Anyone experienced using big HDTV to play flight sims?

[lbuchele]

I want advice from people here about to use HDTV to play Il2/SOW anf racing sims.
I'm using a 1920x1200 26" LCD Acer monitor , very satisfied with the quality of image , but I would like something bigger.
I'm thinking about a 52'' LCD or 42" LED full HD with 120 Hz refresh rate.
I will play from 3,5 feet away.
Are there any difference in quality from a 26"monitor to a HDTV like those I mentioned?( dot pitch?)
Modern GPU all have HDMI connectors?
Thanks in advance.:)

[Spinnetti]

just for giggles, I set up IL2 (modded) on my new Mac Mini hooked to my 63" plasma over HDMI ... looks cool and plays great....

[choctaw111]

I tried it a few years ago on a 46" widescreen HDTV.
It looked pretty good but I cannot remember what resolution I had to use.

[udidwht]

I'm currently using my LG 32in LCD (1024x768x60) with the AA and AF cranked up and it looks fantastic. I've found that with flight simulators large screens are great. With FPS and large screens it's just the opposite.

[zapatista]

I'm using a 1920x1200 26" LCD Acer monitor , very satisfied with the quality of image , but I would like something bigger.

I'm thinking about a 52'' LCD or 42" LED full HD with 120 Hz refresh rate.
I will play from 3,5 feet away.

your biggest problem is going to be the very large pixel sizes on the HDTV, and the fact you will be sitting very close to the screen. a 52' lcd tv will have very large pixels, and at such a close viewing distance it will look blocky. SD and HD tv's have an "ideal viewing distance" that takes this into account, and you will normally be sitting at least 3 meters away from a HDTV that is 50'. an additional problem is that the 50' screen, and you intending to sit very close to it, is that the screen is a single large flat slab in front of you, and doesnt encircle you

a much better bet imho would be to use multiple monitors (with multiple gfx cards), and use 3 monitors to increase your peripheral vision (using large 1920 x 1200 flatscreens would be your best bet in bang per buck). another alternative would be a single projector with a curved screen (you can buy "small" curved 46' and larger projection screens)

[julian265]

your biggest problem is going to be the very large pixel sizes on the HDTV, and the fact you will be sitting very close to the screen. a 52' lcd tv will have very large pixels, and at such a close viewing distance it will look blocky. SD and HD tv's have an "ideal viewing distance" that takes this into account, and you will normally be sitting at least 3 meters away from a HDTV that is 50'. an additional problem is that the 50' screen, and you intending to sit very close to it, is that the screen is a single large flat slab in front of you, and doesnt encircle you

a much better bet imho would be to use multiple monitors (with multiple gfx cards), and use 3 monitors to increase your peripheral vision (using large 1920 x 1200 flatscreens would be your best bet in bang per buck). another alternative would be a single projector with a curved screen (you can buy "small" curved 46' and larger projection screens)

+1

As long as your eyes can see the dots (or don't need to rest your eyes), I don't see a good reason to enlarge the screen whilst keeping the same resolution. Even a 40" HDTV is not good from the usual PC viewing distances IMO... And if you put it back further, you could have achieved the same effect with a smaller monitor positioned closer.

[ZaltysZ]

And if you put it back further, you could have achieved the same effect with a smaller monitor positioned closer.

Eyes, don't forget the eyes. Forcing them to focus on closer object results in more eye fatigue. If you have to look at screen for long periods (like working with computer or playing too long), you can become nearsighted. That is why large monitor is good thing: you can put it farrier away.

[lbuchele]

But it looks strange to me coupling three monitors side by side because the borders of the monitors.
Aren´t they immersion killers?

[julian265]

Eyes, don't forget the eyes. Forcing them to focus on closer object results in more eye fatigue. If you have to look at screen for long periods (like working with computer or playing too long), you can become nearsighted. That is why large monitor is good thing: you can put it farrier away.

True. Which is why I said "or you don't need to rest your eyes". Been there, done that... Study/work/games, all close up stuff, I became short sighted around the end of my schooling.

But it looks strange to me coupling three monitors side by side because the borders of the monitors.
Aren´t they immersion killers?

I've read that some people quickly get used to it, I think I would also. But bear in mind that you don't see any extra detail on a 52" 1080P screen than a 23" 1080P screen, unless your eyes couldn't see the smaller monitor clearly.

[zapatista]

But it looks strange to me coupling three monitors side by side because the borders of the monitors.
Aren´t they immersion killers?

most people seem to get used to it very quickly. after a little while the 3 screens just blend into one surface in your brain and you forget about the bezels.

note: this is presuming you are using monitors with thin bezels, and use software that blends the monitors correctly into one image without "pillars"

classic example of using 3 monitors: see youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CVe2JszalI&feature=player_embedded

personally i intend to use 1 widescreen 27' central monitor, with on either side a 19' in landscape mode. using this you get significantly increased peripheral vision yet dont need a monster pc to run it (2 medium end modern gfx cards should drive all 3 monitors, with the 2 19' units being equal to one additional 1920 x 1200 monitor )

as used in this setup http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sXcoZj7fwU&feature=player_embedded (except he is using a central 30' with 2 additional 20's, but the idea is the same)

like seen in the attached image

http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/attachment.php?attachmentid=3055&stc=1&d=1281965142

[Hunden]

But it looks strange to me coupling three monitors side by side because the borders of the monitors.
Aren´t they immersion killers?

I use a 42" lcd 9 foot away and two 21" dells that boarder at about 4.5 foot away so where they line up. Once I start playing It looks like one long picture, I dont even notice the bezels. In fact they almost line up with the post of the cockpit. I also use trackir, its simply awesome. Could not go back to 1 screen it feels like having blinders on.:grin:

[lbuchele]

I use a 42" lcd 9 foot away and two 21" dells that boarder at about 4.5 foot away so where they line up. Once I start playing It looks like one long picture, I dont even notice the bezels. In fact they almost line up with the post of the cockpit. I also use trackir, its simply awesome. Could not go back to 1 screen it feels like having blinders on.:grin:

It looks really good, indeed.
I already decided for the three monitors solution instead of big HDTV.
Another issue is about the really high resolutions needed to run three 1920x1080 monitors at the same time.
I´ll wait to see if It´s possible to run SOW with current high-end machines at those resolutions.

[badfinger]

I use a 42" Samsung with 1650x1080x60 resolution, and have it about 4-5 feet in front of me. I get very good FPS. Immersion is no problem.

binky9

[Desode]

I've Been using a 50 inch 1080p Dlp for all my simulations for about 5 years now.
I play about 6 feet away in a Big easy chair and it looks great. You cannot see any pixils at all.
That may depend on your video card i don't know.
I know I have tried hdmi on a couple cards and it doesn't look 1/10 as good as plugging in VGA on my current HDTV. So I would try both if that is a option.

I can't imagine ever going back to any other screen. Well May be having 3 50 inch screens ! That would be to good to be true ! But I'm not that rich yet.

Desode