电视(TVs)越来越大，但最高可达 100 英寸左右。所以对于想要体验巨幅画面的游戏玩家来说，数字投影仪(digital projectors)似乎是个不错的选择。问题是投影仪是否适合游戏。简短的回答是它们可以，但长的答案取决于一些基本的利弊。
好的游戏(Gaming)投影仪很贵
就像电视一样，投影仪的销售价格各不相同，规格和质量也各不相同。然而，电视(TVs)和投影仪之间的一个关键区别是大多数中低端投影仪不适合游戏。相比之下，即使是便宜的电视(TVs)也能提供出色的游戏体验。
拿任何一台电视机来说，同样画质的投影仪会更贵。当然，如果您从每英寸美元的角度来看，那么投影机可能会更便宜，但尺寸并不是这个等式的全部。
刷新率、(Rate)输入(Resolution)延迟(Input Latency)和分辨率
您通过眼睛感知的图像质量是许多不同因素的结果。要获得清晰、色彩丰富、反应灵敏且无模糊的图像，您需要一台规格强大的投影仪。
具体来说，它需要高原生分辨率、快速刷新率(fast refresh rate)和低输入延迟。列表中的最后一项是最容易分配的。输入(Input)延迟通常列在打印机的文档中。它需要为 50 毫秒或更短，最好在青少年中使用。一些投影仪具有独特的“游戏”模式，以牺牲图像质量为代价减少输入延迟。延迟越低，游戏的响应速度就越快。
游戏投影仪的绝对最低刷新率为 60Hz，相当于视频游戏中每秒最多 60 帧。最新的游戏机通常提供这种流畅度的游戏，因此使用仅提供 30Hz 的投影仪将是一种浪费。但是，如果您可以选择购买 120Hz(120Hz)投影仪，则值得考虑，因为游戏 PC 以及PS5和Xbox 系列(Xbox Series)游戏机都支持每秒 120 帧的游戏。
最后，我们有一个决议。原则上，这与在电视上的工作方式相同，但投影仪营销可能具有欺骗性。重要的是投影仪的原始(native )分辨率。但是，某些投影机以“1080p”或“4K”的形式销售，这仅意味着它们可以接受这些分辨率的信号。但是投影的实际图像被缩小到较低的分辨率。
因此，请确保您正在考虑使用的投影仪能够以您想要的分辨率生成图片。
投影面很关键
使用投影仪的一个独特方面是您需要考虑投影的表面。最好的解决方案是使用投影仪屏幕，但许多用户希望图像占据一堵墙。投影仪创建 100 到 150 英寸之间的图片并不少见，因此利用它是有意义的。
然而，典型的家庭墙壁不适合投影。这很可能会导致图片的视觉纹理和色彩准确性存在缺陷。此外，您的墙漆可能反射性不够，导致图像暗淡。如果你想玩投影在墙上的视频游戏，你应该考虑购买特殊的投影涂料(projection paint)，并确保有问题的墙壁光滑平整。
您的房间需要特别准备
现代投影仪越来越亮，但大多数主流单元仍需要在暗室中操作。对于考虑使用投影仪进行游戏的游戏玩家来说，有必要对您的游戏空间进行一些更改。可能需要更厚(Thicker)的窗帘或百叶窗，如果您没有足够黑暗的房间，则应将其包含在您的成本计算中。
确实存在亮度足以克服房间内一些日光的投影仪，但当然，您必须为该功能支付额外费用。
运营成本
在您必须更换之前，投影机内的灯泡的使用寿命有限。投影机运行得越亮，灯泡的寿命就越短。与标准LCD(LCD)和DLP投影仪 中的灯泡相比，在给定亮度下，LED 灯泡的使用寿命最长。
LED 灯泡在开始变暗之前可能会持续 20000 小时左右，而其他灯泡类型将在 2000 到 4000 小时之间。这些灯泡更换起来并不便宜，因此将其计入使用投影仪进行游戏的运行成本。
投影仪又热又吵
虽然现代投影仪比以往任何时候都更凉爽、更安静，但这与绝对的凉爽和安静不同。最新的游戏机非常安静，如果用高音投影仪冷却风扇发出的女妖般的尖叫来破坏它，那将是一种耻辱。
此问题的解决方案各不相同。让投影仪远离您坐的地方(far from where you’re sitting)可以大大降低噪音，选择LED投影仪或低噪音等级的投影仪也会有所帮助。您也可以简单地投资购买优质的降噪(noise-canceling)耳机。
你需要一个（声音(Sound)）声音解决方案(Sound Solution)
在声音方面，与早期的声音薄、音量低的电视扬声器相比，现代平板电视现在的扬声器要好得多。因此，与不久前条形音箱是任何家庭影院系统(home theatre system)的一部分相比，许多人不需要为他们的平板显示器购买外部扬声器。
对于投影仪，除非您要依赖耳机，否则您几乎肯定会想要购买扬声器。投影仪内置的扬声器通常不是您想要使用的任何东西，更不用说它位于嘈杂的投影仪内！
游戏投影仪示例
投影仪可以很好地用于游戏，并提供比 VR 耳机以外的任何显示器类型更大、更身临其境的图像。但是，您需要选择合适的型号。我们已经讨论了一些最重要的考虑因素，但让我们看一些具体的例子，以及为什么它们对游戏玩家很有效。
Optoma HD146X是一款DLP投影仪，具有16毫秒的快速响应时间和 3600 流明的亮度。这使得它在有一些光线的房间里使用起来很实用。它提供原生 1080p 图像，非常适合 1080p 游戏系统，但不适用于最新的游戏机。该灯的理论寿命为15000小时，而且价格合理。
Optoma UHD50X的价格要高得多，但提供真正的 4K 图像再现、极低的延迟和HDR支持。它具有 240Hz 的刷新率和超过 3000 流明的亮度。这正是您在购买专门用于游戏的投影仪时想要看到的规格表。
你想要一台用于游戏的投影仪吗？在评论中告诉(Tell)我们您是否认为这是一个好主意。
Is a Projector Good for Gaming?
TVs are getting bigger and bigger, but top out at around 100 inches. So for gamers who want to experience a huge picture, digital projectors seem like a good option. The question is whether a projector is good for gaming or not. The short answer is that they can be, but the long answer depends on a few essential pros and cons.
Good Gaming Projectors Are Expensive
Just like televisions, projectors are sold at every price point and varying levels of specifications and quality. However, one key difference between TVs and projectors is that most mid and low-end projectors aren’t suitable for gaming. In contrast, even cheap TVs offer an excellent gaming experience.
Take any TV, a projector with the same image quality will be more expensive to buy. Of course, if you look at it from a dollars-per-inch point of view, then the projector might be cheaper inch-for-inch, but the size isn’t everything in this equation.
Refresh Rate, Input Latency, and Resolution
The image quality that you perceive through your eyes is the result of many different factors. For a sharp, colorful, responsive, and blur-free image, you’ll need a projector with beefy specifications.
Specifically, it needs a high native resolution, fast refresh rate, and low input latency. The last item on the list is the easiest to dispense. Input latency is usually listed in the printer’s documentation. It needs to be 50ms or less, preferable in the teens. Some projectors have unique “game” modes that cut down on input latency at the cost of picture quality. The lower the latency, the more responsive the game will feel.
The absolute minimum refresh rate for a gaming projector is 60Hz, translating to a maximum of 60 frames per second in a video game. The latest consoles usually offer games at this level of fluidity, so it would be a waste to use a projector that only offers 30Hz. However, if you have the option to get a 120Hz projector, it’s worth considering, given that gaming PCs and both the PS5 and Xbox Series consoles support gameplay at 120 frames per second.
Finally, we have a resolution. In principle, this works the same as on a TV, but projector marketing can be deceiving. What matters is the native resolution of the projector. However, some projectors are marketed as “1080p” or “4K” when it only means they can accept a signal at those resolutions. But the actual image that’s projected is scaled down to a lower resolution.
So make sure the projector you’re considering can produce a picture at the resolution you want.
The Projection Surface Is Critical
One unique aspect of using a projector is that you need to think about the surface you’re projecting on. The best solution is to use a projector screen, but many users want an image that takes up a wall. It’s not uncommon for projectors to create pictures between 100 and 150 inches, so it makes sense to take advantage of it.
However, the typical household wall isn’t great for projection. It’s likely to cause imperfections in the visual texture and color accuracy of the picture. Also, your wall paint probably isn’t nearly reflective enough, resulting in a dim image. If you want to play video games projected on a wall, you should consider buying special projection paint and ensuring that the wall in question is smooth and flat.
Your Room Needs Special Preparation
Modern projectors are getting brighter, but most mainstream units still need to be operated in dark rooms. For gamers thinking about using a projector for gaming, it’s necessary to make some changes to your play space. Thicker curtains or blinds may be needed and should be included in your cost calculation if you don’t have a dark enough room already.
Projectors that are bright enough to overcome some daylight in the room do exist, but of course, you’ll have to pay extra for the feature.
Running Costs
The lamp inside your projector has a limited lifespan before you have to replace it. The brighter you run your projector, the shorter the lifespan of the bulb. LED bulbs have the most extended lifespan at a given brightness than bulbs in standard LCD and DLP projectors.
LED bulbs may last in the region of 20000 hours before starting to dim, while other bulb types will fall somewhere between 2000 and 4000 hours. These bulbs are not cheap to replace, so factor that into the running costs of using a projector for gaming.
Projectors Are Hot and Noisy
While modern projectors run cooler and quieter than ever, that’s not the same as being cool and quiet in absolute terms. The latest gaming consoles are whisper-quiet, and it would be a shame to spoil that with the banshee-like scream of a high-pitched projector cooling fan.
Solutions for this issue vary. Having the projector far from where you’re sitting can seriously reduce the noise, and opting for an LED projector or one with a low noise rating can also help. You may also simply invest in good noise-canceling headphones.
You’ll Need a (Sound) Sound Solution
On the topic of sound, modern flat-panel TVs have much better speakers now compared to the early days of thin-sounding, low-volume TV speakers. As a result, many people will not need to buy external speakers for their flat panel displays, compared to a time not too long ago where soundbars were part of any home theatre system.
For projectors, you’ll almost definitely want to purchase speakers unless you’re going to rely on headphones. The speaker built into the projector usually isn’t anything you’d like to use, not to mention that it’s inside a noisy projector!
Gaming Projector Examples
Projectors can be good for gaming and offer larger, more immersive images than any display type besides VR headsets. However, you need to pick a suitable model. We’ve gone over some of the most important considerations, but let’s look at a few concrete examples and why they work well for gamers.
The Optoma HD146X is a DLP projector with a snappy 16ms response time and 3600-lumen brightness. That makes it practical for use in a room with some light. It offers a native 1080p image, making it a good match for 1080p gaming systems, but not the latest consoles. The lamp has a theoretical lifespan of 15000 hours, and it’s priced well.
The Optoma UHD50X has a much higher price tag but offers true 4K image reproduction, very low lag, and HDR support. It has a 240Hz refresh rate and over 3000-lumens on tap. This is precisely the sort of specification sheet you’ll want to see when shopping for a projector specifically for gaming.
Do you want a projector for gaming? Tell us in the comments whether you think it’s a good idea or not.
