Card for PC Gaming on a HD Projector

[seant1]

Hi,

I am thinking about building my first gaming PC and am a complete noob.

I will be gaming exclusively on a 1080p (active 3d capable) projector (Sony HW30) and am not sure how this should affect my choice of graphics card.

I am looking at a single card and am interested in:
Sapphire HD7950 3gb Vapor-X
Sapphire HD7970 3gb Vapor-X

Are these suitable for 1080p gaming (and 3d possibly later) on a projector only set up? Would you recommend any others?

Also should I be considering adding a second card in the future or is this only worthwhile for multiple displays?

Lots of noob questions!!
Thanks in advance for any help

 

[wanderer11]

I have a feeling that a projector would have horrible input lag. Those cards are both powerful enough even for 3d at 1920x1080. I'm not sure I would want to play anything besides a turn based rpg or rts on a projector though.

 

[das_stig]

Sony VPL-HW30ES is the entry level model with good 2D 7 3D, but with some limitations on colour, good write up @ http://www.avforums.com/review/Sony-HW30-VPL-HW30ES-SXRD-3D-Projector-review.html.

As for the card, nVidia GTX680, may cost a little more than a ATI7970, but anything needing heavy PhysX, like Borderlands 2, the ATI just can't compete and of course nVidia has very good 3D.

Not an expert on SLI/Xfire, but a second card not worth it.

 

[seant1]

Thanks you both for the replies.

wanderer11,
Oh I just assumed PC gaming would be OK as console performance seems fine. According to tests it has a 30 MS lag in 'gaming mode' , compared to 80 MS for most projectors. Would this be considered too slow for gaming? May be a non starter if that lag is considered unplayable

das_stig - thanks I will look at into that card as well

 

[wanderer11]

30ms is very slow for gaming. Most monitors are 5ms. You will notice the input lag at 30. If you play any fps or other fast paced games you will not want to game on the projector.

 

[seant1]

Thanks,

There seems to be reports of 18-30MS (which is considered good for a projector) but if 5MS is the standard it seems that FPS/racing games would be out.

 

[thently]

Racing games are the best oh and flying games too on a projector. I have a media room setup and it is just awesome for MMO and racing/flying (Need for speed/dirt/Hawx) good stuff don't listen to naysayers it will be great.... On the other hand I will say FPS are not so great input lag plus size (you have to actually look around the screen to find things) do make FPS better on smaller but higher res screens. I use an surround setup 3 screens for fps much sharper picture and less lag. So I guess I basicly still muddied you decision as long as you have a dark room to set this up in you will enjoy the projector setup I think.

Thent

 

[seant1]

Thanks thently,

It is set up for movies as its main purpose (dedicated lighting etc) I just thought it might be a good chance to double it up as a PC gaming machine. At the moment I use an xbox for gaming on the projector and my PC sits in the corner for work and development. It is already connected to my AV via HDMI for streaming audio. My idea was to add a gaming PC and let that take the HDMI link (the other PC can stay for Visual Studio/SQL server etc and general browsing/email). I do not want to add a multi screen LCD display set up for playing FPS

I do not find any issue on the projector (Gaming mode) playing FPS on the xbox (Dead Space Space/Call of duty etc) but by the sounds of it a PC FPS is more demanding with regard to lag being an issue . Is this correct anyone?

I used the present PC to play dirt 3 over the weekend (it has a 6850 card and runs an i3) and did not find lag an issue, but maybe not to be expected for a racing game (as noted above)

Thanks for everyones input - at the moment I am not 100% sure what I will do - but by the sounds of it using the older PC for specific (non FPS games) might be a winner alongside using the xbox until I am sure that PC lag is not an issue.

I may try and persuade a colleague at work to lend me his gaming PC for a few days (if he ever gets away from playing Bioshock...) and test out.

Thanks for everyones input

 

[thently]

Yes i have a HD cable box/Pc/XBOX 360 on this projector and as you say 360 is fine no lag perceived. the issue with pc is it has better picture quality and the refresh on most projectors is lower than a monitor. FPS are very possible I just felt a little off like it was harder to hit things ... I assume you could get used to it and still have a good time.

Thent