Plasma vs. LCD for game console and films?

242 on 21/11/2010 at 21:51

Well, I know it's an old debate, but I can't decide between Samsung LE32C530 (32" LCD Full HD) and Panasonic P37C2 (37" Plasma - the smallest and cheapest they now do, HD Ready) for two weeks now :eww: :mad: :mad: :mad:

I'm definitely a bit swaying towards plasma (despite the LCD $100 cheaper and Full HD) because of blacks/more natural colours/motion resolution, but I'm worried about "burn-in" effect and mainly - heating, they write the Panasonic consumes 225 Watts averagely, it's not too much, but sill 2 times more than the LCD.

Do anyone here actually play on plasma TV? Or even better, maybe someone tried both - LCD and Plasma? What would you choose?

Volitions Advocate on 21/11/2010 at 22:30

I have a 42" LG LCD TV in my living room that I play my consoles with and occasionally my PC will get hookedup. It looks great and something you'll want in a bright room like a living room. If you're putting it in a rumpus room or something down in the basement than a plasma would be good there because its surface is reflective.

Personally I don't think one has any true advantages over the other at the point unless you're taking into account whether or not you're in a brightly lit room.

I'd rather get an OLED tv / monitors but they're too cost prohibitive right now, which makes the LCDs and Plasmas so attractive.

Renzatic on 21/11/2010 at 22:37

Plasmas produce deeper blacks, have higher response times, and better viewing angles, but when compared against modern LCD technology, these perks aren't nearly as noticeable as they used to be. They're still there, but unless you're playing a really dark game in a really dark room at midnight, you probably won't see any differences in picture quality between the two.

And burn in? I've heard you're running the same chances of getting burn in on a plasma as you are on an old CRT screen. So if you're playing a game, and need to keep it paused for a couple of hours to go do something else, it'd be a good idea to turn off the screen. Otherwise you don't have to take any special precautions to prevent it from happening.

So just pick whichever TV you're most interested in regardless of the technology behind it. Have fun with it, then ditch it for a big AMOLED screen whenever they become affordable in 3-5 years.

242 on 21/11/2010 at 23:04

Quote Posted by Renzatic

And burn in? I've heard you're running the same chances of getting burn in on a plasma as you are on an old CRT screen. So if you're playing a game, and need to keep it paused for a couple of hours to go do something else, it'd be a good idea to turn off the screen. Otherwise you don't have to take any special precautions to prevent it from happening.

I'm thinking about HUDs, they should leave traces after prolonged play... probably. When that happens and one turns off the TV for a night f.e., will the traces disappear by themselves, or they have to be washed out by displaying other images?

Renzatic on 21/11/2010 at 23:24

They shouldn't leave any traces at all, as far as I know. Think back to the days when you used a CRT. In a game like Thief, you could spend at least a couple hours in a single map, the light gem and health bars at the bottom of the screen the whole time. Did you ever have the Thief HUD burned into your monitor after an extended session? Probably not. So if plasma screens run about the same risk of burn in as CRTs, then you don't have too much to worry about.

If you want to be cautious, then just turn your TV off and let it rest for a few after spending about 3 hours with a game. You don't have to treat it like you're walking on eggshells. Just be a little responsible, and you'll never see a single ghosted image for the entire life of the TV.

Rug Burn Junky on 23/11/2010 at 03:33

Renz is right with one caveat - plasma's are actually even better than old CRT's were, but even so, they're more susceptible to burn early on in their life than later. The rule of thumb is spend the first 100 to 150 hours of use avoiding any static issues (including the 4:3 sidebars, channel logos or cable news tickers). Probably avoid playing video games for any long stretches during this time.

Like he said, just be a little responsible, and you shouldn't have any problems.

PigLick on 23/11/2010 at 04:06

If only you'd told me that 10 years ago!

Renzatic on 23/11/2010 at 05:53

Quote Posted by Rug Burn Junky

The rule of thumb is spend the first 100 to 150 hours of use avoiding any static issues (including the 4:3 sidebars, channel logos or cable news tickers).

Wow. I did not know that.

Okay then. If you want to be really extra cautious, then either channel surf a whole bunch the first couple month you have it, or see if some sales guy at you favorite electronics store will part with a newish floor model that's been on display for a few.

242 on 23/11/2010 at 10:49

Quote Posted by Rug Burn Junky

Renz is right with one caveat - plasma's are actually even better than old CRT's were, but even so, they're more susceptible to burn early on in their life than later.

2010 (13th generation) Panasonic Viera plasma screen's lifetime is about 100 000 hrs (or 30 years 8 hrs a day) according to specs. I don't worry about permanent burn-in at all, but what I do worry about is temporary burn-ins , because many write about traces (from logos, running infolines etc.) they occasionally get and how they have to 'wash them out'.

Quote:

Think back to the days when you used a CRT. In a game like Thief, you could spend at least a couple hours in a single map, the light gem and health bars at the bottom of the screen the whole time. Did you ever have the Thief HUD burned into your monitor after an extended session? Probably not. So if plasma screens run about the same risk of burn in as CRTs...

The thing is they don't, and could not be compared with CRTs like that. I don't know why, but phosphor in plasma TVs is subject to "remember" its prolonged "stimulation".

Rug Burn Junky on 23/11/2010 at 13:08

Quote Posted by 242

Permanent burn-in is exactly what you SHOULD worry about. Temporary is just that.

It's easy to avoid, but you do have to actually pay attention. Lifespan has nothing to do with it, but out of the box, plasmas run hotter and are more susceptible to burn-in, and once the ghost is there it's harder to get rid of.

(http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=949107) AVS Forum is a great resource for all of these things