Optoma HD3000

[Seraphic]

Has anyone tried using an Xsync-1 with an HD3000 using the VGA port on the front and sending RGBHV 15khz? I wonder if... 1. It would accept it? And 2. Might it allow full use of 240p60 sources?

[Fudoh]

Once upon a time, when initally testing the Optoma, I tried various 240p sources on the component and RGB/BNC inputs on the back and I think to remember that using an Extron interface most 240p RGBs sources worked, BUT (BIG BUT), what's the point ? And why would you chose the VGA port for this ? Eventually the problem is that the Optoma does not know 240p, so it gets treated as 480i which causes massive problems with all 60fps titles (while 30fps are fine).

[BuckoA51]

I just snagged an Optoma from this seller http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0999589898 Reasonable price apart from shipping and taxes may kill me I guess.

So, from reading this thread, I should keep my Edge and somehow integrate the Optoma along side it? I watch movies and game (240p up to 1080p) on this system, seems like the Edge is a better bet for movies (I watch on PS3 and Dune HD streamer) is there really anything much to be gained feeding 720p sources into the Optoma vs the Edge? It's not like there's much difference in 720p scaling usually anyway right?

[fagin]

Sharpness and scaling accuracy is better.

[BuckoA51]

Hmm, well I guess I'll give it a try, I do have some HDMI splitters that I use for splitting out between Edge and HD Fury/SLG, so I guess I could compare the two. Annoying thing is I watch movies on my 360 and PS3 so I'd need to feed the HDMI into both (and then potentially a third into the SLG, though I've never actually used the SLG on the PS3). I wonder why the Optoma never supported 24p output?

[Fudoh]

You should have bought my Lumagen HDQ instead

I wonder why the Optoma never supported 24p output?

you can feed 1080p60 from the Optoma into the Edge and have the Edge do the 1080p60 to 1080p24 conversion.

[BuckoA51]

Last question for now till I actually get it, I flicked through a pdf manual and I don't see any 1:1 frame rate or output frame lock options. Will I have to manually change between 1080p 50 and 60 when I play pal or ntsc games and is frame lock permanently on?

[Fudoh]

I've never run anything 50Hz on it, but I don't think that the HD3000 switches automatically.

[fagin]

No, it doesn't.

[BuckoA51]

Well I don't think I've ever been so disappointed with a device that is so highly regarded on here, frankly, this thing sucks.

Let's start with the good:-

Xbox 1 component looks lovely. I'd have to say slightly better than my current setup which is using the XRGB3 to transcode before going into the DVDO Edge.
Super Famicom -> XRGB3 -> Optoma looks stunning.
Gamecube at 480i deinterlacing looks very nice.
Doesn't freak out when using the picture centering controls on the Extron, which is nice.
Actually looks pretty nice too (as in the unit itself, rather than any picture it produces).

Then the bad:-

240p doesn't work but we already knew that
640x480 PC (e.g old DOS games) doesn't look that much different!
Wii looks utter crap - Lots worse than going XRGB3 (B1) -> Edge
50hz VGA won't work at all, so no PAL consoles via XRGB3
720p VGA doesn't work
31khz RGBS doesn't work (not that you need it all that often, just saying)
60hz Genesis -> XRGB3 -> Optoma doesn't work at all
PC Engine -> XRGB3 -> Optoma doesn't even give a picture, let alone one with a warped top

The thing seems to have permanent picture noise. at first I thought it was ground loop interference but I tried it on a socket on its own and it still does it. It's weird, but you can only see it when there's no picture or if you stick your nose in the borders so I guess it doesn't matter.

To make matters worse and to make it harder for me to sell on, the half the plastic clip covering the front flap broke off in transit and the remote doesn't work, it gives this loud buzzing noise whenever you press a button. The seller even inflated the cost on the postage label making me get stung for more import tax

Easily the worst purchase I've made, I would not recommend, too much pain for far too little gain

Actually forget I said all that, anyone want to buy an OptomaHD-3000? Amazing 480p scaling !

[fagin]

Well I don't think I've ever been so disappointed with a device that is so highly regarded on here, frankly, this thing sucks.

Let's start with the good:-

Xbox 1 component looks lovely. I'd have to say slightly better than my current setup which is using the XRGB3 to transcode before going into the DVDO Edge.
Super Famicom -> XRGB3 -> Optoma looks stunning.
Gamecube at 480i deinterlacing looks very nice.
Doesn't freak out when using the picture centering controls on the Extron, which is nice.
Actually looks pretty nice too (as in the unit itself, rather than any picture it produces).

Then the bad:-

240p doesn't work but we already knew that
640x480 PC (e.g old DOS games) doesn't look that much different!
Wii looks utter crap - Lots worse than going XRGB3 (B1) -> Edge
50hz VGA won't work at all, so no PAL consoles via XRGB3
720p VGA doesn't work
31khz RGBS doesn't work (not that you need it all that often, just saying)
60hz Genesis -> XRGB3 -> Optoma doesn't work at all
PC Engine -> XRGB3 -> Optoma doesn't even give a picture, let alone one with a warped top

The thing seems to have permanent picture noise. at first I thought it was ground loop interference but I tried it on a socket on its own and it still does it. It's weird, but you can only see it when there's no picture or if you stick your nose in the borders so I guess it doesn't matter.

To make matters worse and to make it harder for me to sell on, the half the plastic clip covering the front flap broke off in transit and the remote doesn't work, it gives this loud buzzing noise whenever you press a button. The seller even inflated the cost on the postage label making me get stung for more import tax

Easily the worst purchase I've made, I would not recommend, too much pain for far too little gain

Actually forget I said all that, anyone want to buy an OptomaHD-3000? Amazing 480p scaling !

I take it you don't like it then!?

THE only reason I bought mine was off Fudoh's comments - for 480p upscaling only (from a progressive console source direct)!

It looks stunning on my xbox360 from 720p to 1080p as well -720p VGA works fine on mine mate.

So mine was only ever bought for one use and for that it's great imo.

[Fudoh]

that's right. I'm still using the Optoma, despite having a bunch of other processors in the same setup.

If you had asked before buying the unit, you probably wouldn't have gotten any recommendations for any other purpose than upscaling 480p component. And I could have told you that Wii doesn't really look too good on it.

[BuckoA51]

Yeah don't see what the fuss is about. Not sure the 480p scaling is that much better than transcoding first then going into the DVDO (worse on the Wii!). 720p scaling? Didn't actually bother to try in the end, I can't imagine there's that much room for improvement. Also, there's no gamer mode on it so who knows what the input lag might be?

But yeah, I'm not going to the trouble of splitting out the signal again just for the Xbox and the Super Famicom.

If you had asked before buying the unit, you probably wouldn't have gotten any recommendations for any other purpose than upscaling 480p component.

I wanted it mainly for that, but I thought it'd at least work with 50hz VGA too, oh well.

[Fudoh]

Also, there's no gamer mode on it so who knows what the input lag might be?

quite ok, a little more than one frame for progressive sources. Should be more on 480i signals.

The scaling is fantastic compared to the usual DVDO machines. For 720p I also don't bother. My TV does that pretty ok and if I want it to better I go though my DVDO where I can apply negative EE/DE even in gamemode.

Once you get used to the Gennum upscaling of 480p sources, it's so hard to go back. I tend to forget how good it actually looks, but a few minutes on the Optoma and I'm re-convinced right away. It looks simply stunning.

[RGB32E]

Once you get used to the Gennum upscaling of 480p sources, it's so hard to go back. I tend to forget how good it actually looks, but a few minutes on the Optoma and I'm re-convinced right away. It looks simply stunning.

Doesn't the Optoma have an issue with the Wii's component output? I haven't tried the Wii with the mini since updating to FWs v1.05/v1.06, but isn't the mini the defacto solution ATM (for point sample scaling of the wii)? All other 480p sources look better via the Optoma, right?

[BuckoA51]

It's a country mile better than the stock DVDO upscaling of 480p component but if you transcode first and then feed the DVDO the difference isn't as great IMO. Certainly not enough to warrant all the hassle of splitting out my component signal again (keeping in mind I'll almost certainly be getting a Frame Meister now too).

[fagin]

For 720p I also don't bother. My TV does that pretty ok and if I want it to better I go though my DVDO where I can apply negative EE/DE even in gamemode.

Since the majority of my gaming is upstairs (sitting on top of my LCD PC monitors and using a VGA 360 upstairs - the HDMI version is downstairs), I found a big difference in sharpness and clarity. Going DSUB15 (@720p) -> Optoma (@1080p) -> HDMI DELL LCD is stunning compared to using the 360 set @ 1080p and feeding the monitor via DSUB.

Now, whether this is simply a DSUB issue with the LCD I don't know.

[Fudoh]

...but if you transcode first and then feed the DVDO the difference isn't as great IMO

The Edge shouldn't process 480p via RGBHV any different than 480p via YUV, or does it on your setup ?

[BuckoA51]

Yes, big difference actually, you remember when we figured out that RGBC trick to make 15khz RGB look better? The difference is bigger than that I'd say.

[Fudoh]

in which terms ? I get the differences on 240p material with the RGBs connection, but I don't see which differences there should be for 480p processing.

[BuckoA51]

Picture is sharper and not aggressively smoothed like usual 480p component handling on the Edge.

[Seraphic]

Any thoughts here as to what might have gone wrong?

I turned my HD3000 last night and the unit detected both incoming video from my Xbox 360
and was outputting video to my T.V. However, I had to turn both off a few minutes
later because my battery for my Xbox 360 controller died and had to recharge.

So after the battery was charged, I turned the Optoma HD-3000 back on, but
this time the unit said "no input source" even though no cables were changed
and the Xbox 360 was turned on. So after trying my two other PS3
sources and still getting the same result, I selected "Restore Factory/Default
Settings". Unit said processing then stopped outputting video. After waiting
several minutes, I put the unit into standby mode, waited, then turned it
back on. However, the Optoma HD-3000 is not outputting any video at all now.

Did something go wrong with the firmware or did the unit just go bad?
I left it in standby all night and tried in the morning, no change.
Un-plugged it all day while I was at work and tried in the afternoon, no change.
I don't have a COM port to try and re-flash firmware...

[fagin]

Have you tried the suggestion on page 2?

[Seraphic]

Have you tried the suggestion on page 2?

Which one do you mean?

[fagin]

Pressing the up arrow!

[BuckoA51]

Wasn't even able to sell mine on ebay for a fraction what I bought it for, people must have read my review above

Not sure what I'm going to do with mine now.

[Thamiel]

Just received an Optoma HD3000 I won on eBay: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/111010203485 ... 500wt_1414

Oddly enough i'm having trouble getting it to power on. Plugged in correctly, checked to make sure the voltages are correct and yeah...no LEDs light up indicating it has power. Unless i'm missing some sort of weird way to turn it on the unit may be DOA. Rather irritating as the auction clearly states that the unit powers on.

Any tips/suggestions?

[fagin]

I need to pull mine out again soon, but afaik you just pushed the button on the front and it powered up with a blue light.

[Thamiel]

Yeah no sweet blue LED action for me, can't have blown the power supply as its 100-240v.

[Thamiel]

Took the bastard apart to take a look, see if anything was obviously burnt out and whatnot. Couldn't see anything that looks obviously broken.

Large Images:
http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/1645 ... 1734cd.jpg
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/8428 ... 97c926.jpg

Fagin, how loose is the power button on yours? Mine feels a little loose so maybe that's the issue.