Quick resolution question (1 Viewer)

[chris_clem]

I'm in the market for a new TV and I'm looking to get one that supports a 1080p signal. However, here in the Philippines a lot of stores don't have that info readily available (and don't even think about asking the salesperson if he knows!). What they almost always have is the resolution in a "H x V" format and I was wondering how do I interpret that into whether the set is 720i, 720p, 1080i or 1080p?

For example, this product from Samsung has this product page:
http://www.samsung.com/ph/products/t...Specifications

It says that resolution is 1366(H) X 768(V) but does that mean it supports 720i or 720p?

How would a 1080i and 1080p resolution be listed and how would they differ in this format?

Thanks

 

[JeremyErwin]

1080p is 1920x1080
720p is 720x1280

and...

768p is 1366x768

Essentially, the set converts everything to its own resolution. It used to be that the choice was between 1080i (flickering, but higher resolution image) and 720 (nonflickering, high framerate image). 768p sets were aimed at the 720p market, but for various reasons, were cheaper to make.

The high frame rate, while useful for some hdtv broadcasts, is not really an advantage when films are involved-- 24 frames per second is standard.

1080p sets combine the advantages of 720p and 1080i-- a non flickering, high resolution image.

 

[chris_clem]

Thanks for the reply.

Hmmm.... if as you said:

1080p is 1920x1080 and
720p is 720x1280

what would 1080i and 720i (is there such a thing?) translate as?

 

[JeremyErwin]

720i doesn't exist.

1080i, theoretically, is two 1920x540 frames being shown in quick succession, one frame containing the even lines; the other, the odd.

I say theoretically, because the first 1080i displays were CRTs, and the resolution was insufficient to render 1920 pixels. Some plasmas were 1080i, but the resolution wasn't 1920x1080 either. 1024*1024 was common.

Look for a 1080p display that claims a 1920x1080 resolution. Anything else won't provide the full benefit.

 

[Phil Iturralde]

Select the link above to read the entire article.

So, the Samsung your considering would be labeled a 720p display like my Westinghouse LTV-37W2 LCD HDTV (even though our LCD's Native/Optimum Resolution = 1366 x 768) in the marketing world and that stems from the HDTV Broadcasting 720p / 1080i HiDef Standards.

The only HDTVs that can display 1:1 1920x1080 resolution can be labeled 1080p displays, but, ... how well that 1080p HDTV de-interlaces 1080i is another questions.

So, read over the following online articles from HT Mag, ...

1) Are You Getting All the HDTV Resolution You Expected? - Gary Merson, May, 2006 - Which displays have it and which don't.

2) Are You Getting All of the HDTV Resolution You Expected? Round 2 - Gary Merson, October, 2006

Have fun reading,
Phil

 

[chris_clem]

Thanks for the very informative replies!

Phil,

The articles are great and I have found the tests to be quite useful in narrowing down my shortlist. The first article *almost* made me think that I could save some cash by getting a 1080i set since apparently there is almost no difference between those and the current crop of 1080p sets. However, the final paragraphs gave me some pause as it says that a difference can only be seen when using a source such as a PS3 game... which is my reason for upgrading in the first place! =)

Jeremy,

Thanks for summing things up nicely as such:

Look for a 1080p display that claims a 1920x1080 resolution. Anything else won't provide the full benefit.

Is there anyway I can go wrong if I purchase a set that claims to have a 1920x1080 resolution but doesn't indicate whether it accepts 1080i or 1080p? Put in another way are ALL 1920x1080 resolution sets necessarily 1080p?

 

[JeremyErwin]

hmm. Well, for one, Sony notes it this way:


I'm sure that other manufacturers have similar notations.