Samsung Fast LCDs and 102-inch Plasma TV First Look

Samsung came to CES 2005 with an array of new products. On the show floor, Samsung's lineup featured some of the fastest new LCDs and the world's largest plasma display.

Samsung's flat-panel LCDs became very popular with gamers because of exceptional picture quality, reasonable prices, and--most importantly--low pixel-response times. A low response time is crucial for fast-paced gaming because it minimizes the likelihood that a moving image will ghost. When ghosting occurs the user will see images of the onscreen object trail behind the original. Response times have been steadily dropping from highly unbearable to mildly irksome levels. A year ago we started seeing 16-20ms response times, providing for a much improved gaming experience. Then the 17-inch Samsung 710T arrived late last year, and the 12ms response time quickly established it as a standout LCD for gaming.

At CES, Samsung had not one, but two LCDs with 8ms response times. The TN-based Samsung 915n comes with a 700:1 contrast ratio and runs at a resolution of 1280x1024. Samsung managed to reduce the response times on the 915n by using a device it calls the "response time accelerator," or RTA. However, the RTA only improves response times for changes that are close together in the light and color range. This essentially means that large color changes, or intensity changes, continue to function at higher response times. Represenatives from Samsung informed us that these changes were comparably rare, as most changes take place within a close range. For example, in a game like Doom 3, as you pan across the room with your mouse, most pixels will be changing from one dark color to another, and these pixels will fire at an 8ms response time. However, the region where the beam of a flashlight meets darkness will suffer in performance.

Samsung also had the Samsung 174P on display. The 174P is a PVA-based display, also with an 8ms response time. This is truly a feat, as PVA displays have usually had higher response times, but in turn have better image quality than their TN counterparts.

Continuing with this series of firsts and feats, Samsung also had a 102-inch plasma display on the floor. This is currently the world's largest plasma TV, and cost estimates we heard ran in excess of $1000 per inch. Even if you managed the price tag of over $100,000, this display won't be available for at least a year. Samsung also had an 80-inch plasma that is expected to ship in May.

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