InputLag
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Ask Engadget HD: Best HDTV for gaming, pwning?
Every HDTV purchase comes with its own set of considerations, and for our friend Philip, the main one is playing videogames. You can keep your THX certifications and internet connected widgets, we need to know what will contribute to the greatest kill/death ratio, period: "I just graduated and moved to a new city so I'm finally ready to buy my first HDTV. I watch TV and some football every now and then, but my main obsession is gaming, specifically Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Super Street Fighter IV. I've been scraping by playing with my Xbox 360 connected to a computer monitor for now, but when it comes to a nice 50- or 55-inch display, which one has the least amount of input lag so I can keep my k/d ratio up and count frames properly for combos and counters?" Everyone has their something, and we're sure more than a few of you are just as focused on your television's gaming performance as anything else, so why not help him out. Let us know what TVs you're using, and if necessary, what settings or gaming modes work the best so you're not a frame or two behind at crucial moments. Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
LCD "overdrive" gets explained, lamented
There's plenty of well known problems that plague LCD monitors, but the folks at bit-tech.net have set out to bring some attention to one of the decidedly lesser known issues, somewhat deceptively dubbed "overdrive." That is a technique some LCD manufactures use to artificially boost response times by increasing the voltage used to make liquid crystals change state, which does in fact increase the response time, but also has the nasty side effect of input lag and what's known as "inverse ghosting." While both likely go unnoticed by the majority of users, they are each able to be easily demonstrated and, as they say, once you see it, you likely won't be able to unsee it. The good news is that each issue can be easily tested, and Bit-tech commends LG in particular for switching to a new technique known as "Through Mode," that actually increases response time while also eliminating lag. Be sure to hit up the link below for the complete rundown, complete with plenty of helpful pics and videos.
