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Should I use my TV as a computer monitor?
In the early days of computing, monitors were just televisions. Then the high-definition revolution happened, and the monitors really stood out. Now we’re back to square one, and we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to large 4K or even 8K TVs with multiple HDMI 2.1 connections that cost less than high-end monitors. Can you replace the monitor with one of the best gaming TVs? More importantly, do you really want it?
The first part of the question is easy to answer: yes, you can use any TV with an HDMI input in place of a computer monitor. If you’re viewing a 4K TV, you’ll need a graphics card with at least an HDMI 2.0 port (HDMI 2.0a or higher for HDR10 displays). This allows 4K and 24-bit color at 60Hz. Newer TVs support HDMI 2.1, which can handle 4K at 120Hz and 8K at 60Hz, provided your computer also supports HDMI 2.1.
In terms of graphics cards, only the latest products support HDMI 2.1. We’re talking about Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 30 series and AMD’s Radeon RX 6000 series here. If your hardware meets these requirements, then using a TV will work just fine — after all, that’s what most console gamers do. But there are other items to consider.
But should you?
Which brings us to the second part of the question: Should you use your TV as a computer monitor? It’s not that simple as it depends on how you use your PC, where you plan to put your TV, your home environment, etc.
It’s amazing that TVs have become very affordable. 4K monitors start at 27 inches and cost as little as $250, while 40-inch models can cost $500 or more.but 4K 32- to 45-inch TVs for $200-$300. Here’s what you need to know if you want to buy such a TV for computer use.
Traditionally, the biggest potential problem has been input lag. Some TVs do a lot of signal processing and can add 50ms or even 100ms of delay to the signal before it appears on the screen. It doesn’t matter if you’re watching video content, but it’s a serious flaw with interactive PC monitors.
The good news is that recent TV models are much better at this, and some now offer a “game mode” that disables video processing. If the TV had one of these, lag wouldn’t be an issue. Otherwise, buy it where returning the TV isn’t a problem.
Two other things to check are overscan and signal support. Some TVs still do moderate overscan, where 5% of the external signal is dropped. Check to see if this feature can be disabled in the menu, or you can use the AMD or Nvidia control panel to adjust the output to better suit your TV.
In terms of signal support, many TVs use Y’CbCr instead of RGB signals, which may degrade image quality if the TV only supports 4:2:2 or (worse) 4:2:0 chroma subsampling . Chroma subsampling might not be a problem for watching videos, but for text interfaces it can create a noticeable blur at the edges of letters. In short, you need a TV that supports 4:4:4 chroma subsampling.
Other things to consider are how you plan to use the TV as a display, your user interface and location. For desktop use, where you’re sitting close to a monitor, a mid-sized 32- to 45-inch 4K TV is probably as big as you want – don’t get 1080p, as the pixels can be very large.
It’s worth noting that most TVs also lack height adjustment, so plan to buy a VESA-compatible TV and stand if you want one. For living room use, a larger monitor (55 inches or larger) is usually best, and you need to consider input options. If you share the living room with multiple other people, you may need a second TV or PC.
For input, almost a laptop for a keyboard and mouse is required, as well as wireless peripherals. Be aware that the ergonomics of sitting on a couch with a laptop are often much worse than sitting in a good computer chair. Game consoles use game controllers for a reason. It’s a good idea to learn to play most PC games with a controller and only have a keyboard and mouse nearby for emergencies.
One of the great things about HDTVs is that they almost universally have better speakers than computer monitors. Computer monitors I’ve used with audio usually include small speakers with insufficient volume and quality – they work in a pinch, but games and movies don’t sound as good. TV speakers aren’t perfect, but you can easily use the TV’s audio output at your desk.
Armed with the above information, you can now decide whether a TV as a PC monitor is the right choice for you. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer here, but as the quality of TVs improves and prices come down, plus the ability to use a PC as a home theater hub, it’s certainly worth a look.
If you can find great deals on 4K TVs, you might even decide to replace your aging monitor and join the Ultra HD crowd. Thankfully, even if 8K and higher-resolution displays start to appear, it’s unlikely we’ll move beyond 4K for many years. A good monitor investment today is likely to continue into 2030.