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LCD monitor advice
kagaden:
--- Quote from: Blanka on January 12, 2009, 06:18:11 am ---I only explained the preference for 1080 partly.
Under 3 feet distance, pixels of 768x1366 screens are too big IMO
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My opinion differs. I'd recommend for a purchaser to hit a best buy or similar electronics shop and stand however far you'd be away from the screen with your cabinet. If you fixate on the LCD pixels over the content, then it's probably best to go with 1080p, if not you won't notice it when you get it home. I personally think it's a waste of processing power and good money for the minor enhancement to image resolution for arcade cabinets.
--- Quote from: Blanka on January 12, 2009, 06:18:11 am ---1080P panels cost only 50 bucks more nowadays then the 768p screens, yet they are future proof for Blu-Ray, PS3 gaming (PS3 does work at 1080 lines)
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Samsung LN32A550 @ 1080p at Amazon compared to the Samsung LN32A450 @ 720p right now has a price difference of ~$170. Granted, you also get improved contrast ratio and some other premium features I don't think make much difference in an arcade cab.
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-LN32A550-32-Inch-1080p-HDTV/dp/B00141AYM8/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1231827054&sr=8-1#
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-LN32A450-32-Inch-720p-HDTV/dp/B00141AYIC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1231827089&sr=8-1#
PS3 does true 1080p with some certain games, the majority run under 1080p still though. To tell you the truth, I can barely tell the difference between 720p and 1080p on a 61" display. HD usually looks great all around... while standard definition looks like mud on these displays. If you're watching Blu-ray's I agree to get the 1080p display though, those are always 1080p native.
--- Quote from: Blanka on January 12, 2009, 06:18:11 am ---720P does not have 1:1 pixel mapping on 768x1366 either, so it always scales, not matter what screen you use. Real 720p displays only appear in some notebooks.
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Only if you're using a native 720p source. If you're using a PC, you set the game to 768x1366 and you'll have 1:1 pixel mapping. This is a non issue for a mame box since you'll set your full screen resolution in the emulator. You're right that, if you have an Xbox 360 and pop in a 720p game, it will upscale slightly, potentially causing interpolation. Then again... a whole lot of Xbox 360 and some PS3 titles don't even run at true 720p, but rather some lower resolution (see Halo 3).
--- Quote from: Blanka on January 12, 2009, 06:18:11 am ---Why didn't they make those displays 720x1280 anyway? What sick technician decided to get 1366x768 mainstream? LSD tripped one? :badmood:
1080P panels mostly are the newest panels in the line-up, and have better viewing angles/contrast.
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Both Samsung 720p and 1080p models have the same 178 degree viewing angle all the way around. I've gotta say it looks great :)
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-LN32A550-32-Inch-1080p-HDTV/dp/B00141AYM8/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1231827054&sr=8-1#
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-LN32A450-32-Inch-720p-HDTV/dp/B00141AYIC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1231827089&sr=8-1#
Did I mention I recommend Samsung yet? :P I should gain commission!
u_rebelscum:
--- Quote from: Blanka on January 12, 2009, 06:18:11 am ---Why didn't they make those displays 720x1280 anyway? What sick technician decided to get 1366x768 mainstream? LSD tripped one? :badmood:
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I've heard a few reasons, most mentioned here (mostly posts by J.J.).
To sum up, 768 is binary friendly, a common PC res so video chips were already designed for it, 768*1366 is closer to the "1 meg" cheap chip "limit", and LCD & plasma manufacturing limits/costs. (The latter two are out of date thank goodness.) FWIW, the scaling chips have gotten a lot better than they were; I vowed to never buy an always scaled res (like 768x1266, but especially stuff like 1024x1024) years ago, but the high end 768p scalers have gotten almost unnoticeable to me (broadcast HD/bluray). I'm still only looking at 1080p TVs, though ;D (was looking at true 720p TVs, but they aren't around anymore).
However, for PC monitor, especially in a cab (showcase excepted), exact res is less important, since you aren't going to watch movies or tv on a cab (except showcases). Higher res, the better (as long as the video chip can handdle it). For PC LCDs, unless the monitor is 90 degrees to both users, stay away from TN, and stick with (S)IPS, (S)PVA, or MVA. If you tilt the monitor back (like pacman or cocktail cabs), TN sucks. All cheap LCD monitors are TN, though, so it is hard to pass them up; just be sure to mount them as close to 90 degrees, and be aware that a 10 year old (or your 7 foot friend) will get a different view than you, and live with it.
Luckily most good quality, and all high quality, TVs are PVA/IPS/MVA.
IG-88:
Wow, great advice. Thanks all! My primary use for LCD's at the moment will be bartops either 15" or 17". 19" being too big IMHO. I'll probably try 17" for vertical only cabs but I'm not sure yet. I'll have to get one and see what it looks like.
Blanka you said try an old "IPS/MVA screen" for 15" 4:3. Are those brand types or what? I'll do a google on that after this post and maybe answer this myself.
Another question(s) I had was what kinda life expectancy do LCD's have? Is it worth buying used/off-leased or should I fork over the extra for a new or perhaps "refurbished" one? Is there a certain brand name that everyone "stays away" from?
IG-88:
OK. I just read the "4:3 or 16:9 for Possible Bartop"? post and it gave me a fricken' headache. I think I'm gonna stick with CRT's for bartops for now. 1080p, 768p, 720p, scalers, latency, PVA/IPS/MVA, not black blacks, who the fark needs it. Way to complicated.
Ginsu Victim:
--- Quote ---20-21 inch get an DELL 2001FP for 20 inch 4:3
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I just looked that up and it has a 16 ms response time. Isn't that a bit too slow for games?