Projector vs 3 monitors: Immersion

[F2a]

Hi guys, I'm new to flight sims and I'm trying to get as much immersion as possible without spending a lot of money to experiment. I currently have a home made 720P projector (soon 1080P) that I project an ~10' screen with that I am using to play LO:FC . It's great fun but it's hard to read the text without zooming! I currently have 2 monitors, a 20" non widescreen and a 19" widescreen so they don't really match. But I was thinking about buying say two 22" widescreen monitors to put on either side my 20" and then use 2 video cards with that SoftTH program.

 

For those that have played around with different kind of setups, in your opinion which is the most immersive?

 

I have the X52 stick (I want to extend it) and I just ordered Trackir4 pro so that should help a bit.

 

Input would be appreciated!

[Icarus2]

Hi guys, I'm new to flight sims and I'm trying to get as much immersion as possible without spending a lot of money to experiment. I currently have a home made 720P projector (soon 1080P) that I project an ~10' screen with that I am using to play LO:FC . It's great fun but it's hard to read the text without zooming! I currently have 2 monitors, a 20" non widescreen and a 19" widescreen so they don't really match. But I was thinking about buying say two 22" widescreen monitors to put on either side my 20" and then use 2 video cards with that SoftTH program.

 

For those that have played around with different kind of setups, in your opinion which is the most immersive?

 

I have the X52 stick (I want to extend it) and I just ordered Trackir4 pro so that should help a bit.

 

Input would be appreciated!

 

I have both and I hate the seams with three monitors. They are often in unfortunate locations. My projector is a Benq W5000 and it is awesome, but it needs to be back a ways if you are using a 10 foot screen or you have to move your head around just to see the left and right side of the screen. This is awkward with TIR. Thus, a 30" monitor at very close proximity is hard to beat with its clarity and detail. Just my opinion.

 

5' Projection five feet away, no problem viewing detail at 1920 x 1080i

[MonnieRock]

30" S-IPS or H-IPS LCD Panel at 2650x1600 FTW!! I highly suggest not getting a PVA,S-PVA,MVA or TN panel.

[Icarus2]

30" S-IPS or H-IPS LCD Panel at 2650x1600 FTW!! I highly suggest not getting a PVA,S-PVA,MVA or TN panel.

 

I've looked at a lot of LCD monitor specs and i've never seen these terms before. Could you please expand on this?

[MonnieRock]

I've looked at a lot of LCD monitor specs and i've never seen these terms before. Could you please expand on this?

 

Icarus,

 

What would you like to know my friend?

 

Here is a basic read for you, look over it carefully. Does not get into get detail but it will help you I think This page

 

Are you in the market for a 30" LCD? If you are, you need to first decide what will you use your display for, what would you like to have as future possibilities. ie: multimedia inputs, HD-DVD, Console games, Strictly computer games, doing digitial photographic work, ability to do hardware calibration, on and on.

 

Remember the saying " Seeing is believing" can not be more true. A good display can make or break a good system setup and the things you use it for. Also color accuracy is key. Do not forget, your eyes are so important. Need to take good care of them. As in any market, to appeal to people that do not understand the specs, manufactures must have high numbers to make people think it is best or better than another brand. That is not true when it comes to panels. You do not need to scorch your retinas as if looking into a metal halide lamp because of high luminace/brightness

 

You may also contact me on my Yahoo messenger if you want to speak one on one about it. I never mind helping. If you have any other questions, please ask.

 

Thank you,

Monnie

Edited January 12, 2009 by MonnieRock

[Icarus2]

Are you in the market for a 30" LCD? If you are, you need to first decide what will you use your display for, what would you like to have as future possibilities. ie: multimedia inputs, HD-DVD, Console games, Strictly computer games, doing digitial photographic work, ability to do hardware calibration, on and on.

 

Funny, I read that article just after I made the post. Here is what I have this now: Samsung SyncMaster 2443BW

 

Do you know which one is this one? I'm guessing TN, but sellers don't speak of such things.

 

If I get a 30" monitor, I would only be using it for gaming (mostly Falcon). Viewing angle is of no account to me as I am sitting right in front of it and I don't move around when I game. However, picture quality, resolution, colour and detail (and saving my eyes as I game in a dark room most of the time) are important. Price is also a factor, but not a deal breaker if the difference is big enough. Any suggestions?

 

Thanks

Icarus

[MonnieRock]

Hello,

 

You caught me while I am still here. As for your monitor, I would have to do some research on it to find out what type of panel it is. Samsung usually uses PVA panels and some TN panels.

 

You said viewing angle is not a concern. One thing you must think about is when going to a 30", and sitting 2-3 feet back, just to look at all the screen, you will be changing your viewing angle and this will show the limitations of a PVA panel. Even just moving to use your Track-IR could be enough to see changes.

 

You know my friend, it is one of those things that, just go ahead and get a good one. Be done with it. If you are not going to use it with DVD's or movies, and you want to run at native resolution all the time, you will not need a built in scaler. So you could go with something like a HP LP3065 or a LG 3000h-bn. Not sure the level these are able to be hardware calibrated. Those two do not have any OSM(On Screen Menu), only can adjust the brightness on the front panel. If you want one that has beautiful built in scaling( clear at non-native resolutions) the best ability to calibrate, and a 4 year warranty, I suggest the NEC LCD3090WQXi-BK. This is a top of the line panel my friend. You will wet your pants. Do not get caught up in names like Eizo and LaCie. They are using the same panels as everyone else and charging SO MUCH !!! Beyond SO MUCH !!

 

Now, something you should know. LG Philips is the only company I am aware of making S-IPS, H-IPS panels ( Currenty only the NEC has the H-IPS-LM300WQ5) The LM300WQ3 & LM300WQ5 They do not have the Glossy Anti-glare coating. Some like it, some do not. I am not 100% sure, but I think the Dell 3009 is using the S-IPS. For the price of the dell. a wee bit more you could get the NEC if all the multimedia ports are not in your interests and the NEC has better electronics ( hehehe Dude, it's a dell). So, all the companies that sell monitors, they are using LG panels if they have IPS technology.

 

A little about the NEC. It has built in hardware calibration which you can use one of three ways.

 

1)You can buy a colorimeter yourself(NEC recommends the x-rite i1 display 2 and use that software

 

2) Get the colorimeter and buy the SpectraviewII software from NEC to use with the i1 display 2.

 

3) Get the full Spectraview Package from NEC that comes with the colorimeter( they stick NEC rebranded on the x-rite i1 display 2 ), Spectraview II software.

 

Side note, when looking at software, make sure it supports your operating system when you are making choices. I run Vista 64bit and it is a big deal to find compatibility

 

Once you have that, it has a USB port( only used for calibration, nothing else) and you plug your colorimeter in, either do a automatic calibration which gets you darn close and can do without the monitor being connected to a pc ( Handy if you work in a CAD firm and want to make multiple monitors all the same) Or you can plug in your colorimeter while connected to a pc with the software loaded and create your darn near perfect color profile LUT and you are cooking with gas. If you get something like this, once you read the manual, set the luminace to about 130-140cd/㎡ and save your eyeballs man. Look at the manual for the NEC and the Auto-brightness features it has that adjust to the ambient lighting.

 

Hope all of this helps. BTW, I will probably get the NEC LCD3090W-BK-SV

 

Whew that was a lot of typing and html links

Thank you,

Monnie

Edited January 12, 2009 by MonnieRock
Because i think faster than I can type

[Icarus2]

Hello,

 

You caught me while I am still here. As for your monitor, I would have to do some research on it to find out what type of panel it is. Samsung usually uses PVA panels and some TN panels.

 

Once you have that, it has a USB port( only used for calibration, nothing else) and you plug your colorimeter in, either do a automatic calibration which gets you darn close and can do without the monitor being connected to a pc ( Handy if you work in a CAD firm and want to make multiple monitors all the same) Or you can plug in your colorimeter while connected to a pc with the software loaded and create your darn near perfect color profile LUT and you are cooking with gas. If you get something like this, once you read the manual, set the luminace to about 130-140cd/㎡ and save your eyeballs man.

 

Hope all of this helps. BTW, I will probably get the NEC LCD3090W-BK-SV

 

Whew that was a lot of typing and html links

 

Yes, I think my 24" is a S-PVA. Thanks for all the info and work, I can now do much better research. The NEC's appear to be very good. I think I should try to find some of these on display somewhere and see them for myself, that would be optimal. Thanks again

 

Icarus

[MonnieRock]

Your are welcome !! Let me know how things go. Rep points never hurt :thumbup:

 

 

Your Samsung 2443BW is a TN panel.

Read here

 

 

Thank you,

Monnie

Edited January 12, 2009 by MonnieRock