computer question : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

machinist · 12-03-2012, 08:53 PM

Any of you guys porting your PC over to your wide screen TV for anything but videos?
any good? I am thinking of doing this but I have to go backwards from display port to HDMI.

Steve

<G Man> · 12-03-2012, 09:26 PM

I have had a HTPC hooked up to my LCD TV for about 6 years now. With the computer connected to my server, I find it handy for browsing the internet, watching DVD's and Blu-Ray's and looking at photos. It also serves as my stereo with 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound and access to all of my mp3's.

DisplyPort to HDMI may seem like a "backward" connection, but it is still very capable for a home theater setup. I use HDMI for mine and I'm very happy with it.

I found a cool little keyboard recently that is similar to a small laptop keyboard with a touch pad on it. I can sit back in my recliner and use the computer just like it is on my lap. I also have a full function remote control that works well when watching movies and doing anything with Windows Media Center.

machinist · 12-04-2012, 04:50 AM

After many years of avoiding it I am going to be dragging some CAD work home. I need to put together a PC to do it, something low to mid level. I have some concern that the graphics card wont be a real good fit with video out to a tv but dont really know. Anyway I often use a smartboard as a monitor at work and I was thinking that I could get close to that at home if I used the tv.

Rendell · 12-04-2012, 08:02 AM

I have had a video card with HDMI out to tv for some time now. But only because I had the extra computer, and a spare HDMI Port on my TV. It makes it nice if you are ripping video to hard drive, Surfing the net or you like to play solitaire (Or Spider Solitaire if you are a real biker) at 55 inches. Other than that an Xbox 360 will do it all, pretty much, and costs less to build. One advantage to having a system for the multimedia, is that you can use it as a server/File Share, because you can buy massive drives for cheap these days. The idea is to buy a solid state drive for the OS and Apps to run on, then a massive drive for data. Then Windows 7 64-bit with about 16GB of RAM will make your system extremely fast. You can get 2TB drives, most systems will take 4 total. This will leave you with like 6TB for data. Not sure how much BS it takes to fill 6TB, but it's probably at least a couple years worth. Video is also very important on these systems. If you get a Video card with at least 1 GB memory you should be good. I mean you can set this up initially for under $400, but you will end up adding to it in the end, but that is the way of technology anyway. Hope it helps.

<G Man> · 12-04-2012, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by machinist

After many years of avoiding it I am going to be dragging some CAD work home. I need to put together a PC to do it, something low to mid level. I have some concern that the graphics card wont be a real good fit with video out to a tv but dont really know. Anyway I often use a smartboard as a monitor at work and I was thinking that I could get close to that at home if I used the tv.

I would not recommend using your TV for doing CAD work. The resolution will not be high enough (for my taste anyway) unless your TV will support 1920x1080. Even then, I prefer 1920x1200 as a minimum for CAD/BIM work.

I assume you mean low to mid level relative to a typical CAD station, not a general PC. I have watched many, many people go out and get a typical mid-range only to spend the next few years producing crap and complaining about how slow the CAD program is (its not the program). Unless you are just playing around with CAD, spend the money to build a decent workhorse and put a good chunk of the money toward video and RAM. I spent $900 on my ATI Firepro video card which drives 2 1920 x 1200 monitors and have never had a regret, in fact I thank myself every day for doing it.

machinist · 12-05-2012, 02:50 AM

I am intending to put together a 3770k on one of those new motherboards with a visual bios, either intel or asus, with a ssd boot and a WD black HD. I was also figuring on a ATI Firepro card. It was the card that prompted the initial question. I had been told that the nvidea stuff interfaced with a tv better then the ATI Amd chips did.
Work provides me with a dual zeon/firepro rig at work and thats fine. At home I dont really intend do any significant work, just bring up stuff to manipulate and view, not really work on it much except maybe to draw up the odd bike part now and then.