Buying a gaming / film projector £500 or £1000?

winzentween

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hello, I have a limited budget but obviously wish to get the most for my money but buying a projector is just crazy. I have read up on all the terms then I looked into the reviews and then read the user reviews and all of them contradict each other. Also each company keeps changing the specs and adding variations till my head is spinning.
I was looking at the Infocus sp860 for the 1080p then I read that infocus are shoddy build and lots of problems.
Then I read that optoma were great gaming projectors and good film at a good price so i looked at the hd65 but then i heard the hd67 was better and now theres a hd67n (for nvidia?) and then i read that they dont handle fast motion (games/action) well, and there is alot of rainbow effect!??

My info:
Room size (20x10ft) with a 10x6 screen but it isnt a dark room (white walls/windows/2nd floor).
I wish to play wii / 360 and watch digital films/tv from my pc = 1 hdmi / 1 component / 1 pc. (svideo or scart be great too?)
I do not have blueray and dont use dvds or 3d (yet).

Questions to answer:
£500 or £1000, as clearly more money does not equal better quality or value.
Do i need 1080p for gaming???
Do i need a speaker onboard?
Does the 3d work out the box?
Which brand and model best for my needs?

Any advice be great thank you ;>
 
For a start £500-£1000 is entry level for home cinema PJ's, for gaming and fast sport motion blur you have to spend more but the PJ's in your price range are adequate.

You don't need 1080p for gaming as hardly any games play at that resolution. There is an Optoma PJ that is 1080p in your price range the HD33 can be had for £950-£1000 and is supposed to be a good PJ. This PJ is 3D out of the box but obviously you need a 3D source ie 3D blu-ray or PS3 (Xbox does it but not sure if it needs an update)

With regards speakers projectors are are rubbish. You will need either a all in one surround sound system or preferably a seperate amp/reciever and speakers. This will give you better upgrade options at a later date and can be done for £250-£300. For me 50% of the cinema/gaming experience on a big scale is the surround sound.
If the £1000 is for everything and as you say you have a bright room you could go for the Epson TW EH 450(or the equivelant as it may have been updated not looked for a while).
Hope this helps.
 
hi so hardly any games ...at 1080p? but all my games on my 360 are in 1080p are they not? am i missing something? do you know if the hd67n is a good buy then?
 
Here is a list of xbox games and their resolutions!!!!
Xbox 360

50 Cent = 1280x720 (no AA)
Afro Samurai = 1280x720 (4xAA)
Alan Wake = 960x544 (4xAA) - As per gamefest presentation
Alice: Madness Returns = 1280x720 (no AA)
Aliens Vs Predator = 1120x630 (custom AA)
Alone in the Dark = 1040x600 (2xAA)
Arcania: Gothic 4 =
Army of Two = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Assassin's Creed = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Assassin's Creed 2 = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Assassin's Creed 2: Bromance = 1280x720 (QAA)
Avatar = 1280x696 (2xAA, black borders)
Backbreaker = 1152x640 (2xAA + blur filter)
Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Batman: Arkham Asylum = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Batman: Arkham City = 1280x720 (no AA)
Battle Fantasia = 1280x720 (no AA, toggable blur filter)
Battlefield 3 = 1280x704 (FXAA) black bars
Battlefield: Bad Company = 1280x720 (no AA)
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 = 1280x720 (no AA)
Bayonetta = 1280x720 (no AA)
Beijing 2008 = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Beowulf = 1280x720 (4xAA)
Bionic Commando = 1120x640 (no AA)
Bioshock = 1280x720 (no AA)
Bioshock 2 = 1280x720 (edge blur filter)
Bioshock Infinite =
Blacksite: Area 51 = 1280x720 (2xAA)
BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger = 1280x720 (2xAA background, no AA characters )
Blue Dragon = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Blur = 1280x720 (4xAA)
Bodycount = 1024x720 (FXAA)
Borderlands = 1280x720 (no AA)
Brink = 1120x720 (edge filter? possibly FXAA)
Brutal Legend = 1200x720 (no AA)
Bulletstorm = 1280x720 (no AA)
Burnout: Paradise = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Call of Duty 3 = 1040x624 (2xAA)
Call of Duty: Black Ops = 1040x608 (2xAA)
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare = 1024x600 (2xAA)
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 = 1024x600 (2xAA)
Call of Duty: World at War = 1024x600 (2x AA)
Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood = 1280x672 (4x2 custom edge AA + black borders)
Call of Juarez: The Cartel = 1200x720 (custom edge AA)
Castlevania: Lord of Shadow = 1280x720 (no AA)
Catherine = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Cars Mater-National = 1280x720 (4xAA)
Club, The = 1280x720 (4xAA)
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 = 1280x720 (no AA, blur filter)
Conan = 1024x576 (no AA)
Condemned 2 = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Conflict: Denied Ops = 1280x720p (2xAA)
Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Athena = 1280x720 (4xAA)
Crackdown = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Crash Time = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Crysis = 1152x720 (TAA + edge post-process)
Crysis 2 = 1152x720 (TAA + edge post-process)
Dante's Inferno = 1280x720 (no AA)
Darkness, The = 1280x720 (4xAA)
Dark Sector = 1280x720 (no AA)
Darksiders = 1152x648 (no AA)
Dark Souls = 1024x720 (2xAA)
Dead Island = 1200x720 (custom edge filter)
Dead or Alive 4 = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Dead Rising = 1280x720 ( up to 4xAA depending on frame rate)
Dead Rising 2 = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Dead Space = 1280x720 (no AA)
Dead Space 2 = 1280x720 (no AA)
Dead to Rights: Retribution = 1088x612 (2xAA) ?
de Blob 2 = 1152x640 (2xAA)
Deus Ex: Human Revolution = 1280x720 (FXAA)
Devil May Cry 4 = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Dirt = 1280x720 (4xAA)
Dirt 2 = 1280x720 (4xAA)
Don King Prizefighter = 1024x630 (2xAA)
Dragon Age: Origins = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Dragon Age II = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Dragon Ball: Raging Blast = 1280x720 (1x1 edge blur)
Dragonball: Raging Blast 2 = 1280x720 (1x1 blur)
Driver: San Fransisco = ~1120x720 (FXAA?)
Duke Nukem Forever = 1152x640 (no AA)
Dynasty Warriors 6 = 1280x720 (no AA)
Dynasty Warriors 7 = 1280x720 (no AA)
Dynasty Warriors: Strike Force = 1280x720 (no AA)
EDF: Insect Armageddon = 1280x720 (2xAA)
El Shaddai = 1120x576 (2xAA)
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion = 1024x600 (2xAA) - Same for GOTY Edition!
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim = 1280x720 (likely FXAA, less aggressive edge detection than PS3 iteration)
End of Eternity/Resonance of Fate = 1088x720 (2xAA)
End War = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Enslaved = 1280x720 (no AA)
F.E.A.R. = 1280x720 (2xAA) + slight blur?
F.E.A.R. 2 = 1280x720 (2xAA)
F.E.A.R. 3 = 1280x720
F1 2010 = 1280x720 (4xAA)
F1 2011 = 1280x720 (4xAA)
Fable II = 1120x720 (blur filter, 2xAA)
Fable III =
FaceBreaker = 1280x720 (4xAA)
Fallout 3 = 1280x720 (4xAA, certain edges)
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer = 1280x720 (4xAA)
Far Cry 2 = 1280x696 (2xAA, black borders)
Fifa 2006 = 1024x576 (2xAA)
Fifa 2007 = 1200x675 (no AA)
Fifa 2008 = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Fifa 2010 = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Fifa 2011 = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Fifa Street 3 = 1920x1080 (4xAA)
Fight Night Champion Online =
Fight Night Round 4 = 1280x720 (4xAA)
Final Fantasy XIII = 1024x576 (2xAA)
Fracture = 1280x720 (no AA)
Forza Motorsport 2 = 1280x720 (2xAA in-game, 4xAA replay & vehicle select)
Forza Motorsport 3 = 1280x720 (2xAA in-game, 4xAA replay & vehicle select)
Forza Motorsport 4 = 1280x720 (4xAA in time trial, 2xAA otherwise, 4x in car viewing etc.)
Gears of War = 1280x720 (HD), 960x720 (SD) (2xAA on static objects?)
Gears of War 2 = 1280x720 (2xAA, certain edges unaffected)
Gears of War 3 = 1280x720 (no AA)
Ghostbusters = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 = 1280x720 (2xAA)
G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Godfather II = 1280x720 (no AA)
Golden Axe: Beast Rider = 1280x720 (no AA, blur filter)
Golden Compass = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Grand Theft Auto IV = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Guitar Hero 3 = 1280x720 (no AA)
Guitar Hero Aerosmith = 1280x720 (no AA)
Guitar Hero World Tour = 1280x720 (no AA)
Guitar Hero 5 = 1280x720 (no AA)
Halo: Anniversary = 1152x720 (FXAA remake, no AA classic)
Halo 3 = 1152x640 (no AA)
Halo 3: ODST = 1152x640 (no AA)
Halo: Reach = 1152x720 (2xAA temporal)
Halo Wars = 1280x720 (2xAA)
HAWX = 1280x720 (4xAA)
HAWX2 = 1280x720 (4xAA)
Homefront = 1024x576 (no AA)
IL2 Sturmovik = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Incredible Hulk = 1280x720 (full screen blur)
James Bond 007: Blood Stone = 1280x720 (4xAA)
Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Kung Fu Panda = 1280x720 (no AA)
Left 4 Dead = 1280x720 (no AA, edge blur)
Left 4 Dead 2 = 1280x720 (no AA, edge blur)
Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon, The = 1280x720 (4xAA)
Legendary = 1280x720 (no AA)
LEGO: Batman = 1280x720 (2xAA)
LEGO: Harry Potter 1-4 = 1280x720 (2xAA)
LEGO: Indiana Jones = 1280x720 (2xAA)
LEGO: Star Wars III = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Lord of the Rings: Conquest = 1280x720 (no AA)
Lost Planet = 1280x720 (up to 4xAA dependent on framerate)
Lost Planet 2 = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Madden NFL '09 = 1280x720 (no AA)
Mafia 2 = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 = 1024x576 (2xAA)
Marvel Vs Capcom 3 = 1280x720 (no AA)
Mass Effect = 1280x720 (2xAA, transparencies and effects not AA'd)
Mass Effect 2 = 1280x720 (2xAA, transparencies and effects not AA'd)
Mass Effect 3 =
Mercenaries 2: World in Flames = 1280x720 (no MSAA, but depth/Z-based edge blur?)
Metro 2033 = 1280x720 (AAA)
Midnight Club: Los Angeles = 1280x720 (2xAA?)
Mirror's Edge = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Mortal Kombat vs DC = 1040x624 (2xAA)
Mortal Kombat 9 = 1280x720 (edge blur filter)
MotoGP 2006 (screenshot) = 1280x1024 (framebuffer grab from AVS Forum member)
MotoGP '09/'10 = 1280x720 (2xAA)
MotoGP '10/'11 = 1280x720 (2xAA)
MX vs ATV: Alive = 1280x720 (no AA)
MX vs ATV: Reflex = 1280x720 (no AA)
MX vs ATV: Untamed = 1280x720 (no AA)
Nail'd = 1280x672 (4x2 custom edge AA + black borders)
Naruto Ninja Storm 2 = 1280x640 (no AA)
NBA Live '08 = 1280x720 (4xAA)
NBA Street Home court (demo) = 1920x1080 (4xAA)
NCAA Football 08 (demo) = 1024x600 (2xAA)
Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit = 1280x720 (2xAA on cars, no AA on environment)
Need For Speed: Pro Street = 1280x720 (4xAA)
Need For Speed: Shift = 1280x720 (4xAA)
Need For Speed: Shift 2 = 1280x720 (4xAA)
Need For Speed: Undercover = 1280x720 (4xAA)
NFL Tour = 1280x720 (4xAA, 60fps)
NHL '09 = 1280x720 (4xAA)
Ninja Bladen = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Ninja Gaiden 2 = 1120x584 (2xAA)
Operation Flashpoint 2 = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Orange Box, The = 1280x720 (no AA)
Overlord = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Overlord II = 1280x612 (custom edge blur, black borders)
Perfect Dark Zero = 1152x640 (no AA)
Phantasy Star: Universe = 1152x648 (no AA)
Portal 2 = 1280x720 (edge blur)
Prince of Persia = 1280x720
Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Pro Evolution Soccer 6 (demo) = 1024x576 (2xAA)
Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 = 1280x720 (4xAA)
Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Project Gotham Racing 3 = 1024x600 (2xAA)
Project Gotham Racing 4 = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Prototype = 1120x640 (2xAA)
Quake 4 = 1280x720 (no AA)
Quake Wars: Enemy Territory = 1280x720 (2xAA + blur)
Race Driver: GRID = 1280x720 (4xAA)
Race Pro = 1280x720 (4xAA)
Rage = 640x720 up to 1280x720 (no AA)
Rainbow Six Vegas 2 = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Red Dead Redemption = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Red Faction: Armageddon = 960x540 (2xAA)
Red Faction: Guerrilla = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Resident Evil 5 = 1280x720 (dynamic 0-4xAA)
Ridge Racer 6 (demo) = 1440x810 (no AA)
Rise of the Argonauts = 1280x720 (2xAA, however post processing is likely interfering with the AA resolve in certain cases )
Rock Band = 1280x720 (2xAA, post-fx or lighting usually resulting in "no AA")
Rock Band 2 = 1280x720 (2xAA, post-fx or lighting usually resulting in "no AA")
Rock Band: The Beatles = 1280x720 (2xAA, post-fx or lighting usually resulting in "no AA")
Rock Band: Green Day = 1280x720 (2xAA, post-fx or lighting usually resulting in "no AA")
Saboteur = 1280x720 (no AA)
Sacred 2: Fallen Angel = 1920x1080 for any HD output (including PC res), 1280x960 for 4:3 output, 1376x768 for 480p widescreen (no AA)
Saint's Row 2 = 640p (2xAA)
Saint's Row 3 = 1280x720 (800x450 lighting)
SCORE International Baja 1000 = 1280x720 (4xAA)
SEGA: All Stars Racing = 1280x720 (2xAA)
SEGA: Rally Revo = 1280x720 (4xAA, alpha to coverage)
SEGA: Superstars Tennis = 1280x720 (2xAA, 30fps)
Shadowrun = 1280x720 (2xAA) - Gamefest '07
Shadows of the Damned = 1280x720 (no AA)
Silent Hill: Homecoming = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Simpsons, The = 1280x720 (no AA)
Singularity = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Skate = 1280x720 (2xAA ? )
Skate 3 = possibly 1152x640 or less (2xAA, super blur filter makes it difficult to determine exact res)
Soldier of Fortune: Payback = 1280x720 (4xAA ?)
Soul Calibur IV = 1365x960 (no AA, software scaled to 720p)
Sonic Unleashed = 880x720 (2xAA)
Spiderman: Web of Shadows = 1280x720 (4xAA)
Splinter Cell: Conviction = 1024X576 (2xAA)
Splinter Cell: Double Agent = 1280x720 (full screen blur, 1-pixel horizontal & vertical)
Split-Second = 1280x672 (2xAA)
Star Ocean 4 = 1248x702 (2xAA + edge blur/DOF, in field), ~936x512 (no AA, in battle)
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed = 1280x720 (no AA)
Stormrise = 1280x720 (4xAA)
Street Fighter IV = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Super Stars V8: Next Challenge = 1280x720 (4xAA)
Super Street Fighter IV = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Tales of Vesperia = 1280x720 (2xAA + full screen blur)
Tekken 6 = 1024x576 w/motion blur, 1365x768 w/o motion blur (no AA)
Terminator: Salvation = 1152x648 (blur filter)
Test Drive Unlimited = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Test Drive Unlimited 2 = 1280x720 (custom edge filter)
Tiger Woods PGA Tour '09 = 1280x720 (no AA)
Tiger Woods PGA Tour '11 = 1280x720 (no AA)
Tomb Raider: Legend = 1024x600 (2xAA)
Tomb Raider: Underworld = 1024x576 (2xAA) - depth buffer is 1040x576
Tony Hawk's Project 8 (screenshot) = 1040x585 (2xAA)
Tony Hawk's Proving Ground = 1280x720
Top Spin 3 = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Top Spin 4 = 1280x720 2D, 640x720 3D (both 2xAA)
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen = 1120x720 (blur filter)
Transformers: War for Cybertron = 1024x600 (2xAA)
Tron = 1280x720 (no AA)
Turning Point: Fall of Liberty = 1280x720 (no AA)
Turok = 1280x720 (no AA)
UEFA Euro 2008 = 1280x720 (2xAA)
UFC 2009: Undisputed = 1280x720 (custom edge AA with 2 colour gradations like 4xAA)
Unreal Tournament III = 1280x720 (2xAA ala Gears...)
Vanquish = 1024x720 (2xAA)
Virtua Fighter 5 (demo) = 1024x1024 (4xAA)
Virtua Tennis 2009 = 1280x720 (4xAA)
Virtua Tennis 3 = 1920x1080 (2xAA)
Virtua Tennis 4 = 1280x720 (4xAA)
WALL E = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Wanted = 1120x640 (no AA)
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine = 1200x720 (post-AA)
Wheelman = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Wolfenstein = 1280x720 (no AA)
WWE All-Stars = 1280x720 (no AA)
X-Men Origins: Wolverine = 1280x720 (2xAA)

XBLA

1942: Joint Strike = 1280x720 (4xAA)
After Burner Climax = 1280x720 (4xAA)
Alien Breed = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Battlefield 1943 = 1280x720 (no AA)
Bionic Commando: Rearmed = 1280x720 (no AA)
Boogie Bunnies = 1920x1080 (4xAA)
Call of Duty: Classic = 1280x720 (4xAA)
Commando 3 = 1280x720 (4xAA)
Dead Rising 2: Case Zero = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Hard Corps: Uprising = 1280x720 (no AA)
Hydrophobia = 960x672 (2xAA)
Ikaruga = 540x720 (4xAA, centered on 1280x720 frame)
Invincible Tiger = 1280x720 (4xAA, classic mode), 640x720 or 1280x360 (S3D mode), see here for more.
Lara Croft and The Guardian of Light = 1024x576 (2xAA)
Quake Arena Arcade = 1280x720 (4xAA)
Red Faction: Battlegrounds = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Rez HD = 1280x720 (4xAA)
Serious Sam HD = 1120x630 (blur filter)
Splosion Man = 1280x720 (2xAA)
Stacking = 1200x720 (custom edge filter)
TMNT: TiT Re-shelled = 1280x720 (no AA)
Trials HD = 1280x680 (no AA, black borders)
Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 = 1280x720 (4xAA)
 
lol thats amazing! but it clearly shows that all the aaa titles use a res higher than 720? beyond this do you have any active suggestions for christmas as the one you rec. was no longer avalable...
 
hi so hardly any games ...at 1080p? but all my games on my 360 are in 1080p are they not? am i missing something? do you know if the hd67n is a good buy then?

To answer you in a far shorter and more accurate way, the 360 has a scaling chip inside it (ANA/HANA) so internal rendering and external output can be different.
 
erm 720p is 1280x720,i dont see any aaa titles supporting higher than that on the list but you lucky ps3 resolution is even worse.
 
The HD67N is OK but not appropriate for your setup as the N stands for Nvidia ie PC 3D. Get the HD33 if you have the money you wont regret it.
 
good that's what i though but i dont need 3d at the mo and even if i did i would have to buy the decoder and a blue ray player / pc 3d card etc. which would total at best another £400 or more! so i think this will be fine for pc digital download films/tv and video game consoles...? Or do i need 3d?
 
You don't need 3D no lol. But I don't understand why would you need a decoder? Or PC 3D card? The Xbox does 3D and the HD 33 does 3D out of the box,
 
Im in a similar position and people have been recommending the Optoma GT750. Its 3D out if the box and because it a short throw projector you wont cause a shadow on the screen when you get up as. The projector will probably be in front of you.
 
its a good unit i hear but its not 1080p and i keep being told to future proof my projector at this time of change and I think that 1080p will make more difference than 3d or 3d will be better on say my tv or monitor than on my projector within my budget of uner £1000. Also I hear the rainbow effect is a little worse on the Optoma Gt750? seems to be a toss up between the two depending on what your priority etc. though i wish they would just do both in one for £700!
 
Hello I see: http://www.3dtested.com/3d-xbox-360-games-list/ but i is really a very small list and i only have one of them. was told that to watch films on dvd / blue ray you would need a 3d decoder thingy connect to a 3d enabled projector and for a pc you would need a 3d nvidia card?
No you only need a 3D-XL for "3D ready" machines the GT750 is a 720p 3D PJ (in effect it has the convertor built in and the Optoma HD33 is 1080p 3D which will not need converting as Blu rays are in 1080p anyway.:D
 
ahh so again if you have the dosh the hd33 is the one 2 get but so much more money than the 720 3d or full hd 1080 so ill pass taking that £1000 is a serious investment only for it to be replaced 5 mins later by a slightly better model. atleast with a half price that with a missing function the next projector in afew years will be that much more a worthy investment / step up...?
 

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