PC gaming on plasma?

[Rangoon]

After a bit more research and help from this thread, I've shifted my focus to the TC-P50GT30.

where'd my html go?....

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/searchpa...egories&ks=960

If I plan to sit 6-7 feet away, eyeball to screen, will 50" be appropriate? Or too big? I tend to lean in a bit, even on my 27" LCD which is only 2-3 feet away.

 

[pw38]

Thanks for all of these helpful replies.

One thing I'm confused by is Moving Picture Resolution. I'm taking a serious look at the Panasonic line. The TCP42S30 (and the 50" version) both have only 900 lines of moving picture resolution, yet are 1080p. I'm not exactly sure what this means. Does it actually have 1920x1080 physical resolution? Or 1920x900 and but it can display through techno-magic 1080p images?

The ST and GT series of the same displays are 3D, and happen to have 1080 lines of moving picture resolution. Any insight on this? Some of you guys have recommended the G (assume GT?) series, so I will look at prices for that. Maybe the 3D element will be nice to have after all, at least for movies. Will the GT/ST work well with 3D in games? I understand there are a few titles out there now that feature that (Batman, Metro2033, etc. ).

Thanks again!

Every tv and monitor has static and moving resolution. Your desktop would be static resolution and the games would be moving resolution. I really wouldn't worry about it as once in motion your eyes won't notice any change in clarity. I use a 50" Sammy plasma for my main monitor and enjoy it quite a bit. It to me makes the perfect HTPC monitor. It's not a perfect fit for every situation of course but for me it's ideal.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Thanks for all of these helpful replies.

One thing I'm confused by is Moving Picture Resolution. I'm taking a serious look at the Panasonic line. The TCP42S30 (and the 50" version) both have only 900 lines of moving picture resolution, yet are 1080p. I'm not exactly sure what this means. Does it actually have 1920x1080 physical resolution? Or 1920x900 and but it can display through techno-magic 1080p images?

The ST and GT series of the same displays are 3D, and happen to have 1080 lines of moving picture resolution. Any insight on this? Some of you guys have recommended the G (assume GT?) series, so I will look at prices for that. Maybe the 3D element will be nice to have after all, at least for movies. Will the GT/ST work well with 3D in games? I understand there are a few titles out there now that feature that (Batman, Metro2033, etc. ).

Thanks again!

default mode uses an overscan to crop noise around the borders of some broadcasts, you can change it though.

 

[Rangoon]

Well, it's done. I found the TCP50GT30 direct from Panasonic for $975. Free shipping, but they did charge sales tax.

Thanks for all of the help here, as always!

 

[hawtdawg]

Thanks for all of these helpful replies.

One thing I'm confused by is Moving Picture Resolution. I'm taking a serious look at the Panasonic line. The TCP42S30 (and the 50" version) both have only 900 lines of moving picture resolution, yet are 1080p. I'm not exactly sure what this means. Does it actually have 1920x1080 physical resolution? Or 1920x900 and but it can display through techno-magic 1080p images?

The ST and GT series of the same displays are 3D, and happen to have 1080 lines of moving picture resolution. Any insight on this? Some of you guys have recommended the G (assume GT?) series, so I will look at prices for that. Maybe the 3D element will be nice to have after all, at least for movies. Will the GT/ST work well with 3D in games? I understand there are a few titles out there now that feature that (Batman, Metro2033, etc. ).

Thanks again!

The 3D models also have better image processing and better panels, there's a bigger difference than just the 3D feature between the S30 and ST30. I would personally shoot for an ST30 or better, the ST30 is already priced extremely well. Also, from what I've read, even though the GT30 is a little more expensive, the ST30 calibrates pretty much just as well. The major differences between the GT30 and ST30 are the bezel and THX mode, which I understand can be matched or bettered with a calibration.

Reviewers out there have said the ST30/GT30 are much better TV's than the S30.

 

[hawtdawg]

After a bit more research and help from this thread, I've shifted my focus to the TC-P50GT30.

where'd my html go?....

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/searchpa...egories&ks=960

If I plan to sit 6-7 feet away, eyeball to screen, will 50" be appropriate? Or too big? I tend to lean in a bit, even on my 27" LCD which is only 2-3 feet away.

Actually, the THX recommended distance for a 50 inch is 5 to 7.5 feet. If you sit closer than that, you'll probably be able to notice dithering. I sit about 8 feet from my 65 in and notice no dithering and think it's a perfect distance.

 

[Rangoon]

Thanks, hawtdawg. I'm excited about the GT30 I ordered. I suppose I could have saved a little with the ST. But it sounds like I made a good move upgrading from the S30.

 

[bryanW1995]

You guys are making me very happy that I got the panasonic TC-P58S2 last year instead of one of the others that I was looking at. Not that I wasn't already happy with it b/c it was such an improvement over the old 61" 720p tv that I had, of course.

 

[Rangoon]

I was able to change my order. I switched to the ST30. While the 3D sounds better on the GT30, the overall value and experience sounds better for me with the ST30. According to the CNET reviews, the GT30 might be a better option if I was in a bright room. The GT30 has deeper blacks, but they both seem very comparable in image quality and black levels overall. the ST30 has better gamma, and that apparently results in better detail in shadows, and better for use in dark rooms.

Well, it saved me $175. I got the ST from Panasonic for $805. That will cover the calibration cost! I don't expect to use the 3D feature much. Maybe in some games, and less often in movies. The main reason I wanted the plasma was for deeper blacks and definition in those blacks. Sounds like either way I will be in much better shape than with my standard LCD.

 

[hawtdawg]

I was able to change my order. I switched to the ST30. While the 3D sounds better on the GT30, the overall value and experience sounds better for me with the ST30. According to the CNET reviews, the GT30 might be a better option if I was in a bright room. The GT30 has deeper blacks, but they both seem very comparable in image quality and black levels overall. the ST30 has better gamma, and that apparently results in better detail in shadows, and better for use in dark rooms.

Well, it saved me $175. I got the ST from Panasonic for $805. That will cover the calibration cost! I don't expect to use the 3D feature much. Maybe in some games, and less often in movies. The main reason I wanted the plasma was for deeper blacks and definition in those blacks. Sounds like either way I will be in much better shape than with my standard LCD.

Actually, since the initial reviews, people have figured out that if you set the HDMI content setting to "photo", when using mid or high panel setting on the st30, it fixes the saturation issues and produces a picture that is comparable in accuracy to cinema or low panel brightness. I don't think anyone has done a pro calibration after this discovery, but everyone seems to agree that it looks just as good and is a bit brighter.

 

[nOOky]

I was able to change my order. I switched to the ST30. While the 3D sounds better on the GT30, the overall value and experience sounds better for me with the ST30. According to the CNET reviews, the GT30 might be a better option if I was in a bright room. The GT30 has deeper blacks, but they both seem very comparable in image quality and black levels overall. the ST30 has better gamma, and that apparently results in better detail in shadows, and better for use in dark rooms.

Well, it saved me $175. I got the ST from Panasonic for $805. That will cover the calibration cost! I don't expect to use the 3D feature much. Maybe in some games, and less often in movies. The main reason I wanted the plasma was for deeper blacks and definition in those blacks. Sounds like either way I will be in much better shape than with my standard LCD.

I have the 60" version of that t.v. If you search online you can find generic settings that will probably take you 90% of the way towards picture perfection. A pro calibration would have cost me $250 around here, so I skipped that and tweaked it a bit myself with the settings I found online and the Digital Video Essentials dvd and called it good enough.
Edit: it was $1,299 on amazon during cyber Monday.

 

[aclim]

I occasionally play on a plasma. I usually only use the plasma for certain games, lately has been FIFA 12.

 

[exar333]

I was going to say that 2xGTX 570s would be overkill for 1080P resolution on most games, but if you plan to do 3D it will definitely be needed.

 

[Rangoon]

If you search online you can find generic settings that will probably take you 90% of the way towards picture perfection.

Are you referring to D-Nice's settings over at hdj?

 

[djnsmith7]

I've been gaming on a Samsung 58" plasma for 4 years now & it's a thing of beauty. No lag whatsoever, consistently fast refresh rates & overall, it just shines. I highly recommend it.

Not to mention Blu Ray movies & HD content look great as well.