Using my Dell UltraSharp 2407FPW as a tv.

[Xeos Moonfear]

Hi all I'm going to be going off to school soon so need to shrink the amount of stuff I have. I noticed that my new monitor has componant imputes. can I use it as a tv? If so than the next question is how do I hook my xbox 360 and DVD player sound to my computer?

Thanks for your input.

[rabb1t]

I noticed that my new monitor has componant imputes. can I use it as a tv?

You could via the component or other inputs. Depending on the signal type and cable type, it may or may not look good.

As example, the component in should look really good. I've never tried mine, but I did see my roomie using his Dell with the new high-def Tivo. I do have a composite in from an old-school cable box and the TV signal looks pretty crappy. Sure, it takes up a lot less space than a TV and a PC, but still. Though I'm fairly certain this is due to the old-school regular TV signal. (Its super low res after all.)

If so than the next question is how do I hook my xbox 360 and DVD player sound to my computer?

The only way I know of to get external sound into a PC would be something like the very expensive Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102189) with a front pannel thing at $183.

Also, some X-Fi sound cards can take an add on front thing (http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=209&subcategory=677&product=14659).

Um...

Here is a $5 adaptor from Logitech (http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=2177,CONTENTID=10036) that converts old-school 2 plug stereo cables to inputs that you can use with 5.1 speaker sets. This appears to have replaced the speaker set they had for gaming systems. Looks like the cheapest 5.1 speaker set is ~$80. However, this would only cover one of those sources. You'd have to swap cables from the PC to 360 to DVD. (Which I'd point out here is not a good idea as you risk damage every single time you pull cables out or put them in. Particularly if you happen to forget to turn every last single powered unit in the chain off before doing so.)

However, the rabb1t's brain of uber alternate thinking is wondering why you need the Xbox 360 and DVD player since the Xbox 360 can play DVDs.

Foz may have another front pannel suggestion. I know he saw one at one time.

[Tarikko]

I have the same monitor but I haven't yet used it for anything but PC. I believe you can get HDMI to DVI cable w/ a high def cable box (satellite too prob).

Other than that you are going to be stretching the 640x480 (normal cable?) signal out, and it'll look horrible.

Might check into tv tuners -external if you lack a pc might work

[rabb1t]

Yeah, but the OP can test things like that before they move. Hook things up, see if they like it or not.

[Fozzik]

Should work just fine with only minor fiddling with settings. High-definition signals will look best because they will use most of the resolution of the monitor, giving you a nice sharp picture. You should be able to plug the XBox360 directly into the monitor using the component cables and get the full resolution of your games (720p or 1080i).

All soundcards have a line input. Not all have a digital input though... many fancier soundcards (as rabb1t mentioned) or fancy onboard sound will have an optical input for digital sound from the Xbox or whatever. At worst you should be able to buy a simple adapter to plug a 1/4" jack into the back of your soundcard to get sound.

Like I said, the hardest part is probably going to be fiddling with the settings on the monitor and in software to get things just right...but even that shouldn't be too bad.

[rabb1t]

You should be able to plug the XBox360 directly into the monitor using the component cables and get the full resolution of your games (720p or 1080i).

I haven't kept up with it, but I'm pretty sure the 360 caps at 720p res. ... hum... finding some stuff that mentions it goes up to 1080p, but I'm pretty sure games cap at 720p. I'd assume that the HD-DVDs run at full 1080 though. ... Hum the EB site does say it can do 720p or 1080i games. Odd that I only ever recalled hearing about 720p games.

[Fozzik]

The Xbox360 got a firmware upgrade, I believe, which allows it to output 1080p (which is pretty pointless). It definitely can output 1080i. The question is whether games support it, I know some of them do but certainly not all of them.

Game designers have to be concerned with how well the game performs... if they can't get an acceptable frame rate at the high res setting (1080p), they will likely limit the game to lower res. I don't think you will see very many games in 1080p on either Xbox or PS3. I think most of the games do either 720p or 1080i.

[rabb1t]

I don't think you will see very many games in 1080p on either Xbox or PS3. I think most of the games do either 720p or 1080i.

There are actually several for the PS3 that are 1080p. :p Pretty much sports poo, but still. :p

1080 (I'm on i) Blu-Ray totally pwns normal DVD res though. :D

[Fozzik]

You mean 1920x1080 looks better than 640x480? Who would have guessed? :p

[rabb1t]

hehehe yeah, but the thing is on the HDTV (1080 screen) the TV signal looks fine. :p

[Xeos Moonfear]

Thanks for the replies.
the rabb1t's brain of uber alternate thinking Is right to wonder as I don't even own a dvd player other than my 360 so I have no idea how that slipped in there. :eek: