We recently got a chance to check out NVIDIA's 3D Blu-ray ecosystem, and while we're sure we'll be all 3D Blu-ray'd out by the time CES is over, it was our first chance to see the new tech in action, and it seems pretty raring to go. Specifically we got to check out a
movie film (we can't say which for legal reasons) on a fancy new upcoming Acer LCD (the 24-inch G245, pictured above) that does 120Hz and can be synced with NVIDIA's 3D shutter-based glasses. The 3D looked just fine, on par with other movies we've
seen from NVIDIA in the past, and close to what we've seen in theaters, with the exception being that this is being delivered on a backwards-compatible, consumer-friendly Blu-ray disc. 3D Blu-ray is encoded in a new MVC-AVC format, which passes through a regular 1080p video for incompatible hardware, but provides a 3D image for the software and decode hardware capable of sussing it out. Right now NVIDIA's 3D Blu-ray capable on existing GeForce GT 220 and GT 240 GPUs, along with its upcoming Fermi cards due next year. Software is even more plentiful, with Arcsoft, Core, Cyberlink and Sonic all promising to by ready for 3D Blu-ray titles when they start shipping next year. Once the 3D Blu-ray spec is formally announced we're sure the floodgate will open even wider, but for now it seems NVIDIA has a nice jump on the tech, and we're sure they wouldn't mind pocketing a few of your gaming dollars in the meantime.
posted December 9th 2009 9:00AM
When I can play Crysis in 3D I will be impressed
@Paul C Wouldn't a pair of GTX295 and an nvidia 3d kit do the trick?
@Paul C
Technically you already can play Crysis in S3D. Biggest problem is that you have to tone down some of the effects because they don't work in 3D. I have played it on my 8000GTS w/ nVidia 3D Vision and it's pretty cool. You want awesome 3D in a game though? Try Avatar in S3D. BEAUTIFUL.
I don't if I'm the only one but this monitor looks so cheap lmao!
@huffy15 Companies think that hardware sell better to gamers if it's covered in stupid angles, garish colours, neon led lighting and ugly grilles. Look at any alienware stuff for example. To everyone else (and probably most gamers), the kit just looks as ugly as sin.
@huffy15 Subjective, the amount of detail at the base makes it seem high - end to me.
@huffy15
It looks like it came with a burger and fries in a colorful box.
If it's matte and 120Hz and works well, doesn't leak too much light, etc... I don't particularly care what the base looks like.
I'd rather it was 1920x1200 though; oh well....
@(Unverified) I sometimes wonder if I'm the only gamer who'd like to see a gaming laptop with a Thinkpad's simple matte black construction, or Sony's elegant aesthetics.
Other companies I swear are addicted to glossy plastic...
So, Miller and friends, what did you actually think of it? Is the increased enjoyment actually worth whatever the hardware actually costs?
(yes, I checked the older articles, but both of your hands-ons only mention 3D gaming...)
@huffy15
Saying it twice doesn't make it true.
Will 3D Blu-ray make my existing TV obselete or my Blu-ray player?
@digidad
Well if you want to experience 3D then both, otherwise the discs are going to be backwards compatible so it will be exactly the same for you until you upgrade to a 3D tv and BD player with 3D capabilities.
@reallynotnick
Sony says they are releasing a firmware updated to make the PS3 3D compatible, so I assume other players will be able to have the same firmware update. Providing the manufacturer wants to.
@(Unverified)
Which probably means if you have any Samsung stand-alone, you'll have to buy a new one for the new features. :¬/
As a wearer of glasses I am not very geeked over the 3d aspect but I am all for getting 120FPS in games. Whats the price on this monitor?
@(Unverified) Well, the Samsung 2233RZ costs £245, and it's a 22-inch 1680x1050 monitor, so I'm guessing this'll be quite a bit more. Still, nice to finally see a 120Hz 1080p monitor :)
@(Unverified)
The shutter glasses are supposed to fit over regular glasses.
@Old fogie late bloomer
The Nvidia 3D glasses are large enough to fit comfortably over glasses.
TN panel? No thanks.
@archkron
I doubt you'll get true 120Hz out of an IPS panel... the whole point of TN was to speed up the response time (at the expense of viewing angle and color depth).
@archkron IPS/PVA are horrible for gaming. Even on a supposedly "low input lag" 2209wa I found FPS games to be unplayable from the input lag. Not to mention my Acer 23" had deeper black levels. I'll take a TN anyday, at least until OLED.
A little more information about the technology from NVIDIA for this: http://www.pcper.com/comments.php?nid=8101
The downside: NONE of the current graphics cards from NVIDIA (with the sole exception being the GT 240 cards) will support hardware decode of 3D Blu-ray.
Here's the funny thing. 120Hz processing is great for displaying regular 24 fps movies in their original theater condition, since 120Hz divides evenly by 24 (into 5)... and I know that's not what 120Hz means here, but if you think about it, if a 3D movie is at 24 fps, that's 48 images you have to display on a screen in one second. That doesn't divide down to 120Hz evenly. Does that mean that they're going to display:
Frame 1, left eye
Frame 1, right eye
Frame 1, left eye
Frame 1, right eye
Frame 2, left eye
Frame 2, right eye
Frame 2, left eye
Frame 2, right eye
Frame 2, left eye
Frame 2, right eye
... etc...
Or are they going to do something like:
Frame 1, left eye
Frame 1, right eye
Frame 1, left eye
Frame 1, right eye
Frame 1, left eye
Frame 2, right eye
Frame 2, left eye
Frame 2, right eye
Frame 2, left eye
Frame 2, right eye
... etc...
in an attempt to even out the framerates? And if they do that, would they have to reduce the brightness of the images that are displayed three times to even things out?
I purchased the eDimensional shutter-based 3D glasses years ago for my PC. They sucked. I can't see how these would be any better.
@x181
Dunno. I have the nVidia 3D Vision for PC games and it doesn't suck, in fact its awesome....
@x181 How would it be better? You do understand that technology is always improving, yes?
I love my Acer G24 in Orange: So dark in my room you never notice its sexy frame, but flamers love to flame. Oh and i REALLY
It's stupid that Nvidia no longer supports their 3D glasses with CRTs, like they did in the GeForce 4/5 days. Why should I buy a special monitor for 3D when I used to be able to use ANY CRT?
Of course, the Blu-ray HDCP thing is probably one reason. Hmmm, I wonder if you could use HDFury to get a 3D 120Hz signal to a CRT?
Serious question: What the hell is the point of 120hz monitors? The human eye can only see up to about 60fps at best. Movies are shot in 24fps, and video games average at around 30, with 60 generally being the gold standard. I can't think of any application that actually NEEDS 120fps. Manufactures like to use the "oh, its so that you can watch the sports game clearer!" but if that's true then you'll have to go to every network and tell them to bump their broadcasting up to 1080p and shoot every show and event with slow motion cameras.
@(Unverified) 120hz =/= 120 fps
@120 hz you are reducing flicker. In the case of 3D shutter glasses, you need faster refresh rates because it's literally blocking out each eye for a very very minute period of time. The faster it is, the less flicker and the more natural the 3D is.
"120 fps" you are measuring the smoothness/choppiness of a video source. Very common in video games.
@ddhboy yeah man thats true theres no point in making it 120hz
this doesnt seem like something everyones going ti be able to use. bcuz u haveto get a compatible card and get the glasses and get a monitor which could mean to get this 3-D feature u may need a whole new computer which is too much hastle