Hello,

I will buy an HDTV but can't decide which one i buy. I prefer Samsung and want 46". Plasma, LCD, LED LCD? Also from 200 HZ to 800 HZ. Which one should i prefer?

I will use it for gaming(PS3, PS2, Wii) and cinema.(from HDD mkv videos or blue-ray).

I bought an LCD tv years ago and learned about something called input lag. A lot of tvs today use post processing to make video look better. The problem is that it adds a very noticeable delay, which makes some games difficult if not impossible to play. I returned that tv a couple days later and started looking for tvs with low input lag. I finally settled on a Panasonic Viera 54" plasma tv which has no noticeable input lag. I've been using that ever since.

Here are a few things you should consider before choosing:

Plasma: Plasma tvs have great black levels, low input lag, and fast refresh rate (although pcs and consoles are limited to 60hz, so it's kind of a moot point). However, they use more energy and you risk burn in if you play games that have huds or watch movies or tv with black bars on the top/bottom or sides.

LCD tvs: LCD and LED are both LCD tvs. LED tvs just have LED backlights instead of fluorescent backlights. LED backlit LCDs use less energy than regular LCD tvs, have slightly better blacks, but slightly worse color.

Samsung tv are known for having a lot of input lag.

If you get an LCD tv, find one that comes with a "game mode", which cuts the post processing and reduces input lag dramatically.

Since you want to play ps2 and Wii, those may not always support widescreen or the ability to disable the hud, so I'd suggest an LCD tv with a game mode.

You want a Panasonic plasma, or, if you can find one cheap, a used Pioneer Kuro plasma. Don't worry about burn in, it really isn't an issue. For the first 200 hours, keep from using channels/games with "static" images on the screen, and you'll probably never have a problem.*

*Been using a Pioneer plasma for the last 2 years, no problem with burn-in or retention from games.

Bump!

One thing you must keep in mind.

Don't buy the 3D crap. It's useless.

For anyone concerned about input lag, this test data is somewhat useful, but I'm not sure the test data is 100% consistent i.e. same type of test device used in the centre of the screen: <span class="bold">Input Lag Database</span>. However, regardless of inconsistencies in the published results I would urge anyone to totally ignore the grossly optimistic descriptions of 'excellent' 'great' 'okay' etc.

Consider that the displays testing in the 9ms to 11ms range are the ones that aren't caching the image much or at all. At 60hz one frame is 16.66ms, additional lag of approx 8ms or delay of approx ½ frame time can be consciously noticeable. A full framed cached at 60Hz can be quite intrusive and constantly noticed if you're sensitive. Even if you don't consciously perceive the delay, or are playing consoles at 30hz (8ms-16ms lag may be less noticeable on 30hz console vs 60hz PC) remember that the delay is still present and can negatively impact your gameplay, usually just at the moment when the game gets most frenetic and intense i.e. because there is a tiny window, sometimes much less time than a single frame of opportunity for you to input your action.

For action game oriented or lag sensitive gamers, I would recommend a maximum of approx. 20ms delay according to the Leo Bodnar device method of input lag testing. Compared to other test methods this is equivalent to approx 8ms frame caching (½ at 60hz) + pixel response delay.

I have bought a 50" Panasonic tx-p42stw60 Plasma. Thanks everyone!

No, PCs can output a wide range of refresh rates.

I've heard the input lag is too much on this tv. Can you really feel this when playing games?

I had similar lag due to HDTV postprocessing and shit with my HDTV I bought last year (or was it early this year actually), and I simply disabled those postprocessing things from TV options (for that particular "gaming mode" in the TV) => no more lag. Playing my PC games on the HDTV via HDMI doesn't feel any more laggier than on the computer screen anymore.

Are you sure your LCD didn't offer an option to disable the lag-inducing postprocessing things? I would be surprised if it didn't, because then it would be useless for all the console gamers and such who would buy HDTV in masses anyway.

sadly many TVs have non defeatable processing - for some reason TV designers think we must always want their idea of picture quality improvements via sharpening/softening/colour manipulation/noise reduction/dynamic contrast etc.

HDTVtest on TX-P42ST60B (UK version)

"Leo Bodnar Lag Tester, the measurement came out as 74.5ms"

There is no way to sugar coat it, 74.5ms is extremely high lag :(

I thought so too, but when I connect my pc to my plasma tv over hdmi and try and change my refresh rate to anything other than 60 hz, the image is all garbled. Plasma tvs have a refresh rate of 600 hz, but hdmi has a limit well below that. Even still, even hdmi 1.0 can support up to 165hz, but setting the refresh rate to anything over 60hz still won't work.

So, for whatever reason I'm limited to 60 hz. Be it the fault of the tv or PC.

It's (most likely) the TV - the 600Hz refresh rate so many plasmas are marketed as having isn't their actual screen or input refresh rate, but a 'subfield' refresh rate.. this article explains it.

HDMI can be a bit weird with different refresh rates as well (might depend on devices and drivers) - one monitor I have would only do 59 or 60Hz over HDMI but worked at 75Hz over DVI...

Who is still making Plasma TV's. From what I remember one of the last ones that still made the TV's exited the Plasma market and is concentrating on LCD's. Plasma's are pretty much dead.

That depends on your budget and how far you want to go

My advice to you is to stick with LED since in my opinion it's the best tech for games and movies right now, the images are clear crisp and the colours are fantastic, the TV's are extremely slim and light and they consume very little electricity

If you are investing in an HDTV it should be no less than 40 inches

Samsung is a great choice overall but if you are looking for a long term investment, I would drop down some extra cash and get a Sony LED TV, Sony still produces the best televisions on the market

Just avoid shit like LG or other "cheap" brands, even if they are cheaper, they are not worth the prices they are asking for