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projector screen for gaming?...

Some people do. Its probably not as common because of the high cost of a good projector & screen and the need for space to do it. I've considered it myself, but positioning yourself is tough - keyboard and mouse just doesn''t work well sitting on a couch.

There are people who've made a pretty nice projector setup in this forum. The first thread that came to mind was around when Doom3 came out:

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=790814&highlight=doom+projector
 
Good projectors are kinda spendy. Not to mention you need a screen or a very nice flat white wall.
 
Considering how much people are spending on monitors these days, I think that the price of the projector is less of an issue than space and positioning. It's tough to put a projector in the same room as your computer and still have your speakers in the proper place and keyboard/mouse accessible and comfortable. If you can't make it work, you then need to have the projector in a different room with ways of getting your keyboard, mouse, video signal, and audio signal over there, and then you need to buy more speakers. You could always have another PC in that room but that's more money. Let's say you have a projector as part of your home theater, and you have all the electronics sorted out, but now you need to devise some sort of stand for your keyboard and mouse (coffee tables don't work very well). So, I suppose that the issue then is money, but it would be secondary costs.

I have a projector, and I've tried gaming on it, but in the end it ends up taking too much effort to try and make it work properly.
 
Yes? I mean, they look as good as they do on a normal monitor, just a lot bigger and more immersive.
 
so i assume it has the same clarity?...so if i make a gaming area...its best to use a projector...are are there any downsides?
 
many projectors have a limited # of resolutions and often very low refresh rates.. The ones that would be best for gameing, imho, are the ones that cost much more than a top of the line gameing rig.. The one I got from my old job, (at their bankruptcy auction), only does 800x600 @60Hz.. Not so good for gameing, great for dvd movies though..
 
Same clarity? Yes, if you provide a decent surface for it to project on.

Downsides? Well, you need to have control over the light in your room. The darkest black a projector can display is the color of the surface at whatever the light level of the room is. So either get rid of windows, get heavy drapes that completely block out light (blinds do not work, even a thin crack of light will screw with colors a surprising amount), or be prepared to only use the projector at night. Also, the bulbs do wear out. Assuming you go digital projection, you'll get 2000-5000 hours on your bulb. After that, it's $200-400 for a new one, depending on the model of your projector. If I think of more I'll come back and post them.

GORANKAR, you're wrong. While a projector might have a lower native resolution, they are usually capable of scaling even higher resolutions down. On LCD or DLP the resfresh rate is 60Hz...this is typical of even LCD monitors, so I don't see that as an issue of "very low refresh rates". And as far as price goes, I got my projector over a year ago for $1000, used (though with 0 hours on the bulb :)). It's 960x540 which does a pretty good job of scaling 1280x720, and it will display 1080i just fine. Pixel structure from even my fairly close viewing distance isn't overly apparent.

I think that one way to keep the cost of the projector is to go used. You can find them for several hundred dollars off retail, often with low bulb hours. Try someplace like Videogon, where people tend to take pretty good care of their equipment and the upgrade bug hits early and often. Just make sure not to get a projector with too many hours on it or you'll be looking at $300 more that you'll need to spend.
 
GORANKAR said:
many projectors have a limited # of resolutions and often very low refresh rates.. The ones that would be best for gameing, imho, are the ones that cost much more than a top of the line gameing rig.. The one I got from my old job, (at their bankruptcy auction), only does 800x600 @60Hz.. Not so good for gameing, great for dvd movies though..
Click to expand...


:rolleyes:

Gorankar??? Have you ever even seen a modern projector? I had an old projector that did 800x600 and it looked beautiful, bought it on ebay for 650 bucks. That was 3 years ago, and the projector was a sharp brand 1997 model. As long as you have VGA or DVI input refresh rate is not a problem in any form. Even on my old 1997 projector the refresh was perfect, sure it's 60hz, but it doesn't look like a CRT does at 60hz, in fact on most newer projectors, you wouldn't have a clue it's only 60hz. There's not even any ghosting on LCD projectors like there is on LCD monitors. I now have a panasonic PTL-500U projector with a native res of 1280x720. It's absolutely beautiful. Much better than any monitor I've seen and just one step below a plasma screen. I have it setup on a actual pulldown dalite screen I purchased. Far cry on a HUGE screen at 1280x720 is breathtaking/smooth and clear as can possibly be imagined. A projector like mine can be found for about 1200 bucks used on ebay. Looks a TON better than a monitor. I can't say anything more.
 
The last LAN I went to I just happen to have borrowed a projector from work (legally). I had a 70" image to play from and loved it. I can't afford a projector but when I can borrow one I do.
 
My Panasonic AE700U is in transit for a home theater. I'll be finding out in a week or so (got to get the buildout completed before playing too much!)

I'm a flight simmer so Projectors are goodness!

Flightsims in widescreen, ona 100" screen. I'm salivating just thinking about it.

When I replace this projector in some years, it'll end up permanantly attached to my PC for gaming!
 
what'd you pay for that panny 700?

I would like to upgrade at some point...
 
Projectors for gaming? No thanks... I'm not going to play a game at 1280x720 on a 100" screen. There is absoloutely no point...

Until there are affordable projecters which can produce a decent resolution (1920x1080) for the size of a screen you can use... I would never think once about getting one.
 
Shorty said:
Projectors for gaming? No thanks... I'm not going to play a game at 1280x720 on a 100" screen. There is absoloutely no point...

Until there are affordable projecters which can produce a decent resolution (1920x1080) for the size of a screen you can use... I would never think once about getting one.
Click to expand...

Have you even seen it? There is a point, and it looks fine, especially with some AA. That's actually a plus - 1280x720 should give current high-end videocards enough headroom to apply AA. And 1080P? You're going to be waiting a LONG time. I know the Sony Qualia was one of the first digital projectors to have it, and it debuted at $30,000. I believe that JVC has one as well that's also $30,000...you're not getting it any time soon.
 
truffle00 said:
Have you even seen it? There is a point, and it looks fine, especially with some AA. That's actually a plus - 1280x720 should give current high-end videocards enough headroom to apply AA. And 1080P? You're going to be waiting a LONG time. I know the Sony Qualia was one of the first digital projectors to have it, and it debuted at $30,000. I believe that JVC has one as well that's also $30,000...you're not getting it any time soon.
Click to expand...

I agree. Most people haven't never played games on a projector...or if they have it is on a half assed system in a half assed enviroment. The only downfall of a PJ based gaming system is whether or not you get motion sickness. If you can't read in a car or have a hard time on rides (amusment park) then it might cause some grief. My Sanyo Z2 is great for games since black level isn't often a requirement and thus i can play it with a good amount of light in the room. However games @ 1280x720 with 4xAA/8xAF look freaking awesome. With 8xAA/16xAF they are stellar (but a slide show with my 6600GT).

I believe there was a thread of somebody who did this already and the game does look good. You just don't play the game at 2 feet from the screen. You sit and a more nominal depth.

As for the screen...you can build a nice screen with blackout cloth and a few 1x3' from your local HD/Lowes which will set you back $50. My HT is shown below. The image is still good with FULL light in the room.

ht_room1_forthread.jpg


I just need to remember to host an image in a full black room :)

-tReP
 
I game on my PJ... XBOX more-so than full PC gaming, in part because my HTPC isn't as well equiped and also my wireless keyboard might work well during some light surfin' and controlling HTPC activities, but for gaming? Not so good.

I'll see about posting a pic later.
 
mutazx said:
I game on my PJ... XBOX more-so than full PC gaming, in part because my HTPC isn't as well equiped and also my wireless keyboard might work well during some light surfin' and controlling HTPC activities, but for gaming? Not so good.

I'll see about posting a pic later.
Click to expand...

However...I think your rules may apply to twitch games (PvP FPS). I've had absolutely no problem with wireless keyboard mouse on non-twitch games (WoW, Doom3 Single Player, HL2 Single Player, Farcry Single Player).
-tReP
 
Trepidati0n said:
However...I think your rules may apply to twitch games (PvP FPS). I've had absolutely no problem with wireless keyboard mouse on non-twitch games (WoW, Doom3 Single Player, HL2 Single Player, Farcry Single Player).
-tReP
Click to expand...

I wasn't so-much poo-poo'ing any and all wireless setups, just mine. I have one of those surfboards with the built-in thumbstick mouse.
 
mutazx said:
I wasn't so-much poo-poo'ing any and all wireless setups, just mine. I have one of those surfboards with the built-in thumbstick mouse.
Click to expand...

Actually..my upstrairs PVR PC does as well. :D Good board if you don't care about performance and only cost. A good BT keyboard mouse works well...but unfortunately expensive :(

When I use my PC on the Projector...I still play wired for the most part since I couldn't justify $200 for a high performance wireless KB/mouse setup. However..I could justify $20 for extension cables.
 
Trepidati0n said:
Actually..my upstrairs PVR PC does as well. :D Good board if you don't care about performance and only cost. A good BT keyboard mouse works well...but unfortunately expensive :(

When I use my PC on the Projector...I still play wired for the most part since I couldn't justify $200 for a high performance wireless KB/mouse setup. However..I could justify $20 for extension cables.
Click to expand...

I've jumped back-and-forth on wired/wireless myself. I don't game as much as I thought I would, so even XBOX wireless pads are a touch expensive ($80-ish for two) and with my rooms configuration (All the equipment is actually in my study off from the theater room for as much a clean look as it is a two year old ;)), I'm having to extend a fair amount.

I've been hoping the BT KBs/M combos, having not set the world on fire, would start to get cheaper (seem like perfect woot.com fodder.), but I've had no joy as of yet.
 
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