Mailbag From Dec 16, 2005 |
HDTV Q&A; Volume 5
I love the HDTV articles you've done at IGN. I'm quite impressed that you've managed to put so much good information together in one place.
I'm all ready to go buy myself a DLP unit, for all the reasons you've mentioned. However, there is one problem I see on every message that you have not aggressed: up-conversion lag. I understand that when a DLP has to convert a 480i or 480p signal to the "native" resolution of 720p, there is a delay in this process. For FPS shoot-outs or fighting games, a delay of 1/2 a second, or maybe even 1/10 of a second, is totally unacceptable.
I see you suggest DLPs as a great choice for many gamers. Is this only true for those people playing in 720p 100% of the time? Is this problem just overblown? Is there a model of TV that you are basing your DLP/gamer suggestions on?
I just don't want to buy a $3,000 TV if I can't play Super Smash Brothers: Melee on the thing. Thanks in advance, and keep up the good work!
Mark
Omaha, NE
Dear Mark,
You're exactly right about HDTV lag; it is a consequence of TVs scaling non-native signals to different resolutions. The problem is usually the worst when 480i signals have to be shifted up to 720p or 1080i. Pretty much every kind of HDTV is subject to the phenomena, though some much more than others. Some DLPs are really bad, but some are okay, and the same goes for LCDs and CRTs. Sadly, few people are factoring this issue into HDTV reviews, so it is becoming almost a necessity for gamers to take their systems to the store and test TVs with actual game play to see what happens.
For the peeps who already have TVs that suffer from scaling lag, there is a solution. The Micomsoft XRGB-2+ is a Japanese device that will convert any incoming signal (like a GC's non-HD 480i/p) to a digital signal in VGA. If your HDTV doesn't have a VGA input you can find VGA to Component wires easily enough. The device is optimized for gaming, and really cuts down the scaling lag. It's a tad expensive at around $200, but the word is it works wonders, and you can find it for sale from a number of importers on the net.
-Gerry
Gerry,
You have the best Q&A; ever! So, I keep reading that the PS3 will run in 1080p. Is there a noticeable difference to the naked eye between 1080i and 1080p? If so, is it worth dropping the extra $500-$1000 to get a 1080p television now so you don't have to replace it in 6 months?
Thanks!
Jake
Dear Jake,
There is a noticeable difference, though it is really only terribly apparent on screens 50"+ and when seen from within 9 feet or so, as the addition of extra pixels in a 1080p display mean that all the pixels are packed closer together, which minimizes the "screen door" effect if you are looking at the display close-up. If you are planning to get a HDTV or some sort in the 60" range and image quality is something you really care about, I would say it's worth the extra $1000. You could also wait until the middle/end of 2006 to make your purchase, as prices for 1080p capable displays will have come down a lot by then.
-Gerry
Hey guys, I've been reading your excellent HDTV coverage lately, and the solutions you on how to get one cheap have been really helpful. However, one thing I noticed you guys haven't looked into, is how an average 13-year old like me can get a decent 720p HDTV. and while my current Toshiba "51 1080i HDTV is suffice, just to see the sweet HD graphics on my Xbox 360, I have to use our living room, which is almost always overrun by my 17-year older brother, or my dad watching football games. Plus, every kid likes to have their nice alone time and when playing their sexy looking Xbox 360... Not to mention not having to torture your family's ears with your screaming when Call of Duty 2 lags online and you get whooped. So basically in summation, How can a kid like me get a nice 720p HDTV with a comfortable size that I can actually afford? Thanks a bunch,
-Brian
Dear Brian,
I called an emergency editorial conference to discuss your situation and we came up with a foolproof way for you to get a sweet HDTV in three simple steps. Get a job. Save money. Buy TV.
Seriously though, there aren't really very many other ways to get a TV. You're either going to need about $750 for a 30" HD-CRT, or your brother and 3 of his friends to steal one and carry it away. Since you're 13 years old I assume you can fit through a doggy door, so breaking into somebody's house shouldn't be that hard. Just start casing the rich neighborhoods and you'll be set to jet.
-Gerry
P.S. Stealing is illegal and you shouldn't do it.
P.P.S. You could also get a VGA cable for your 360 and use your computer monitor.
I see you suggest DLPs as a great choice for many gamers. Is this only true for those people playing in 720p 100% of the time? Is this problem just overblown? Is there a model of TV that you are basing your DLP/gamer suggestions on?
I just don't want to buy a $3,000 TV if I can't play Super Smash Brothers: Melee on the thing. Thanks in advance, and keep up the good work!
Mark
Omaha, NE
Dear Mark,
You're exactly right about HDTV lag; it is a consequence of TVs scaling non-native signals to different resolutions. The problem is usually the worst when 480i signals have to be shifted up to 720p or 1080i. Pretty much every kind of HDTV is subject to the phenomena, though some much more than others. Some DLPs are really bad, but some are okay, and the same goes for LCDs and CRTs. Sadly, few people are factoring this issue into HDTV reviews, so it is becoming almost a necessity for gamers to take their systems to the store and test TVs with actual game play to see what happens.
For the peeps who already have TVs that suffer from scaling lag, there is a solution. The Micomsoft XRGB-2+ is a Japanese device that will convert any incoming signal (like a GC's non-HD 480i/p) to a digital signal in VGA. If your HDTV doesn't have a VGA input you can find VGA to Component wires easily enough. The device is optimized for gaming, and really cuts down the scaling lag. It's a tad expensive at around $200, but the word is it works wonders, and you can find it for sale from a number of importers on the net.
-Gerry
Gerry,
You have the best Q&A; ever! So, I keep reading that the PS3 will run in 1080p. Is there a noticeable difference to the naked eye between 1080i and 1080p? If so, is it worth dropping the extra $500-$1000 to get a 1080p television now so you don't have to replace it in 6 months?
Thanks!
Jake
Dear Jake,
There is a noticeable difference, though it is really only terribly apparent on screens 50"+ and when seen from within 9 feet or so, as the addition of extra pixels in a 1080p display mean that all the pixels are packed closer together, which minimizes the "screen door" effect if you are looking at the display close-up. If you are planning to get a HDTV or some sort in the 60" range and image quality is something you really care about, I would say it's worth the extra $1000. You could also wait until the middle/end of 2006 to make your purchase, as prices for 1080p capable displays will have come down a lot by then.
-Gerry
Hey guys, I've been reading your excellent HDTV coverage lately, and the solutions you on how to get one cheap have been really helpful. However, one thing I noticed you guys haven't looked into, is how an average 13-year old like me can get a decent 720p HDTV. and while my current Toshiba "51 1080i HDTV is suffice, just to see the sweet HD graphics on my Xbox 360, I have to use our living room, which is almost always overrun by my 17-year older brother, or my dad watching football games. Plus, every kid likes to have their nice alone time and when playing their sexy looking Xbox 360... Not to mention not having to torture your family's ears with your screaming when Call of Duty 2 lags online and you get whooped. So basically in summation, How can a kid like me get a nice 720p HDTV with a comfortable size that I can actually afford? Thanks a bunch,
-Brian
Dear Brian,
I called an emergency editorial conference to discuss your situation and we came up with a foolproof way for you to get a sweet HDTV in three simple steps. Get a job. Save money. Buy TV.
Seriously though, there aren't really very many other ways to get a TV. You're either going to need about $750 for a 30" HD-CRT, or your brother and 3 of his friends to steal one and carry it away. Since you're 13 years old I assume you can fit through a doggy door, so breaking into somebody's house shouldn't be that hard. Just start casing the rich neighborhoods and you'll be set to jet.
-Gerry
P.S. Stealing is illegal and you shouldn't do it.
P.P.S. You could also get a VGA cable for your 360 and use your computer monitor.
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