Video games and plasma tvs

I'm on a VT30 right now which i use for PC and console gaming and i've only had image retention problems once after a long session of playing Infamous. The HUD was faintly visible (on a white background) for a couple of days but it went away completely. Once the break in period of the TV is over it should be fine for gaming.

It is pretty common initially and can be later on if you're the kind of person that plays a lot without breaks. I played Halo 3 for two hours once and it left a bar at the top of my TV for a solid half hour afterwards. Playing any games before this generation is also a big no-no since many of them have extremely static HUDs.

Here's what you do to "break-in" your new plasma screen.

1) Just watch a lot of non-letterbox movies and non-letterbox/non-watermark (preferably HD) TV channels

2) leave some HD nature channel on all day

3) wait a few weeks. I always wait for at least 100 hours of use to pass before I game. Can't wait that long? Just leave the TV on with no volume at night on the nature channel or something. Lets say you sleep for 8 hours for a whole 7 days. 8*7 is 56. Those hundred hours will fly by in a week.

While this "break-in period" is occuring, make sure no one in the family is playing HUD-heavy games or watching the news or another watermarked channel for more than 2 hours at once. That's gonna cause some image retention.

Also, this may go without saying, but do not use this as a monitor.

Newer plasmas don't have nearly as many problems as they used to have. Some companies even say a burn in period isn't needed anymore.

Anyway, what I did when we got ours, to be on the safe side I used a burn in disc (cycles through shades of colors). I used it for about 50-60 hours before I said "forget it" and turned all the brightness and contrast up. Though using this method you can easily hit 100 hours in 4-5 days, and you don't have to worry about channel logos or letterbox or anything like that.

I have played games for hours (which includes game with static huds), left sports channels on for hours, had games paused for a while. I have never had even a HINT of burn in. Whether the small "breaking in" period helped or not I can't say.

So my family recently got a 65" plasma tv but I'm not allowed to use my xbox on it because of burn in and/or image retention. I was just wondering if that is actually an issue that is common with video games used on plasma displays.zombehhhhh

Thats like buying a sports car, and only 1 person can sit in it because the fuel economy will be lowered. Who cares? its a new TV, you payed for it and use it however you want.

I have been gaming for years on plasma tv's and never had a problem with burn-in images from video games. Its really too bad so many people get so worked up over this. I can tell you your xbox360 games would look spectacular on that television and its a damn shame you will never see it.

My plasma has eco settings and I put it on full eco when I game and I have no worries and I can do it from the remote. eco=economical or greenehhwhatever

eco = its a piece of junk and doesn't do anything

It shouldnt, unless of course you are using it continually for hours on end. Plasma screens are not really conducive for gaming or watching because of the image retention, hence the poularity of LCD's and LED's

It shouldnt, unless of course you are using it continually for hours on end. Plasma screens are not really conducive for gaming or watching because of the image retention, hence the poularity of LCD's and LED's

pooles_disciple

If you cant watch a TV because of image retention then whats the point of Plasma's? :roll:

[QUOTE="pooles_disciple"]

It shouldnt, unless of course you are using it continually for hours on end. Plasma screens are not really conducive for gaming or watching because of the image retention, hence the poularity of LCD's and LED's

GTR12

If you cant watch a TV because of image retention then whats the point of Plasma's? :roll:

Exactly, Plasma was like the first of flat screen technologies, therfore, it was a learning experience for TV manufacturers. In today's world no one really buys Plasma because it is a dying breed and because of it's numerous disadvantages

[QUOTE="GTR12"]

[QUOTE="pooles_disciple"]

It shouldnt, unless of course you are using it continually for hours on end. Plasma screens are not really conducive for gaming or watching because of the image retention, hence the poularity of LCD's and LED's

pooles_disciple

If you cant watch a TV because of image retention then whats the point of Plasma's? :roll:

Exactly, Plasma was like the first of flat screen technologies, therfore, it was a learning experience for TV manufacturers. In today's world no one really buys Plasma because it is a dying breed and because of it's numerous disadvantages

I LOL'd hard at the last part of this message, i dont think i've ever read so much complete and absolute rubbish in all my life.:lol::lol::roll:

[QUOTE="pooles_disciple"]

In today's world no one really buys Plasma because it is a dying breed and because of it's numerous disadvantages

l34052

I LOL'd hard at the last part of this message, i dont think i've ever read so much complete and absolute rubbish in all my life.:lol::lol::roll:

LMAO, thanks for the laugh buddy, I needed it, if Plasma is a dying breed, then why do Panasonic still make some of the best, and obviously you haven't seen a Kuro at all, or its black levels. These 2 plasma's could single-handedly take on every LCD that comes around.

[QUOTE="l34052"]

[QUOTE="pooles_disciple"]

In today's world no one really buys Plasma because it is a dying breed and because of it's numerous disadvantages

GTR12

I LOL'd hard at the last part of this message, i dont think i've ever read so much complete and absolute rubbish in all my life.:lol::lol::roll:

LMAO, thanks for the laugh buddy, I needed it, if Plasma is a dying breed, then why do Panasonic still make some of the best, and obviously you haven't seen a Kuro at all, or its black levels. These 2 plasma's could single-handedly take on every LCD that comes around.

That may be true, but, that's just Panasonic out of all the other TV brands in the world. Panasonic has been going for years and years so of course they are going to have very good TV's

That may be true, but, that's just Panasonic out of all the other TV brands in the world. Panasonic has been going for years and years so of course they are going to have very good TV's

pooles_disciple

It's the first and the best of flat panel tech in terms of picture quality. That's why credible review websites use plasmas as the reference displays.

Everyone but Sony and LG buys their panels from Samsung. Almost every LCD you find is made by Samsung. Sony gets their low end from Samsung and makes their own high-end. LG just makes their own panels. Everyone who makes plasmas, develops their own panels. Panasonic is now top now that Pioneer dropped and Panny hired the whole Kuro development team and tech.

Anyone who buys LCD/LED either listened to Best Buy employees who know nothing and spread lies, or have too bright of a room that will kill the PQ.

[QUOTE="pooles_disciple"]

That may be true, but, that's just Panasonic out of all the other TV brands in the world. Panasonic has been going for years and years so of course they are going to have very good TV's

ChubbyGuy40

It's the first and the best of flat panel tech in terms of picture quality. That's why credible review websites use plasmas as the reference displays.

Everyone but Sony and LG buys their panels from Samsung. Almost every LCD you find is made by Samsung. Sony gets their low end from Samsung and makes their own high-end. LG just makes their own panels. Everyone who makes plasmas, develops their own panels. Panasonic is now top now that Pioneer dropped and Panny hired the whole Kuro development team and tech.

Anyone who buys LCD/LED either listened to Best Buy employees who know nothing and spread lies, or have too bright of a room that will kill the PQ.

Well I live in South Africa, so, I think we have like the real bottom of the range Plasma screens, because our availible LCD's and LED's are way better than the Plasma screens we get here

So my family recently got a 65" plasma tv but I'm not allowed to use my xbox on it because of burn in and/or image retention. I was just wondering if that is actually an issue that is common with video games used on plasma displays.zombehhhhh

[QUOTE="ehhwhatever"]My plasma has eco settings and I put it on full eco when I game and I have no worries and I can do it from the remote. eco=economical or greenGTR12

eco = its a piece of junk and doesn't do anything

On my VT20, ECO just means it turns off after 3 hours of inactivity. It's not really that helpful unless you fall asleep watching (which I did once.) But other than that, it doesn't do anything during normal use.

It shouldnt, unless of course you are using it continually for hours on end. Plasma screens are not really conducive for gaming or watching because of the image retention, hence the poularity of LCD's and LED's

pooles_disciple

Actually most serious gamers who know much about TVs view Plasmas as the best choice for gaming. The 600hz refresh rate and image quality of a decent to high-end plasma can't be touched by LED or LCD TVs.

[QUOTE="ChubbyGuy40"]

[QUOTE="pooles_disciple"]

That may be true, but, that's just Panasonic out of all the other TV brands in the world. Panasonic has been going for years and years so of course they are going to have very good TV's

pooles_disciple

It's the first and the best of flat panel tech in terms of picture quality. That's why credible review websites use plasmas as the reference displays.

Everyone but Sony and LG buys their panels from Samsung. Almost every LCD you find is made by Samsung. Sony gets their low end from Samsung and makes their own high-end. LG just makes their own panels. Everyone who makes plasmas, develops their own panels. Panasonic is now top now that Pioneer dropped and Panny hired the whole Kuro development team and tech.

Anyone who buys LCD/LED either listened to Best Buy employees who know nothing and spread lies, or have too bright of a room that will kill the PQ.

Well I live in South Africa, so, I think we have like the real bottom of the range Plasma screens, because our availible LCD's and LED's are way better than the Plasma screens we get here

I feel bad for you. See if you can find someone with a Pioneer Kuro Elite, a Panasonic VT20, VT25, VT30, or a Samsung C7000/8000 Plasma. Hell, even the D550 series from Samsung has a superior picture to their D7000/8000 series LEDs. Put a Blu-ray in or do some 1080p gaming on one of those and you'll see the light.

[QUOTE="GTR12"]

[QUOTE="pooles_disciple"]

It shouldnt, unless of course you are using it continually for hours on end. Plasma screens are not really conducive for gaming or watching because of the image retention, hence the poularity of LCD's and LED's

pooles_disciple

If you cant watch a TV because of image retention then whats the point of Plasma's? :roll:

Exactly, Plasma was like the first of flat screen technologies, therfore, it was a learning experience for TV manufacturers. In today's world no one really buys Plasma because it is a dying breed and because of it's numerous disadvantages

[QUOTE="pooles_disciple"]

[QUOTE="ChubbyGuy40"]

It's the first and the best of flat panel tech in terms of picture quality. That's why credible review websites use plasmas as the reference displays.

Everyone but Sony and LG buys their panels from Samsung. Almost every LCD you find is made by Samsung. Sony gets their low end from Samsung and makes their own high-end. LG just makes their own panels. Everyone who makes plasmas, develops their own panels. Panasonic is now top now that Pioneer dropped and Panny hired the whole Kuro development team and tech.

Anyone who buys LCD/LED either listened to Best Buy employees who know nothing and spread lies, or have too bright of a room that will kill the PQ.

hartsickdiscipl

Well I live in South Africa, so, I think we have like the real bottom of the range Plasma screens, because our availible LCD's and LED's are way better than the Plasma screens we get here

I feel bad for you. See if you can find someone with a Pioneer Kuro Elite, a Panasonic VT20, VT25, VT30, or a Samsung C7000/8000 Plasma. Hell, even the D550 series from Samsung has a superior picture to their D7000/8000 series LEDs. Put a Blu-ray in or do some 1080p gaming on one of those and you'll see the light.

Our country is so behind on the times. It really irratates me that we get everything so much later, but, oh well. It also makes me look like a noob saying that plasma's are inferior because of this nagging problem lol :)

[QUOTE="pooles_disciple"]

[QUOTE="ChubbyGuy40"]

It's the first and the best of flat panel tech in terms of picture quality. That's why credible review websites use plasmas as the reference displays.

Everyone but Sony and LG buys their panels from Samsung. Almost every LCD you find is made by Samsung. Sony gets their low end from Samsung and makes their own high-end. LG just makes their own panels. Everyone who makes plasmas, develops their own panels. Panasonic is now top now that Pioneer dropped and Panny hired the whole Kuro development team and tech.

Anyone who buys LCD/LED either listened to Best Buy employees who know nothing and spread lies, or have too bright of a room that will kill the PQ.

hartsickdiscipl

Well I live in South Africa, so, I think we have like the real bottom of the range Plasma screens, because our availible LCD's and LED's are way better than the Plasma screens we get here

I feel bad for you. See if you can find someone with a Pioneer Kuro Elite, a Panasonic VT20, VT25, VT30, or a Samsung C7000/8000 Plasma. Hell, even the D550 series from Samsung has a superior picture to their D7000/8000 series LEDs. Put a Blu-ray in or do some 1080p gaming on one of those and you'll see the light.

[QUOTE="hartsickdiscipl"]

[QUOTE="pooles_disciple"]

Well I live in South Africa, so, I think we have like the real bottom of the range Plasma screens, because our availible LCD's and LED's are way better than the Plasma screens we get here

Mozelleple112

I feel bad for you. See if you can find someone with a Pioneer Kuro Elite, a Panasonic VT20, VT25, VT30, or a Samsung C7000/8000 Plasma. Hell, even the D550 series from Samsung has a superior picture to their D7000/8000 series LEDs. Put a Blu-ray in or do some 1080p gaming on one of those and you'll see the light.

My bad :P

Yes.. the PND7000/8000's are very nice indeed. I still like the Panasonic VT25's and VT30's better.

One negative I've been reading about plasmas is that the colors and brightness aren't as good as LCD. I kind of find that hard to believe anyway. Can't you always just increase the brightness anyway? lolmatt091282

I don't remember. lol My old DLP died a few days ago. I've been doing so much research about Plasmas and LCDs from all these different makes and models, I think my head is going to explode. Size and price are very important to me, and I can both of those things in a Plasma. So, I think I will go there. I'll take a look at the Samsung ones. I had this Panasonic VIERA one in mind.

http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/shop/VIERA-Televisions/VIERA-Plasma-HDTVs/model.TC-P60ST30_11002_7000000000000005702

The difference between CRT, Plasma and LED-LCD.

CRT has the best colours, contrast ratio and black levels, plasma is slightly behind it.

All of LCDs benefits have nothing to do with the picture quality.

Yeah PND8000 looks excellent, CNETs best TV of 2011 so far.

. I might buy one if I can't find a mint condition used Kuro KRP 500-A.

[QUOTE="matt091282"]One negative I've been reading about plasmas is that the colors and brightness aren't as good as LCD. I kind of find that hard to believe anyway. Can't you always just increase the brightness anyway? lolMozelleple112

So true! My VT30 has much better colour accuracy compared to my previous Sony KDL W4500. Watching planet earth on it for the first time was incredible :D Never seen a TV picture this good before.

And the brightness is perfectly fine.

[QUOTE="Mozelleple112"][QUOTE="matt091282"]One negative I've been reading about plasmas is that the colors and brightness aren't as good as LCD. I kind of find that hard to believe anyway. Can't you always just increase the brightness anyway? lolBen-Buja

So true! My VT30 has much better colour accuracy compared to my previous Sony KDL W4500. Watching planet earth on it for the first time was incredible :D Never seen a TV picture this good before.

And the brightness is perfectly fine.

[QUOTE="Ben-Buja"]

[QUOTE="Mozelleple112"] The Samsung PND8000 PLASMA has the most accurate colours that CNET has ever tested. The VT20 PLASMA had the most accurate colours of any 2010 TV. The Kuro PLASMAs have been reference panels for colour accuracy. Where on EARTH did you read this BLASPHEMY that LCD had better colours? If you look at top 10 TVs for colour accuracy half of them are PLASMAS... the otSoher half would be CRT ;)matt091282

So true! My VT30 has much better colour accuracy compared to my previous Sony KDL W4500. Watching planet earth on it for the first time was incredible :D Never seen a TV picture this good before.

And the brightness is perfectly fine.

[QUOTE="matt091282"][QUOTE="Ben-Buja"]

So true! My VT30 has much better colour accuracy compared to my previous Sony KDL W4500. Watching planet earth on it for the first time was incredible :D Never seen a TV picture this good before.

And the brightness is perfectly fine.

Mozelleple112

Yeah, I think I have it down to these two TV's. I'm just thinking if I want a 60 or a 55 inch. I got really spoiled with the 65 inch DLP I had before that I didn't have to pay a dime to get. LOL The 65' VT30 is way to expensive. The 55' one isn't bad. But, they have a 60' inch ST30 that's only $200 more. I mean, is there a huge difference between those models (VT30 and ST0) in picture quality and stuff? I just have a pretty big wall space that needs to get filled.

Can I hijack this thread now? It's all the rage......Nah, people seem helpful in here and I'm so far out of the loop on TVs since I last bought one in 2007. I've got a 32" Samsung LCD right now and am in the market to buy a new one. I was planning on waiting until the Holiday season to try and get a good online deal on Black Friday (screw waiting in line) or a general sale. However, I noticed Best Buy had the 51" SamsungPN51D550C1 for sale at 999.99 with two pairs of 3D glasses included. That seems like a crazy deal to me (basically 25% off the regular price of 1300). I've always owned Samsung LCDs and they've treated me well but I had some questions I hope you guys will be nice enough to answer.

1) Does anyone recall what kind of sales and discounts there were on TVs closer to the holiday season last year? Would this TV go lower or a comporable (sp?) one in it's tier of TV

2) I've heard Plasmas have better colors and picture but by how much? I've also heard the negatives of the plasma TV (that were touched on a bit in this thread) such as burn in, image retention, etc.? While I appreciate a great picture, I don't want to have babysit my TV for 50-60 hours before I can play games without fear of burn in. I would prefer not to have to constantly wonder if I've played or watched too long and damaging my TV. (Not really a question but more a concern)

3) Normally I wouldn't even touch 3D but considering this 51" model has 5 times the refresh rate, 3D and it's close to the same price as other models I've looked at (about a 100 dollars more). Is it worth it for things like 3D gaming and movies? (Saw Transformers in 3D and that blew my mind with some the visuals so if it's done right, I think I could enjoy 3D but Transfomers is my only experience)

Just in general, is this a good buy? I have issues paying more than 1,000 to 1,200 for a TV at this point in my life since I'm 4 months out of college and have a good engineering job but I also have loans and the like so I want to make sure if I spend a grand, it's well spent.

Oh, is thePN51D550C1 just an earlier model (2010?) of one of these 5000 models you guys are talking about from Samsung?

Oh, is thePN51D550C1 just an earlier model (2010?) of one of these 5000 models you guys are talking about from Samsung?

txraider18

The D550 is a lower-end TV than a 7000 or 8000 series. Don't get me wrong.. The D550 will still kick the crap out of the vast majority of LEDs and LCDs in terms of picture quality, but it's just not quite as nice as the higher-end Samsung and Panasonic Plasmas.

I have had the panasonic 42" 1080p viera plasma since october of 2007, and I have yet to ever have anything burned in permently. I only have gotten image retention, which only happens with playing games with static on screen items (Guitar Hero for example) will still appear there after playing, but it goes away after a bit of something else on the screen. Also, it's funny how people won't let games be played on plasma's but will watch movies that have the black bars on the top and bottom since most widescreen movies are in that aspect ratio rather than true 16:9. Those black bars will do the same image retention thing as any game with static items will due, but like I said, it goes away after a while.

All of LCDs benefits have nothing to do with the picture quality.

Mozelleple112

And LCD's are also available in full matte finish, plasma to my knowledge is only semi-matte just like CRT.

And another point to note is that plasma screens are GREY just like CRT's which means if you really want deep blacks you will have to adjust your room lightning accordingly so you dont get to see that the screen is gray. Whereas LCD screens are pitch black. Needless to say LCD's are also infinitely more sexier when turned off but yes that has nothing to do with PQ.

I am not saying plasma isnt better overall but just pointing out that it really isnt as perfect as people would like to think. :)