HD LCD TVs and non-HD gaming.

[MetalGearAl]

I'm currently using my Gamecube + PS2 on an old 28" non-widescreen telly via RGB Scart. Now I'm going to get a 360, I'm interested in upgrading to an HD LCD TV to get the benefit. This telly (http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?nov-q321hd&P=1) here has already caught my eye, it's meant to be a bit of a bargain and uses a Samsung panel with great picture quality.

However, when I visited my dad's over xmas, I took my PS2 to try on his HD LCD Samsung and I was appalled at the picture. I think I tried it over various sources (S-Video, RGB Scart, Component) and it seemed to just create a really blocky picture - like it had lost the natural "anti-aliasing" of the CRT. Is this what a result of what I think is upscaling on an LCD?

Is this common, any solutions? I'd really like to move to LCD - but I want my Gamecube + PS2 to still look nice and lovely when playing on them too!

[Goblin]

I think that's normal, I had the same problem when I connected my PS2.

I'll be suprised if there's a solution because crap in = crap out.

[mwgdrwg]

Hmmm, I hope Wii looks good on my hdtv.

[MetalGearAl]

I think that's normal, I had the same problem when I connected my PS2.

I'll be suprised if there's a solution because crap in = crap out.
Yeah, but I think the PS2 looks fine to me on my CRT, but much much worse on the LCD. It seems the clarity and digital-ness of the display just highlights the problem.

I'm not expecting it to look any better than the CRT, I just don't want it looking worse.

[xraystan]

It's more than likely down to the fact that it's an LCD. On my HD Pioneer Plasma, my PS2 through RGB scart looks fine. Ok, so it's not as crystal clear as when I'm using my Xbox360 through component, but that's more to do with the 360 being in 720p and the PS2 in 625i.

I still don't understand why people go for LCD over plasma, when every decent plasma I've seen looks better than an LCD screen. Get a decent plasma, calibrate the picture and your problems will be sorted. :thumbs:

[ShakeyJake]

I still don't understand why people go for LCD over plasma

price? :nuts:

[MetalGearAl]

Aye, the price increase :D

[IndianaJones00]

I tried playing my Gamecube through my LCD via Composite and RGB Scart afew weeks ago and through both the picture was quite bad but with the 360 it is fantastic.

I guess you cant have everything :(

[hookbeak]

I tried playing my Gamecube through my LCD via Composite and RGB Scart afew weeks ago and through both the picture was quite bad but with the 360 it is fantastic.

I guess you cant have everything :(


my GC is so bad on my LCD it's unplayable. A big smeared dull mess.

[MetalGearAl]

Hmm.. anyone using the Samsung HD CRT with these consoles? I know there are meant to be build-quality problems with these televisions (seems like a lottery to get a good one) but apparently the older consoles still look fine on them?

I don't really want a nice new TV just for the benefit of my 360 and upscaled DVDs. I want a good all rounder :(

[S1515]

I still don't understand why people go for LCD over plasma, when every decent plasma I've seen looks better than an LCD screen. Get a decent plasma, calibrate the picture and your problems will be sorted. :thumbs:

Plasmas are not great for getting a sharp image - so may be better for SD but def not for HD.

[M@rtin]

PS2 running prog scan via component looks pretty good on my Samsung LCD. Non prog scan stuff can look a bit grainy (Guitar hero) but I don't really notice that much. The GC through RGB scart still looks good to me :shrug:

[Goblin]

Yeah, but I think the PS2 looks fine to me on my CRT, but much much worse on the LCD. It seems the clarity and digital-ness of the display just highlights the problem.

yeah the consoles are fine on a normal TV but playing the games at resolutions they aren't designed for is always going to look worse.

It reminds me of Half Life Source, a better resolution doesn't equal better graphics, it just shows how poor the textures actually are.

[hookbeak]

Hmm.. anyone using the Samsung HD CRT with these consoles? I know there are meant to be build-quality problems with these televisions (seems like a lottery to get a good one) but apparently the older consoles still look fine on them?

I don't really want a nice new TV just for the benefit of my 360 and upscaled DVDs. I want a good all rounder :(


Mines a samsung - anything non-hd looks gash on it to be honest.

[SqueakyG]

It's the irony of the HD era: standard-definition sources that looked absolutely fine on old TVs now look AWFUL on hi-def flat-panels. The only thing that looks good on HD televisions is HD material.

If you get a HD TV to replace a CRT, you can expect all your standard-definition sources - basic Sky, basic terrestrial, last-gen games consoles, VHS and DVDR recording, etc - to look much worse than they did on your CRT.

[MetalGearAl]

Mines a samsung - anything non-hd looks gash on it to be honest.
Samsung HD CRT :)

I guess I might stick with CRT for now then, I can always play my XBox 360 on my 20.1" monitor in my room via VGA. Bah.

[xraystan]

Plasmas are not great for getting a sharp image - so may be better for SD but def not for HD.

But not really noticable.
Anyway let's not get into a plasma v LCD argument. Apologies if my posts were leaning that way.

[GAmbrose]

Gamecubes look fine on HDTV's, PS2 looks quite rubbish IMO for some reason.

My Gamecube is NTSC and does 480P which helps quite a lot though, And yes I have component cables for both.

Gary A

[sbooth]

My gamecube looks pretty good on my Panny 32lxd52. Nowhere near my 360 but i wasn't expecting too. I have GC connected via official RGB cable and also i don't sit right up close. About 2.5m away i reckon.

[rbullivant]

Yup my new PS2 looks awful on my Sammy 26in, was wondering if there was a better cable i could buy.

I heard there was an upscaler coming out, will it help?

R

[Kashni]

What about the original xbox ? I plan on still using xbox as a mediacentre (via xbmc) aswell as games, what would the quality like on an average 32" LCD screen if I bought one today ?
Sorry i'm not too clued up on this HD stuff still along way to go for me !

btw MetalGearAl wasnt the same model of non-rebranded Hyundai LCD screen (not branded Novatech) available from ebuyer.com around the same time and same price but without the crappy freeview ?

[MetalGearAl]

Search the site for the A321, that doesn't have the freeview tuner - Don't see why it's crappy though.

[infestedsicness]

My PS2 also looks poor on my 32" Samsung, and that is going over Component, my 360 obviously looks the nuts though. When I got a component lead for my Gamecube, that also looked amazing, as did my Xbox set to NTSC and 720p. Sky also looks pretty good over RGB Scart, so the only thing I've had probs with since getting my LCD is the PS2, which I just don't play anymore because of it. I think I'll move it to the other room at some point.

[VurtHed]

My PS2 also looks poor on my 32" Samsung, and that is going over Component, my 360 obviously looks the nuts though. When I got a component lead for my Gamecube, that also looked amazing, as did my Xbox set to NTSC and 720p. Sky also looks pretty good over RGB Scart, so the only thing I've had probs with since getting my LCD is the PS2, which I just don't play anymore because of it. I think I'll move it to the other room at some point.Cheers infestedsicness! :thumbs: Your post was so close to what I was going to write, so... (well it is late) ;)

My PS2 also looks poor on my 32" Hitachi, and that is going over Component, <strike>my 360 obviously looks the nuts though</strike>. When I got a component lead for my Gamecube, that also looked amazing, as did my Xbox set to NTSC and 720p. Freeview also looks pretty good over RGB Scart, so the only thing I've had probs with since getting my LCD is the PS2, <strike>which I just don't play anymore because of it. I think I'll move it to the other room at some point.</strike> I still play my PS2, but get anything multiformat in XBox or GC flavour.