I hope you agree with me when I say:
“Technology is changing the way we interact, and the incorporation of a TV as a monitor is no exception“
Nowadays, technology is advancing at a much rapid rate. We get tired of our old monitors and replace them with new ones, with much-advanced features and setups. But what should you do with these monitors?
Well, one could recycle them, send them over to a friend or even throw them out. But these solutions won’t be as beneficial as they sound. That’s when using a monitor as a tv comes in place. As you use a monitor as a tv, you will have a much-extended screen with quality resolution.
Today we will discuss how to use computer monitor as tv screen? So, you can start using a monitor as a tv, without any hassle. Also, if you want more information on household appliances, then make sure to check our articles like 10 Best Handheld Electric Can Opener in 2021or 5 Best Coffee Makers That Feature Perfect Brew.
Without wasting further time, let’s get straight into it!
What Is the Difference Between a TV And a Monitor?
Before you head on and ask, how to make tv a computer monitor? It’s worth noting the difference between these two. As you can see, the difference between a monitor and a TV was quite noticeable back in the days. You just needed a VGA connection between the computer and monitor and nothing else.
While nowadays, both monitors and TVs are sleek as they get, and the only way a typical user can differentiate between them is based on overall size. However, in reality, you will be quite surprised to know that there is much more between them,
| COMPUTER MONITOR | TV SCREEN |
|---|---|
| They boast a concise delay time (1-6ms) for compatibility in many tasks such as gaming, productivity, or even visual designing | TV’s on the other hand, are meant for general entertainment; thus, their response time is much greater (40ms and above) |
| Monitors are equipped with higher refresh rates as compared to TVs, which goes even up to 240Hz | The visuals in TV may appear smoother, but they contain lower refresh rates |
| Many high-end monitors support accurate color schemes, which is useful for video and graphic editors. | The color output of TV tends toward eye-catching and cinematic visuals, thus resulting in a dramatic experience |
| When it comes to the aspect ratio, computer monitors are highly versatile. | They provide an Ultra-wide display with an approximately 16:9 aspect ratio |
| Some prime models also offer wireless charging | Most of them lack this feature |
| Incorporate multiple outputs including HDMI, VGA, and USB ports except for coaxial cabal connectivity | You will also find a wide range of ports in a TV, including Digital Coax Audio output, HDMI Inputs, and many more |
| They lack built-in speakers in their setup | Unlike monitors, you will find built-in speakers for the ease of user |
| They support multiple resolutions from full HD to 4K | They also regulate advanced resolutions; however, the cheaper ones start from 720p |
From these differences, it’s clear that modern monitors offer much more benefits than a TV. Well, that’s not entirely correct. TVs still hold many technical advantages; one of them is implementing advanced panels such as OLED. These OLED panels offer much crisper and smoother visuals as compared to traditional displays.
In contrast to that, it’s scarce to find OLED displays on computer monitors. This is the main reason why you should know how to use computer monitor as tv screen? Besides, as you use a monitor as a tv, you will get the added ease of mind through a larger display.
Can a Monitor Be Used as a TV?
One of the essential questions tech enthusiasts often ask is, can I use monitor as a tv? Well, the long and short answer is yes, you can. But before you start using a monitor as a tv, you need to go through plug-in adaptations and the requirements associated with them for optimal performance. Moreover, it’s worth noting that your setup might differ, but using the stand-alone monitor as the tv is generally the same.
1) First of all, your monitor IO should be integrated with a specific HDMI or display port. But why is that such a deal, you might ask.
- This is because HDMI connectivity is optimized for video and audio output that is to be displayed on the TV. However, if your monitor lacks this port, make sure to invest in a proper adaptor.
2) Similarly, it’s quite handy to have a monitor with a built-in audio jack. If you tend to use a monitor as a tv, this functionality might be a game-changer.
- The reason for this is due to most monitors lack built-in speakers at all or exceedingly terrible ones. On the other hand, TVs have proper speakers incorporated in them. That’s why it’s best to get a soundbar if you don’t want to cope with poor sound quality.
3) Finally, it’s worth buying an HDMI switcher if you want to use a monitor as a tv for additional gaming activities.
- Most users may find out that they lack the proper cable connection or even the necessary inputs to monitor as a tv in multiple tasks. If that’s the case, it’s worth spending some extra bucks on an HDMI switcher. This way, you can switch between various inputs without any hustle. For further guidance make sure to check our other article How to Connect Fire TV Stick to PC.
How To Turn Your Computer Monitor Into TV?
In general, the answer to how to use a monitor as a TV or how to use computer monitor as tv screen is simple as plugging a set of cables from your display monitor to the TV screen. Are you still confused? Let me explain!
TV INPUTS
The first thing you need to be familiar with is the inputs required for the connection. You should see a couple of inputs at the back of the TV that may be either at the backside or the side panel. Most users will find an HDMI input and a VGA input that can be utilized with your computer.
COMPUTER INPUTS
Now that we have covered the TV inputs let’s talk about what you can find on one of your PCs. In a regular desktop IO, you will be able to find a VGA input, a couple of HDMI inputs, and some USB Type C inputs. If you’re wondering can you use a monitor as a tv in case of a laptop, then yes, you defiantly can. Almost the same IO can be visualized in the case of a laptop.
Plugging In the Cables
With that aside, the next step is to go ahead and plug-in the computer monitor as a tv. For this purpose, the best choice is to use an HDMI 2.0 slot and connecting it firmly with the respected cable. But for some reason, you are using an HDMI 1; then you should select the option for that on your TV.
As soon as you connect a tv to a monitor by plug-in your cable, the desired screen will display instantly on your TV. Now you can utilize your screen as your primary monitor or vice versa. I hope that this answers your question of how to use computer monitor as tv screen in just a couple of steps.
Things To Consider When Using Stand-Alone Monitor as TV
There are no second thoughts that the answer to the question, can I get tv on a monitor? As simple as it gets. However, before you start using the tv as computer monitor, you need to consider several things. These include,
- Overall size
The primary aspect that differentiates between a TV and a monitor is the screen size. The tv screen comes in a wide range of sizes, usually starting from 42 inches and 75 inches. In contrast to that, computer monitors can be significant as 30inches, although 22inches are most commonly used.
So, if you’re into watching Netflix on your gigantic TV screen, using a monitor as a tv might not work out for you. It’s always best to consult the monitor’s size if you plan it for watching casual TV.
- SCREEN RESOLUTION
Screen resolution is typically a game-changer when it comes to getting more out of your media. To use a computer as a tv, you need to be sure how many pixels it can easily incorporate. More excellent screen resolution will lead to sharper image quality, giving you the ultimate experience.
A TV can be based upon full HD resolution, 2K as well as 4K. In contrast to that, computer monitors can be expensive compared to TVs and integrate the same set of resolutions, starting from 720p. If you are currently on a tight budget, you should opt for a 24inch monitor at 1080p resolution.
This will provide you full HD display, which is fair for the price tag. Remember that larger monitors will tend to take away more space to require a larger table.
Furthermore, if you want to get more out of your visuals, you should invest in a 4K display. Keep in mind that finding a 4K monitor above 27 inches is not an easy task. But the picture quality that you will be provided will be out of the world.
- RESPONSE TIME
To make a tv a better computer monitor, you need to make sure that the response time is ideal. In general, it is the time taken by the screen to change from one color to the other. Lower response time can lead to smooth image flow. In contrast to that, the more response time you have, the higher is the risk of motion blurring, leading to a poor experience.
Most of the classic monitors have approximately 1-5ms of response time. While in the case of TVs, these values can rise to 50ms as TVs are based on IPS panels. So, if you make tv a computer monitor for the purpose of gaming, you will be sad to know that the odds are against you.
The only chance you got is to get a TV that renowned brands like Sony manufacture. On the other hand, for the people who will be using computer monitors as a TV source, it won’t make a difference.
- CONNECTING PORTS
As we discussed earlier, there can be similarities and some differences between TV and monitor ports, based upon the type of model you have. They might contain the same HDMI ports, USB Type-C ports as well as audio jack.
However, as TV’s primary purpose is to cope multimedia needs, they have a wide range of ports along with the basic ones, including coaxial connectors and optical audio ports. At the same time, you may also see Ethernet ports in some advanced models.
In contrast, monitors incorporate both HDMI ports and several display connectors to tailor a user’s needs. However, these connecting ports won’t be much of an issue for you if you invest in an intended adaptor.
Conclusion
So, these were our thoughts on how to use computer monitor as tv screen. The only downside of this process is that the monitor won’t work effectively in spaces like your living room due to being smaller in size than a typical TV. On the other hand, this kind of setup is beneficial for those users who are kind of tighter on a budget or generally have a bad habit of recycling their old piece of equipment.
Also, remember that a regular monitor will never beat a TV in quality features like OLED or Ultra 4K display. However, it’s a DIV budget-friendly alternative that is nice to have in any living space. Both Monitors and TVs are effective in their desired needs, but in the end, it comes down to your personal preferences.
Q1, Is there a way to monitor when you turn the tv on?
There might not be widely available TVs that can monitor the on and off process. However, I will advise investing in high-end models from renowned companies like Samsung or Panasonic.
Q2, How do I use my television as a computer monitor?
First of all, you need to make sure that your TV and monitor are compatible resolution wise and have at least an HDMI 2.0 port. After that, you need proper adjustments, and you’re done.
Q3, Can tv screens be used as computer monitors?
Yes, you can definitely use a computer as a tv if you have proper adaptors and DVI-to-HDMI connectors.
Q4, How to set up tv monitor on pc without extra setups?
This can be archived by using a specific HDMI cable and making a proper connection with the PC. However, if your HDTV is a bit outdated, then it may contain a VGA port. In this case, you should invest in an HDMI switch. I hope this answers your question about how to monitor your tv on a desktop.
Hey! I’ve been a Home Improvement Expert for the past 40 years. Having smartened hundreds of homes through my TV shows “This Old House” and “Bob Vila”, I have gathered an expertise in the art of smart home gadgets, appliances, and everything else. Now, I want to share with the world what I have learnt!
Leave a Reply