GAMES: GameSpot GameFAQs MOVIES: Metacritic Movietome Comic-Con
Monday, Jul 20, 2009

Simple question, but many complex answers. Hoping for some advice!

So the deal is this: I have my current Samsung 22'' Widescreen LCD and it's great. The issue is - I recently got a PS3. So my current setup has the monitor running on my PC's VGA connection, but whenever I want to play my PS3, I have to get up and swap the cables at the back of my monitor (it only has 1 VGA out, and no HDMI). Also, being a 16:10 native, some of my games look a bit stretchy (my monitor is older model so it doesnt auto-correct the image to 16:9)

So what should I do? I have 2-3 options I think.

1) I get a new monitor (with 1 HDMI and 1 DVI) that supports 16:9 and hookup my PS3 to the HDMI port, and my PC to the DVI port - from there switching between them is a simple button press. This solution will require me to sell my old monitor though, which could be a hassle (its an older model). Also the 16:9 resolution could look bad when gaming on PC (though I am sure I can find a monitor that can do both 16:9 and :10 properly depending on input source)

2) I do part 1 but also keep my current monitor. A bit of a "rich guy" solution, but if I go dual - my desk space will decrease quite a bit, I will have spent quite a bit of money, and i'd need to get a VGA splitter if I want both monitors to run my PC desktop (I dont want to get a monitor that will ONLY be used when I am gaming on PS3)

3) I suck it up and save money

Please advise! Im leaning towards options 1 and 3 right now.

EDIT: To expand my search for advice, started a thread here:

http://www.gamespot.com/pages/forums/show_msgs.php?topic_id=26966995&tag=topics;title

Category: Opinion
Posted by The_PC_Gamer, 3:05pm
12 Comments | Post a Comment

Comments

Page 1 
« prev  |  next »
vga swapping = neg

you gotta fix that asap, i suggest new monitor, multi inputs, 16:10 and 16:9. Use em both, but if you decide 2 is too many then sell your oldy.
Posted Jul 20, 2009 4:36 pm PT
Yeah I guess.... I did some research, I need a 16:10 monitor that supports letterboxing (black lines as if watching a movie, instead of stretching the image).
Posted Jul 20, 2009 5:12 pm PT
well your graphics card should support that anyway for pc games.
Posted Jul 20, 2009 5:38 pm PT
I say option 1
Posted Jul 21, 2009 1:34 am PT
16:9 works great for pc gaming imo. Go for option 1.
Posted Jul 21, 2009 7:29 am PT
get a second job and go with option 2 ^_^
Posted Jul 22, 2009 4:04 am PT
Does your current monitor have a DVI port? If so, you could buy/find a DVI cable for your computer (and a VGA to DVI adapter if needed) and then just switch input when you want to play PS3.

If you don't have a DVI port (how old is this monitor?!) then I'd suggest option 1.
Posted Jul 22, 2009 9:37 am PT
@ shadowHYREN
Yeah i got a DVI port, and analog port. But I dont want to run my PC via the analog... I game on it quite a bit too
Posted Jul 22, 2009 5:33 pm PT
I think we may have a bit of a misunderstanding. If you run your PC off of the DVI port and the PS3 off of the VGA port, are you not using the digital port for the PC?
Posted Jul 23, 2009 6:15 pm PT
@ shadowHYREN

you cant run the PS3 off VGA... You'd have to get an expensive adapter and it will look like crap (480p)
Posted Jul 23, 2009 9:38 pm PT
Even with that cable this is still the cheapest solution aside from toughing it out

I'm running my PC off of a DVI port and an Xbox 360 off VGA and it looks fine. The cable I needed was something like $50. (The cheap knockoff cables ghost images really really bad.)
Posted Jul 24, 2009 9:41 am PT
I was going to go with either one or two. Sure get a NEW monitor and try to sell your OLD one. But if it is really that much of a hassle to sell the old or you don't think you can get much for it, by all means keep it.
Posted Jul 26, 2009 7:29 pm PT
Page 1 
« prev  |  next »
  • The_PC_Gamer
  • Level: 1 (35%)
  • Rank: Mogwai
  • Forum Posts: 773
  • Messages Read: 0


advertisement

Friends

My Friends