Samsung LE40B650T2 input lag???

[admin_exported]

Hey guys

I’m looking at getting a new tv and was thinking of the Samsung LE40B650T2, I was really impressed with its picture quality in store while watching a blu ray. However after reading some reviews online there seems to be an issue with input lag while playing video games.

Does anyone have this tv or has played video games on it care to comment about the input lag? I play a lot of racing games so I imagine the input lag would be really annoying.

If the input lag is really that bad Is the Samsung LE40A656A any better in lagging terms? I know it’s an older model and doesn’t have such a good contrast ratio but as gaming is equally import to me as blu ray picture quality would it be better to make the compromise? Plus I’d get to have it in rose tint : -)

Thanks in advance.

 

[Anonymous]

You know something?..... I would love someone to reply to this who has actually suffered this problem. No offence to Steve for asking, but I've played lots of games on my Samsung LE37A656 (which, as it goes, Plasma owners seem to really dislike) and have never noticed any lag whatsoever. I've been gaming for about 25 years now, using CRT sets until very recently (obviously) and can honestly say I haven't noticed any difference between them and LCD. Input lag seems to be one of those things people like to imagine actually happens when it doesn't. Maybe they're just not that good at games..... Let the backlash begin.

 

[D.J.KRIME]

The Samsung series 6 was a vast improvement over the 4+5 series both of which suffered with quite bad lag which IMHO make most games unplayible especially fast paced ones. But I personally use Plasma as there is no problem with lag but each to their own

 

[Anonymous]

Cheers Barkerwoo, so you have a Samsung A656 model and you don't notice any input lag? Do you use the game mode setting on the tv? I must say i have never noticed input lag on my old lcd tv which was made by some unknown company called Pentus i think, you would jope that Samsung would be able to make a better tv than them. Although i suppose the Sausmg does a lot more processing to the image.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi, Steve. I don't actually use the Game setting at all. I only ever use the 'Standard' setting for all games and TV ('Movie' mode for Blu-Ray, though). I play quite a lot online and off and when you're playing games like COD4 and Grid on PS3, you need fast responses to your inputs! Like I said - I've never had any probs at all. I also have to add that I never heard anyone use the phrase 'Input lag' outside of this forum.

 

[Anonymous]

Cheers Barkerwoo

It was Actually this review of the 650 that gave me some concern -

"The Samsung LE40B650's impressive video processing comes at a price unfortunately, and it's not good news for avid gamers. We measured the input lag on the LE40B650 to be around 84ms to 100ms slower than our resident Samsung F96 LED-backlit LCD TV (which had [Game Mode] enabled), which is almost as bad as the Philips 37PFL9632D (the worst in our database of reviewed HDTVs). Rock Band was basically unplayable unless we compensated for the input lag via the in-game calibration menu."
The full review can be found here - http://www.**.co.uk/Samsung-LE40B650/Picture-Quality.htm

And this review for the A656 -

"Here's the not-so-good news: even with [100Hz Motion Plus] disabled, we measured input lag on the LE40A656 to be 30ms slower than our resident Samsung F96, which means that it's up to 60ms slower than the Sony W4000. While most people will not be affected by this, sensitive gamers will probably experience this input lag in games demanding sharp reflexes. We certainly did: in Call Of Duty 4 somehow we were unable to nail as many headshots on the Samsung LE40A656 , though we readily concede that the reason might very well have been psychological."
Full review - http://www.**.co.uk/Samsung-LE40A656/Picture-Quality.htm

Either way I think I'll risk it and go for one of them as the pciture is amazing, now I just gota pick one.

 

[Anonymous]

My 6 series Samsung LCD had a strange fault. If you played MP3s via the Wiselink they played too fast and the TV sound was out of sync with the output from the rear connectors (Phonos). I had it updated software wise and this corrected the fault - maybe they are connected with what you are talking about.

 

[Anonymous]

HenryBoats - How do you update your TV with software? Is there a setting on your TV to accept updates over the air, or did you have to download it in some way and transfer it?

 

[Anonymous]

In response to stevie (and also because Barkerwoo seemed so keen for a response)....i have had - and subsequently sold a samsung A686 (the model upgrade from the A656)

I have been gaming for aroun 17 years and had 2 previous LCDs....however when i got the A686 i gradually noticed that something was a miss (i had not even read the term 'input lag' before). I noticed that in first person shooters i just wouldnt appear to be as accurate, but it is subtle and at first you think you are just playing bad. Even on signle player campaigns in (ie resistance 1/halo 3) i found it wierd that about 30% of my opening shots were slightly off on each respective target. Also with platformers ,i noticed that when i did big circular motions with the analoge stick quickly, i was like the character was subtlely 'dragging' in response. After a while is was so convinced something was up i started doing web searches for delayed responses in LCDs. Anyway to cut the story short i found input lag was a big problem with this model. Game mode is a total con as the picture is unplayable. If you have a 360 you can use VGA, but this brings its own image problems.

In the end i was so irritated by this problem swapped for a tosh 40ZF (believe me i didnt want to spend more money). The input lag is 30 ms as rather than 60-90 ms. I noticed the 50% drop in lag straight away. Its a shame what hi fi dont show lag tests on TVs. I now rarely read their reviews because others sites have much more extensive, researched technical evaluations. I expect they are aware of this themselves - seeing as other site names with such reviews are often edited out of posts in this supposedly open forum.

My advice is to try and test out if you are sensitive regarding input lag (be warned you need some time playing to truly appreciate it). I am gob smacked that some people never notice something is a miss, just as i am gob smacked how some plasma lovers are blind to phosphor trails in games. But now i always read reviews for input lag. wouldnt buy a tv without knowing the lag time. anything over 40ms is just not acceptable really....

As for Barkerwoo, if you go over to another well known forum....you would read many a post regarding input lag and how some people just cant put up with it. Your TV is one of the models most talked about by many owners (together with philips models)

regards,

Olly

 

[Anonymous]

100% agree Olly, and experienced something similar on lag with a mates samsung

I have got bored now asking WHF to include gaming lag in any reviews , especially as with this tv and W5500 I was interested in at first then heard this (other site) review. A lot of people buy HD to enhance their gaming experience as especially at first they do not have an extensive blu-ray catalogue. Any review should always include sd performance, hd performance including blacks and clouding, and gaming performance

I have now been tempted to become a WHS browser rather than buyer, despite vovwing never to do this - Quite simply I want to pay money for a mag that tells me what I need to know to make a decision relevant to my buying priorities, and I am struggling to find this

Please include this WHF and force me to stay on the good purchaser side.........hope latest panasonics have good lag times as per their old models...fingers crossed

 

[Anonymous]

Wow. I suppose in one way it's good to know that this problem does actually exist, but not so good for the people suffering it - I'd hate to be driven to replacing my TV because of something like this, especially as I took so long deciding to take the plunge. I'm also surprised my particular range (A656) has been highlighted as a main culprit. I can only finish with the old :- If you're satisfied with the stuff you have, then that's fine for you.

 

[Miggs]

Bakerwoo, I am now thinking of getting a new TV to replace our old Tosh 32" which is very old. Did not know which to go for plasma/lcd but keep narrowing models down. One of which is the LE40A656, like yourself. How good is it for gaming? We would be using PS3.

Miggs

 

[Anonymous]

Hi, Miggs. I would always tell people that I have had nothing but positive results from my Samsung. Like I said before, Plasma owners always seem to hate my model of TV, but I watch Blu-Ray, play PS3 games (online and off) and watch SD TV and DVDs and have never experienced anything to really moan about. If you're just using it for gaming, I'm sure (like me) you will have your socks blown off with the performance relative to the cost of the set. Yeah, Plasma may do things like deep blacks slightly better (yawn....tell me something new), but the price you pay will probably be approaching double what you pay for LCD - also, the choice of size is a lot more limited. Excuse the lateness of my reply - I'm not on the computer much now that I've discovered COD4 online!

 

[Anonymous]

Cheers for that Barkerwoo, I'm gona order my 656a soon. Do you have yours hooked up to an AV amp? And if so is there any delay between the picture and sound?

 

[Anonymous]

Hi, Stevie. I do have an amp connected via the PS3 with no delay at all (all games should be played in surround with a nice sub!). Strangely enough, the only connection which does suffer a delay is the optical connection between my Sky+HD box and the amp - dunno why, but it is very noticable. I couldn't comment on connections direct from the TV 'cos I've not used them, but all TVs in the past have been fine simply using the stereo output jacks.

 

[Anonymous]

Strange but i don't have sky so that won't be an issue for me. Have you calibrated your tv yet? When i get mine would it be ok if i troubled you for some of your settings as a base line for me to use?

Many thanks

 

[Anonymous]

Errm...sure. I've not used any calibration device you buy, I simply adjusted regular setting and stuff to my own personal tastes. When you get your set let me know and I'll pass on any useful info. All the best.