Computer Vs Console Question

[Lead Head]

Originally Posted by diabloplayer75

i always wondered how consoles dont need to install the games they just run off the disk unlike pc.

has anyone heard anything of the next next gen consoles? I hope pc gaming still stays king by then. If they could do something about pirating.

also, i always wondered why consoles are so damn stubborn and don't just make a mouse and keyboard that is optional to buy, for things like real time strategies, mmos, and fps games

Think of it like at the factory that makes the games, they "install" the game to the disc, instead of a harddrive. So all the files and stuff are already there on the disk for the console to use. The console, if it has a harddrive may put some game data on the harddrive for caching and stuff to improve pefromance

[StevieRay]

Originally Posted by diabloplayer75

Makes me sad that the SyncMaster only has a 1280 by 1024 resolution :( but its 19"

So, since the pixels are all so much closer and smaller on the computer monitor, does that mean the picture can look sharper and the graphics better?

Or is it just that the software is allot easier for consoles then it is for pcs, so the console can take better use of cheaper hardware?

Edit: the syncmasters selling point (reason why i was told to buy it) was that it has a 2MS response time, and 2000:1 dynamic Contrast, was i basically just bsed to by the bestbuy employee? lol, this was a little over a year ago

Diablo, Although a higher res monitor would have been nice, you have a pretty good one. The 2ms (response time) is very important for gaming and the contrast is important also. I think you would be happier with a larger screen with your new system. I am working (still) on getting my new build together but my old system is running a new 22in monitor...and I love it. Games are great on it and it has 3000:1 contrast and 4 ms. The larger screen with higher res is the next upgrade for you I would imagine...and nice system...your posts on this helped me quite a bit with my next build...I too am a first timer.

[diabloplayer75]

Originally Posted by StevieRay

Diablo, Although a higher res monitor would have been nice, you have a pretty good one. The 2ms (response time) is very important for gaming and the contrast is important also. I think you would be happier with a larger screen with your new system. I am working (still) on getting my new build together but my old system is running a new 22in monitor...and I love it. Games are great on it and it has 3000:1 contrast and 4 ms. The larger screen with higher res is the next upgrade for you I would imagine...and nice system...your posts on this helped me quite a bit with my next build...I too am a first timer.

Sweet i'm glad you got some good out of all my near obsessive questioning :P

I was wondering, i have seen "HD" monitors recently, but i'm kind of confused as to what that is. Would an HD monitor look better then a normal monitor, or is an HD monitor not really a monitor but a small HD TV that can be connected to the computer?

[screwballl]

Originally Posted by diabloplayer75

Sweet i'm glad you got some good out of all my near obsessive questioning :P

I was wondering, i have seen "HD" monitors recently, but i'm kind of confused as to what that is. Would an HD monitor look better then a normal monitor, or is an HD monitor not really a monitor but a small HD TV that can be connected to the computer?

pretty much yes... it can handle a HD signal for 720p or 1080i/p or a VGA/DVI signal from a PC... make sure you look at the specs as these "combo" monitors/TVs may not always have the best response time for PC gaming

[diabloplayer75]

I don't think i'm going to buy a monitor just yet, was just looking into it.
What would be the point of getting the HD/ monitor combo then? I mean cant the monitor put out the same image quality/ better?

[gvblake22]

Originally Posted by diabloplayer75

I was wondering, i have seen "HD" monitors recently, but i'm kind of confused as to what that is. Would an HD monitor look better then a normal monitor, or is an HD monitor not really a monitor but a small HD TV that can be connected to the computer?

Like screwballl mentioned, all that really means is that there are enough vertical lines of pixels to support said HD resolution (720 or 1080). If you are looking at a 19" computer LCD monitor, there is no way it can support native 1080 playback because there just aren't enough pixels on the screen (not a high-enough resolution), but it could do 720 as long as it was a widescreen. You can take a 1080 resolution video and run it smaller than native resolution to fit on a smaller resolution screen, but that kindof defeats the purpose of "high-definition".

You also want to keep in mind that the aspect ratios of computer monitors and HDTV's are different. Aspect ratio is the relationship of the number of vertical pixels to the number of horizontal pixels. Aspect ratio is usually represented as (you guessed it) a ratio like 16:9, 16:10, or 4:3. When you break it down using 16:9 as an example, there would be 16 horizontal pixels for every 9 vertical pixels on the screen; or to put it another way, the width is 1.7778 times larger than the height. 4:3 is what we generally refer to as "standard definition". 16:9 is the typical aspect ratio of high-definition movies and HDTV's and is what we generally refer to as "widescreen". 16:10 is the typical aspect ratio of a widescreen computer monitor. Don't even ask why the aspect ratios of "widescreen" in movies and TV's is not the same as "widescreen" in computer monitors because I have no idea, it's just a stupid inconvenience really.

[diabloplayer75]

Originally Posted by gvblake22

Like screwballl mentioned, all that really means is that there are enough vertical lines of pixels to support said HD resolution (720 or 1080). If you are looking at a 19" computer LCD monitor, there is no way it can support native 1080 playback because there just aren't enough pixels on the screen (not a high-enough resolution), but it could do 720 as long as it was a widescreen. You can take a 1080 resolution video and run it smaller than native resolution to fit on a smaller resolution screen, but that kindof defeats the purpose of "high-definition".

You also want to keep in mind that the aspect ratios of computer monitors and HDTV's are different. Aspect ratio is the relationship of the number of vertical pixels to the number of horizontal pixels. Aspect ratio is usually represented as (you guessed it) a ratio like 16:9, 16:10, or 4:3. When you break it down using 16:9 as an example, there would be 16 horizontal pixels for every 9 vertical pixels on the screen; or to put it another way, the width is 1.7778 times larger than the height. 4:3 is what we generally refer to as "standard definition". 16:9 is the typical aspect ratio of high-definition movies and HDTV's and is what we generally refer to as "widescreen". 16:10 is the typical aspect ratio of a widescreen computer monitor. Don't even ask why the aspect ratios of "widescreen" in movies and TV's is not the same as "widescreen" in computer monitors because I have no idea, it's just a stupid inconvenience really.

ahh i see i see.
Well, i still have a ways to go with learning my screens :P plasma is the best type of screen out their right? My current samsung hdtv downstairs sucks when their is any light hitting it, or if you are too far to the side but plasma supposedly fixed that.

I think what i'm going to do is wait for the next generation video cards / a year or two down the road, then buy a larger monitor that will also be a higher resolution/ next gen ish.

For now, i'm happy with my 931 Bf 19" samsung, but thanks for all the info! :)

[onebxr]

LCD has made some good leaps in veiwing angle and reflection. I have 2 plasmas and they work great, however if there is sunlight hitting the screen you can forget about watching anything because it washes it out. LCD's are better suited for direct sunlight.
I have curtains in place to stop the sun from hindering my tv enjoyment.
-1

[gvblake22]

Some LCD's can come with different coatings on the screen too (glossy or matte). A glossy finish can give the illusion of higher contrast, but suffers some a lot of glare if the light is coming from behind you (toward the front of the screen). The regular matte finishes will do better with light sources shining toward the screen but might look a little more washed out. It's always a give and take game, just something you have to get used to and assess your particular setup and what would suit you the best.