image is blurry, you should open the system settings and find the section that is responsible for.
Here the user can set the required resolution to match the TV. If necessary, you can change the mode in which the video is displayed.
Most modern smart TVs can be connected to a PC wirelessly using a local wi-fi network.
This helps to broadcast a variety of content - music, video, and so on.
If necessary, you can easily duplicate images downloaded from your computer to your TV.
As a result, the latter will turn into a high-quality analog of a wireless monitor. In addition, when working with wi-fi is not needed.
As for the LG device, you can use the service to activate this function. Smart Share
AllShare program
There is a big difference in wireless settings between TV models from different manufacturers.
Most devices are able to establish a connection automatically. To work with others, you need to install additional software on the connected .
So it may be difficult to formulate a universal instruction suitable for all users.
If you need to connect a TV to a PC via, you can find the necessary information by reading the instructions, or by going to the manufacturer's official website.
There you can also find the answer to the question of what software is needed for this.
Combination of different outputs
Sometimes it happens that the equipment does not have the necessary connectors. It often happens that there is one port on the TV, and another on the computer.
How to be in that case? Very simple - you just need to unite which connectors will be used and purchase the right cable.
Alternatively, use special converters that simplify the connection of various ports.
You can use the VGA converter, which receives signals from the VGA output of the gadget.
After that, the signals are converted for the most common S-Video for TVs.
When turning off, follow this order:
- TV and computer should be disconnected from the network;
- Don't forget to disconnect the antenna and peripherals;
- Connect cables if you plan to use adapters;
- It is important to connect the computer as well as the TV to the network.
- Next, you need to turn off the computer and wait for the system to fully boot;
- Only after that you can start turning on the TV.
By clicking the right mouse button, the user will see a context menu in which to find the item "Screen resolution" . In order for the system to be able to connect the TV, you must press "To find" .
Selecting an item "Multiple Screens" , the user must configure the output of images:
- Screen duplication - in this case, the same information will appear on the TV as on the computer screen;
- When expanding the screens, the display of the computer and the TV will form a common work area;
- Half desktop display means that the image will be displayed either on a TV or on a computer.
| Connection method | How to do |
|---|---|
| Connecting a TV using the VGA connector | With this connection option, a separate audio signal output is required. |
| Connecting with an S-Video connector | Pretty simple and not expensive way to connect. Due to the fact that most devices have an S-Video connector, it can be used as the main connection option. |
| Connecting a PC using HDMI | You can buy a cheap cable. But if the user plans to work in 3D mode, it is better to use the latest version of the HDMI cable. Next, you should find the HDMI jack, which is located on the back of the computer or TV. |
| Miracast Technology | Miracast technology differs from DLNA in that this option for displaying multimedia information from a TV to a PC simplifies the task of viewing not only recorded files stored on the gadget’s hard drive, but also played online on one of the built-in web browsers. |
| Connecting PC and Smart TV without a special router | Keep in mind that most built-in Windows tools are more reliable and stable. In addition, users no longer have to waste time searching for programs and installing them on a personal computer. So the registry will not be too clogged. This method is considered one of the simplest. Further, this issue will be considered in more detail. |
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Surely many of you, having bought yourself a new monitor, thought about what can be done from the old monitor. I was also puzzled by this thought, though I was puzzled by this thought for a very long time, but then there was not such a large selection of various devices. But the Chinese brothers do not sleep and invent devices of an unprecedented combination of possibilities. One of these devices was a set-top box, which I purchased to add capacity to an old TV.
- Prefix Nexbox A95X TV Box: we make Smart TV from an ordinary TV
But having connected the TV to the set-top box, I was a little disappointed in the clarity of the picture, it was difficult to use the set-top box, but it helped out possibility of remote control from a smartphone or tablet. As a result, the set-top box exceeded my expectations because it was taken to watch a bunch of videos from a home server, but the functionality of the set-top box turned out to be much wider and as a result this small box turned a simple TV into computer controlled by remote control. Why am I all this? Read on and you'll understand.
Since my parents do not like to throw away equipment, the Samsung SyncMaster monitor (CRT monitor), after buying an LCD monitor, was carefully taken away for storage in a barn in the country and safely forgotten there. Once again, putting things in order in the "junk storage", the father stumbled upon the monitor and wondered if it was possible to watch the news in the country on it. But he could only get an answer from his advanced son, that is, from me, which he did by calling me one evening.
The monitor itself:
Since the monitor, if simplified, is a kinescope with a scanner without a radio receiver, which is on the TV, and without a sound system. In other words, this is a TV, but simplified and devoid of some parts. In fact, the monitor contains only a power supply, a scanner and a video amplifier. The only signal source is the VGA(D'SUB) plug, which receives an analog signal. What does that mean? And this means we have to find a device that will be the source of the signal.
If you have a newer monitor, then it’s probably even easier with it, because some monitors, if we are talking about LCD, were equipped with speakers, and newer ones even have an HDMI input. If you have one, then you have a very wide range of options on how to make a TV out of a monitor.
First experiment: Smart TV from the monitor
Remembering what I had lying around, I decided to look for it and finding the adapter, I took the prefix and went to my parents. Having wiped the monitor from dust and dirt, we connected it to the network, and then to the set-top box. Despite the small diagonal, using the set-top box was very, very comfortable due to a clearer picture, since the monitor, unlike a TV, is designed for high resolution and a relatively small font is easy to read.
HDMI to VGA adapter
Now you probably thought: “Cool, I’ll buy myself a prefix!” But don’t rush. It was just an experiment because we don't have sound, VGA only gives a picture. Therefore, if you want to go this way, you will have to purchase an HDMI to VGA adapter with an audio output, something like this:
You can order a similar adapter on Aliexpress, here is a link to the seller:.
When you go to the product page, you will only have to find an adapter that suits you, it is not at all difficult, the main thing is to pay attention to the fact that the adapter has a power connector and an audio output.
Thus, we can make a “smart TV” out of the monitor, but we will also have to buy active speakers, which will also have to be connected to the audio jack on the adapter. As a result, we will give a second life to the monitor and get a good option for the kitchen or work.
Advantages
As part of the dacha, there are no advantages due to the lack of full-fledged communications.
disadvantages
- This device is useless without internet.
- Attachment cost.
- The need for an adapter.
- Lack of speakers.
Second experiment: ordering a special TV tuner
Since the place where the shed is located is a place remote from communications and, accordingly, there is no Internet there, so the set-top box could not function fully there. In addition, the old father was no longer eager to master the next high-tech device and asked to find a TV receiver with a remote control for it.
As you can see, there is still the same VGA, but besides it there is also HDMI. By the way, if you connect this set-top box via HDMI, then the sound will go through it. For example, my TV in the kitchen has HDMI, but it does not have digital TV, and if you connect such a set-top box to it, then the sound will come from the TV. In addition, this set-top box was also equipped with a USB connector, so it becomes possible to watch videos from a USB flash drive and more.
As well as the first version of the TV tuner for the monitor, this set-top box has RCA (CVBS) jacks.
But unlike the first set-top box, where it is an AV input, in this case these jacks are an AV output, that is, this set-top box, in addition to a monitor and relatively modern TVs, can also be connected to very old TVs.
Set-top box features
Since the set-top box accepts digital TV, in addition to everything else, we get a lot of goodies. But first we need to find channels, this is done elementarily. Press "menu" on the remote control and use the volume buttons to select the appropriate menu item (see photo):
Select "auto search" and press the volume up button. Let's see the picture:
After some time, we will see the found channels and radio stations:
The search for channels is completed, as you can see, there are 20 of them in our city, in other cities the number of channels may be different.
By pressing the "info" button on the remote control, you can see what is going on and what will happen next. If you click this button again, you will see more detailed information:
With the up and down buttons we switch between gears, and with the yellow and blue buttons we scroll through the description if it is not displayed in full.
To display the program guide, we need to press the "EPG" remote control:
Use the "left" and "right" buttons to scroll through the channels, use the "up" and "down" buttons to scroll through the programs.
And here we are waiting for the most interesting. If we press the "OK" button on a particular program, we will see a strange picture, but if we press the red button, we will see this:
This is the addition of a schedule for recording a transmission. Click "OK" again and the task will be added to the queue. The most interesting thing is that we can easily turn off the set-top box, it will turn itself on and record the transmission. The only thing that is necessary for the successful completion of this task is the presence of a USB flash drive in the USB connector of the set-top box.
A flash drive is also needed for the “timeshift” function, in Russian it means “pause”. Yes, you heard right set-top box can pause TV. But the set-top box will not be able to pause the TV for a long time, since the volume of the recorded stream is limited by the settings of this function. By default, the volume is 1Gb, but you can increase it. This is done in the menu:
To do this, we need to select "PVR Configure" and click "OK".
Select "Record device" and click "OK" again.
Actually here we select our flash drive, and just below we set the amount of memory available for recording.
You probably thought about what the choice of a flash drive is for, if there is only one connector. Nobody forbids us to connect to the USB-hub connector, and to it is already a flash drive, and an external hard drive, and a card reader.
A nice bonus are three radios:
disadvantages
- No audio output
- There is no built-in speaker, you will have to connect external speakers
- Unable to connect computer
Advantages
- Digital TV reception
- Availability of USB
- Availability of HDMI
- Availability of AV output
But if you plan to connect a monitor via VGA, then I advise you to purchase such an adapter
Often, users who have a laptop at their disposal begin to express dissatisfaction due to the fact that the diagonal of the laptop screen does not fully suit them. After all, if you just work on the device, then it’s a sin for you to complain about something, but when you have to plunge into some game with your head or enjoy watching a high-quality movie, you immediately begin to notice that the screen is a bit small. But there is no need to be sad, because instead of using a standard screen, you can connect a TV to your laptop and display the picture you need on it. Now, equipment that was produced after 2003 has a built-in connector called HDMI in its design. Thus, if you have a special cable, then you can easily connect the TV to a computer or laptop. But, if you do not have this connector, then you should not worry either, because in the 21st century, the use of VGA adapters is not prohibited, but rather welcomed.
Necessary things for making an HDMI connection:
- Laptop or personal computer with HDMI socket.
- TV with the same HDMI output.
- Cable, thanks to which the connection will be made. Now in stores with appliances, this cable costs a little money, but it looks like this:
Some versions of laptops or PCs do not have an HDMI connector, you can use the VGA port here, but there is one drawback - this interface does not transmit an audio signal, but this problem can be fixed if you have speakers that act as an additional sound system. You can also use a VGA to HDMI converter, but we will talk about this later, now we are trying to connect the TV to our device using an HDMI cable.
The connection process itself is not difficult, but for the correct presentation of information, it was decided to break the whole process into two component blocks. The first block will talk about the connection process itself, and the second about setting up the image output. Of course, let's start the story with the first block.
1. Connect a purchased HDMI cable.
First, we need to make sure that each of our devices works. To do this, we launch both the TV and the second device, in our case this is a laptop. If everything works properly, you need to move on to connecting the cable. To do this, we find the connector block on our TV, look for an HDMI connector there, and connect one end of our cable to it. It looks something like this.
The second end of the cable, of course, needs to be connected to the laptop, to the appropriate HDMI connector.
If you still don’t have a laptop, but an ordinary system unit, then you shouldn’t worry either, because a large number of modern video cards provide for the location of this output on the device. Looking at the bar of the video card, you can find the right connector there, provided that, of course, it is present there.
This is where the first paragraph ends, because the mechanical work has come to an end, now the whole thing lies in setting the correct settings.
2. Adjust the picture output and the sound signal received by the TV.
A person will have to set the correct settings both on his TV and laptop. Let's start with TV. To do this, we take the control panel in our hands, and find the Input button on it. This button is responsible for the signal source. After finding this button, click on it.
After you have pressed the button, you will see how the corresponding menu appears, in it you will need to select the signal source, in my case it is HDMI-2.
Thanks to such simple manipulations, we get such a pleasant outcome:
In principle, we have achieved what we wanted, the image from the laptop is displayed qualitatively on the screen of our TV, but in order to improve all this, we need to specify the necessary settings on the laptop.
In order to change the display settings on a laptop, you can use two methods, and each of them will be discussed in detail in this article.
The first way is to use the mobility center of our operating system.
This mobility center can be opened either by a combination of two keys "WIN" and "X" or from the Control Panel. In any case, when you open it, you will see a menu like this.
If you click on the "Turn off the screen" button, then this action will bring up another menu that looks like this:
Of course, the work of each item is clear, but it is better to dwell on each of them in more detail.
- By clicking on the first item "Computer only", you agree that the image will not appear on the TV screen.
The second item "Duplicate" will display the same picture, both on the laptop and on your TV.
Point number three implies an extension of your standard screen. This option is considered the coolest, because in this way you can start, for example, a movie, drag a window to a TV, and on a laptop, for example, continue to communicate on a social network. Thus, you will be doing several things at the same time.
By choosing the last item - the fourth, you agree that the image is displayed exclusively on the TV.
The second way is to change the desktop settings.
To access the settings, you need to right-click on an empty space on the desktop, a menu will pop up, and there select almost the last item called "Screen Resolution".
This menu allows a person not only to specify how the screens will work, but also to specify at what resolution they should display a picture.
It must be said that there are alternative ways to connect the TV to the device.
Using the VGA interface. If there is no other option, then there is nowhere to go, you have to use this solution. Of course, the picture during transmission is not as clear as via the HDMI interface, and it should also be noted that there is no sound signal during transmission.
Acquisition of a special converter. It helps to make a full-fledged HDMI from a VGA cable. This converter is purchased separately and has been hard to find lately.
On modern devices, there is a function to wirelessly transmit picture and sound to a TV. But, there are two things to note here. To translate the action into reality, you will need a multifunctional TV, and of course, standard drivers. So, if you reinstalled the operating system, there is a chance that the drivers were lost.
After reading this manual, you can understand that connecting a TV to a laptop is no longer a problem.
