Almost got my 3D PC gaming room complete

[Crow550]

Figured I'd share my story thus far.

I picked up an LG 47" LM6400 http://www.lg.com/pa_en/tvs/lg-47LM6400 which is a cross between the LM6200 & LM6700 series for $550 which was kinda funny. I'm happy with the picture and features like local dimming which is nice. It's an IPS panel which wasn't advertised but it passed the IPS test: http://www.mediachance.com/pbrush/monitor.html and the backlight bleed is almost non-existent or to a point where I can't notice it to a distracting point. Not bad for the price. The Magic Remote is cool but I keep knocking it on it's side and off things.

I didn't want to move my PC in my room so thanks to Monoprice I am using a 50FT RedMere HDMI: http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10255&cs_id=1025506&p_id=9432&seq=1&format=2 and a 49FT Active USB 2.0 cable: http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10303&cs_id=1030312&p_id=7532&seq=1&format=2 between two powered 7 port USB hubs: http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10307&cs_id=1030702&p_id=5328&seq=1&format=2 . Both work perfect.

Then got the TriDef 3D software http://www.tridef.com/ with a discount since I own an AMD card (Even if you own an Nvidia card look at the Tridef software. Game support is great.) So I can play most of my games in 3D. Which offers soft interlacing which improves the Passive 3D even more.

My room setup is still work in progress. Currently I am using a mini keyboard with touchpad http://www.ipazzport.com/10btt.html and a PS3 controller set as a 360 Controller with MotioninJoy software http://www.motioninjoy.com/ for now.

Soon I will be getting a recliner chair and another Mechanical keyboard & Mouse with an adjustable table top for the Keyboard and Mouse.

Looking for a better Cabinet stand for the TV. One that can adjust the TV up and down and such as keeping the picture at eye level is the best for 3D. Maybe wall mount.... Still deciding.

Then last will be a Receiver and Speaker system. Thinking of the 5.1 Energy Take Classics for speakers. I usually use Dolby Surround headphones http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=11401&cs_id=1140103&p_id=9771&seq=1&format=2 for gaming so I'm not in a huge hurry for the speaker system.

I have a X-FI XtremeMusic card http://us.store.creative.com/Sound-Blaster-XFi-XtremeMusic-BStock/M/B000AY7A1I.htm I use at my desk which does Dolby Digital Live encoding http://us.store.creative.com/Dolby-Digital-Live-and-DTS-Connect/M/B006GK76QE.htm .
Was debating if I should also run a 50ft Optical cable or if they make any type of optical through hdmi cable? Since HDMI could easily pass it through or would the receiver I get do something similar? Any tweak to send DDL to the AMD card through the HDMI cable?

As it stands now if I hook the gaming headset to the TV the HDMI cable would pass through Stereo and the Headset would upmix it to surround which is decent. As PC games use various audio formats Dolby Digital Live mixes and sounds pretty good. Or I could use a USB sound card? Still figuring this one out.

As it stands I enjoy gaming on a bigger screen be it in 2D or 3D. Just need to get some clip on Passive glasses since I wear glasses.

If you are considering doing something similar and have any questions feel free to ask. I got the 50FT RedMere cable before I got the TV as I had gotten it on sale and kept it hooked up to my Roku box to make sure it worked properly. Then got the 49ft USB cable. Then saved and kept my eyes open and found the TV I wanted at Costco.

I had a 32" Sceptre Passive 3D TV http://www.sceptre.com/Products/LEDTV/Specs/E320BV-FHDD/E320BV-FHDD Overview.htm I tried as a Monitor replacement to my 27" and while the 3D looked great. I just couldn't get my seat back far enough to really enjoy it as I could notice ghosting a bit more because of how much bigger it was than my 27". If I moved back far enough I couldn't notice. Maybe it was the panel too? I can't notice on the 47" IPS panel if I get close to it.

3D looks best on a big screen anyways and as far back too. For Passive VS. Active 3D I have seen both and the difference to me is very minimal. I prefer Passive as the glasses are cheap or free as you can use the RealD ones from the Movies, easy to replace and no charging. Plus if you wear glasses you can get clip ons. I am currently wearing wire frames so the glasses don't bother me. As far as 3D goes the glasses aren't going anywhere for quite some time as Glasses free sets aren't as good.

3D content for films is a little hit or miss. Netflix Instant actually has a few Titles which was surprising. LG has some 3D rental services built in which are nice like Vudu & 3D World. Otherwise it's lame that the Studios don't allow 3D Blu-Ray rentals and charge a premium for 3D Blu-Rays (you can find some nice sales though). They wonder why 3D sets don't fly off the shelves?

YouTube has some great 3D content.

Native game support is alright so far which makes TriDef worth using as it converts most games to 3D and does just as good of a job as playing a native 3D game. The community at the TriDef and Meant To Be Seen 3D forums http://www.mtbs3d.com/ is great.

TriDef even has a 2D-3D Media player which works better than any built in TV feature I have seem. It's of course not as good as professional 2D-3D conversions but it's actually pretty neat. I tried it on some of my DVDs. I was surprised at the result.

However I got it for gaming first & some Blu-Rays.

 

[fralexandr]

nice writeup! are you going to post pics in the stickied thread when you're done?

if your computer has any semi-recent (2009+) dedicated/integrated gpu (i.e. intel gma 4500 or newer), it will be able to send audio through HDMI, so optical and dolby digital encoding won't be necessary.
HDMI is able to send multichannel uncompressed/HD audio (i.e. LPCM 8, dolby HD, etc).

encoding to dolby digital/DTS is pretty much only required if you want surround over optical (usually using pre-HDMI devices, or when out of HDMI ports).

ghosting typically has to do with a monitor/TVs response time
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_CRT,_LCD,_Plasma,_and_OLED
not being able to see the ghost when backing up might be a resolution/eye resolving power vs distance thing
ghosting isn't normally a problem except on older LCD technology

 

[Crow550]

You know I just noticed the HTPC section. So I don't know if this is exactly the correct spot to post this?

Well see about posting pics.

I know HDMI can send uncompressed and compressed formats over. However some PC games use different formats right? What I do on my PC is set the speaker output to 5.1 so games know to use that as not all games have a speaker setting and the sound card speaker output to Headphones. Since my Headphones can decode Dolby Digital using DDL can create a more natural mix.

I will do some tests using my Headset plugged in optically to the TV.

 

[fralexandr]

http://www.amazon.com/Energy-RC-Micr...QM7H6A6RV6TTDR

amazon goldbox deal has energy micro 5.1 set for $300.
It's often cross-shopped with the energy takes, so i thought you might want in on the deal

 

[It's Not Lupus]

3d is such a gimmick.

 

[Crow550]

http://www.amazon.com/Energy-RC-Micr...QM7H6A6RV6TTDR

amazon goldbox deal has energy micro 5.1 set for $300.
It's often cross-shopped with the energy takes, so i thought you might want in on the deal

Thanks a million! Really thanks that's very kind of you. I noticed the price has been in the $300 range a few times. I'd snag it up if I could spend the dough. However not for a few more Months. It's kind of the last thing I plan to do. Right now I need a good chair and such. Wall mount and so forth. As I am using my Headset then later a good decoder and speakers. Again though thanks for keeping me posted. I know Monoprice had a clone of these but even though there supplier gave them permission I guess Energy didn't.

3d is such a gimmick.

To each is own. While for some 3D films that's true. There are some that do use it well. Even nature documentaries and such too.

However for gaming in my opinion it does enhance the experience. I have been playing Test Drive Unlimited 2, Max Payne 3, Star Conflict & Left 4 Dead 2 and for me it makes the experience a lot more immersive.