Monitor suitable for TV/PC and PS3? Is there one?

[MrsS01]

Am looking for a tv or monitor for DS xmas present. Originally thinking of just a TV/DVD combined, but wondering if i can get a monitor which I can combine for his pc, and also plug in ps3, and a freeview box?

Depends on the connections on the back of the tv/monitor. I use an oldish tv as a monitor, it has a standard VGA pc to monitor connector. The PS3 will probably require a SCART socket, or maybe an HDMI. Many tvs have Freeview built in, and will have at least one SCART socket. If your pc has VGA connection then unless you find a tv with the same you will need a separate monitor.

This site should hopefully walk you through your options. Good luck

Forgot to add. With the VGA cable I have to use external speakers.

Just read his advice. All I did was plug in the tv, attach VGA cable and switch everything on. Then when I got no sound I plugged some speakers in. Easy.

Sound isn't sent down a VGA cable, that's not what it's for.

If a TV has a VGA input then it might also have separate audio inputs which is how you could then use the speakers in the TV while having the video sent through the VGA cable.

HDMI connections can support audio and video through the same cable, so if you've got a choice that should probably be your first port of call.

What about something like this?

DGM 24" LED TV

Built in Freeview (not HD tho), VGA input& 2xHDMI. So you can attach PC to either the VGA or HDMI (depending on your PC) and PS3 to the other HDMI socket.

1080p resolution means he'll love you when playing his PS3 games and it wont look crap on the PC either. A bargain for £140!

If you must have a DVD built in then this one looks good:

22" LCD TV with DVD but it's only 1x HDMI so you need to check what your PC connects with.

What about this? Toshiba 19DV500/501 19 Inch HD Ready LCD TV/DVD Combi. www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5296840/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CHome+entertainment+and+sat+nav%7C14419512/c_2/2%7C14419512%7CTelevisions%7C14419667/c_3/3%7Ccat_14419667%7CTV+DVD+combis%7C14419672.htm#pdpFullProductInformation

These are the techy bits:

Toshiba 19DV500/501 19 Inch HD Ready LCD TV/DVD Combi.
This Toshiba 19in LCD TV and DVD combi can display a HD feed from any HD source such as a games console or Blu-ray player.

HD Ready - A HD Ready TV can display a high definition feed from any HD source.

Built in DVD player - Playback DivX Movie downloads, jpeg photos and MP3 music files as well as watching your favourite DVDs.

Television picture quality:

?HD Ready.
?Integrated digital.
?19in (47cm) widescreen TV.
?Resolution 1366 x 768 pixels.
?50Hz.
?Brightness 250cd/m2.
?Contrast ratio 5000:1.
?Viewing angle 170/160 degrees.
Connectivity:

?1 HDMI socket.
?1 SCART socket.
?PC input socket.
?Component video socket.
?Composite.
?Optical connection.
?Headphone socket.
?1 USB port.

"Resolution 1366 x 768 pixels."

I'd probably avoid...

That's "high definition" by the skin of it's teeth, it's not full high definition as supported by a PS3.

"Full" High Definition, 1080p, is 1920 x 1080 pixels.

As per BP's comment, with that resolution, unless you feel a 24" display won't fit, and it has to be 19", I'd go with the one linked to earlier, from Ebuyer, without the built-in DVD player.

1920 x 1080 (Full HD) is worth having for best results from the PS3, which I believe can play Blu-Ray and ordinary DVDs / CDs too (someone will correct me if that is incorrect).

Some net-top boxes have HDMI output, but assuming the existing PC has a VGA port (3 rows of 5 pins - see *> Wikipedia for photo

PS Just had another look at the Ebuyer display and see it is the one I recommended to a friend (with limited internet access) on Thursday when it was at that 139.99 price on Ebay as a "one day only" deal (and 149.99 on Ebuyer at the time). They have reduced it on the Ebuyer website, but remember to choose the 'saver' delivery (adds a few days) to get it delivered free.

He was looking for a replacement TV for his lounge and wanted something less than 26" at a reasonable price. I felt that was an ideal price considering the spec (and with a USB memory stick, can record off Freeview too).

I've decided to not bother with a dvd and use the ps3 for this. What about this one? It has a VGA and 2 HDMI's

www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/samsung-b1930hd-19-hd-ready-lcd-tv-09531047-pdt.html

Here's the techy stuff
Format 16:9
Screen size 19"
HD standard HD TV
Brightness (in cd/m²) 250 cd/m2
Contrast 70,000:1 DCR
Resolution (horizontal x vertical - in pixels) 1360 x 768
Viewing angle (horizontal/vertical - in°) 170˚/160˚ (CR>10)
Audio Audio Power 2 x 3W
Noise reduction No
Mono/Stereo Sound Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Pulse, dts2.0+Digital Out, Optical digital sound (SPDIF)
Speakers Built-in
Connectivity Connectivity 2 x HDMI
CI slot
Composite
Component
SCART
SCART connectors 1
DVI Input No
HDMI Input 2
PC Input Yes
Audio output Headphones port
Tuner Standard Digital Freeview tuner

I'd say the resolution on that monitor is a bit on the low side. As BP said earlier, it's only just HD ready.

I still think you'd be better off with something like This from eBuyer. It's full HD, built in USB, more ports and 3" larger which doesn't sound like a lot but it is when you look at it. Plus with it being LED based rather than LCD it will draw less power and more than likely be better quality too.