3 Reasons NOT to Use a TV as a Computer Monitor

You're looking to make some updates to your computer setup, and at the top of your list is an idea to replace your computer monitor with a TV. It'll make everything you do on your computer bigger and better... right?

Not so fast. While utilizing a TV may sound like an ingenious way to upgrade, the fact is that sticking with a computer monitor is a much better choice for a slew of reasons. We're here to make the case with three important points!

The Refresh Rate

If you plan on partaking in some PC gaming, one of the biggest things on your mind should be your refresh rate. The refresh rate on your TV or monitor determines how quickly it can refresh the image on its screen per second. This is what allows your games, movies, and shows to run smoothly. When you're gaming, you're going to want to have a display with a refresh rate of at least 120Hz. Most TVs only have a 60Hz refresh rate, which simply isn't high enough for you to get the most out of your modern games. Even consoles can now run games at 120Hz, so no matter which platform you prefer, a 120Hz is a must for gaming. Using a monitor with a high refresh rate ensures that your screen won't flicker as frequently, which can help you avoid eye strain.

The Lag

Have you ever experienced an annoying delay between hitting a keyboard key and seeing the corresponding action happen onscreen? That's called input lag, and computer monitors are specifically built to minimize it as much as possible. Televisions, however, are not. Anyone who's experienced input lag can attest that it's a royal pain during any computer-related activity, be it typing, scrolling, drawing, or especially gaming. Instead of risking the frustration of dealing with input lag, sticking with a monitor will head it off at the pass.

The Size

Simply put, most television screens are just too big to use as a computer monitor. The general rule for optimal screen viewing, computer or otherwise, is to sit one foot away for every ten inches of screen size. For example, if you're watching TV on a 60" screen, sit about 6 feet away. This metric not only helps to prevent eye strain and posture issues, but it also ensures that you'll get a full view. Since computer work tends to be very close work, using an enormous TV screen will likely interfere with your ability to sit a safe distance away, plus it'll be difficult to see everything on the screen. Why deal with the "front-row-at-the-movie-theater" effect if you can avoid it? Not to mention, most monitors have a higher Pixel Per Inch (PPI) count than TVs because of their smaller size. This means your monitor will likely have a sharper image when used up close when compared to a TV.

Take our advice: Computers work best when they're paired with a computer monitor. Besides, the TV idea will fall by the wayside when you get a full scope of all the amazing monitor options available in different sizes, shapes and screen resolutions.