Gaming and computer tips for TVs
Modern flat-panel TVs are like a Swiss army knife with a multitude of functionalities, fully capable of displaying a diverse array of media and content. These range from the standard over-the-air TV broadcasts and the familiar DVD movies to high-definition games and computer graphics. Here are some tips to reproduce the best picture quality from your gaming console and computers.
Game consoles
The sweet graphics of the Xbox, the PlayStation, and the GameCube, not to mention the Xbox 360, the PlayStation3, and the Wii, can take full advantage of high-end televisions, but even inexpensive sets do best with a few added features in the mix.
Front-panel inputs: A set of A/V inputs on the front or side panel of a TV makes hooking up and disconnecting a game console--or a camcorder--much easier.
Picture preset: Many TVs come with picture presets that affect the contrast, brightness, and other controls. Some presets crank those values sky-high to provide a more intense picture. If you like that bright image, check out sets with Game, Vivid, or Sports presets.
S-Video inputs: Console graphics look best through better connections, so you should at least your hook up your game system via an S-Video connection instead of the standard composite-video (yellow jack) cable that ships with the system.
Component-video inputs. For a big improvement in gaming video quality, step up to a TV with component-video inputs. The downside is that you might have to buy a special adapter for your game console. Some of these adapters also include connections for digital sound, but you'll need a home-theater system or a surround-sound setup with an optical digital connection and support for Dolby Digital surround sound to take advantage of the superior sonics.
 HDMI provides the best-quality video connection.
Burn-in: Some high-end TVs, namely plasmas can become permanently scarred by very bright, stationary images that remain on the screen for a long time; think of a paused game or that constant score/life-bar/ammo-count graphic. However, we consider the danger of burn-in to be greatly exaggerated and plasmas and can be fine candidates for all but the heaviest gaming situations.
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TV,
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game console
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