While a large screen and good picture quality is an absolute must for gaming, there are many other factors which make for a good “gaming TV”.
Both low and high-end televisions have several pre-set screen modes, one of which is designed for gaming purposes. When you enter gaming mode using your remote, the television will automatically adjust the settings which it believes are best for a gaming environment. Any good TV will allow you to tweak each setting if you want to fine-tune the settings further. The most intuitive TVs will eliminate video processing as to reduce “lag” as well as controller delay. If you’re not a gamer, just know that lag is one of a gamer’s worst enemies. It doesn’t matter if you have big 42 inch flat screens or smaller TVs, this effect can occur on all of them.
Having plenty of inputs is essential if you have many system components and/or more than one gaming console. If not enough ports are present, you have to get behind the TV to switch them out. An alternative would be to use an audio / video switch box. To save yourself some angst, just get a TV with enough ports. The most recent PS3 and Xbox 360 require HDMI ports. A new Wii is coming out soon which will also support HDMI. It currently uses component cables.
Unless you are a hardcore gamer who is sensitive to every visual nuance, getting a TV with a high refresh rate (120Hz or above) is not really needed. High rates are supposed to reduce blurring, but it is difficult to notice much difference between rates.
When gaming on any HDTV, it may be prudent to turn off any anti-burring or de-juddering effects it offers, as these can cause lag due to the processing required. Some TVs do not allow these settings to be turned off, but it’s not that big of a deal. Armed with this knowledge, your search for a gaming TV can begin. This 32 inch LCD 1080P model is a good place to start.






