What's the biggest screen size possible for a gaming setup?

[angryswede]

I have an awesome setup of consoles, scalers and switchers. I even have the stereo audio relatively worked out.
But then it all ends in shame on my 22" lcd monitor…

I would like to know about the biggest and baddest way to present the visuals. Factoring in lag, general display properties and cost/availability, what would you guys recommend?

Is it even feasible to venture into projector territory when striving for the least amount of lag?

Let's speculate!

[matrigs]

srsly ?

[angryswede]

srsly ?

Maybe not the speculation part but otherwise yeah sure - why not?

[Thjodbjorn]

Size isn't going to affect lag...

[rugdoctor]

Anything 29" is plenty big for me. But sky is the limit if you are in a home theather kind of setup. I know my friend games (very long hours) on a projector and he seems happy about it.

[shmuppyLove]

Projectors are great for large display size, but multiple-hour-long gaming sessions will wear out the bulbs very quickly and cost you a fortune in the long run.

What's wrong with a 50-60" plasma?

If you want to TATE, then you'll have to keep the size down ... I would imagine there aren't too many pivoting wall mounts that would accomdate larger than 40 or 42" ?

[Stealthlurker]

Projectors are great for large display size, but multiple-hour-long gaming sessions will wear out the bulbs very quickly and cost you a fortune in the long run.

What's wrong with a 50-60" plasma?

If you want to TATE, then you'll have to keep the size down ... I would imagine there aren't too many pivoting wall mounts that would accomdate larger than 40 or 42" ?

There are a couple guys here and myself that have mounts/stands that can TATE a screen up to a 60" direct view flat panel (main issue is the weight).

TATE'ing a projector is a different story...

.

[Thjodbjorn]

Projectors are great for large display size, but multiple-hour-long gaming sessions will wear out the bulbs very quickly and cost you a fortune in the long run.

What's wrong with a 50-60" plasma?

If you want to TATE, then you'll have to keep the size down ... I would imagine there aren't too many pivoting wall mounts that would accomdate larger than 40 or 42" ?

There are a couple guys here and myself that have mounts/stands that can TATE a screen up to a 60" direct view flat panel (main issue is the weight).

TATE'ing a projector is a different story...

.

The rotating stand I use for my 51" plasma can do 61". 50"-51" is a pretty good size.

[angryswede]

Projectors are great for large display size, but multiple-hour-long gaming sessions will wear out the bulbs very quickly and cost you a fortune in the long run.
What's wrong with a 50-60" plasma?

A projector in the ceiling looks better than a 60" black monolith on the wall

[sven666]

el giganten has a nice 80" LED

[angryswede]

el giganten has a nice 80" LED

That's a serious screen - it measures over two meters diagonally!
I'll take an irl peek this weekend, but with that tv we're talking puppies instead of fancy dinner
for the wife-bribe
On the other hand - with a porn screen like that I won't need her anymore.

[matrigs]

everything above 50" is to big for 1920x1080.

also what kind of room do you have to have to sit the right distance away.

[fagin]

everything above 50" is to big for 1920x1080.

How do you make that out?

[ryu]

i guess you could get some sort of jaggies, even on hd material, if the cells corresponding to the individual pixels become too large

[matrigs]

i guess you could get some sort of jaggies, even on hd material, if the cells corresponding to the individual pixels become too large

well that's why you maintain a bigger distance from the screen.

it's not really about the quality of the picture. i don't know if this will make any sense for you - but i have just never seen a screen above 50" which was a "good investment" regarding price, ergonomics, viewing distance (cabled gamepads anyone?) etc. 42-50 inch are very comfortable and big enough for most gaming needs.

[Stainomo]

I game on a 110" screen projected by my Sany Z4 720p + iscan HD to handle the upscaling. Very pleased by the results!

[arbormatt]

I game on a 120" screen using an optoma hd 33. I also have a tate setup in my media room with a 50" Hitatchi 1080p plasma. I have the rotating wall mount.

[neorichieb1971]

Its infinite.

If size if everything there is no limit. But quality depreciates the larger you go. It also depends on native resolutions of each console/pc you have.

For 240p - 29" is about the largest I would go.
For 480p - 40" is the about the largest I would go.
For 720p - 70" is the largest I would go.
For 1080p or bigger any projector 1080p+ would suffice.

If you stick to that scale you should be ok. If you go outside of those boundaries for each resolution you're going to get an awful lot of jaggies/pixelation and blurriness.


Also, as stated above your viewing distance can ultimately decide if any of the above is practical or not.

If you want the best of all worlds, get a 29" and a 40-50" TV and a projector and just switch things around to suit your needs.

[Fudoh]

For 240p - 29" is about the largest I would go.

certainly not, I play all my 240p stuff on 52" with a viewing distance of about 4-5 feet. Looks stunning.

[neorichieb1971]

well its personal preference. I prefer a CRT for 240p. I think my guidelines are well suited for gaming in general. I once saw SF3 in the arcade on some big rear projection job and although it looked clean, the scanlines were huge.

[Ed Oscuro]

Don't get lost in between the scanlines, neorichie!

I originally thought that you were against the large formats for older games because they might imply no scanlines (i.e. if using a larger modern TV).

[gray117]

I think in general one would be better off reviewing what your hoping to achieve.

In general the better cost:performance balance will be achieved with a plasma screen, with low lag screens available, with great colors, at a medium cost.

However, if you're seeking to achieve a certain experience (retro console/arcade) you're probably better off exploring more unique setups and physical positions that better suit that particular purpose; for example with arcade shmups I really feel there's something to be said for the feeling of a 25-29 screen and your ability to lean in and out slightly in order to concentrate on particular area or get some kind of overview of the screen, or rest in the expanse. Whereas some other games/genres - like 3d person adventures - definitely benefit from a more relaxed, constant position, probably further from a large screen so that the consistency in perspective/immersion is maintained...

... but yeah, at the end of the day its personal preference; and it sounds like you want someone to talk you into getting a 50" screen.

22-24 are perfect sizes for your general at a desk position, but can suffer if you seek a more removed position or end up using only a portion of the screen.