Looking for a monitor with a built-in TV tuner?

So, here’s the deal,
I'm thinking about picking up a Samsung P2470HD—you know, the one with the built-in digital TV tuner...
...but I’ve got a bit of a question regarding my setup. I’m currently running an NVIDIA GeForce 6200 in my rig, so I was wondering how the picture quality is actually going to hold up when I switch it over to PC mode? Also, does anyone know if the image quality is any good when you're just watching live TV through the monitor itself? Is it actually decent or kind of a letdown?
If anyone out there has used this specific model or something similar, I’d really love to hear your thoughts—any insight would be huge!👋

It’s been ages since I’ve even looked at a monitor like that... nobody really buys them anymore. I’m not sure what the quality is like these days, but back in the day, those TV panels felt a bit subpar when you picked them up at a place like Best Buy—though I doubt that's still true. Even the cheapest LCD panels have come a long way lately...

But honestly, the other reason I wouldn't touch a monitor with a built-in TV tuner is because it’s a one-trick pony. All you can do is watch TV. Plus, this specific model doesn't even come with a remote, so you can't just kick back on the couch and relax... and given the size, you'd want to. The version with the remote is way more expensive. Not to mention there's a massive selection of regular monitors and other brands out there, whereas only a handful of companies even make these tuner models...

If I were you, I'd just grab a standard monitor and a TV tuner card. That way, you get features like time-shifting and recording, which is way more convenient. Besides, even the budget tuner cards usually come with a remote... though it would be nice if you had a dual-core processor to handle everything...

Anyway, I guess it just comes down to personal preference.

Oh, and by the way—that graphics card is a bit weak for a high-end monitor like that. It’s going to struggle with HD resolution, especially if you actually plan on gaming. If you aren't planning on upgrading your rig (or at least the GPU) anytime soon, maybe stick to a lower resolution like 1680x1050...

I’m running into a similar issue, but I’m mostly stuck deciding between a Samsung or a Dell
Right now, I'm looking at the Dell Monitor - $667
Or maybe the Samsung P2470HD - $733 or something else around 23" -$667

I’ve tried using a TV tuner card before and it worked fine, but I’d really love to have my PC and my TV setup on the same monitor now.

darkowl72 said:man, I haven't laid eyes on a monitor like that in forever... those things are pretty rare buys nowadays. Honestly, I'm not even sure what the quality is like lately—back in the day, those TV panels were kind of hit-or-miss when used as PC monitors, though I doubt that's even an issue anymore. Even the budget LCD panels have come a long way...

But hey, there's actually another reason why I personally wouldn't touch a monitor with a built-in TV tuner. I mean, all you can really do is watch TV, right? And with this specific version, you don't even get a remote—so you can't just kick back on the couch and channel surf... since the screen size basically invites you to lounge... the ones that *do* come with remotes are usually way pricier. Not to mention, you have such a massive selection of regular monitors and other brands to choose from, whereas only a handful of companies even make monitors with tuners...

If it were me, I'd just grab a standard monitor and a dedicated TV tuner card. That way, besides just watching shows, you get cool features like time-shifting and recording, which is way more convenient—plus, even the cheapest tuner cards usually come with a remote! The only catch would be if you had a dual-core processor...

But hey, I guess it just comes down to what you're into. ...

I honestly think these newer models—especially this one I'm looking at—are miles ahead of the old ones you're remembering, and most of them actually include a remote in the box now.
As for the TV tuner card thing, the idea of having to keep my whole PC running just to watch a show kind of bugs me—you know, dealing with that constant fan whirring, and the power bill probably takes a hit too. I'm not really interested in recording programs anyway, and unfortunately, I don't have a dual-core processor 😢

darkowl72 said:oh, and by the way, your graphics card is a bit weak for a beastly monitor like that. It's gonna struggle a bit with HD resolution, especially if you're planning on gaming. If you aren't thinking about upgrading the rig (or at least the GPU), maybe consider sticking to a 1680x1050 resolution instead...

Regarding the graphics card, you're probably spot on there. Is it even possible to find a better card that would actually fit in this machine? It's been about 5 years since I built this thing. And how much cash am I talking about having to drop for a decent upgrade...?

@ rustycrane86: Honestly, it doesn't matter... pick whichever one you like better, there isn't much difference. Maybe the Samsung just uses a Philips tuner, since those are everywhere... 😁

@ Robert Martin3: If your motherboard has a PCIe slot, then you're golden—you can grab any card you want. But if you're stuck with AGP, you'll have to scour Craigslist or eBay for some used hardware...

Just picked up this new rig, and man, it handles everything like a dream—even with this specific graphics card. I cranked the resolution all the way up and bumped the font sizes a bit just so I wouldn't be squinting at the screen all day, you know? I even dusted off some older titles, and honestly, they ran surprisingly smooth. As for the TV, the picture quality is absolutely killer... there are tons of settings to mess with, so anyone can tweak the image until it looks exactly how they want it. Plus, it actually comes with a remote 🙂 which is always a nice little win.
I've been running this setup for about a week now, and I’m getting more impressed with it every single day. Anyway... definitely recommend picking one up!