tips on using a tv?

[jimmah]

I'm modding a cabinet I got for use with a ps2 and xbox for shooters. I need to stuff a TV in there and the bigger the better. I have a inside measurement of 23''. On average how should I guesstimate the size of the actuall tv versus the shell? I'm hoping to stick a 27'' in there but I don't think that is going to happen.I will be buying a new TV so I need a good rule of thumb for picking one out.

[Kevin Mullins]

I'd give no less than an inch and a half on each side of the tube width to account for the mounting tabs and such.
A 27" diagonal might be close to pushing it for your 23" width.

I literally stuffed a 25" in a 22 1/2" cab and it bulged the sides out just a tad bit.
So I'd say a 25" will drop in your 23" cab real well.

This is guess-timating of course.

[TOK]

Bring a tape measure, and buy from somewhere that has floor models out so you can measure.
I think the most important thing for maximizing space in a horizontal cab is to get a TV with speakers on the bottom rather than sides. If you decase it, that increases your options.

[jimmah]

I have had TV's apart before so My plan was to decase it and  remove the speakers from the side if they are located there. I did plan on bringing a tape but my main concern is actually how more tv is there then I can see width wise. I dont want to go spend 150-400 on q tv to find out once the case is off that it is to wide.  an inch and a half was a good guess I would assume that the tv is somewhere around that much wider.

[mccoy178]

An inch and a half is a good base to go with.  They aren't any bigger then that with the three I've done.

[StephenH]

Look at the inputs the TV has before buying it.    The input you use to connect your computers TV output matters a lot in terms of the picture quality.


RGB SCART (A European Standard) - Best.  It will allow the TV to be turned into an arcade monitor, when used with an ArcadeVGA or other card that can output 15Khz.

Component - Very Good.   A component is a notch lower than RGB Scart, but the picture is very good.   For this you need a card with component out.  480i or some times 480p is recommended for low res games.  Note that 720p and 1080i are very high res and widescreen

S-Video:  Gives acceptable quality for low-res games.

Component and RF give very low picture quality

[jimmah]

Unfortunatrely I have to go with composite inputs for the ps2 for the guncon2 to work. The Xbox I have a componet monster cable for laying around so I figured I would use that.

[dweebs0r]

Component - Very Good.   A component is a notch lower than RGB Scart, but the picture is very good.   For this you need a card with component out.  480i or some times 480p is recommended for low res games.  Note that 720p and 1080i are very high res and widescreen

S-Video:  Gives acceptable quality for low-res games.

Component and RF give very low picture quality

What does "component video" mean and how can I use it?  What type of video card do I need and what types of TV's work best with this?  I havent purchased a monitor yet and I may go this route over an SVGA monitor.  It would certainly be less expensive.

-D

[jimmah]

Componet is the type of input/output. Instead of your typical yellow for video and red and white for audio it gives you 3 video and 2 audio. This in turn gives you a better picture by seperating the colors.

[Tenaku]

Make sure that the TV will stay on your selected input, even when powered off. An oft-recommended model is the Toshiba 27A33.

[releasedtruth]

I'm very intrigued by the Component video comments. I planned on going s-video until I heard that. I found the PNY 6200 is a cheap card with a component breakout cable. Looks promising. Whether or not the TV stays on an input or not remains to be seen. To the store!

GT