Hello folks quick question. I have a 10ft viewing distance in my room and have read that it will be hard for me to tell the difference between a 50" 720p and 1080p.

However, I plan to use the TV as a display out from my computer to watch high quality .mkv files


From that distance, will the lower resolution from the 720p look the same as the 1920x1200 resolution from the 1080p TV?

I am hoping so, because it would save me a lot of money!

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Most likely you won't see a huge difference. Maybe no difference at all. Go to a store, stand 10 feet from a 720p TV -- do you see the pixels? If not go with 720p and save some money.

I'm referring specifically to the output from a computer though, or is it the same?

On a video I don't see why it would make a difference whether it's from a pc or a dvd or any other kind of video equipment. But the resolution you can run a pc at on a 720p vs 1080p will make a bigger difference when using everything else on the pc. Although at 10 feet you probably wouldn't be able to read anything at 1920x1080, so a 720 might be perfect.

I run my PC @ 1365x768 on a 5080HD and it looks fantastic at my seating distance of 7 - 8 feet, I use it for HD (.mkv / x264 etc) and PC gaming.

Just an FYI if your videocard has DVI outputs PC will look nicer using a DVI to HDMI cable rather than using VGA. I was using VGA at first and was surprised at the difference when I finally switched.

I run my PC @ 1365x768 on a 5080HD and it looks fantastic at my seating distance of 7 - 8 feet, I use it for HD (.mkv / x264 etc) and PC gaming.

Just an FYI if your videocard has DVI outputs PC will look nicer using a DVI to HDMI cable rather than using VGA. I was using VGA at first and was surprised at the difference when I finally switched.

This actually isn't true for most TVs, in my experience. Often VGA will look better. It may be the only input on the TV that completely disabled edge enhancement (which is very bad for text), color errors, etc.

Just make sure you feed the TV its native resolution and use the TV's "auto sync" feature to get the image looking razor sharp.

This actually isn't true for most TVs, in my experience. Often VGA will look better. It may be the only input on the TV that completely disabled edge enhancement (which is very bad for text), color errors, etc.

Just make sure you feed the TV its native resolution and use the TV's "auto sync" feature to get the image looking razor sharp.

The only tv picture adjustments available over VGA and HDMI when using PC is R G B adjustments and brightness / contrast. There isnt any Sharpness or Pro Adjust options available. Text looks great over HDMI here.

The only videocard adjustment I remember having to make (which made a huge improvment to PQ) was to enable the "Use flat panel's built in scaling" option rather than letting the videocard do the scaling.

p.s. VGA did have a decidedly softer image maybe due to lack of edge enhancements, but its worth noting if you play PC games over VGA there is a noticeable input lag / delay which doesn't happen over HDMI.

The only tv picture adjustments available over VGA and HDMI when using PC is R G B adjustments and brightness / contrast. There isnt any Sharpness or Pro Adjust options available. Text looks great over HDMI here.

The only videocard adjustment I remember having to make (which made a huge improvment to PQ) was to enable the "Use flat panel's built in scaling" option rather than letting the videocard do the scaling.

p.s. VGA did have a decidedly softer image maybe due to lack of edge enhancements, but its worth noting if you play PC games over VGA there is a noticeable input lag / delay which doesn't happen over HDMI.

What TV are you using? Most have less lag using VGA than most other inputs (though possibly not any better than DVI/HDMI at native resolution).

If it's softer using VGA I'll bet that the signal isn't synced correctly.

EDIT: I see you're using the 5080. I've used VGA on my 1150HD and it looked perfect to me though I admit I haven't done much experimenting.

thank you all for your replies, this is what I needed to know. I will probably opt for the 720p at my viewing distance with the VGA to HDMI cable.

The only question now is, the panny th-50px80u doesn't have a PC input. what are my best options?

thank you all for your replies, this is what I needed to know. I will probably opt for the 720p at my viewing distance with the VGA to HDMI cable.

The only question now is, the panny th-50px80u doesn't have a PC input. what are my best options?

Don't get the px80.

The PX80 is a nice display for the money. I've seen them advertised in the 1200 - 1300 range. If you have the budget, you can get better of course. Are there other models you are considering?

I have a 720p 42" Samsung that I set PC resolution to 1080i through HDMI and everything is extremely sharp. 1080p movies look great. Text is too small to read so I just increase the DPI size in the control panel.

I've considered the P80XU but amazon.com says it doesn't have a PC INPUT.

I'm only considering panasonic, pioneer, or samsung models.

One thing just occurred to me, i don't need a VGA input on any TV because i an use the DVI-HDMI converter.

This will work on any TV with an HDMI input right?

One thing just occurred to me, i don't need a VGA input on any TV because i an use the DVI-HDMI converter.

This will work on any TV with an HDMI input right?

You won't be able to do native resolution (1366x768) over HDMI, at least for most displays. You can do 720p or 1080p however. But personally, for me, I'd either get a display with an input that supports native resolution for HTPC use. Otherwise you are going to be scalling twice. If you get a 1080p display, then that will be taken care of since HDMI typically supports 1080p. However, if you want to stick with a 720p (1366x768), you'll need a display with a VGA or DVI input that supports that resolution.

You won't be able to do native resolution (1366x768) over HDMI, at least for most displays. You can do 720p or 1080p however. But personally, for me, I'd either get a display with an input that supports native resolution for HTPC use. Otherwise you are going to be scalling twice. If you get a 1080p display, then that will be taken care of since HDMI typically supports 1080p. However, if you want to stick with a 720p (1366x768), you'll need a display with a VGA or DVI input that supports that resolution.

If this is the case, then why would anyone pay the extra 200-300 for the VGA input on the Panasonic PZ85U over the PZ80U?

I'm looking for ways to save cash and will probably just get the PZ80U over the 85U, but want to make sure I'm not missing something.

If this is the case, then why would anyone pay the extra 200-300 for the VGA input on the Panasonic PZ85U over the PZ80U?

The only real good reason is for the ability to plug in a laptop or other PC that does not have DVI. But the VGA port won't help you do native resolution even if you did get the 85U. This is because - remarkably - it cannot support 1920x1080 resolution.

BTW, will this display be primarily a monitor? If so you may also want to consider the Panasonic commercial displays.

My master plan is to use the display primarily as a TV, but occasionally hook it up to the computer to watch mlb tv games i stream, and also display high quality .mkv, h263, divx, and dvds that I have on my computer.


I will never use the TV to play games on my computer.

You won't be able to do native resolution (1366x768) over HDMI, at least for most displays. You can do 720p or 1080p however. But personally, for me, I'd either get a display with an input that supports native resolution for HTPC use. Otherwise you are going to be scalling twice. If you get a 1080p display, then that will be taken care of since HDMI typically supports 1080p. However, if you want to stick with a 720p (1366x768), you'll need a display with a VGA or DVI input that supports that resolution.

While I agree with your main point ("get a TV that will accept its native resolution"), many TVs will accept 1360x768 over HDMI. Not sure about the px80 specifically though.

Why not look at Samsung's plasmas? They have more features and aren't as stingy with inputs.

While I agree with your main point ("get a TV that will accept its native resolution"), many TVs will accept 1360x768 over HDMI. Not sure about the px80 specifically though.

Well, I do know that no Panasonic consumer displays accept 1366x768 via HDMI. I am fairly sure that holds for Pioneer also, but I'm not positive.

Samsung might very well though, haven't looked at manual for one lately.

From first-hand experience, I can say that Samsung "720p" (1366x768) plasmas accept a 1360x768 signal over HDMI (so you'll get 3 columns of unused pixels on either side, unless you use custom resolution).

What TV are you using? Most have less lag using VGA than most other inputs (though possibly not any better than DVI/HDMI at native resolution).

If it's softer using VGA I'll bet that the signal isn't synced correctly.

EDIT: I see you're using the 5080. I've used VGA on my 1150HD and it looked perfect to me though I admit I haven't done much experimenting.

I was running the tv in its native res over VGA and it looked really clean, just a little softer vs. HDMI, However the input lag over VGA was bad enough that you could actually feel the lag just moving the mouse pointer around the screen.

I havent actually tested HDMI's lag with my camera but I know for a fact it has much less of a delay because the mouse pointer's reaction time feels instant.

Here is the worst case delay I got using VGA (49ms delay):

(CRT on the right, Videocard was set in Clone mode so both were running identical resolutions and refresh rates):

http://ded.zenblue.net/Pioneer-5080/5080_Lagtest_GameModeOFF.jpg

I was running the tv in its native res over VGA and it looked really clean, just a little softer vs. HDMI, However the input lag over VGA was bad enough that you could actually feel the lag just moving the mouse pointer around the screen.

I havent actually tested HDMI's lag with my camera but I know for a fact it has much less of a delay because the mouse pointer's reaction time feels instant.

Here is the worst case delay I got using VGA (49ms delay):

(CRT on the right, Videocard was set in Clone mode so both were running identical resolutions and refresh rates):

http://ded.zenblue.net/Pioneer-5080/5080_Lagtest_GameModeOFF.jpg

I haven't noticed any lag at all using VGA. I guess the 1150 and the 5080 could be different but they're really similar in most ways.

I haven't noticed any lag at all using VGA. I guess the 1150 and the 5080 could be different but they're really similar in most ways.

The only thing I don't remember messing with is this Sync option you speak of , is that an option on the TV? If so I would think it would be set to Auto by default?

I was always told there is more of a delay over VGA due to the analog to digital conversion that occurs.

The only thing I don't remember messing with is this Sync option you speak of , is that an option on the TV? If so I would think it would be set to Auto by default?

I was always told there is more of a delay over VGA due to the analog to digital conversion that occurs.

A/D conversion is usually trivial.

Auto sync is something that needs to be engaged. On the 1150 it's under "option," then "auto setup." If that doesn't make it snap into crispness, try messing with the manual settings.