Video In

[theonlyBuster]

I wasn't too sure where to put this, I was going back and forth between this section and Peripherals, but nonetheless...

 

I have this idea I'm sure most of you have had before. I currently have 3 rather large screens on my desk.  I don't game (on the PC) so ultimately it's for productivity when I'm doing tasks.  Now 2 of the screens are allocated to my desktop, the 3rd is my television. 

ie 2 computer monitors and 1 television. 

 

4 out of 5 times the television is just a television, but every so often I'll use it as a third monitor when watching movies and such local TV. 

 

I'm not a HD focused TV person.  Standard Def is just fine for that. 

That being said, I was wondering what it would take to have a video input from my existing cable box to my computer so I may keep my 3rd screen (television) on one simple input and simply open a program when I want to watch live TV.

 

I've seen TV tuners, but those seem to work off antenna rather than incorporation with a cable box. And then capture cards simply seem to be something to record from the input.  Is there a device (internal or external) that I can connect via RCA, VGA, or HDMI that will simply work as an input and display the media on my computer?

 

 

My apologies for the long life story, I figured a little incite would help with my dilemma.

[theonlyBuster]

Bump... Anyone have any insight or ideas?

[eisenklad]

a capture card/usb dongle  while using a capture/streaming software with "preview" function to view the input?

[theonlyBuster]

a capture card/usb dongle  while using a capture/streaming software with "preview" function to view the input?

I take it as the capture card and/or turner are really the only 2 options?  I was hoping for something simply for displaying w/o all the additional features I'll honestly never use. 

[Mick Naughty]

You have to have a way to input cable to the pc before you can put it out, either that our get a splitter box that allows you to just hit a button and switch inputs.