TV nerd, need some LCD advice, (purchased a samsung)

[91 318is]

Yeah I went with the Vizio, and happy I did.

My PSN name is daddyfatsacs84

I'm on MW2 most of the time, I don't have many games. I actually just bought the PS3 for MW2, lol.

[T Verdier]

I'm glad you went with the vizio. I've worked at costco for over 5 years and have seen them grow in quality once we (the electronics department and I) even saw a vizio 46" that was the best looking tv in the whole store at like $1699 opposed to the Sony and samsungs that were like $1999
They used to be crap but now they aren't bad at all
I returned my 32 samsung as well.

Also what's your PSN gamertag? Mines FKNFast_e30 or uSuK-Bc-WeGame2

[Red88]

don't forget to take in to account general build quality... video quality can differ tons from screen to screen, even with identical resolution and refresh rates, depending on the video processor in the screen.

We have a super old (like 6 years old) 720p HP monitor which looks pretty nice when viewing still images or slow moving graphics in HD, but can't always keep up with faster video (like when I'm playing Forza 3) and the video tweaks out a bit. A little picture noise, that's about it.

For contrast, the LG or whatever the fuck it is in the other room is also a 32" 720p 60hz screen, but it always looks crystal clear regardless of video... doesn't matter if it's a still shot, slow movement or lots of fast movement, it can keep up exceptionally well and it's always crystal clear. For comparison, this TV is maybe a year old now.

120hz will help a little bit with the picture if it's at 24fps (as discussed earlier in this thread), and generally be better if you have sensitive eyes. Anything more than 120hz is just manufacturer dickwaving. 60hz is perfectly fine for most applications as stated.

Also don't bother with 1080 unless it's going to double as a computer monitor or be hooked up to a blu-ray player. You won't ever utilize the extra resolution.

+1 to whoever said "use HDMI"... couldn't be simpler. One cable, done.

Take some time to fiddle with your screen's picture settings (brightness, contrast, sharpness, etc) until it's right where you want it, it'll pay off well.

Also, sit further back. Things can appear grainy if you sit too close, especially considering the size and relatively low resolutions that TVs display. When you consider your average PC monitor is 17" and 1024x768 and your average HDTV is 30"+ and 1280x720, it should become clear as to why it'll be grainier if you sit too close...

A ~17% increase in screen resolution vs. a ~75%+ increase in screen size means the picture fine-ness (basically the pixel density, it's sort of like the difference between printing at 320dpi vs. 72dpi...) goes way down if you sit up close.

Also keep in mind that 720 is progressive and 1080 is interlaced... Interlaced video was intended to be viewed on CRT monitors whereas most HDTVs are LCD, and in this case, 720p will actually be nearly as sharp as 1080i.

This is a very grainy photo on my 37" Dynex with 1080p, 60hz hooked up to my computer via HDMI cable viewed from roughly 2.34 meters.

[Naplm00]

Sorry, lost track of this thread. What did you end up doing?

[thebornotaku]

Very good info!

Thanks

Cheers mate.

I knew growing up in a family of a/v nerds would help someday.

[91 318is]

don't forget to take in to account general build quality... video quality can differ tons from screen to screen, even with identical resolution and refresh rates, depending on the video processor in the screen.

We have a super old (like 6 years old) 720p HP monitor which looks pretty nice when viewing still images or slow moving graphics in HD, but can't always keep up with faster video (like when I'm playing Forza 3) and the video tweaks out a bit. A little picture noise, that's about it.

For contrast, the LG or whatever the fuck it is in the other room is also a 32" 720p 60hz screen, but it always looks crystal clear regardless of video... doesn't matter if it's a still shot, slow movement or lots of fast movement, it can keep up exceptionally well and it's always crystal clear. For comparison, this TV is maybe a year old now.

120hz will help a little bit with the picture if it's at 24fps (as discussed earlier in this thread), and generally be better if you have sensitive eyes. Anything more than 120hz is just manufacturer dickwaving. 60hz is perfectly fine for most applications as stated.

Also don't bother with 1080 unless it's going to double as a computer monitor or be hooked up to a blu-ray player. You won't ever utilize the extra resolution.

+1 to whoever said "use HDMI"... couldn't be simpler. One cable, done.

Take some time to fiddle with your screen's picture settings (brightness, contrast, sharpness, etc) until it's right where you want it, it'll pay off well.

Also, sit further back. Things can appear grainy if you sit too close, especially considering the size and relatively low resolutions that TVs display. When you consider your average PC monitor is 17" and 1024x768 and your average HDTV is 30"+ and 1280x720, it should become clear as to why it'll be grainier if you sit too close...

A ~17% increase in screen resolution vs. a ~75%+ increase in screen size means the picture fine-ness (basically the pixel density, it's sort of like the difference between printing at 320dpi vs. 72dpi...) goes way down if you sit up close.

Also keep in mind that 720 is progressive and 1080 is interlaced... Interlaced video was intended to be viewed on CRT monitors whereas most HDTVs are LCD, and in this case, 720p will actually be nearly as sharp as 1080i.

Very good info!

Thanks

[thebornotaku]

Well I ended up taking the Samsung back for the Vizio anywho.

Seems like the picture is better when watching HD, picture is better with PS3 too.

I figured the the Vizio was priced cheaper, and it's 1080p, 120hz.

How can the grainy picture not be caused by the hz? If the picture refreshes itself at a faster rate on the Vizio, wouldn't that cause a smoother transition between frames?

Besides me sitting a little close, what would cause the grainy picture?

don't forget to take in to account general build quality... video quality can differ tons from screen to screen, even with identical resolution and refresh rates, depending on the video processor in the screen.

We have a super old (like 6 years old) 720p HP monitor which looks pretty nice when viewing still images or slow moving graphics in HD, but can't always keep up with faster video (like when I'm playing Forza 3) and the video tweaks out a bit. A little picture noise, that's about it.

For contrast, the LG or whatever the fuck it is in the other room is also a 32" 720p 60hz screen, but it always looks crystal clear regardless of video... doesn't matter if it's a still shot, slow movement or lots of fast movement, it can keep up exceptionally well and it's always crystal clear. For comparison, this TV is maybe a year old now.

120hz will help a little bit with the picture if it's at 24fps (as discussed earlier in this thread), and generally be better if you have sensitive eyes. Anything more than 120hz is just manufacturer dickwaving. 60hz is perfectly fine for most applications as stated.

Also don't bother with 1080 unless it's going to double as a computer monitor or be hooked up to a blu-ray player. You won't ever utilize the extra resolution.

+1 to whoever said "use HDMI"... couldn't be simpler. One cable, done.

Take some time to fiddle with your screen's picture settings (brightness, contrast, sharpness, etc) until it's right where you want it, it'll pay off well.

Also, sit further back. Things can appear grainy if you sit too close, especially considering the size and relatively low resolutions that TVs display. When you consider your average PC monitor is 17" and 1024x768 and your average HDTV is 30"+ and 1280x720, it should become clear as to why it'll be grainier if you sit too close...

A ~17% increase in screen resolution vs. a ~75%+ increase in screen size means the picture fine-ness (basically the pixel density, it's sort of like the difference between printing at 320dpi vs. 72dpi...) goes way down if you sit up close.

Also keep in mind that 720 is progressive and 1080 is interlaced... Interlaced video was intended to be viewed on CRT monitors whereas most HDTVs are LCD, and in this case, 720p will actually be nearly as sharp as 1080i.

[Devil Inc]

I'd try adjusting some of the picture settings, until it pleases your eyes. You may be able to get it looking a bit better for the short distance.

Mine appeared to be jittery at first, but after a few weeks it wasn't as noticable.

[91 318is]

Well I ended up taking the Samsung back for the Vizio anywho.

Seems like the picture is better when watching HD, picture is better with PS3 too.

I figured the the Vizio was priced cheaper, and it's 1080p, 120hz.

How can the grainy picture not be caused by the hz? If the picture refreshes itself at a faster rate on the Vizio, wouldn't that cause a smoother transition between frames?

Besides me sitting a little close, what would cause the grainy picture?

[daniel]

i'm not going to read this whole thread, but I'll tell you that IT IS NOT THE HERTZ.


k.

[Ryan Stewart]

This, and TV is 30p so you arent dropping frames. Its more of an issue with 24p feeds, movies. That is why the uprated TVs are 120 or 240. Its because both 30 and 24 go into those well without having remainders (aka dropped frames.

hz is just the amount of times the screen 'refreshes' itself per second. This has nothing to do with the graininess of the picture. The reason it looks grainy is probably because your sitting too close.

The grain is nothing to do with the TV. Likely its because the panned out cameras are not full 720p while the smaller, hand-held model is. They figure they could get away with it panned out.

Also, going up to 1080p wont gain you anything when watching TV because 720p is their current feeds, the only things giving full 1080p are blu-ray. So you can replace the TV but its not actually going to get you much, if anything.

Samsungs are great TVs.

[bejbis]

Here's the deal. I've been watching some of the HD channels and I don't feel that impressed with the picture, which I'm pretty sure is from the 60 hz. Right now I'm watching the NBA playoffs and just the overall picture is a little grainy for me. I was expecting this with the 60hz. The close up of the players on the bench looks sharp, but the actual game is grainy.

hz is just the amount of times the screen 'refreshes' itself per second. This has nothing to do with the graininess of the picture. The reason it looks grainy is probably because your sitting too close.

Here is a breakdown of hz and how it affects your viewing. TV is filmed at 24fps, or 24hz, so that means there are 24 frames per second, and the tv is flashing 60 times in a second. since 24 cant be devided by 60 evenly, some frames are shown for 2 flashes of the screen, and some for 3. since 120 can be divided evenly by 24, 5 times, each frame the camera records flashes 5 times because the screen is flashing 120 times per second.

All hertz does is give the picture a slightly more linear 'flow' to it. its not going to change the graininess of the picture, its very doubtful you can tell the difference. On a side note, 120hz or 240hz and so on makes no difference in viewing, its just bigger numbers they can put on the boxes to make it one tv seem better than another. Oh, and those instore demos are bs.

[xwill112x]

friend had a vizio,great tv, hours upon hours of halo 3 played on it. still impressed everytime i played on it to.

[91 318is]

I purchased a 47" Vizio, 1080p, 120Hz. I personally love it. My Time Warner box, flips from 480p, 720p, and 1080i based on whatever the broadcasting station is transmitting.

I've talked to a few people who've had vizio's and love them. I thought I could survive with the 60 hz, not the case.

Looks like I'll be returning the samsung for the vizio.

[Devil Inc]

I purchased a 47" Vizio, 1080p, 120Hz. I personally love it. My Time Warner box, flips from 480p, 720p, and 1080i based on whatever the broadcasting station is transmitting.