I don't want to clutter up the Games forum with a thread like this, but I'm curious if anyone here owns a PS3 that they play through their computer monitor.

I'm thinking of getting a PS3, but all I have is an ancient TV set from like 1995. I'd like to be able to play the PS3 through my computer monitor, and get the sound through my headphones as well.

What all will I need to purchase to accomplish this? If you do/have done this before, are there any problems with the video or sound quality?

Even better if there's something I can use for quick swapping between my PC and PS3 on my monitor without crawling under my desk.

Any help is much appreciated.

Souma

2nd Worst City in CA8938 Posts

May 21 2011 03:26 GMT

I use my computer monitor for my PS3.

What you need to purchase? Nothing if your monitor has an HDMI port.

Problems with video or sound quality? Nope. The sound's bad but that's because it's built-in speakers on my monitor. If you want good sound just use other speakers.

I use an HDMI switcher thingymajig to switch between my PC and PS3. Basically I plug the HDMI cables from my PC and PS3 to the switcher and plug the switcher into the monitor. With a press of a button it switches between ports.

MrCon

France29748 Posts

May 21 2011 03:28 GMT

You can use any TV card (check if it has a video in) or any 20$ capture card.
You plug your PS3 to it and use a capture soft like DSCALER (free) to have image, I did this for my PS2.

Hinanawi

United States2250 Posts

May 21 2011 03:29 GMT

On May 21 2011 12:26 Souma wrote:
I use my computer monitor for my PS3.

What you need to purchase? Nothing if your monitor has an HDMI port.

Problems with video or sound quality? Nope. The sound's bad but that's because it's built-in speakers on my monitor. If you want good sound just use other speakers.

I use an HDMI switcher thingymajig to switch between my PC and PS3. Basically I plug the HDMI cables from my PC and PS3 to the switcher and plug the switcher into the monitor. With a press of a button it switches between ports.

Thanks. Unfortunately my monitor doesn't have built-in speakers, so if anyone knows of a sound system on the cheap (all I need it to do is send sound to my headphones, it doesn't need actual speakers) that's worth a buy, I'd appreciate it.

I'll definitely get a switcher like that for the video, sounds like exactly what I wanted.

BreaK

Canada890 Posts

May 21 2011 03:57 GMT

I have both my PC and PS3 plugged into the same computer.

Just make sure your monitor is HDCP compliant, connect the ps3 to the monitor with an hdmi cable. Because monitor speakers are always shitty I use the the standard RCA ps3 cable, combined with an RCA to 3.55mm convertor plugged into my computer speakers which have auxiliary input. Works great, monitor switches back and forth within a second.

Hinanawi

United States2250 Posts

May 21 2011 04:00 GMT

On May 21 2011 12:57 BreaK wrote:
I have both my PC and PS3 plugged into the same computer.

Just make sure your monitor is HDCP compliant, connect the ps3 to the monitor with an hdmi cable. Because monitor speakers are always shitty I use the the standard RCA ps3 cable, combined with an RCA to 3.55mm convertor plugged into my computer speakers which have auxiliary input. Works great, monitor switches back and forth within a second.

Thanks.

I'm gonna borrow my friend's PS3 to test this stuff out with my monitor this weekend I think, I hope some of you in this thread don't mind if I PM you with a question or two if I run into difficulties. I appreciate it.

Myrmidon

United States9452 Posts

May 21 2011 04:08 GMT

I've seen this done a lot, but when I did this personally, it was through a monitor with HDMI input that had a headphone output jack.

Can't you have the video through HDMI but still plug in the normal component or composite cable? I looked it up and it seems like you can select the audio to output through those cables while the HDMI sends the video data to another source. Just send the red/white stereo audio out to some device that has a headphone out jack. (I'm pretty sure the audio out would be a line-level signal that's not backed by an amplifier for headphone use, so no converting the 2 RCA to 3.5mm TRS for your headphones.)

edit: I think there's an issue with what BreaK is saying, because computer speakers tend to be self-powered and have their own internal amplifier. They take a line-in audio signal. Most headphones are passive (those that don't have batteries or run off USB) and would need a powered output, which I suspect the RCA outputs from the PS3 are not. That's why you need to send the audio signal to a powered source for your headphones.

Here's a reasonable-quality portable headphone amplifier with a digital volume control and a bass boost option (recharges its battery through USB from a computer) that costs $17.41 shipped:
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/fiio-e5-3-5mm-earphone-volume-booster-power-amplifier-black-18350

It takes a 3.5mm TRS input though, so you'd need one of these 2-RCA female to 1 3.5mm stereo TRS male:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10218&cs_id=1021803&p_id=663&seq=1&format=2

Caphe

Vietnam10817 Posts

May 21 2011 04:38 GMT

I have my PS3 hook up with a PC monitor as well. Others guy above me already answer your question but I just want to add something.

If your monitor is manufactured in the 2 years, its probably HDCP compliant. You will have to buy an HDMI cable for connecting though.

For the sound part, Sony will provide you an AV cable(the exact same one with the PS2) with your PS3. You can use that to hook your sound to a speaker.

You will have to do some setup when you first turn on your PS3 though. If things go well, PS3 will let your chose your resolution. Then your sound source, just chose AV cable if you use the cable sony provided to connect to a speakers.

infinity21

Canada6683 Posts

May 21 2011 05:58 GMT

What Myrmidon suggests seems ideal. I've used my ps3 & 360 with using a hdmi to dvi cable for my monitor and the RCA cable + RCA to 3.5mm cable to hook up to my Z-2300. Since then I I bought a monitor with a headphone jack so I can switch between my pc/ps3/360 without having to go under the desk to swap cables.