42" Sharp Aquos LCD TV - perfectly lagless

Please read this post for the full story of why I made this video: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14133516#post14133516

Like many gamers who play timing-heavy games, I've been wary to upgrade to an HDTV because of the inherent lag created on many brands. Lag even exists with HD signals on some TVs, but I had come to believe it *always* existed on older (480i) consoles. I had done more than a year of research and had been disappointed. My options were to import a $2000 dedicated box from Japan to do special upscaling, or to "deal with it".

I came across this TV whose "game mode" actually works as it should. I know almost all TVs released today have a "game mode", but all the ones I've encountered still leave behind at least 30-40 milliseconds of lag (or more), which is just enough to make timing-heavy games unplayable. This Sharp Aquos (model number LC-42D64U) is *perfect* in game mode, even using old 480i signals. I decided I had to prove it! If you're like me and absolutely refuse to settle for even 1 frame of lag, this is YOUR TV. Buy it.

Games shown:
- 3rd Strike: I do some combos and try some parrying on my CRT vs my new HDTV (both in game mode and in other modes). Played on PS2 through components (even though it's 480i). Zero lag in game mode.
- Smash Bros Melee: Played on Wii through components. Zero lag.
- Smash Bros Brawl: Played on Wii through components. Zero lag.
- Perfect Dark: Played on N64 through composite (those red/yellow/white cables). Zero lag in game mode.
- beatmania IIDX: Played on PS2 through components (despite being 480i). Zero lag.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• HDTV
• high
• definition
• no
• lag
• lagless
• sharp
• aquos
• 3rd
• strike
• perfect
• dark
• iidx
• smash
• bros
• melee
• brawl

[siggie12]

This input lag business is driving me crazy. Conflicting information everywhere, some people will say (random hdtv) has 1-5ms of lag, and others will say the same exact set is 40ms or more.

I think I've finally narrowed my choices down to the Sharp Aquos LC40D78UN (similar to the set in this video) and the Sony Bravia KDL40EX500.

Have you since upgraded, or Is the LC42D64U still working out well for you?

Thanks.

[Infil]

@siggie12 It's doing well as far as lag goes, yeah. I'm happy playing SSF4 and other HDMI fighters on it and don't notice lag moving back and forth between CRTs. The 60 Hz is starting to be a bit noticeable at times, but I haven't done any research into 120 Hz TVs (I don't imagine they're drastically different though). I will probably upgrade to a newer (maybe bigger?) 120 Hz TV in the next year or two, but for now I'm still happy with this model.

[ZyxBlackwind]

Hmm. I have a problem with my tv where it sometimes cuts off and goes black for maybe around 5-10 seconds then comes back on. It seems to happen most when I play SF4 and do an Ultra. Something about the start up animation. It happens with some other games too. Usually during a cinematic or something. What is causing this? The TV isn't so old either...

[Infil]

@ZyxBlackwind Are you playing on PS3? When my friend brings his PS3 over (connected through component cables) and we play games, I've noticed this problem as well. We've noticed it on Uncharted 2, MGS4, DMC4, and a few other games, seemingly at completely random times (though rarely, maybe once every 3 hours max), but some PS3 games it never happens at all. I have never noticed it on my 360 connected through HDMI. It's weird and I don't know what causes it.

[furballbear]

@homicide94 My Sharp Aquos LC-40D68UT is lagless, too. Best Buy still has it in stock and often puts that model on sale for $599. Not a bad price for a 1080p set although it's just a 60 Hz like the one in the video.

Infil, thanks for a wonderful and informative video! Because of it I purchased my LC-40D68UT and I'm very happy I did. There's absolutely no lag in Game Mode and my Xbox 360 is even relatively lagless in Dynamic Mode when connected with HDMI.

[NicolXIX]

For the record, the JGREAT timing window in beatmania IIDX is between +-14 and +-18 milliseconds.

The official arcade cabinet in Japan made by Konami still uses a CRT to this day.

[ryansonebelt]

If you have the tv in dynamic it looks really good on games. But when you go to game mode its a big step down. The input lag is better but you cant change any of the film modes. I am gonna get my plasma back.

[MKSaibot]

60hz is all you want for gaming, if a 120hz TV does not have a off/on option or a mode that takes the 120hz away you are going to get some kind of lag, it will be very minimal lag though.

[ReddSouljah]

Great Video!

[logos2600]

How is the image upscaling? Can you lower sharpness to get rid of jaggies on 3d N64 or playstation games?

[Aleksael]

I don't doubt that you have resolved the timing to one that you can live with. You obviously have. But this is not a good lag test. All you're testing is your ability to deal with what lag is there. To test this properly, connect your pc to both displays and run a timer. Film this timer and then view the playback. You can even post it here. At any point you can pause the playback and see the exact amount of lag by looking at the difference between the CRT and HDTV displays.

[rumbazz]

there are some solutions:

-play on CRT on 480i SD via composite, or component if your tv has it, and don't complain about the resolution.

-use monitors via VGA cables. best if you could find a CRT monitor

-play hdtvs because you want good picture even though you'll bitch about the lag.

[rumbazz]

@bartdude82 no, that stick is sub-par for what it's worth. the tekken 5 stick goes up to 150+ now, and aside from that, it's relatively difficult to mod it for full sanwa. don't even try seimitsu for this stick, just make your own.

[AveryCloseCall]

Psst, if you want a non-subjective measure of lag, find a guitar controller from Rock Band 3. They have a little sensor that allows for automatic calibration that has no 'human error'. I thought I was good with checking the lag on my Panasonic PT-AX 200U gaming projector at 30MS. Turns out it was 13MS - I was personally off.

[bartdude82]

what stick are you using and is it cheap and have good quality?

[pierre0227]

Thanks for making this video. I bought a 32 inch Sharp Aquos model LC-32d62u some 3 years ago without knowing about the lag issue in the gaming community. Now I feel lucky I own one.