Time for an upgrade?

[el_badz]

Hey guys,

I've been browsing the forum for years, but I've only just decided to make an account and I couldn't find anywhere else to post this lol.

Anyway, I've recently purchased a PS4 from shopto's ebay page so I hope it arrives soon. I currently have a 32 inch 720p screen in my room which I usually sit about 1-2m away from while gaming. I'd describe myself as a casual gamer, so while I do appreciate graphics, I'm not sure if upgrading to a 1080p tv will be worth it for me. I was thinking that I'll buy a new tv when 4k becomes more mainstream.

What are your thoughts?

[EvilBoris]

1080p will look better, but without a direct comparison sitting next to the one you are watching you won't feel short changed.

[charlesr]

And many (most?) games aren't 1080p anyway. You would probably only notice in terms of dashboard crispness and blurays.

Welcome to the forum!

[Asura]

Yeah, I would agree. I had a 720 32" TV for quite a while. Had people on some places online going on and on about how it looked trash compared to 1080p, but if I'm honest, I don't think the difference is as evident as people make out (I actually play most PC games in 720p on a much larger screen, because I prefer a silky framerate over resolution/fancy effects every time).

[el_badz]

Thanks for the replies. I guess the extra details won't justify buying another tv for now, unless I find something for a very good price. I'm surprised that consoles still don't fully make use of 1080p technology, I feel like there isn't much of a difference between this new gen and the previous.

[speedlolita]

That's not necessarily true. MGSV on PS4 is full 1080p60 for example.

I don't think 4K is a necessary step you may want to make any time soon though, especially if gaming.

1080p 32" TVs are very cheap now though, my Samsung was about ?220 and has a host of other extras - although it isn't a Smart TV. Image is fantastic too.

If you're sitting some distance away though you probably wouldn't make out the detail difference.

[el_badz]

To be honest, I'd want a tv around 50" if I were to upgrade, whether it's to 1080p or 4k. If I'm not missing out on much, then I'll be content for now. Also, how about xbox one? Do any of the games have 1080p resolution?

[Asura]

To be honest, I'd want a tv around 50" if I were to upgrade,

In that case, I would go for 1080p - but don't worry about cost, because you'd be hard pressed to find a 50" 720p set.

The games vary, on all the consoles, in terms of resolution.

In terms of technologies, you have a lot of choices. Many here will recommend plasma (particularly Panasonic plasma), because plasma gives you the best motion (least blur) and the deepest blacks (LCD screens bottom out at lighter colours).

Conversely, LCDs tend to be brighter (i.e. they look better in bright settings, like offices or conservatories), and suffer less from "burn" (though modern plasmas have new technologies that make burn less of a problem than it once was). Also, LCD will last you longer (in terms of years) than plasma, though plasmas are good enough now for that to only be a problem for the particularly frugal.

Once upon a time, it was really necessary to use LCDs for gaming. This is because technologies like plasma or projection-related stuff tended to lead to things like game HUDs being "burned" onto the screen, leaving a permanent after-image (this is also one of the reasons you don't get many plasma computer monitors). That being said, plasma technology has improved to the point where this isn't too much of a worry, provided you get a good recent model.

Personally, my main house TV is a 60-odd inch LCD, but that's because I run my computer through it via HDMI and use that for all my casual computing needs - Netflix/Steam/MMOs etc. and I use it a lot during daylight hours. If I had a "TV room" for watching movies/playing modern games only, I would probably have a plasma. That being said, I'm not a stickler for quality (I was more interested in things like price and practicality).

I would also echo the above advice - don't go for 4K. It's too niche right now, and you need a beast of a PC to use it.

[charlesr]

Yeah, you'll notice more on big screens for games that support it. But obviously lots more expensive for decent kit.
Some xbox games like Forza are 1080p. Some PS4 games are 1080p.

Maybe look for a 2nd hand big panny plasma?

[el_badz]

I've found a few decent 47-50" 1080p sets on hukd and amazon. I guess I'll wait a few months to see how much time I spend playing, that way I'll know if the investment will be worth it.

Btw, is it ok to purchase a refurbished console if it comes with a 12 month warranty? I may consider doing that for the xbox one if my friends get it for halo.

[speedlolita]

Probably a better idea to just keep your eye on hotukdeals for console deals. No real reason to go refurb I should think.

[Brad]

I think most ps4 games are 1080p. Usually at the expense of framerate I might add though!

[EvilBoris]

You can buy a 40inch 4K screen in Aldi for ?300. The tech is coming down all the time

[el_badz]

I wouldn't trust a 4k tv at that price right now. I've found similar deals on hukd but people complain about input lag which is bad for gaming. So while I want a good deal, I also want quality.

Speaking of quality, I've been wanting to purchase a 5.1 surround sound system, but I don't have the space for it. I read that I could purchase a sound bar instead?

[charlesr]

Yeah, some of the sound bars are quite impressive if neatness is a priority.