The HDTV Suggestions Thread for GT4

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Hawker

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Hello all. I'm loving GT4 and decided to upgrade to an HDTV. Question is, which one? I'm looking at spending about $1200 US max. For those of you who have a working HDTV that switches "on the fly" between resolutions (so you don't have to manually) is what I'd prefer to have as well, and of course 1080i resolution.

If you have this and are enjoying this great game, can you please post the exact model number, where you bought it (again in US), what you paid, and any pro's / con's you see with it? Also it'd be a huge bonus if you can post a high res pic of your set with the game running. I'm looking at a rear projection TV from Walmart for around $1100 (it's like 60"), but I will look at all sizes and types. I just want something that I will be very happy with for all my games and DVDs. Widescreen is a plus as well.

Thanks for any and all help.

To get you started...

Model Make and Number:
Where bought:
Price Paid:
Highest Resolution:
Widescreen: (Y or N)
 
16852440-M.jpg


I came home with a brand new Panasonic Tau - 30" - Widescreen HDTV. It works perfectly in GT4 and I'm using a Madcatz Universal component cable that is hooked up to my PS2 and XBox. Whichever system is turned on the TV recognizes it as it should.

Model Make and Number: Pansonic TAU - 30" model CT30WX54
Where bought: Walmart
Price Paid: $794 (lists at $999)
Highest Resolution: 1080i, supports 480p and 480i as well
Widescreen: (Y or N) - Yes

Got a 9.0 rating on CNet.com - it's well worth the money! DVDs, games, etc all look awesome. If it looks small at all to you in the store, when you have it home and you are watching it, it's a nice big screen and will make anyone happy. The remote is fantastic as well. It has stereo speakers on either side of the screen and they sound fantastic - excellent deep end and highs as well. :D :D :D
 
To all who have HDTVs that work well with GT4, please post here for everyone's benefit following my above example. I was very frustrated that a thread like this didn't exist and went out blindly trying to find a good HDTV for video game consoles. I luckily got it right the first time, but to save others the headache of searching, please jump in here. It'll do alot of good for all.
 
all tvs should work with any game from what ive read its a matter of you depending if its an auto or manual switch ..... like me i got a 52" or 56" HTDV if it a manual all the switches are gonna be on the back and im just way too lazy that thing is heavy lol
 
I guess my point was some HDTVs don't automatically switch very well. I was pretty concerned about getting one that worked, since the box was huge and the TV was very heavy. I had to enlist a friends help just to get the thing in the house and in it's final spot. So rather than have to worry about getting this large behemoth home and setup HOPING it will work well, it's easier just to have a thread like this and KNOW you are getting what you want. :)
 
Well, I've been really happy with my Panasonic Widescreen. I picked it up just as it was going out of production, and Panasonic was releasing the next model.

We paid $1200 for it. The price tag was $1500, but because Panasonic was closing that model out, Circuit city was letting it go for a reduced price. Do you have a preference between Projection or LCD? Plasma is out of that price range. What space do you have for this?

Do you have surround sound and will be using this TV for movies as well? GT4 has made judicious use of the Pro Logic II and it makes a great difference in the game (over GT3).

What brand is the TV you're looking at? A 60" for $1100 is almost too good of a deal. I know that Circuit City has an Akai 42" for $1000. Not a bad TV, but not a great TV either. For the $1100 price tag, you're right in the range that you can find a nice TV but you'll have to look for it. Not quite enough for a good projection, but enough for a great 30" TV. DO you want a large one, or Fantastic small one?

I can start up GT4 and upload a Hi-res image if you'd like to see mine in HD.

It's all a matter of choice.

Drop me a PM and I can link a really high res image for you.

AO
 
I have mine already and am happy with it, even though it's just 30" model. Yes I watch DVDs with it too but nope, no surround sound system yet. I may be moving soon so I'm waiting to do that until after I get settled in.

Thanks for the post though. I myself prefer CRT screens over plasma or projection types.

Der Alta
Well, I've been really happy with my Panasonic Widescreen. I picked it up just as it was going out of production, and Panasonic was releasing the next model.

We paid $1200 for it. The price tag was $1500, but because Panasonic was closing that model out, Circuit city was letting it go for a reduced price. Do you have a preference between Projection or LCD? Plasma is out of that price range. What space do you have for this?

Do you have surround sound and will be using this TV for movies as well? GT4 has made judicious use of the Pro Logic II and it makes a great difference in the game (over GT3).

What brand is the TV you're looking at? A 60" for $1100 is almost too good of a deal. I know that Circuit City has an Akai 42" for $1000. Not a bad TV, but not a great TV either. For the $1100 price tag, you're right in the range that you can find a nice TV but you'll have to look for it. Not quite enough for a good projection, but enough for a great 30" TV. DO you want a large one, or Fantastic small one?

I can start up GT4 and upload a Hi-res image if you'd like to see mine in HD.

It's all a matter of choice.

Drop me a PM and I can link a really high res image for you.

AO
Click to expand...
 
Ok here's one, how about a HDTV card, to play GT4 and any other PS2 game on your computer monitor? I would love to see one of them. BTW please don't pick the ATI card, I am not an ATI fan.

(Woo, yet another nVidia fan boy.)
 
Dyflmez
Ok here's one, how about a HDTV card, to play GT4 and any other PS2 game on your computer monitor? I would love to see one of them. BTW please don't pick the ATI card, I am not an ATI fan.
Click to expand...
What kind of HDTV card do you have in mind?
 
does it have to be a 'TV', have you thought about a front projector? :) You can move it wherever (weighs 5-10 lb vs 80-200 lb). you can have it be a 32" screen, up to a 9 foot screen. CRT based HDTV is so 20th century ;)

You can get a Panasonic PT-L500U for around $1200-$1300:

Resolution: 1280x720
Aspect Ratio: the panel is natively 16:9, but you can display 4:3 as well (without having to worry about burning/stretching the image)

Weight: 6.4 lb :D

http://www.projectorpeople.com/hometheater/projdtls.asp?itemid=18823&itmname=Panasonic+PT-L500U
 
the Interceptor
What kind of HDTV card do you have in mind?
Click to expand...

I really does not bother me, just any card that will be able to play GT4 in 1080i mode.
Can't be AGP, I have a nvidia 6800 GT in the 8x AGP slot. So PCI only.
 
Dyflmez
Ok here's one, how about a HDTV card, to play GT4 and any other PS2 game on your computer monitor? I would love to see one of them. BTW please don't pick the ATI card, I am not an ATI fan.

(Woo, yet another nVidia fan boy.)
Click to expand...

you could just buy a component -> rgb converter. so you don't have to have your PC on, and running a program when you play the ps2.

AudioAuthority 9A62

search for that on ebay, should be 100-150

and you can use it for anything with component cables

though, with a PC card, you could 'capture' video as well, if you're into that.
 
harkov
you could just buy a component -> rgb converter. so you don't have to have your PC on, and running a program when you play the ps2.

AudioAuthority 9A62

search for that on ebay, should be 100-150

and you can use it for anything with component cables

though, with a PC card, you could 'capture' video as well, if you're into that.
Click to expand...

Ok, now thats awsome and I will most most definitely take a look at that. But lets see what you have in the way of 'capturing' videos? :D
 
Dyflmez
I really does not bother me, just any card that will be able to play GT4 in 1080i mode.
Can't be AGP, I have a nvidia 6800 GT in the 8x AGP slot. So PCI only.
Click to expand...
There is no way you can get 1080i into your PCs graphic card. There are video input cards with YUV connectors, but prepare for a four-digit price tag.
harkov
you could just buy a component -> rgb converter. so you don't have to have your PC on, and running a program when you play the ps2.

AudioAuthority 9A62

search for that on ebay, should be 100-150

and you can use it for anything with component cables

though, with a PC card, you could 'capture' video as well, if you're into that.
Click to expand...
I'm afraid this won't do 480i either, which means no picture while in menus when playing GT4.

Cheers,
the Interceptor
 
the Interceptor
There is no way you can get 1080i into your PCs graphic card. There are video input cards with YUV connectors, but prepare for a four-digit price tag.

Cheers,
the Interceptor
Click to expand...


Yea, ok, scratch that. Can I get something along the lines of 1080i with a capture card that you know of? Say around 200 or less?
 
I got the Sony XBR 400 36" HDTV and it rawks. So sharp. I got the tube about 4 years ago but I still think it is one of the best on the market. Just check into them before purchasing one.

C
 
Dyflmez
Yea, ok, scratch that. Can I get something along the lines of 1080i with a capture card that you know of? Say around 200 or less?
Click to expand...
No. The only affordable option is S-Video on a TV or graphic card, but the picture quality is not very good.

Cheers,
the Interceptor
 
Dyflmez
Ok, now thats awsome and I will most most definitely take a look at that. But lets see what you have in the way of 'capturing' videos? :D
Click to expand...

you're not going to find anything that can record 1080i from component video in for less than $200. your best bet for <$200 is the component->rgb converter
 
harkov
you're not going to find anything that can record 1080i from component video in for less than $200. your best bet for <$200 is the component->rgb converter
Click to expand...
But I'm not sure if it will do 480i, and it it will you can be pretty sure your computer monitor won't.

Cheers,
the Interceptor
 
Ok, I am now taken a good look at that component -> RGB converter. It looking really good. So with this, It would what, work like a KVM swich, just with would the K and M part? It would simply work as a Video decoder for HDTV video that would then be displayed on my computer's monitor?
 
Hawker
.... I'm using a Mad Catz Universal Component Cable that is hooked up to my PS2 and XBox. Whichever system is turned on the TV recognizes it as it should.

:D :D :D
Click to expand...

I've got a 65" Mitsubishi HDTV, and GT4 looks OK at 480i, but I really want to get something like that Mad Catz Universal Component Cable ($14.99 at Gamestop) in order to play it at 1080i. The only problem is that the cable that comes with it is only seven (7') feet long, which would put me way too close to this TV.

I need about twenty (20') feet of cable in order to optimize my setup, but I haven't been able to determine if extensions are available, or how much signal degradation would occur if I was to buy the Mad Catz and have a professional cut and splice additional, high quality cable between the connections. Any ideas?
 
Dyflmez
Ok, I am now taken a good look at that component -> RGB converter. It looking really good. So with this, It would what, work like a KVM swich, just with would the K and M part? It would simply work as a Video decoder for HDTV video that would then be displayed on my computer's monitor?
Click to expand...
You plug in your Playstation using component cables to the one side and connect your computer monitors VGA plug to the other side. The thing is that almost no computer monitor will be able to handle 480i, which is the standard output of the Playstation. And don't think GT4 will be different, as you can set it to 1080i, but only when playing. All the menus will still be 480i, which means you won't see anything on your monitor then.

What I'm trying to say is that this device is no solution unless you have the right monitor. Which one is right is a tricky one, I've only found very few that can do 480i until today. And by the way, there are much cheaper devices that'll do the same thing, like this one: http://www.lik-sang.com/info.php?category=219&products_id=4233&

Cheers,
the Interceptor
 
In the name it said this : "Progressive-Scan Component VGA Box", would progressive scan not work with most if not all moniters? I know you can set the game to play in 480p, but is that just for racing or menus too.
 
Dyflmez
In the name it said this : "Progressive-Scan Component VGA Box", would progressive scan not work with most if not all moniters? I know you can set the game to play in 480p, but is that just for racing or menus too.
Click to expand...
Yes, 480p will work with pretty much every monitor with both of the devices, but like you said it's only 480p while racing again, so we're back to the old problem: 480i in menus => no picture on screen.

Cheers,
the Interceptor
 
Man that sucks. There as got to be a way. :?
*Google it, while watching the forum like a hawk.*
Yea, if you have any other suggestions, please fill free to throw them out there.
Even if its a PCI card for my comp, that I can play games in 480i / 480p (witch would make them into a window on my computer, so ya know, it would not be incompatable with my monitor.).
 
Dyflmez
Even if its a PCI card for my comp, that I can play games in 480i / 480p (witch would make them into a window on my computer, so ya know, it would not be incompatable with my monitor.).
Click to expand...
The only easy way is to use a TV card or a graphic card with an S-Video input. Get an S-Video cable for your Playstation and use the program D-Scaler (check Google). It'll give you a good image, but not a perfect one. And there are other VGA adaptors to connect your PS2 to a computer monitor, but they're all pretty bad. These are the easy ways to do this, the rest is not affordable.

You can check the Vdigi-forum (http://www.vdigi.com) for a user with a working 480i monitor. But still it's a game of chance, if you get a newer or older model it might not work The get one of those Component => VGA devices and enjoy. And ChristmasGTO was so kind to tell me that his Xerox XG91-D can do 480i as well.

Cheers,
the Interceptor
 
Hi Children. To display GT4 in true 1080i mode, this is what you do:

You must own a HDTV monitor capable of receiving and displaying 1080i signals. Most plasma, LCD, and DLP televisions are 720p. There are some plasma monitors out there capable of displaying 1080p, but they're about $20,000-$30,000. (You don't own one.) Most projection HDTV's are 1080i. (I have a Mitsubishi 55" 1080i projection HDTV.)

If you get past that step, please read on.

You must buy the PS2 component (YPrPb) cables. I hear that Sony sells some, but I have the $60 Monster cables because that's all my Best Buy had at the time.

You must go into the PS2 system options, and set the video output to YPrPb.

Boot up the GT4 game.
 
Neurotik18
Oops...scratch that last post...
I did a copy/paste from my post I just did in the other HDTV thread, and didn't catch it all.
Click to expand...

Hi Children. To display GT4 in true 1080i mode, this is what you do:

You must own a HDTV monitor capable of receiving and displaying 1080i signals. Most plasma, LCD, and DLP televisions are 720p. There are some plasma monitors out there capable of displaying 1080p, but they're about $20,000-$30,000. (You don't own one.) Most projection HDTV's are 1080i. (I have a Mitsubishi 55" 1080i projection HDTV.)

If you get past that step, please read on.

You must buy the PS2 component (YPrPb) cables. I hear that Sony sells some, but I have the $60 Monster cables because that's all my Best Buy had at the time.

You must go into the PS2 system options, and set the video output to YPrPb.

Boot up the GT4 game.

Go into the Screen Options, and set the aspect ratio to 16:9.

While still in Screen Options, set the output to 1080i. If you still see something...IT WORKED!!

If you have an EDTV, plasma, LCD, or DLP, do everything above, but set it to 480p. The game will still look fantastic, and not too different from the 1080i. By the way, the game only runs in advanced modes while racing. (When you're buying Mustangs, it's in 480i.)

If you don't own an HDTV, I suggest you study hard while you're still in school.
 

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