Who else has a PC connected to a TV for game playing?

[kingpong]

One recurring theme I've seen in discussions over the years is that many people don't like playing video games on their computer monitors - it just isn't the same as playing on the TV, they say. Often this leads to people being interested in console based emulators, most running on the DC or XBox. I don't quite get this excitement about such console emulators - just connect your PC to the TV and you have the same thing. Most video cards these days seem to have S-Video out, so it isn't like it is hard to do, and that tends to work better than using scan converters (someday I guess I'll need mine again...).

I first connected a PC to the TV so I could play Dance With Intensity on my dance pads - I wasn't about to lug those things from the living room to the computer room when I wanted to play. Started out with an older PC that was just sitting idle, then picked up a new system so I could do emulation on it as well. So now rather than pulling out the 2600, Genesis, SNES, PSX, etc., I just fire up the PC, plug in a PSX->USB adaptor and joystick, then relax on the couch and play. Yet it doesn't seem like too many people do this compared to the number who get excited about silly little single game MAMEs for the DC. Also makes for a good source of music for the house when connected to the home theater system, or an easy PVR, or umpteen other uses.

So does anyone else here have a PC running on a TV? I'd also like to hear reasons why not, excluding the typical cost and spouse won't allow it arguments.

[stargate]

I've been thinking about it. Do I just need a video card with TV out?

[Zaxxon]

I used to do this. I didn't want to use a small monitor instead of the 27" TV. MAME classic games look "right" on a TV. It's a pain switching back and forth between TV and monitor because you have to re-adjust the resolution, brightness, color, text and icon sizes and placement.

[Hamsnibit]

I just use my xbox with 120 gig drive for most emulators. Some I do play on the pc with tv out.

[Ed Oscuro]

If anything, I need to hook my consoles up to the 21" flatscreen chillin' on my desk unused (need some extra hardware though).

[NE146]

If it's convenient for you, then it's great. I know a couple of people who do the old pc-tvout thing (see pic) and love it.

However for me, I can't do it because 1) I do my gaming amongst a couple of tv's (living room, bedroom, etc.) So console portability is better; and 2) I'm still in nomadic mode so it doesn't make sense for me to setup an entertainment center/pc especially when I'd be moving in 2 or 3 months and tear it down again and possibly have to rearrange/reconfigure it at another location.

But if you're more settled and it's easy to get your pc to a tv, and you have a nice controller/joystick/pad with a long enough cord to enjoy it, I'd imagine a pc-tvout gaming setup would rock :) As for me, I'll settle with the Xbox.

http://www.idsa.net/cv2.jpg

[Bratwurst]

NE146, what is that? Symphony of the Night or Harmony of Dissonance? I didn't know you could get a GBA screen stretched to 'full-screen' via emulation like that.

[Tom61]

My GeForce card doesn't have composite out, and my TV only has composite in, so I have to use a S-video to composite adapter, and that knocks down the quality a bit. I'd probably use TV-out more often if it was good quality. Dreamcast output is *alot* better, since it's going native composite. Plus, burning CDs or sending the game over ethernet to the BBA is fun.

[NE146]

NE146, what is that? Symphony of the Night or Harmony of Dissonance? I didn't know you could get a GBA screen stretched to 'full-screen' via emulation like that.

It aint mine, but it's Harmony of Dissonance using Visual Boy Advance. Which as you can see looks awesome w/ S-video (as does MAME, ZSNES, Gens, etc etc) :)

..But again, it's not mine (I wish). :P

[Ed Oscuro]

If you think that HoD actually has potential...those TV speakers certainly won't cover up the impressively low-quality music blaring from that console.

Bah. Not as bland as, say, CotM in terms of style and enemies (they managed to draw everything in-house, imagine that!) but it does get much uglier in places.

[zektor]

I have been doing this for a long time. My advice to anyone who wants to do this cheaply is to buy a Nvidia Riva TNT2 card with TV out on ebay. You can get it for like $20. Then get TVTool:

www.tvtool.de

This program allows full screen stretch and other options the Nvidia driver does not have. With this cheap card and the program, you can have ALOT of fun...especially if you are into emulation :)

[NE146]

those TV speakers certainly won't cover up the impressively low-quality music blaring from that console.

That's because it's made for a GBA and it's tinny tiny speaker! LOL You hear the same thing if you use a good set of headphones or run the audio of your GBA through a good stereo. But come on...what do you expect. It's a handheld game.. you aint gonna get SOTN style sound :P (at least not yet) ;)

[kevincure]

Here's the question....how many of you hook your consoles up to your PC monitor? I have a sweet 15" flat panel LCD with a Viewsonic S-Video and AV-equipped TV Tuner. The consoles plug right in there, and the sound comes through my computer speakers (2 Logitechs and a really big subwoofer).

The monitor is 6 lbs. and fits in my carryon. The TV Tuner is not even a pound.

If you're low on space or money, this is a fantastic way to set up your gaming. You can pick up a 17" Cornea LCD (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00006B7HP/qid=1054361711/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/103-0972336-6776651?v=glance&s=electronics&n=507846)w/ built-in TV Tuner for 479 bucks (I paid 520 for a 15" and separate TV Tuner only a year ago, so 479 is a steal). The Consoles can be played with the PC turned off.
A 17" LCD TV would run you 800 bucks alone these days.

There are a couple drawbacks. The graphics are a touch fuzzy for my taste, though still clearer than nearly any non-Plasma, non-WEGA TV. You can't play light gun games. The TV is also too small for 4 player - 2 player can be played no problem, though.

But you also get the benefit of having a wicked sweet looking computer monitor and TV.

[zektor]

Here's the question....how many of you hook your consoles up to your PC monitor? I have a sweet 15" flat panel LCD with a Viewsonic S-Video and AV-equipped TV Tuner. The consoles plug right in there, and the sound comes through my computer speakers (2 Logitechs and a really big subwoofer).

The monitor is 6 lbs. and fits in my carryon. The TV Tuner is not even a pound.

If you're low on space or money, this is a fantastic way to set up your gaming. You can pick up a 17" Cornea LCD (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00006B7HP/qid=1054361711/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/103-0972336-6776651?v=glance&s=electronics&n=507846)w/ built-in TV Tuner for 479 bucks (I paid 520 for a 15" and separate TV Tuner only a year ago, so 479 is a steal). The Consoles can be played with the PC turned off.
A 17" LCD TV would run you 800 bucks alone these days.

There are a couple drawbacks. The graphics are a touch fuzzy for my taste, though still clearer than nearly any non-Plasma, non-WEGA TV. You can't play light gun games. The TV is also too small for 4 player - 2 player can be played no problem, though.

But you also get the benefit of having a wicked sweet looking computer monitor and TV.

I would do this, if my monitor was the size of my TV. 15" just doesn't cut it for playing any of my game consoles. Even 21" (the size of my monitor) doesn't do it for me. I need my good ol' 36" TV!

[kevincure]

Yeah, no doubt, if I didn't have to move twice a year, I would definitely buy a bigger TV. But I simply have no space and the LCD setup works great for that.

Oh, here's another big benefit I forgot: PAL Games. Unlike most TV's, most TV Tuner/LCD combos will automatically adjust the signal and let you plug and play PAL systems, no problem. My only Euro system is my Dreamcast, but I can play games like Stunt GP once the power plug is adapted for our system. Good stuff, and very few TVs can do it, as far as I know.

(Admittedly, I'd trade it all for a nice 42" Plasma ^_^)

[Ed Oscuro]

those TV speakers certainly won't cover up the impressively low-quality music blaring from that console.

That's because it's made for a GBA and it's tinny tiny speaker! LOL You hear the same thing if you use a good set of headphones or run the audio of your GBA through a good stereo. But come on...what do you expect. It's a handheld game.. you aint gonna get SOTN style sound :P (at least not yet) ;)

Ever heard CotM or, better yet, AoS?

(add)

Oh, and screw SotN music (I'm listening to good old Marble Gallery). The old stuff works just fine (and sometimes, actually, quite often, does a better job with the limited notes available).

Dissonance, however, is just what the title promised--HoD is one of the worst sounding GBA games I've cared to run across. That's not saying much since I've only played with the better ones (maybe the least impressive I've come across was Samurai Jack...hmm) and certainly the remix of Underground is impressive. The rest of it...crap, no matter how hard Yamane works at it.

[NE146]

Ever heard CotM or, better yet, AoS?

(add)

Oh, and screw SotN music (I'm listening to good old Marble Gallery). The old stuff works just fine (and sometimes, actually, quite often, does a better job with the limited notes available).

Dissonance, however, is just what the title promised--HoD is one of the worst sounding GBA games I've cared to run across. That's not saying much since I've only played with the better ones (maybe the least impressive I've come across was Samurai Jack...hmm) and certainly the remix of Underground is impressive. The rest of it...crap, no matter how hard Yamane works at it.

aah ok I see where you're coming from now ;) I misunderstood and thought you were remarking on general GBA sound quality through a high-fi speakers and amp. :P (Now I see you're talking about HOD specifically) LOL

Point taken ;)

[Ed Oscuro]

:shakes fist at people thinking they can learn Oscuro somethin':O

No problem. Like I've said before...I don't know much about games...but let me add that what I do know, I know well ;)

Now here's something. To get a console working with my monitor, I fear the best way to do it would be to get an upscan converter--and those are easily $300, money I'd really rather spend on an arcade PCB or, heck, lots of things. Or is there a simpler way that'll work to convert general NTSC signals (PAL also would be nice) to RGB?

[kingpong]

I've been thinking about it. Do I just need a video card with TV out?

That and something to get sound from the PC (I connect to the home theater system I use for all the consoles). ATI video cards seem to be regarded as having the best TV out quality, if you're needing to pick up a card. No need to buy anything too extravagant - since you'll most likely be limited to 800x600 on the TV, and probably won't be playing the latest PC games, you don't need something with a ton of 3D power. You would want some oomph for PSX or N64 games, but today's bottom of the line cards are probably powerful enough.

When I got the PC I now I have hooked up to the TV I did the usual setup and installation stuff on a monitor, then took it downstairs, hooked it to the TV, and fired it up. Didn't require any messing with settings, extra software, etc. Very painless.

[Kidcritta]

OH MY LORD!!

I have sooooo many questions!!!!!! please help.

I have a 2002 model HP Pavillion computer running win-xp,
My t.v has no s-video in on the back of it,
My dvd player has a s-video hole and i canhook the dvd up to the telly.


I would LOVE to hook my pc up to my 32" tv for all my gaming but i'm not very bright when it comes to this stuff!!!!!!

All my equiptment is less than 3 years old.

Can some-one PLEASE explain in detail to me how i could rip this all up??

PLease make my day :D

[zektor]

OH MY LORD!!

I have sooooo many questions!!!!!! please help.

I have a 2002 model HP Pavillion computer running win-xp,
My t.v has no s-video in on the back of it,
My dvd player has a s-video hole and i canhook the dvd up to the telly.


I would LOVE to hook my pc up to my 32" tv for all my gaming but i'm not very bright when it comes to this stuff!!!!!!

All my equiptment is less than 3 years old.

Can some-one PLEASE explain in detail to me how i could rip this all up??

PLease make my day :D


If your Video Card in your HP has an s-video output and your tv does not, you can get a s-video to regular video adapter and hook it up that way.

[Kidcritta]

O.k how do i check to see wether my video card has an s-video out
on it???? please :embarrassed:

[Eternal Champion]

One recurring theme I've seen in discussions over the years is that many people don't like playing video games on their computer monitors - it just isn't the same as playing on the TV, they say. Often this leads to people being interested in console based emulators, most running on the DC or XBox. I don't quite get this excitement about such console emulators - just connect your PC to the TV and you have the same thing. Most video cards these days seem to have S-Video out, so it isn't like it is hard to do, and that tends to work better than using scan converters (someday I guess I'll need mine again...).

GOOD LORD why would do this?!?! I've tried it via s-video out, and the loss of quality is HUGE. I couldn't read my Desktop icons!! So why would you go from crisp, clear, perfect RGB images on your PC monitor with high resolution to a huge loss of quality on the TV?? If you are emulating anything pre-PS2, playing it on a VGA monitor will give you the best possible picture! I guess I don't understand...



Here's the question....how many of you hook your consoles up to your PC monitor? I have a sweet 15" flat panel LCD with a Viewsonic S-Video and AV-equipped TV Tuner. The consoles plug right in there, and the sound comes through my computer speakers (2 Logitechs and a really big subwoofer).

Er, erm, as someone has pointed out, everything but the most modern consoles (I think) would need an UPSCAN CONVERTOR which is FUCKING EXPENSIVE. NES, Genesis, SNES, Saturn, etc, have LOW HORIZONTAL SCAN RATES--15 khz. VGA monitors are WAY too high and are incompatible. The ONLY way to view these consoles in RGB is OLD ANALOG RGB MONITORS or arcade raster monitors. MUCH cheaper than a $200 upscan convertor!! Plus, is there signal loss with an upscan convertor?
But I don't know anything about the above setup. Which consoles do you have hooked up to it?

[mitmoe]

I have an ATI Raedeon video card with a S-video out. I hooked it to my tv and only the boot screens show up on the tv. When the desktop is supposed to come up, the tv goes blank. Any suggestions? I have looked in the display properties and there seems to be nothing to change except for the drivers.

[Anonymous]

Get the latest catalyst drivers from www.ati.com . Once you install those, under the advanced button on the settings tab of the display properties, there will be a ton of options for TV display and the like. very handy stuff.

[YoshiM]

Kinda on topic but kinda off: does anyone know how well the LCD screens display DOS screens (like pure DOS, not some DOS window)?

[mitmoe]

thanks for the info anotherfluke! :D

[DarkSoul]

Heh, whenever I have a TV set up on my computer, I always end up turning it off or ignoring it, 'cause the monitor just looks so damn much better (For general purpose gaming, that is.... I admit, emulating is another story).

Welp. That's all I had to say.