Advice on TV for secondary monitor for causal play.

[Rosiv]

I want to buy a TV to use for a secondary monitor to play games at a distance, like when im in bed.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I was told that i would need something 1080p.

My GPU for my computer is a small form factor GTX 960.

I would like to spend around 200$, although less is always nice.

Thanks.

 

[Frezzato]

You honestly don't need 1080p for most games at a distance, but you're in luck as here's a 32" Samsung for exactly $199 [https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-UN32J5003-32-Inch-1080p-Model/dp/B00V0923TG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1467726162&sr=8-1&keywords=1080p].

At that price you're not going to have a high refresh rate. It'll be 60 Hz. With TVs at that range you're also going to get screen tearing, which is hard to describe. It's not the end of the world.

At least it has two HDMI, one coax, and component, which also doubles as composite for any older console systems you might have.

Newegg [http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889354950] has it for slightly more at $227, but they provide expedited shipping.

Note that the TV doesn't come with an HDMI cable, but you probably have a few of those lying around. If you're going to buy one, don't pay more than $10. Here's an AmazonBasics [https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-High-Speed-HDMI-Cable-2-Pack/dp/B00L3KNWBU/ref=sr_1_3?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1467729167&sr=1-3&keywords=amazonbasics+hdmi] one for $8.99. It costs a little more because it's 9 feet long. Here's a cheaper one [https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-High-Speed-HDMI-Cable-Standard/dp/B014I8SSD0/ref=sr_1_1?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1467729167&sr=1-1&keywords=amazonbasics+hdmi] which is 6 feet long. And if you're going from DVI to HDMI, I have one of those cables and it works great. The Amazon Basics [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001TH7T2U/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1] line hasn't let me down yet. That's for a DVI-D/I to HDMI connection.

Don't forget that using DVI from a PC means you still have to find a way to get sound out.

 

[Rosiv]

You honestly don't need 1080p for most games at a distance, but you're in luck as here's a 32" Samsung for exactly $199 [https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-UN32J5003-32-Inch-1080p-Model/dp/B00V0923TG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1467726162&sr=8-1&keywords=1080p].

At that price you're not going to have a high refresh rate. It'll be 60 Hz. With TVs at that range you're also going to get screen tearing, which is hard to describe. It's not the end of the world.

At least it has two HDMI, one coax, and component, which also doubles as composite for any older console systems you might have.

Newegg [http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889354950] has it for slightly more at $227, but they provide expedited shipping.

Note that the TV doesn't come with an HDMI cable, but you probably have a few of those lying around. If you're going to buy one, don't pay more than $10. Here's an AmazonBasics [https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-High-Speed-HDMI-Cable-2-Pack/dp/B00L3KNWBU/ref=sr_1_3?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1467729167&sr=1-3&keywords=amazonbasics+hdmi] one for $8.99. It costs a little more because it's 9 feet long. Here's a cheaper one [https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-High-Speed-HDMI-Cable-Standard/dp/B014I8SSD0/ref=sr_1_1?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1467729167&sr=1-1&keywords=amazonbasics+hdmi] which is 6 feet long. And if you're going from DVI to HDMI, I have one of those cables and it works great. The Amazon Basics [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001TH7T2U/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1] line hasn't let me down yet. That's for a DVI-D/I to HDMI connection.

Don't forget that using DVI from a PC means you still have to find a way to get sound out.

I think my monitor has a 60hz refresh rate as well. So would i notice?

My GPU would not be a limiting factor right?

Is screen tearing a given? Or is it bearing on the "quality" of the TV.

I dont feel like ordering a TV via online means, but I live near a walmart and on their website i see these options:


Any opinion on the following?
http://www.walmart.com/ip/SCEPTRE-X405BV-F-40-LED-Class-1080P-HDTV-with-ultra-slim-metal-brush-bezel-60Hz/27608624

http://www.walmart.com/ip/RCA-LED32G45RQ-32-1080p-60Hz-LED-HDTV/45776383

Or anything else from the walmart catalog?

I was always bad at decisions, and I would like to be able to enjoy gaming without obstructions like screen tear.

 

[Frezzato]

snip

Things have come a long way regarding electronics. It's going to be hard to find anyone that can vouch for any particular model because there's such a huge range of TVs out there, some of which are custom to the seller (like Best Buy). I think whether your choose a $129 TV or a $199 one, you can't go wrong.

That being said, I checked the reviews and it seems that a brand like Sceptre makes decent TVs but couldn't care less about a few bad reviews due to the low price point. So that's one reason I wouldn't go with them, despite the fact that they still include VGA on some models, which I really love having just in case. Oh well. You might luck out with the RCA simply because they have a reputation to protect.

And don't feel pressured to buy using your maximum budget. Make a list of what it is you really want and start from there. Narrow it down to five finalists and read as many reviews you can find. That's kind of how I bought my two HDTV monitors. I combined the features I wanted, the brand name (Samsung) and lastly the price. I paid twice the amount for each of my two 24" HDTVs as Walmart is charging for a 32". But I've gotten many, many good years out of them and they're still going strong.