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[SapientWolf]

I have a Benq XL2420 monitor and a Panasonic 54v10 plasma and I can't tell the difference between them. Not in FPS' or fighting games. You just have to get the right display. I learned the hard way back in 2004-05 when nearly everybody though input lag was a myth. It was nearly impossible to find information online about it back then.

Bit Trip Beat on a mouse will let you know if you have input lag right away. You won't even realize it's input lag. You just won't be able to play the game.

 

[SolarPowered]

My parents are getting a Samsung LED and moving the old HP Plasma to the basement, which means I now get to game in HD. So far as I know, the TV is likely old enough to not have an internal scaler. As I do plan on gaming with my Genesis, N64 and likely Gamecube, is it worth getting an external scaler, or will it not make much difference? If it would help, any you can reccomend?

I'm pretty sure all HDTVs have a built in scaler. I wouldn't recommend spending extra cash on some external scaler unless the SD consoles display footage that makes you gag.

1080p vs 720p. I'm looking to get a TV in the 40 to mid 40s inches range. Is this a size that won't benefit much from 1080p? My father has been very pleased with the picture of his 51 inch Plasma that only does 720p.

Missed this part...

It depends on how far away you sit from your television. If you sit 6' or closer then 1080p can have a noticeable effect in the 40s inch range. Any 720p content(which is the majority of HD content right now) will look good even from 8-10 feet back. If you have multiple distances from which you view your TV then 1080p is probably best since you might want to pop in a movie or something occasionally. A 1080p panel gives you options which is always something good to have for a product you might own for years. Keep that in mind.

To be clear: "Response time" is NOT the same thing as "input lag." Most manufacturers will list the former but not the latter.

I looked it up myself since you didn't explain the "how" or "why". Interesting stuff to say the least. I've never heard of response time being displayed for any HDTV either. This makes buying a television look like too much of a chore now...

 

[Whiteshirt]

Input lag and actual panel response must be measured through reviews. The spec sheet for most monitors (and TVs) are utterly dishonest or filled with catches. You can have 2ms monitors perform worse than 8ms IPS monitors because the response time compensation can be badly applied. The only manufacturer that is somewhat realistic about their features and specs is probably Eizo.

The same goes for factory calibration of monitors. For instance, the Samsung S27B970 factory calibration report is hilariously dishonest since Samsung used the same report for all of their monitors. There are no guidelines or regulations when it comes to monitor specs so whatever the manufacturer says is tripe.

If you want to buy an actual TV, the only way to find out how it performs is by using it extensively or reading very detailed and well conducted reviews.

For monitor reviews, the single best review site is Prad. No other website can measure input lag like they can since they use a very expensive high end oscilloscope to measure.

TFT Central is much better at measuring panel response in a realistic manner.

 

[dookeh]

Bit Trip Beat on a mouse will let you know if you have input lag right away. You won't even realize it's input lag. You just won't be able to play the game.

I don't need a rythym game to notice input lag. I didn't switch from my CRT monitor to an lcd until prad.de gave the lg227wtg a nearly perfect score for input lag. If my memory serves, the only monitor that was equal at the time was an iiyama that you couldn't buy in the usa. This was in 2008 I believe, before the "Evo" monitor, and its still a more reactive monitor.

I only switched to the benq recently for 1080p and 120hz. Playing competitive fighters and shooters online I can tell the difference between a 12ms ping and a 20ms ping. When you play a fast paced game enough offline on a CRT and then take that game online with an lcd, you're going to notice almost every millisecond past 12 in my experience.

But back to your suggestion... playing the original guitar hero drunk on a friends laggy dlp was probably the most frustrating gaming moment ever. I was used to my TV and it was impossible to retrain my reflexes.

 

[golem]

Some LCDs have pretty shitty motion resolution, watch out for that