[madclammer]

I have a g10 DILA and something isnt quite right with it when it comes to games like SOF2 or any fps. Im wondering if a crt will work better(more like my pc monitor). Any thoughts, experiances?

 

[lawdawg]

I'm using a nec 9pg extra CRT projector. It looks wonderful when using my xbox vga "box."


However I am thinking about going to the lower quality, dscaler method of displaying games. The reason is the dreaded BURN IN. The static gui's of most games will ruin my CRT over time (and not much time from what I've read.) I just couldn't stand to have one of my wifes SIMS marathons burn in that little gal's face onto my tubes.


Using Dscaler I can shift the 1.78 widescreen over the 2.35 resolution I have setup. It slowly moves from side to side to even tube wear. It works well and you don't notice the screen is moving unless you look for it. However the resultant quality is no where near as good as using the VGA box.


I'm thinking about finding a decent/cheap LCD/DLP projector for games. The blacks wouldn't look as black and the colors wouldn't be as nice, but I could play games for days and not damage the projector.


Hope that helps.

 

[ShawnPeters]

What's not "quite right" about it?

 

[madclammer]

If i new i would tell you, i cant put my finger on it maybe its just lack of brightness when compared to my pc monitor. I thought for a while that it was refresh rate, im getting a high gain screen soon maybe it will help. cant you get an orbiter board for the 9pg? You mean computer capture card+ descaler right? shouldnt that look better?

 

[ShawnPeters]

I've seen you around the CRT PJ forum. You appear to have a good notion of what you'd be getting into with a CRT PJ. If you really want the best image quality, then CRT is the way to go. It will be truer to the quality of your computer monitor than any digital projector. However, don't expect miracles, as no projected image is as nice as what you will see on a direct-view CRT device.


My CRT PJ is video-only and the colours and contrast are fantastic compared to the DLP's I've tried. It's not as sharp as I'd like, though. Get a data-grade projector if you can.


Also, most CRT PJ's aren't super-bright either (though that notion is relative). You have to be reasonable with the projected image size in order to get the most out of it.


There are conflicting opinions about tube burn. It seems that the better the PJ, the more susceptible it is to burn. I rarely sit down to play form more than an hour at a time, and I play a large variety of games, so no burn for me. If you buy a high-end PJ whose tubes are hard to find or costly to rebuild, then consider something to help avoid the burn as mentioned above.


Word of caution: For a while, I was so obsessed with image quality that I wasn't enjoying playing the games. If you have this obsession, make sure that you overcome it before spending your time and money on another projector.


Shawn

 

[lawdawg]

mad,


Using the vgabox I can send a true progressive signal to my projector. The difference between that and what the s-video input into dscaler (via a pretty good capture card) is significant. And when you go 720p via the vgabox vs 480i upscaled via dscaler then the difference is really apparent. Using the vgabox you get a much sharper, more detailed picture with better colors.


The downside is you have no orbiting controls on the projector. I've never heard of an orbiter board, but I'll look into it. This would be a wonderfull option if it exists.


The fear of burn in is there with my projector. This should be minimized when I get my Stewart highgain curved screen. This should allow me to turn the contrast and brightness settings down.


I agree with Shawn to a certain extent on enjoying the game and not obsessing on image quality. My wife for instance couldn't care less if she is using the vga box or dscaler for the SIMS. However when playing games like ghost recon, nba2k3, the castle wolfenstien demo, etc. I find that the vgabox allows me to jack the graphics up to a more immersive level. I really get into the game more. Great graphics won't save a crappy game, but they can make a good game better. So there is a balance to be found there.

 

[madclammer]

Adam, Why arent you playing pc games? Soldier of fortune 2 is 100x better than Ghost recon,wolfenstien, and you could send it 1024p from the computer w/a good video card computer graphics are at least double the pq of xbox. Shawn, A data grade crt is better for pc games ? are you sure about this? Im close to buying a 9pg+ for 1050 but if a data grade is better i will keep looking. Also what big screen technology gets the closest in pc game performance to direct view crt? Assuming the perfect light control it should be a crt pj right? should i perhaps look at rptv's. I find that 72"diag is plenty for the games i like. Thanks for the help its hard to find someone to talk about gaming.]

 

[ShawnPeters]

madclammer,


When I mentioned data grade, I meant anything that was above video-only (480i). The 9PG+ falls well into that category and can do 720p and up no problem (up to 1600x1200p I think), so you're more than fine. Frankly, it will blow the crap out of my projector.


You're right, as far as I know, CRT is as good as you can get for reproducing what you see on your monitor on the big screen. Don't bother with RTPV's unless you need to have the lights on and want everything in a one-box setup. To get anything even near the quality of the 9PG, you're going to have to go MEGA high-end in a RPTV. Just remember that you're likely going to want to ceiling-mount the PJ since it always tends to be placed right where you want to sit. That's just life with the CRT's.


72" diagonally is just about right image size for most CRT's. You'll have to experiment. I'm sure you'll be very satisfied with the quality at that size, maybe even bigger.


Most people (though definitely not all) on the CRT forum consider gaming to be a poor use of the CRT. Personally, I can see no better a use for it. They tend to say "Don't waste such a good projector on games!". Pretty sad, really. They think we all still play Dig-Dug.


I can't really do much more to push you over the fence. Here is a link to some screenshots of my projector in action. Keep in mind that the camera wasn't steady and I didn't know what I was doing with my CRT at the time. My PJ is 5 times sharper now and yours would be 10 times sharper than that. Mine is video-only with plastic lenses = big, blurry scan lines.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...hlight=tgs+one


If you need more info, don't be shy.


Shawn

 

[madclammer]

Is that from a vcr ? those look damn good ,5x as good would be somthing ! I dout my Dila makes a much better image than that even with dvd scaled to 768p. The DILA is plug and play though so i think ill keep it around unless someone wants to give me what i paid for it. I am deffinately getting a crt pj of some kind. I was debating callibrating the DILA instead but those screens along with others i have seen recently have convinced me to just buy a crt. Will you get a crt that can display your pc ?what would you want for around 2k?

 

[lawdawg]

Hey guys,


Yeah I know that a good PC game will the console's butts, but there are alot of games that don't come over to the PC side. They just don't have the same style of games. If you're a fighting game nut then the PC doesn't even come close. I used to be a big PC gamer, but I got sick of plunking down my game money on new PC hardware every year. There is just something that apeals to me about having a locked down platform and not having to wonder if my machine can play the latest game at it's best level.


I want to thank you to about getting me thinking about "orbiting" cards. The 9pg extra doesn't have one from what I've found. But a quick search came up with a used extron switchbox that has orbiting built into it. 150 bucks! So once I get that bad boy I can play my games in there vgabox glory and not worry about burn in.


As for Shawn's screenshots. While I'm a CRT purist at heart, I want to caution you that you can't really tell alot from from a screenshot. Remember your looking at a 72" wide picture resized down to probably 4 inches or so. And your also looking at it through a different display device (your CRT.) So it's not really like being there. That said, a properly calibrated CRT, on a reasonable sized screen, in a light controled room will kick the [email protected] out of digital. It's all about the black baby!

 

[ShawnPeters]

madclammer,


For 2k? You could get a very good one. Ask your question on the CRT forum, like "what PJ would you recommend for around $2k". Don't mention that it's for gaming as many won't bother to respond or you'll open a can of worms.


Then, ask Curt Palme to put you on his CRT mailing list.


Have fun!

Shawn

 

[ShawnPeters]

madclammer,


I'll be taking a break from this forum as it has become a playground for childish antics, no doubt escalated by my own actions. I have a large number better things to do than get pooped on by people with no lives.


If you want more info, send me a PM. I'd be happy to help you out. Also, I'll still be lurking around the CRT forum. I DO want you to get that CRT. It's the best way to go.


Shawn

 

[madclammer]

im out as well,see you there maybe.