Ideal size for a gaming TV?

[duffmanth]

Hey all, I'm in the process of getting a new T.V., I'm looking at a Sony 40". My old 32" inch is going in the bedroom. I've noticed that on friend's TVs above 40" games start to become pixelated and jaggies start to become very noticeable. I'm guessing the sweet spot for size/picture/graphics quality is between 32"-40"? Anyone have any suggestions?

[Collector_Gaming]

i got a 42 inch and i dont notice any of those problems. but then i am not a quality nazi like some people i met

[NayusDante]

How far away do you sit? A 42" is perfectly fine if you sit far enough away. I have a 42" HP LCD from 2007 and it looks great where I sit, about 12 feet away.

If you want a "soft" picture, get a DLP. They're huge, cost-effective, and not quite as sharp as an LCD. I played Batman Arkham City at the next resolution below 1280x720 on my parents' 65" Mitsubishi and it looked great. I couldn't tell that the resolution was that low. A lot of console games don't even manage a full 720p image, the resolution is often reduced and scaled to preserve framerate. They're 3D, too, if you want to invest in the additional hardware for it.

The longer you wait, the better. There are a million new things in TVs right now, and they're all obsolete when they hit the shelves. The TV on the shelf last year with Blockbuster integration is a bit anachronistic now, so consider that when evaluating extra features. There's going to be a resolution bump in the next year or so ("4K") and you'll regret not waiting if the new consoles support it. Also, watch for the new HDMI features like power and ethernet. Not much uses either now and they're not in very many TVs, but in the near future, you'll see them a lot.

If you specifically want a TV for gaming, think of a computer monitor. Extras aren't important on a monitor, you just want picture quality. The tuner and Internet apps are irrelevant (consoles do most of that anyway). Avoid dynamic contrast, focus on color accuracy and black levels.

[Ze_ro]

Sony should give me a free set of these (http://store.sony.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&partNumber=HMZT1) so that I can mention them up in threads like these (You hear that Sony? This one's a freebie... the next plug is gonna cost you!)

I can't really afford to blow that kind of money just for a whim, so I don't actually know if they are actually any good.

--Zero

[NayusDante]

I would try an HMD in person before even thinking about buying one. I've seen some really bad HMDs...

[kupomogli]

300 inch flat screen.

[RCM]

I have a pretty sweet 3D plasma that's 58 inches. Games look great on it. Size isn't the only thing that matters-- it's how the tv manufacturer uses it!

[heybtbm]

There is so much to discuss on this topic. I'll save some time (yours and mine)...Go to the AVS Forum (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/). THE internet goldmine regarding A/V information.

Important topics to research:

-Viewing distance vs. screen size
-Resolution output of console vs. resolution displayed on screen
-Ideal refresh rate (movies vs. games)
-LED/LCD vs. Plasma
-Location of screen

[Gamevet]

There is so much to discuss on this topic. I'll save some time (yours and mine)...Go to the AVS Forum (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/). THE internet goldmine regarding A/V information.

Important topics to research:

-Viewing distance vs. screen size
-Resolution output of console vs. resolution displayed on screen
-Ideal refresh rate (movies vs. games)
-LED/LCD vs. Plasma
-Location of screen

Agreed!

Not every LCD or Plasma is going to perform the same. The board being used for the television also effects what you'll see on the screen.

[The 1 2 P]

I think it needs to be atleast 32 inches. Beyond that you should look up the little details that others have already mentioned.

[AceAerosmith]

I have a 40" LCD in my game room and it looks great. I sit about 6-8 feet away and the picture is sharp. I also play on a 50" Plasma and other than a little burn-in, that's a good sized TV as well. Personal preference as well as what you can afford should be the deciding factors. I'm getting a bigger TV next time I need one (after the plasma burns out) and I'll be sticking with LCD/LED and getting the biggest available.

[duffmanth]

I have a 40" LCD in my game room and it looks great. I sit about 6-8 feet away and the picture is sharp. I also play on a 50" Plasma and other than a little burn-in, that's a good sized TV as well. Personal preference as well as what you can afford should be the deciding factors. I'm getting a bigger TV next time I need one (after the plasma burns out) and I'll be sticking with LCD/LED and getting the biggest available.

Yeah I just got a 40" Sony 3D TV for $800 tax in. My buddy works at a retailer that will remain nameless lol, so I got an "employee discount". It's the perfect size for my living room, I only sit about 6-8 feet away. The picture is phenomenal.

[Rickstilwell1]

If you can, also see if you can bring something like a Sega Nomad or one of those portable clones that outputs to the TV so you can test for button input lag. You want to make sure you get a brand that works for classic gaming just as well as modern.

So far both of my LCD TVs are good. A 52" SHARP and a 19" MAGNAVOX.

[kedawa]

I personally can't stand playing on big screens because I find it hard to focus on the screen when it's so far away.
I play all my classic systems on either a 1084s or a 13" Sharp Aquos, and my modern systems on a 19" computer monitor.

[Gamevet]

and my modern systems on a 19" computer monitor.

Please tell me that the monitor is at least a 16 x 9 display.

[retroman]

i have a 42 plasma and love it

[kedawa]

Please tell me that the monitor is at least a 16 x 9 display.

Hell no. 5:4.

[Dobie]

Viewing distance versus size is most important for myself. I have a 50" LED, but I can't stand to play games on it, because the furniture is set up too close--but it is perfect for movies and TV. I ended up moving my gaming consoles to our 6-year-old 32" LCD in another room, and haven't been back. Bigger isn't necessarily better.

[duffmanth]

I personally can't stand playing on big screens because I find it hard to focus on the screen when it's so far away.
I play all my classic systems on either a 1084s or a 13" Sharp Aquos, and my modern systems on a 19" computer monitor.

I find my new 40" to be the perfect size for gaming/movies/TV. I wouldn't go any bigger for gaming. I still have my old consoles, PS2 and older, hooked up to my 17 year old Sony Trinitron tube TV, they look great, but shitty on HDTV's.

[Gamevet]

Hell no. 5:4.

Sorry man, but that's a fail. It's nice monitor for Dreamcast VGA, but not so good for 360 or PS3 in 720p. ;)

[ChR0n1k]

Ive gamed on a few tvs in the past 5 years... starting from a 47 rear projection, to my 22 inch LCD computer monitor, to a 32 inch LCD, now on a 42 inch LCD, and I have never really noticed any quality issues, it only gets better the bigger you go, especially if you are farther away from your tv. In all honesty I think I preferred the rear projection, but it got rained on from an open window and I had to scrap the million pound baby. something about the motion having barley any blur was sick on that set. I think the new 240hz leds might be the best bet, but I cant afford that... yet.

[Gamevet]

I've been gaming on a 52" Samsung LCD (120hz) since @ June of 2009. I've never had an issue with motion-blur and the picture is outstanding. I did have it calibrated for the best picture quality though.

I also have an LG 24" (60hz) monitor on my desk, that I use for 2 PCs and an Xbox 360. While not as great as the Samsung LCD, it does a pretty good job with 80% of the stuff I throw at it. It occasionally will suffer from motion-blur, but it's pretty rare. The size of the screen might make it less prone to the motion-blur.

I've had a HD 32" Sony Wega CRT (4:3) since 2005. It's a great set for my older consoles, and works great with 480p games on the old Xbox, Gamecube and PS2. I used it for the 360 and PS3, up until 2009, when I got the LCD. The 720p stuff looked pretty good, but the edges of the screen were cut off in that mode. The crisp colors, black levels and overall smooth picture made it a great alternative to the more expensive LCDs of the time.

[substantial_snake]

I currently use a 42 inch 1080p Dynex I bought a year and a half or so ago for 500ish new and it works great as both a PC monitor and a Game Console Display. It has a healthy number of ports (2 AV/1 S-video/2 Component/1 VGA/3 HDMI) so I never have any issues hooking up things too it old or new, currently being used as a PS3, PS2, PC, PSP, and Wii display. Its still very bright and has had no mechanical issues wing things like non starting and whatever for the heavy usage it gets. I really can't see myself going any larger mostly for pratically's sake of moving the thing around when you need to so I would suggest you stick to something around this size.

I honestly don't know why anyone knocks Dynex other then being the "dirty peasant" TV brand. I've owned 3 at this point and all of them are still in great working condition while the LG TV I purchases several years ago is now pretty much done. They are typically much cheaper then the other store bought brands and again I have never had an issue with one despite practically every stranger rolling their eyes at the mention of the brand.

[kedawa]

Sorry man, but that's a fail. It's nice monitor for Dreamcast VGA, but not so good for 360 or PS3 in 720p. ;)

720p? That's for chumps. I rock 1280x1024 and it rules. Not all games support fullscreen mode, but some games, like Super Street Fighter IV, were meant to played this way. Of course, I still get the full 1280x720 for the games that don't.

[Gamevet]

720p? That's for chumps. I rock 1280x1024 and it rules. Not all games support fullscreen mode, but some games, like Super Street Fighter IV, were meant to played this way. Of course, I still get the full 1280x720 for the games that don't.

I was thinking your screen might be letterboxed with 720p. ;)

[WCP]

I'd say that 126 inches is the sweet spot. I have a projector, and after playing around with all different sizes of screens, I settled on 126 inches for the 16:9 portion of the screen. I was up in the 130 inches range, but that was just too big. Maybe when there are 4k sources and 4k projectors, you'll be able to go as huge as 150 or even 170 inches, but in my experiences, 126 inches is about the biggest you should ever go.

Here's the crazy thing... Back in late spring, I built myself a gaming PC. The idea behind it, was to play games at a much higher resolution, with all the visual effects maxed out, to kinda get a little beyond what I'm getting on 360 and PS3. So, I buy this gaming rig, and I'm playing games on my 22 inch 1080p computer monitor. Sometimes, I hook my PC up to the living room TV which is a 50 inch plasma (also 1080p). The games look absolutely fantastic on both displays.

The thing that sucks, is that when I hook it up to my 720p projector, a considerable amount of that graphical splendor gets lost in the translation. I have to run the games at 1280 x 720, and while I can have everything else totally maxed, it really doesn't look all that different from an Xbox or PS3 game. The only real difference is when I'm playing a game that on 360 or PS3 that doesn't actually run at a true 720p resolution. There are certain games on Xbox and PS3 that are actually running at like 640p and stuff like that. Those games do look slightly better. Still, the 1080p on my little 22 inch monitor and the living room TV are a glimpse into PS4 and Xbox 720 territory. Time to upgrade the projector....

[lazyhoboguy]

Cool thread. I play my non-HD consoles on a 20 inch standard definition tv. It is fine for 2d gaming, but for stuff like the n64,ps2,etc the screen is a bit small sometimes. I have the tv right at the foot of my bed, but at 20 inches I still feel like I have to squint sometimes. Think a bigger sd tv would be better.

For my ps3 I use a 19 inch lcd moniter. Since I am sitting close to it, even though the monitor isnt huge the experience is pretty good. Feels like a much bigger tv sort of since you are close to it.