Playing PC games on a 32" 1080p HDTV? Oh yes sir, I do! Maximum Experience!!

sonic123

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Hello. A little background for me: Always have been using IPS monitors and currently owner of two IPS displays: Dell U2713HM and U2913WM (former owner of U2711 and U2410). My system consist of a 4770K CPU and two GTX 780 on SLI.

Last Saturday I tried connecting my new Samsung 32F6300 HDTV which is a 32" display at 1080p. The purpose of that HDTV was mainly for gaming with the upcoming PS4 but anyway I connected my PC to the TV in PC mode and tried some games: from Crysis 3 to Battlefield 3, from Sleeping Dogs to GTA IV, Devil May Cry, NFS, Alan Wake you get the idea.

WOW! I must say. What a great experience! Don't remember the last time I was so amazed at a gaming experience. Playing at that big display (in comparison with my 27") makes a complete and absolute inmmersive feeling and because 32" is "not that big" compared to other HDTV I use it in my desk almost at the same distance that when I play games with my monitor (a little farther than when I use my monitor for working).

I was afraid of the possible pixelation being used to play at 1440p with my 27" monitor. Let me tell you that said pixelation at my distance (quite close for a 32" display) is almost unnoticiable and even if there were some the balance is in favor of the 32" HDTV because at that size there is really a night and day difference in comparison with my 27".

The HDTV is actually glossy but in a good way. I mean, not glossy like those cheap TN monitors but glossy in a sense that, for instance, when playing Battlefield 3 some explosion and water effects seem like there was actually fire and water on the display, almost real and a experience that none of my IPS monitors have given me.

In theory the way to go is my IPS 27" monitor at 1440p and blah blah blah but as an actual owner of both alternative, with all settings maxed out on my PC the gaming experience that the 32" HDTV gave me makes it the first alternative from now on to play and the 27" the second best. I never thought I would say that until I actually experienced.

WOW, WOW and WOW!
 
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I understand what you mean. I got a buddy who (due to an eye condition) must use a 42" TV placed 20cm away from his head as a monitor.

Tried playing CS on that a couple years back, and it was pretty mindblowing - even though its only 1080p.
Have you ever considered placing your 27" monitor closer to you? Theoretically, it should give the same immersion experience. I did the same thing with my 27" 120hz 3D Vision monitor, and it does feel more immersive in the right type of game. Especially in 3D Vision.

I was playing Farcry 3 about 6-12" from my face in 3D Vision at 100% depth, and it felt pretty awesome. It got so real, I started to feel a bit of motion sickness. With everything in 3D, and most my peripheral vision being taken up by the screen, it feels almost like you are there. Unfortunately, this works best in 1st person games. The same experience isn't had in when the game isn't in 1st person.
 

sonic123

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Yes sir. I been playing with 27" monitors at 1440p for almost 2.5 years. The thing with this HDTV 32" being 1080p at all allows me to have it quite near me, almost at the same distance you would have a 30" monitor when playing and as I tell you, the 27" monitor solution simply cannot match my experience with the 32" HDTV. I'm impressed. Suddenly my old games got a new life replaying them on that display.

 
How close do you play? You said you played from the same distance, couldn't you have moved the 27" screen closer? When close enough, the peripheral vision is completely covered up, just like a 32" screen is at your current distance. The only problem is if you get too close, you may see the screen door effect, but you might give it a go to see how it looks to you with the higher resolution.

I liked it for 3D Vision a lot, in particular.
 

sonic123

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Maybe I wasn't clear enough. In this almost 3 years with playing with the 27" monitor I have tried all kind of settings and yes even getting so closer to the 27". The thing is that with my 32" HDTV at 1080p I can get almost that close of the distance I get with my 27" but with much better results, a complete immersive experience.

Have you tried playing with a 32 HDTV?

If getting closer was the solution no one would be buying all these 46", 55", 65" and 75" HDTV every day. Everyone would be buying just 32" HDTVs and seating closer to it in the living room.

 

sonic123

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That 3D Vision surely sound interesting. My HDTV is not 3D capable but if one has a 3D capable HDTV is it possible to use said 3D Vision on that TV?
 


It is possible through 3DTV play, but 3D TV's are limited by their inputs to either 24hz or 720p when in 3D. A 3D Vision 2 monitor gives you 1080p at 60hz in 3D and has pulsing backlighting to remove any motion blur and reduce/eliminate crosstalk, though in high enough contrast, you can see some ghosting due to the liquid crystal glasses letting some light through.

The biggest issue is that a lot of games don't have good support for 3D, though there is a mod community that has fixed several: http://helixmod.wikispot.org/gamelist

 
I understand what you mean. I got a buddy who (due to an eye condition) must use a 42" TV placed 20cm away from his head as a monitor.

Tried playing CS on that a couple years back, and it was pretty mindblowing - even though its only 1080p.
 
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