I need a TV tuner that can support active gameplay.

Because my TV is one of those CRT models I was thinking of using a TV tuner to play 360 games on. The idea is that, where the LCD monitor I use for my computer has a better quality display, I was thinking if I could feed the video signal to it the games wouldn't only look nicer, but reading small text would be less hard on the eyes.

The only problem is I'm having trouble finding the type of TV tuner I need. I need one that is USB based (I prefer not to use one of the cards that goes into the case) and supports play-back in real time. The last one is the one that provides the most problem; I already have a TV tuner, but there is usually a two second delay in video, so realtime play back is a must. If anyone has any advice for what kind of tv tuner I should look into please let me know.

Also, if it helps any, I have a quad-core 2.4 GHz processor, 8GB of RAM, a GeForce 8800 GTX graphics card, and I'm running Windows 7.

 

Any tv tuner that is "software encoder" type should work, these play the video in realtime. I've never used the USB tuners, so I'm not sure if there might be a delay from the USB cable.

The 2-second delay is encountered on "hardware encoder" type tuner cards. But depending on the tuner card there are ways to disable this feature and make them play in realtime.

 

If it has a HDMI output on the 360 just get a HDMI cable and HDMI to DVI adapter.

 

While I like the idea of using a DVI to HDMI cable the only problem is space. In other words I don't have any space in the room where my computer is, so I would need a 25 ft. cord spanning the two rooms. The reason I was thinking of using a component cable is because I already have one strung across the room to do that (and, amazingly enough, a component works a heck of a lot like a composite cable).

Also a HDMI cable wouldn't it be useless even if it was plugged into the graphics card/monitor? I mean where would the sound come from? Since my sound is produced by my motherboard I don't have an external sound card.

 

Component is the same as composite but uses better wiring to handle only the video singles.


I have a selector AV box that I have PC audio and game systems plugged into
, I have a monitor with crappy sound so I use stereo speakers, I have both the AV cables and HDMI into my 360, had to take the plastic casing off the AV cable plug was to wide covered the 360s HDMI port.

What are you using as sound?

 

I'm using the sound that is built into my motherboard. Nothing fancy, but it does what it needs to, that and seeing as how I wear headphones, that is just as well.

 

No speakers just head phones?

 

Yeah I've got speakers. I don't use them very often, but I got them. Wouldn't do any good though since it's audio out. I mean, if I really wanted, I could hook five speakers to the back of my motherboard, but where it's all audio out, it wouldn't do me a lick of good, and since there is no audio in port on the board, that's out of the question.

 

One of them is,its either mic in or rear speaker. They double up on the plug functionality.

 

I got a mic port, but that's designed for a 3.55mm jack, and not a RCA cable, so I can't use it due to incompatibility. Also what of video? I mean, even if it was plugged into my LCD panel, wouldn't that create drawbacks (the LCD not being designed to run console games directly)? I have yet to imagine how plugging it into my graphics card would help any. Plus, as mentioned earlier, I would need a 25 ft. HDMI cord to pull this off.

I think what I really need here is a TV tuner that has a component plus sound port on it. I mean all I need to do is use my PC as a way to play wii/ps2/360 games on, so as long as the TV tuner has a component port on it, can work in realtime, and has a decent screen size, I should be set. The only question is where can I find one that would work that well?

 

is the LCD DVI or VGA?
http://images.google.com/images?hl=...esult_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CCcQsAQwAw

or

http://images.google.com/images?um=...&q=vga&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&start=0
--------------------------------------
DVI and HDMI are similar single types.

 

My monitor has both a DVI as well as a VGA port. My video card only has two DVI ports though. Also, while HDMI would solve the 360 issue, that would do nothing to solve the Wii/PS2 issue since both of them uses either a composite or a component connection type.

 

Ok so you want Composite/component/DVI and audio all into your DVI/VGA monitor.

Tell me what your mobo and monitor is.

Tell me the location of your consoles,computer and monitor(again).

Whats your price range to do all this under 50 under 100? It can be done for under 100 under 50 would be tricky.

 

My motherboard is a P5B Deluxe.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131045


The graphics card is a Geforce 8800 GTX.

http://www.amazon.com/8800GTX-DDR3-...9?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1270077621&sr=8-9


My monitor is a BenQ FP202W.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...4146&cm_re=benq_fp202w-_-24-014-146-_-Product


The computer and the consoles are in adjacent rooms. Currently a 25 ft. wire can reach from the computer, to the consoles, with a good deal of slack in the wire.

I was thinking of using a spare TV that has a HDMI port in it. The only thing I would need is a HDMI to DVI adapter tool and a component/RCA coupler. In other words I would be using a TV for a computer monitor. >_>;

Plan B however involves something I discovered today. Since there is a way to attach the left and right prongs of an RCA cable to the 3.55mm microphone jack I was looking at these two items right here.

http://www.amazon.com/Cables-Go-Ste...?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1270078873&sr=8-15

http://www.amazon.com/RiteAV-3-5mm-...8?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1270078873&sr=8-8

That would cover audio, but there is still video, so I looked for a DVI to component cable. Unfortunately all I could find was stuff directing stuff from the computer to the TV rather than from some source (such as a PS2) to the computer. Here are two examples I found that does do it, but I think they do it in the opposite direction needed.

http://www.amazon.com/DVI-I-To-Comp...2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1270078318&sr=8-2

http://www.amazon.com/Premium-DVI-I...8?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1270078318&sr=8-8

Anyway, the way I saw it, if I could find a way to get the console to interface with the LCD monitor (for video) and the computer (for sound) that would eliminate the need for a tv tuner, plus it should display things in realtime. I'm not to sure how sound this idea is, so I decided to offer it up, just to see what others may think. Still, as far as budget goes, I'm fine with whatever works (and doesn't require me to use a TV as a computer monitor).

 

And the TV/monitor is?
Digital DVI is basically the same as HDMI so you can use it as a DVI cable with adapters.

Need to know what the TV/monitor is

 

The computer monitor (not TV) is a BenQ FP202W. What I'm trying to do is to get the computer monitor to recognize video input from a component cable via the DVI port. Unfortunately all I've managed is to find is stuff that will act as output (from a DVI port to component TV) rather than what I actually need (which is from a component device to a DVI port). In other words what I want to do is basically play a PS2 on a computer monitor without the aid of a TV tuner or HDMI cable (which I don't think they make for the Wii).

 

Ooooookkkkkkk that clears some things up. So you need the 360/console to your computer monitor via a 20ish foot long cable on your monitor?

How many consoles do you use?

I know I am re asking alot of crap but bear with me.

 

Ok so heres a quick list of this and that
This will get your consoles on the component and audio cable

http://www.amazon.com/Switch-Component-Digital-Coaxial-Connectors/dp/B000KDWT4W

30$

Heres a cheap audio cable and
http://cgi.ebay.com/Torque-25-Foot-...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item53da600d5e

and heres how you plug it into your computer
http://www.amazon.com/3-5mm-Mini-Pl...?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1270254475&sr=1-21

Component to DVI is tricky, I suggest you get the adapter then use a Component cable hookup (one should have came with your video card but you can use the 360 with component out) and then via Component. SO componant cable to
http://www.amazon.com/DVI-I-To-Comp...2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1270078318&sr=8-2
to

http://cgi.ebay.com/DVI-I-24-5-Fema...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item335b2212e4

to your monitor.

If that dose not work you'll need to get this http://www.amazon.com/Component-Dvi...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1270255564&sr=1-1

to force the conversion from component to DVI....

All in all it may be easier to get a HDMI TV with component hookups for 200$ HDMI and DVI are cross compilable unlike some compaonant hookups.

 

I follow everything that your saying, and, yeah, I might as well get a TV. For around $200 I could find a nice one that is around 20 inches or so. Only one question; if I'm going to hook my computer up to a TV by using a HDMI to DVI converter how much of a picture quality can I expect? I mean, when I change the resolution of the screen size (from high to low, or from low to high), will it auto-adjust, or will things go wrong? I ask this because I usually use a 1680x1050 resolution, but when playing a game, I usually will use something like 1280x800 as the screen setting so as to not stress out the video card (lower resolution means I can put everything as high up as they will go with no lag).

 

If you get a 1080 TV you should have a full range of wide screen resulusions you can chose from.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...CODE=GOOGLEBASE&cm_mmc_o=VRqCjC7BBTkwCjCECjCE

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-SyncM...Monitor/dp/tech-data/B00213QXFA/ref=de_a_smtd

Not bad for 23 inches I wish I waited and spent 80 more on a tv and not HDMI monitor...

I got this for 160
http://www.amazon.com/Sceptre-Wides...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1270289034&sr=8-1

its not bad but I am going to have to get a 20$ HDMI switch to change between PC and HDMI since you have to fumble with 2 or 3 buttons to change modes on it >>