Which Brand Plasma/LCD is good for gaming via PC? (58" - 65")

Hey guys,

I'm thinking of getting a Large screen tv for boxing day (dec. 26). I'm looking for sizes 58" to 65". My budget is $3K to $3.5K CAD.

My question is: which is best for gaming via PC> Plasma or LCD?

I have been to Best Buy and looked at Plasma and LCD tvs. They both have their pros and cons. for example: LCD tvs have more brightness than Plasma tv which means the colors are more brilliant even in lit rooms. Plasma are meant for dark rooms which have minimal light.

The thing is I'll probably be gaming 50-50 in lit and dark room. So I don't know if this is a huge deal or not. Would I eventually get used to Plasmas with low brightness in lit rooms?

Also The picture on LCD tv is pixelated whenever their is fast motion. I don't know if this is just the poor quality HD content or the actual tv producing the pixels.

So guys which Brand and which type of LCD would you guys recommend? for normal computer use and mostly gaming?

Thanks

 

If you play with HUD Plasma is bad idea.
Ghosting of the hud.

 

Honestly LED is better, I just got one at bestbuy, its an LG and the games look awesome compared to my LCD 22'' Monitor. LG is a good brand, I have owned quite a few and never had any problems.

 

I've had fantastic luck with Vizio's, currently have a 42" LCD that I do my gaming and tv watching on, and they are very well priced too.

I'd second an LCD for what you are after, I had a 50" Plasma and actually did have some ghosting problems.

 

Plasma isn't preferred for things where static elements are involved. While image burn/ghosting has gotten quite better(you need a couple of hours stuck on the same image to really burn in an image), computers have lots of static elements in both the desktop(taskbar, menus etc.) and the games(health bars etc.) so if you fiddle with your computer via the plasma T for an extended period of time, chances are the image burn or ghosting will become a problem. Plasmas are best for movies or the occasional video game(and for a few hours at a time for the games) where dynamic elements are present.

Anyhow, an LCD TV(either TFT or LED) would be best for your uses. Brand wise, it's kind of highly ambiguous because you need to compare specific models within the brands. Each brand has cheaper and more expensive models and if you compare a brand's bottom line with another's top line, you obviously won't get the same type of quality for the product.

Samsungs, Sharps and Sonys produce good TVs which are also thin, but at a higher price point. On the other hand, Panasonics, LGs, and Vizios are usually of lesser price tag so perhaps are of a better value under regular prices.

Another thing to consider would perhaps be the setup's audio if you don't already have a speak setup.

 

LED backlight LCD is great. Largest one are only 55" though, if that is ok. Look at Samsung, LG and Vazio. Vazio is cheapest since it's a taiwan company but they use the same LG panel from the LG sets.

 

I wouldn't even consider Plasma, period. LCD all the way.

 

Yeah plasma isn't good for computing(hence why there are no plasma based screens in the current generations) due to the static elements involved in the computer world.

LCD is a far better choice if you want to do computing and intensive gaming. Plasma is more for movies which is why they still persist in the HDTV market.

 

Hey guys, I really appericiate all the input. Thanks!

So Plasma is no-no. But The issue with Pixelation on LCD, does it apply to all makes and models?

I mean when I went to check out the TV, the LCD/LED colours were bright and awesome but I just didn't like the quality of HD.

I mean, when there were fast moving picture, some parts of the content turned blocky. Could this be due to the HD content they were feeding through the TV? or Do all LCDs have this issue.

If so, will it bother be during gaming?

thanks

 

Is the pixelation something you noticed with all the LCDs you've observed? Basically, LCD TVs are made from similar technology as LCD monitors so it shouldn't be a problem if one handles motion fine. Usually it's more a question of what's rendering the content(the GPU or the Blu Ray player or whatnot).

First of all, make sure the TVs you're looking at are streaming actual HD content to their TVs so you can assess the actual clarity of the image. Retail store will purposely stream different stuff to different TVs so the pixelation might be a bad feed. If you want to check it out at a store, try bringing your own content or ask the clerk to stream similar content to the models you're looking at for a more objective comparison.

If budget isn't a constraint an LED LCD would be a good choice since it's evenly light and it's made slimmer. Colors are also slightly better than the regular TFT LCDs and aproach the level of color vibrancy that high end plasmas have.

 

Just as an aside, is it just me or does Vizio seem to have really subpar image quality in store. Most people seem to give it good marks but every display I've seen in story is washed out, has poor color contrast etc...

 

Pixellation with fast motion means you need a higher refresh rate. Try one of the 120Hz or the newer 240Hz LCDs.

 

Samsung LED TV. You know the ones that are like 3cm wide, and have the reddish black bezel?

/Thread.

 

you probably need <=5ms response time to get rid of ghosting

 

Check out Wikipedia.
Personally dig the RGB dynamic LEDs, but you dont get the slimness of the Edge LED that Samsung, Sony and LG use.

Either way with a bit of calibration you should get stunning picture.
(I know my PS3 loves 1080p and GT5 Prologue. xD )

 

The thickness of the TV isn't important if thicker Tvs yield better quality. Here is the comparrioson chart for LED LCD TVs that I might choose from: http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/co...&catid=28419&sort=0&logon=&langid=EN&dm=DEBUG

From those, which one would be suitable for me.

DEagleson, How can we tell which are RGB and which are Edge LEDs. Like in the above comparrison chart it just mentions all the TVs as having LED backlight. it dosen't specify if its RGB or Edge.

Also according to the picture below the best one seems to be I assume RGB LED. Which has highest ratio (contrast?). So from the earlier link I posted, all those TVs have contrast ratio of 1, 3 or 5 million to 1. So I guess they are all RGB LEDs except for the one that has million to 1 ratio?

I know that LEDs are superior to LCDs but I wanted a larger screen tv. But I would like your guys' opinion.

what should I sacrifice? the size for the quality or vice-verse?

 

I thought pixellation was just due to bad compression.

 

Are you sure it wasn't motion blur? Anyway, display response time, frequency, or the source feed and/or input cables (types and brand quality) could cause any of these problems, some of which have been mentioned already. I think Melody mentioned a great method to compare, but check the specs on the TV's. Lower response time/higher frequency is the best thing to look for in TV sets specs to quell these issues, then personal preference on desired features and picture quality. But rememeber, you can have THE best TV in the world and it doesn't mean squat if the source feed and connectors aren't suitable for the task.

 

I am in the same boat- will be getting a Plasma in the next couple of months. Have my eye on the LG 50PS80 (there is also a 60" version.)

Burn in will only be an issue if you leave a static image on screen for too long. The modern Plasmas are not like the old ones.

It also depends on your viewing preferences:
Primary gaming, then get a good rated LCD.
I watch mostly movies and then gaming secondary so Plasma is my choice.

Check AVS Forums and read the reviews, pros and cons for both LCD and Plasma models.

 

Well it's up to you. LEDs currently don't come larger than 55" and if that's too small for you, then perhaps consider a non-LED LCD. Personally, depending on how far you are from the TV, size will be relative for each person. 55" would be more than enough for me. I have a 60" 4:3 TV and we're standing more than 10 feet away from it and the image is fine, but if you plan on being closer, then perhaps you don't need such a big screen.

I would go for an LED LCD TV even if it meant sacrificing a smaller TV personally, the image is surprisingly more crisp and the colors are quite good(as I've said, they're comparable to certain plasmas).

 

I have a "50 Pioneer plasma which i use for gaming, laptop plugged in via HDMI, i don't have any problems with image retention, if its left on static images for quite a long time, like 3+ hours then a little bit shows in the black scenes, but then the built in screen wash gets rid of it instantly.

I prefer plasma over LCD, as they have deeper blacks, better colours etc.

Todays plasmas, are alot better than they used to be

 

If you see a slim LCD TV that advertises that its LED backlight, its edge LED.

If you see a standard LCD TV, that advertises LED backlight, its direct rgb led.

The difference is just where the LEDs is places, but usually direct LED backlight produces best images.
Somethimes they even cheaper too.

 

The Samsung UN55B6000 is an edge only LED. Their 7000 and 8000 series set is the one with the true behind the panel LED, that's why they are also more expensive. The LG 55LH90 and the Vazio VF551XVT are also true behind the panel LED.

I would take better picture quality over size anyday. I recently returned a Sharp 65" LCD set and am now waiting for the next gen LG or Vazio 55" that is suppose to hit store in Feb.

 

You can quite safely ignore the in store brightness issue, LCDs just display better due to the god awful lighting used in store, unless you watch your TV under a floodlight both LCD and plasma will be perfectly watchable in the average home. Units on display are usually in awful torch mode anyway.

Burn in isn't an issue on current gen plasmas and hasn't been for a long time, temporary IR isn't even an issue as long as you buy a decent brand.

Motion resolution even on 120Hz+ LCDs can be awful to watch, I can't manage more than an hour or two viewing a decent sized LCD without it causing a headache. LCD is also subject to the soap effect during movie viewing unless most of the motion compensation features are disabled.

And for a comparable price you'll usually get a much better plasma than you will an LCD.

 

Let's no forget brightness though. With a plasma it dims over time. LCD is a bulb and just burns out, which can be replaced, plasmas can't.

 

Well I don't think it's an issue of "plasma vs LCD" anymore(since apparently this is what the thread is turning into ). Both have pros and cons and it'll depend on the person to weigh if the pros outweigh the cons.

It's a question of LED LCD TVs now as that's what the OP has made his mind on. Now he needs a few brands or better yet, a few models to choose from.

 

Nonsense. My old laptop had a 15ms response time and ghosting was NEVER a problem.

 

100,000+ hours until 50% reduction on any recent plasma, do the math.

Response time is also more of an issue with LCD than plasma, by most accounts.

 

so now it seems that again I have two choices. lol

Plasma vs. RGB LED.

Plasma - probably cheap, available in 60"+ size
RGB LED- Expense and max size available is 55".

And few people mentioned that the issues with plasmas no longer exist. The burn-in is no more of an issue on newer plasma and the viewer can get used to the brightness on plasma.

I'm afraid this is turning into "Plasma vs. LCD" thread and no doubt 20% of the internet is filled with them. I can definitely google this and end up reading 100s of threads/article and still have no decision.

are plasma only considered superior to LCDs because of their color reproduction and better blacks?

Its 50-50 gaming and movies. Even the movies I'll be watching from the computer. I've got a lot of standard definition content and most of 720p and abit of 1080p. But I will from now on will be getting 720 to 1080p only.

 

Just take whatever you want. xD
But try getting a 1920x1080 resolution on it. [1080p]

 

Everything I've read is standard is 60,000 hours, and the decay isn't linear, you can lose up to 30% in 20,000 hours. I know it isn't a huge deal breaker, but it's a fact.

It all depends on how long you have it on per day and how long you plan on keeping it. If it's on 12 hours per day, maybe not a great idea. But if only 3-4 on average, not a big deal.

 

Ok well let's try and keep it simple here; if you want more specific info, you can indeed google it as lots of sites exist concerning the whole "plasma vs LCD" topic as you stated.

Plasma did and still does provide the best image color wise since it uses a mix of red, blue and green light to create colors and therefore can access most of the colors available in the light spectrum. LCDs use liquid crystals to block out certain wavelengths of light produced by the backlight(be if TFT or LED) by sending in electrical pulses/currents through the crystals to produce certain colors, therefore the blocking effectiveness of the crystals will in turn determine the colors produced.

The whole "plasmas lose brightness over time" is indeed true as the light produced by plasma TVs is due to photons caused by the collisions of polarized atom/electrons. The atoms will gradually lose energy over time with repeated use and the photons released will be less and less energetic(not entirely accurate, but in layman's terms this will work I suppose).

Anyhow, technical stuff aside... plasmas produce a truer and wider range of colors and blacks(basically the blacks of a plasma is the actual absence of light while an LCD's black are a crystal blocking out a light), but at the tradeoff of being prone to image burn(but as stated, it's an issue only when really abused) and degradation over time.

Basically, in general, plasma will produce a superior image to a similar caliber LCD, but there are pros and cons to each technology and how you use it will indeed determine which one has the pros which outweigh the cons. There is no definite "best"; it will depend on who you are and what you're doing.

Initially, my personal view was that your computing needs would benefit more from an LCD TV than a plasma(unless there was a 3rd option I wasn't aware of *cough* DLP *cough*). Now however you mention movies as a 50% use so I'm not quite convinced :s Alright well, will gaming be the only other thing you'll do except movie son your TV? Are you doing either of these activities for prolonged periods of time a day?

If you will be using the T for extended periods of time(more than 8 hours a day and straight) then perhaps an LCD(of the LED backlight type) would be best, but if your uses fall within general "regular modest"(for lack of a better term) times(the casual use that any regular person with a job/school would use a TV so maybe 4-6 hours a day at most), then a plasma would suit you best I'd say.

 

There are lots of plasmas this year that are rated at 100,000 hours... Panasonic G10, samsung 850, Lg ps8000 to name a few....

even at 60,000 hours, this is alot longer than the old CRT tube televisions.

 

I think the best advice anyone can give you is to do research! Go to local stores and view the TV there, if you find one you like go home and start looking for reviews and forums so you can get some end-users opinions.

As far as no LCD's bigger than 55" that isnt true. There are several 65" LCD's out there right now.

 

There aren't any LED LCDs larger than 55". At least, if there are, none are available on the Canadian market AFAIK.

 

And don't forget to try and be green. Plasma in general consume twice to 3 times the power of a equal size LCD. Also, When plasma panel goes out. It's a whole line or a group of pixels at once while if you lose a couple pixel on a LCD, it's hardly noticable. I see plasma with a black line or a blob of off color pixels everytime I went to restaurants and bars that have them on the wall. Sure those are high usage situation but still.

 

Even at 12 hours a day you're looking at 20+ years of use, the chance of you still using the thing after 10 is pretty slim, let alone 20.

Current gen plasmas are energy star rated just like LCDs, and use the same trick of default profile being set to horribly reduced brightness and contrast to reduce power consumption. Once you calibrate either tech the power consumption is going to increase, but plasmas aren't the power sucking beasts everyone seems to think they still are, the difference is entirely negligible.

As mentioned though, your best bet is to try and demo some good examples of both in person, if you can however do so in a store that has a proper viewing/demo room with appropriate lighting as it can make a huge difference in how well both tech will demo.

It's the best way for you to compare the two.

 

You mean Vizio the American company
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vizio

 

This is sensationalist and bordering on fanboi.

LCD and Plasma have advantages and disadvantages still, but for the most part are not really that big of a deal anymore. That is to say the old wisdom applies to a MUCH lesser degree. Plasma screens are indeed still superior in color depth and response time while LCDs are still easier to care for in the long term and require less perfect lighting conditions, but the differences have shrunk considerably.

Today's plasmas do not have the burn-in of old ones... at least not without incredible usage times/abuses. My brother's Plasma has no issues gaming, computing, or for anything else. Plasma does degrade over time, but quite frankly its not that bad and not worth really worrying about. This isn't to say the LCD doesn't win in the long run, but its not game-changing anymore really.

Today's LCD screens (heck even yesterdays) have extremely good response times and color depths. This is not to say the Plasma doesn't have better, but it is no longer night and day. My 47" 120Hz samsung looks great for PS3 and computer games and has no hint of ghosting.

Get the best screen you can for your money.
Samsung and Sony build the best LCDs IMHO
Panasonic and Pioneer build/built the best plasmas. (Pioneer plasma are now defunct, but they are still out there and among the best)

In the price range you are looking for, either will do the job just fine. In the cheaper rungs is where you still find the previous gen's plasma vs LCD issues showing through more. At your price point the tech level has risen to where the plasma vs LCD debate is really more scholarly than real-life noticeable and functional differences.

This doesn't mean you ignore protecting your investment by not knowing the "care and feeding" for your purchase. (which honestly is still a bit more picky for plasma)

 

Vazio is register in the U.S. but it financial backing and most of the Board are all from Taiwan and manufacturing in China. It's about as Taiwanese as you can get for a Company registered in the US.

 

First of all I would like to thank all of you for your input. Everyone. I have learned a lot. I never knew about half the stuff before. so thanks again.

I went to my local bestbuy. I chatted with a few different reps and they all adore Plasma. BUT only for movie. Tv shows and sports. However they all agreed that Plasma would not be good for gaming/computer usage. They pointed out the burn-in issue to which I said that the newer gens didn't have this issue. They said that although the burn-in issue has lessened in newer plasmas it is still there.They said leaving something on there for longer period of time will cause this and that static images are not good for Plasma's health.

I then asked about the LED LCD technology. Thanks to DEagleson I was able to follow along and ask them about EDGE and Full Array LED Backlights.

I really liked the LG 55LH90. They said that this LED produces rich colors like the plasma TVs. It uses Full Array (RBG) LED Backlight which has the auto-dimming technology that produces truer balcks like the Plasmas and unlike the LCDs.

So for now I settled on LG 55" Class Full HD 1080p Full LED Backlighting 240Hz LCD TV (54.6" diagonal) Some of the features: Full HD 1080p resolution, 2,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 240Hz TruMotion technology, 2ms response time.

What do you guys think?

The reps told me that they didn't have this in stock and expected date was December 18th and there are 20 people waiting. I don't mind since I plan to wait and see if it goes even lower than $2,999CAD on boxing day. Even if it doesn't for now it seems like I'd still buy it at that price.

Also its not those slim LEDs (as mentioned Slim ones use EDGE LED backlight). I don't mind if its bulky, because I'll spend all of the time looking at the screen not the side view.

 

What was sensationalist about it?

I am particularly sensitive to LCD Motion, I'm not stating that it's an issue for everybody, just that it's an issue for me, much like I have no issues with phosphor trails on plasma yet some people can see them all over the place.

The soap effect is much more noticeable, but that being said it probably won't bother most people to the point of it being an issue.

Big box retail employees are known for pushing LCD above all else, primarily because most of them are pretty uninformed.

I watch almost exclusively movies at 2.40:1 with letterboxing and play games on a Panasonic 47" plasma and haven't even see the slightest hint of IR, and I often wander off leaving still images on there for hours at a time.

 

Ricky_S - That sounds simply phenomenal. I'm jealous! Enjoy your new TV.

 

Glad you found a TV Ricky That LG is actually really nice. My dad has one of those in his company's cafeteria and it's really a nice display; as the employees actually said, the colors are very well and almost as good as plasmas.

I hope you enjoy your future TV

 

Awesome...great choice! Congrats. Let us know how you like after a month or so.

 

Something about assuming everyone else has your rare sensitivity and making a recommendation due to it...

I was going to mention the fact that plasma has trails but you beat me to it (again, not a big deal) and that perhaps you are so used to them that you think its wrong if you don't have that picture defect... /shrug

Nonetheless, most of the VS points are not as big of a deal anymore on either side.

Watching movies on my brother's plasma or my LCD is really not that big of a difference. My brother games on his as well... no issues...
(to be fair, he knows how to take care of his plasma)

For the OP, it looks very nice...