LCD HDTV input lag, is it a factor?

  • Thread starter duran83
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duran83

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I'm looking to switch up from my current 20'' CRT to a 32'' HDTV. I've done a lot of research on input latency but i don't have too much first hand experience.

The tv I am looking at is a 100hz tv (LG 32LD550) with input lag measured by users to be anywhere from 30-60ms. I actually tried the game briefly at the store, testing response of the throttle/brake controls in arcade mode and the camera in photo mode (left,right,zoom etc..) and I felt no lag at all.

I'd just like to get as much input as I can from people using the game with a HDTV if it affects any aspect of the game at all - lap times, consistency, surface etc.. Any input at all regardless of if you feel the input lag or not. Also, it would be nice if you could add if your tv is 50/60hz or 100/120hz.
 
Be careful with the Hz ratings on TVs... I'm sure your research has already taught you that manufacturers manipulate all the 'sticker' ratings to make them look bigger/better.

Basically the TV needs to ouput 60Hz to get the best from your Playstation.

If it has a 24Hz mode for BluRay then that's even better because it avoids the +frame judder from 50Hz conversion.

Visual lag is minimal in LCD TVs nowadays. When Plasma and LCD were in their infancy it was normal to find higher response rates from Plasma. That certainly isn't the case now.

The best way to choose a TV is to go and play around with it. If you're happy with how it looks then that's the best test of all (also considering the advice I gave at the beginning of this post).
 
You need to check the video settings menu while you are on the input source that you use for the console and look for Game mode. I'm not sure if all manufacturers have one, but my Samsung LCD HDTV has this feature which disables the image post processing done by the television, reducing the latency from time the TV receives the signal until it is displayed.
 
I personally don't believe that a moderate input lag would be a big problem with a driving game. I have a bit older 100Hz Samsung TV which does have some input lag when 100Hz is enabled (about 40ms). Doesn't bother at all but still I use the game mode. Then the input lag is under 20ms which is under human eye reaction time.
 
You guys really don't notice it or think lag is a factor? I'm no expert but if lag affects fps players with their timing and those playing rhythm based games like guitar hero, surely there is some side effect of it on some aspects of the game like braking accuracy, driving on dirt/snow, drifting etc...
 
Lag is a big factor when playing fps. I don't find lcd lag as an issue when playing GT5. I was using a Sony LCD TV before I switched to a computer lcd monitor. Computer LCD monitors have was less (almost unnoticeable) lag compared to LCD TVs. Well going back to the topic. I didn't see much difference when I played GT5 on the TV then on the monitor. Though it was really noticeable when I played Black Ops.
 
i play on a 50" samsung plasma, a 42" lg lcd, and a 26 westinghouse lcd, and have never noticed/experienced any lag time, so i think you will be just fine
 
I play GT5 in a old Sony TV 50 cm and i don't whant another or plasmas LCd etc.
When I play in a friends house in a Biggggg Plasma 42? or more, for example, the Nascar races in Special Events, it's a fihgt to stay in last...in mine TV, all the times i finish in first.
 
Afaik, the lag depends on more than just the HDTV's own processing latency. If the TV has a gaming mode, you can pretty much count on that to produce the lowest latency possible. But the resolution of the output signal from your game console is important as well. To achieve the lowest possible latency with an HDTV, the output resolution of the console must match the native display resolution of the HDTV, which is 1920x1080. Furthermore, the resolution varies from game to game, even if your console is capable of producing a 1920x1080 output.. The reason for this is that the HDTV needs to calculate how to scale up a lower res signal such as f.i. 640x480 to fill the whole screen, and this operation takes time, which results in a noticeable delay. Try using a PS2 console with an HDTV, and you'll see what I mean... If your TV has a gaming mode, and your console can output an HD signal, you should be ok, as far as I know.
 
It really depends on exactly how laggy your TV is.

I personally made the upgrade to HD a couple of weeks after GT5 released, and the difference in my lap times is truly awful, particularly when driving high powered/low grip cars that require quick reactions to catch any slides/ regulate the throttle etc. It makes some cars almost completely undrivable, so much so that I've hardly played GT5 at all since getting my new TV.

To be fair though my case is probably quite an extreme example, as my TV lags more than most other HDTV's on the market, and as far as i'm aware it has no game mode. plus I believe it's resolution is 1366x768, meaning it has to do extra scaling, either up to 1080p, or down to 720p.

Just recently I've decided that I've had enough of missing out on my favourite game, and i've done a lot of research and googling to help me decide which TV to buy next. Here are my best finds so far:

http://shoryuken.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-new-definitive-hdtv-lag-faq.55593/
http://shoryuken.com/forum/index.php?threads/sub-1-frame-hdtv-monitor-input-lag-database.145141/

There is very little information on the internet about the lag times of TV's and in most cases googling will get you no-where. It took me ages to find these links, and it looks like it's the best source of information there is on the matter.

If anyone else knows of any other useful links out there, please do let me know!
 
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I've set up Rock Band on many a TV & System. Lag is always there... just depends on how much.

To the OP, IF you have Rock Band 3 and a 2nd gen Rock Band guitar, you can see how much latency your Audio and Video components have. Use RB3 and the guitar to calibrate the game... it will list your Audio and Video latency in milliseconds. Unfortunately, what you get is what you get. There is no way to compensate or adjust GT5 for latency in the system.
 
tezster
I have a 6-year old DLP TV - any lag of the video display introduces isn't noticeable to me.
Click to expand...

DLP are the worst when it comes to input lag, it doesn't really matter in GT though, for fighting games (where counting frames is necessary) it's crucial, that's why they play on ASUS monitors and not random LCDs you can get at best buy
 
mekonrider
Didn't know any lag problems even existed on TVs in 2011.
Click to expand...

For sure. If I output analog audio to analog speakers, with an HDMI video input, I will get sound first. If I have a ultiple, analog seems to be faster.

Playing Rock Band, I have usually about 5ms of latency.
 
also the PS3's USB port has 2 frames of delay on input, not counting the monitor lag which may add more frames to that
 
I use 50" Panasonic full HD plasma for FPS & same for GT5 but only 10% of time as it's a pain to move wheel. 90% of time I use a 21.5 inch TEAC LED and neither lag.

50" has no game mode either, am not familiar with it?

Also have 32" LG LCD and that's my old gaming one, no lag there either... I'd suggest those for gaming as they work for me :)
 
mekonrider
Didn't know any lag problems even existed on TVs in 2011.
Click to expand...
Yes, modern TVs process the incoming signal to 'improve' the image and/or sound. That takes a short amount of time. Hence the 'game mode' option, which bypasses any processing. Most of the time, the same can be achieved by turning off processing options by hand (e.g. when your TV has no game mode, or you want more control over the display options, which game mode usually doesn't offer, because it turns off everything).

Heathenpride
50" has no game mode either, am not familiar with it?
Click to expand...
See above. :)
 
ROYALEFATALE
...it doesn't really matter in GT though, for fighting games (where counting frames is necessary) it's crucial, that's why they play on ASUS monitors and not random LCDs you can get at best buy
Click to expand...

I'd have to disagree with you there, Like I said above, since I made the switch from my SD TV to my LCD HD TV, I've been losing a ridiculous amount of time a ridiculous amount of time (On average about 2-3 seconds a lap, more than that for less grippy cars/tyres, and closer to a second for cars that don't slide at all). Again, my lag is rather extreme compared to some, but still, it can't be any higher than a quarter of a second.

ROYALEFATALE
also the PS3's USB port has 2 frames of delay on input, not counting the monitor lag which may add more frames to that
Click to expand...

Really, is that true? So I would be better off using my DS3 controller wirelessly then? Because I always assumed the opposite and kept it plugged in via the USB.

NLxAROSA
Yes, modern TVs process the incoming signal to 'improve' the image and/or sound. That takes a short amount of time. Hence the 'game mode' option, which bypasses any processing. Most of the time, the same can be achieved by turning off processing options by hand (e.g. when your TV has no game mode, or you want more control over the display options, which game mode usually doesn't offer, because it turns off everything).

See above. :)
Click to expand...

Right you are, but as I'm sure you know, even if you found a TV with a game mode that bypassed all post processing, it still has to upscale the incoming image, even if the input is supposedly the same resolution as the output.
 
Do not want to make any advert from this but I've got a Samsung LCD and with game mode is a win-win situation. That brand is a sure bet.
 
b_schwarz
Don't buy an LG. Mine broke after 16 months.
Click to expand...

I've had mine for 5 years with nary a problem. Got many years of lag-less gaming too :)
 

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