Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Using a Wii on a 75" screen?

by bkchurch Mar 30, 2007 1:38PM PDT

Ok, here's the skinny. I'm considering buying a high-def projector instead of an HDTV to use with my PS3, 360, and Wii. Problem is I'm not sure how big the IR field the Wii's IR thing emits is. Will it work well if I use it with a 75" projected display or am I gonna run out of pointing room half way across the screen?

Discussion is locked

8 Posts
- Collapse + Expand Details
- Collapse -
Not sure about the controls, but.
by bloodyR Mar 30, 2007 2:33PM PDT

The Wii is going to look like crap on a 75" screen. I've played the Wii on my friend's 60" DLP, and it looks absolutely horrible. Low res graphics weren't meant to be blown up that big.

- Collapse -
Also just checked into it
by bkchurch Mar 31, 2007 8:24AM PDT

Apparently the projector I'm getting does a great job with 480i/p. It's not a matter of the size of the image, it's a matter of scaling the pixels to fit the native res of the projector. 720p has 4x the pixels of 480p so the projector has to fill that space, some do it better than others and apparently this one performs quite well.

- Collapse -
I do believe
by jackson dougless Mar 31, 2007 12:26AM PDT

That Nintendo sells IR range extender accessories for the Wii. So you could potentially set one of these up a few feet away from the Wii to help catch IR signals going in that direction, and other in the opposite direction.

I'll also say, that if you're going to hook a Wii up to something like that, be sure to use component cables. Don't think those come with the Wii, so you'll have to buy them separately. I forget if the Wii can do 1080p or even 1080i, but it should at least be able to do 720p, which will look worlds better than the 480p that the standard composite cables can handle, on a display that size. The same goes for your other two consoles. You want to be sure to use component cables, and 1080i or 1080p. Or you could use the HDMI option for the PS3, and get the component to HDMI adapter whenever Microsoft releases it for the 360.

- Collapse -
Actually
by bkchurch Mar 31, 2007 1:52AM PDT

The Wii only supports 480p, I don't think the image will be that terrible since I think you can change the res on front projectors so it doesn't have to try to turn 640x480 into 1280x720, could be wrong on that though. I did intend to use HDMI with my PS3 and 360 though, and to get 480p with the Wii I'll obviously have to go with component. Thanks for the help I'll look into that IR range extender.

- Collapse -
Not so sure
by jackson dougless Mar 31, 2007 2:49AM PDT

Can't find anything definitive, but everything points to the Wii being able to do 720p, and a possible firmware update for 1080 resolutions.

Also, composite cables will do 480p just fine, that's basically the baseline "standard definition" TV resolution. Technically it'd be 480i if using an actual TV, since standard def TVs are interlaced. S-Video will go a bit higher, somewhere in the range of 576i if memory serves, though don't quote me on the actual number. Component cables will take you the rest of the way up to 1080p, including a stop off at 720p.

- Collapse -
Sorry to tell you dude but
by bkchurch Mar 31, 2007 7:36AM PDT

Composite and S-Video will only carry 480i (S-Video might do 576i I'm not sure, I assume you're in the UK because nothing in the US supports 576i or p). Component will carry 480i/p, 720p, and 1080i (technically it can carry 1080p but very very few TV's accept 1080p through anything other than HDMI or DVI). HDMI will carry any signal. And I'm positive the Wii will not do 480p, Nintendo has said all along that the Wii cannot output high-def and I have heard from numerous sources that the highest it goes is 480p.

- Collapse -
While getting off topic
by jackson dougless Mar 31, 2007 8:36AM PDT

Composite taps out at around 480p, assuming you have it connected to a progressive scan display. It could probably do more if you implemented some compression system at both ends.

S-Video splits the video signal in two, allowing it to achieve higher resolutions. While you're quite correct, nothing outputs anything around 576i in the US, that's the standard PAL resolution.

Component, splitting video into three channels, has even more bandwidth. All the way up to 1080p.

It's also a matter of how the video signal is split, but in any case, it'd probably be best to get the component cables in case Nintendo does offer a firmware update that adds 720 or 1080 resolutions. Even at 480, it's going to look better than 480 with composite or svideo.

- Collapse -
O I don't mind getting off topic
by bkchurch Mar 31, 2007 12:28PM PDT

I think I found out what I needed to know and I always like a good debate anyway. Honestly though go try to run a 480p signal through composite or S-Video and I guarantee you it will not work, I've tried on a 720p native (with 480i/p support) LCD TV and got nothing. You're right that component can go to 1080p but because of HDCP hardly any TV's (and no new TV's) will support 1080p through it. And of course good old HDMI will handle anything, anytime, anywhere (even if it's sound quality is far outclassed by optical and digital coax).

Don't count on a firmware update to the Wii that adds 720 or 1080 support either, not only do I not think the Wii could handle those resolutions without taking a serious frame rate hit but Nintendo has been quite adamant about how they don't see the point of implementing HD since not enough people have HDTV's and they're really stressing the gameplay not graphics mantra.

Back to Video Games & Consoles forum

CNET Forums

Operating Systems
Software
Electronics & Gadgets
Hardware
Tablets & Mobile Devices
General Help
Brand Forums
Roadshow Autos
Off Topic

Other Forums

Forum Info