Deciding between a LED monitor and a LED TV

[markpc]

I have been checking lots and lots of screens. I narrowed down my options to two of them:

http://www.samsung.com/us/computer/monitors/LS22B300BS/ZA

and

http://www.samsung.com/it/consumer/pc-peripherals-printer/monitor/led/LT23C350EW/EN

Originally, I wanted an ordinary PC monitor but when I saw this TV (the second link). It appealed to me a lot. I mean it has HDMI and USB support plus TV features. So, I can use it as a TV and a monitor whenever I want. Now my questions:

1. Do you think I should get the monitor or the TV. Keep in mind that the TV is 2ms response time while the monitor is 5ms?
2. Are there any disadvantages to using a LED TV? Does it overheat?
3. I have read on another forum that when you use a LED TV. The TV tends to give you top and bottom bars even on full HD videos. So, even on this full hd TV, I will not be able to have the full hd 1080p experience. Is that right?
Btw, I am going to use Intel HD 4600 graphics on the screen.
4. Which is more durable a TV or a monitor?

Any reply is appreciated. This will help me a lot in deciding what to get since I am on a tight budget and I cannot afford mistakes.

P.S. I am going to use the screen for gaming/everyday use.

 

[Johnnie Walker]

In current times, the overall difference between monitors vs TV's is a built-in tuner. Yes, there are other differences. I have my main desktop hooked up to my 46"1080p TV via hdmi. And it is just fine. With some TV's, and monitors as well. You may need to adjust the "overscan" to make the screen "fit". YMMV. Whether I use my PS3, or my PC. Picture fills the entire screen. Of course, full screen 4:3 ratio and some different aspect ratios will give you bars. But the screen itself fits.

 

[tortillasoup]

you may have issues with EDID not being available, overscan issues, etc. but you'll have to weigh the benefits of having extra inputs and a tuner vs. typically having better picture with the monitor. I've found monitors to have higher quality picture than TVs but that will be up to you to decide. If the TV is significantly less expensive than the monitor and having extra video inputs appeals to do, even with potential EDID issues and overscan issues, I'd be tempted to buy the TV instead as they're the same resolution.

 

[markpc]

Thanks for the information. Keep them coming, please.

tortillasoup, other than the TV features. I liked the 2ms response time on the TV. I think that would be great for gaming. I read somewhere that LED TVs have overheating issues but I cannot confirm that.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Responsetime is meaningless.

A 10ms screen may be faster than a 2ms screen. because all they test is graytone to graytone that they select themselves. A 2ms screen may be 40ms to change from red to yellow. While the 10ms may only be 20ms to change.

I got a Samsung UE55ES7005 TV myself. And the quality when using it as a monitor is simply terrible compared to my Dell U2713HM or any previous monitor. TVs are designed for viewing TV/Movies. And it shows.

 

[Ventanni]

I run an RCA 46" 1080p LCD TV off the iGPU on my 3770k. If you're going to use a TV as a monitor, you'll most likely need to bring up the overscan in the Intel drivers. This is very easy and simple to do, but that's how you adjust the boundaries so that they properly fit.

Otherwise, the TV acts as a monitor just fine, and are great for streaming video at the same time you're playing a game. You can also game on them pretty well too, but keep in mind that TV's tend to have post-processing effects to enhance their picture. This makes the picture look nice, but adds a delay in your mouse cursor, so you may need to disable this when gaming (doesn't impact my RCA TV though). The "gaming mode" on the TV does exactly this, so easy peezy.

LED TV's run cooler, so you won't have to worry about it overheating.

 

[markpc]

Thanks for the information. I appreciate it.

ShintaiDK, how do I know which monitor to get based on the response time then. Any tips?

 

[ShintaiDK]

Thanks for the information. I appreciate it.

ShintaiDK, how do I know which monitor to get based on the response time then. Any tips?

Check reviews. Some reviews shows the real response time. The response time listed on screens from the manufactor is utterly useless unfortunately.

 

[Throckmorton]

Most TVs only accept compressed data, with color information at 1/4 the resolution as brightness information. You need to do research and figure out whether the TV supports 4:4:4

 

[Throckmorton]

I have one of those 22" Samsung TVs as a work monitor and it sucks. Horrible TN color, bad viewing angle (Magic Angle is a scam)

 

[markpc]

I have one of those 22" Samsung TVs as a work monitor and it sucks. Horrible TN color, bad viewing angle (Magic Angle is a scam)

What is the model of that screen?

 

[Phynaz]

TV as a monitor = No.

 

[Stuka87]

I have yet to use a TV that did not have overscan issues. You can adjust the picture sure, but then you are no longer running at 1080P, you are at some lower resolution which then introduces scaling issues.

Unless you are wanting a huge screen, stick with a monitor. Or heck, even a nice projector will work better than a TV.

 

[Z15CAM]

Too Bad the Op did two Threads on this Topic - I suggest buying a Korean QNIX 2510 EVO II and let him or her decide under Dvi-D at whatever Display frequency he or she wants for a $300 60 to 120 Hz Display Samsung PLS Experiment.

 

[markpc]

Phynaz, why not?

Stuka87, Samsung considers this a monitor with TV options and not a TV (weird). When I contacted them regarding it, they said that. By overscan, do you mean the screen cropping some of the picture? On one of the stores, I was able to test the TV on a PC using a VGA cable. I saw Windows without any croppings. Waiting for your feedback. Btw, I saw some people complaining about a similar monitor T23A350 only using the HDMI cable, on another forum. Some claimed to have fixed it.

Z15CAM, two threads not the same topic.

 

[Phynaz]

Phynaz, why not?

Because televisions make for horrible monitors.

 

[Stuka87]

Overscan is where the edges of the screen are cut off. So if you connected a windows machine, and it did not have any overscan compensation enabled, the windows start bar would be partly, or completely cut off.

Now some video drivers will detect the display, and automatically adjust. So things wont be cut off, but the resolution will dropped so that things fit. So if testing at a store, right click the desktop and check the resolution. Or if there is an nVidia or AMD driver installed, check the control panel.

 

[markpc]

Overscan is where the edges of the screen are cut off. So if you connected a windows machine, and it did not have any overscan compensation enabled, the windows start bar would be partly, or completely cut off.

Now some video drivers will detect the display, and automatically adjust. So things wont be cut off, but the resolution will dropped so that things fit. So if testing at a store, right click the desktop and check the resolution. Or if there is an nVidia or AMD driver installed, check the control panel.

So, what you are saying is that if the windows Start button is not cut off and the TV shows on Windows as 1920x1080. That means the screen does not have overscan issues? Also, does this show on both VGA and HDMI cables or there is something different about HDMI

 

[Stuka87]

The way you connect should not matter. There may be a TV setting that can change it, some have different scaling modes. If the TV is indeed meant to also be a monitor, it should not have any overscan issues, but best to make sure.

 

[mike5757]

I would recommend a monitor over a TV, especially if you're going to be using it mostly for computer stuff. There is the problem of fewer inputs. But there are some pretty cheap HDMI switchers out there.

If you must go with a TV, it's better to find a TV that can have overscan shut off rather than using your computer graphics settings, because then your computer is sending an image with black borders which means you lose out on that resolution. LCDs always look better at native resolution. Samsung TVs will usually let you rename an input to PC which will disable overscan and the other "features" like dynamic brightness. It also improves the input lag a bit, but it's still terrible. My Samsung TV has over 100 ms more input lag than my monitor. I don't want to even know how bad it is compared to a CRT since all LCDs have some amount of processing input lag.

I don't know why anyone would say an LED TV would have bars on the top and bottom when watching HD content. If it's 16:9 content, it will fill up a 1920x1080 screen whether it's a TV or a computer monitor.

As for longevity, you get what you pay for. Although you might want to avoid something with a really slim profile that's going to run hotter.

 

[Jimzz]

I use a TV as a monitor and it works fine.

If you are doing very close up video editing, medical purposes, etc... then get a professional monitor. If not get a LCD that meets your needs.

 

[markpc]

Thanks for the information. This is the manual for the T23C350 screen:

http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/content/UM/201404/20140426091321184/BN46-00319G-ENG.pdf

I cannot find a single review for the screen, sadly.

Jimzz, which one is that and does it have overscan issues?

 

[digitaldurandal]

Thanks for the information. This is the manual for the T23C350 screen:

http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/content/UM/201404/20140426091321184/BN46-00319G-ENG.pdf

I cannot find a single review for the screen, sadly.

Jimzz, which one is that and does it have overscan issues?

I do not recommend using a TV as a monitor for your main computer. They often have the over or underscan issues mentioned on here. Often there is more of a frame lag as well, because this is not important for television and it is cheaper to make a tv that displays the frame more slowly (not just pixel change, but also image processing as well.)

 

[Jimzz]

Thanks for the information. This is the manual for the T23C350 screen:

http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/content/UM/201404/20140426091321184/BN46-00319G-ENG.pdf

I cannot find a single review for the screen, sadly.

Jimzz, which one is that and does it have overscan issues?

Its a older 24" Hannspree TV/Monitor. Its 1080 and has the inputs I needed.
No overscan issues for me. My wifes laptop is using the PC input and I use the HDMI from my desktop. I have had both AMD and Nvidia video cards.

 

[markpc]

Thanks for the information. I am going to go ahead and start a new topic seeking people with those monitors to see if I can come up with facts regarding them. Anandtech community is very helpful and friendly. I really appreciate it.