# Big Screen Gaming - The Threat of Burn! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 26, 2005, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-screen-gaming-the-threat-of-burn/318739 "2005-08-26T15:49:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-screen-gaming-the-threat-of-burn/318739/1 "2005-08-26T15:49:01Z")
Duh Duh Daaaaaaaah Duh! Is there any danger that big screen will burn through now like they once did the ithe 80’s, when you play games on them? ---
**Author:** ![hendy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3bc359/32.png) [@hendy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hendy)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-screen-gaming-the-threat-of-burn/318739/2 "2005-08-26T16:12:30Z")
I have been gaming on a big screen for years now, and it hasn’t been a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-screen-gaming-the-threat-of-burn/318739/3 "2005-08-26T16:54:32Z")
Depends on the TV. On my plasma you bet. Just an hour or two of gaming on there produces afterimages on the screen that persist for a bit. Needless to say I took the video game off and the afterimages disappeared in short order…first time I saw that though I freaked. I have no doubt if I continued there could be permanent images left on the screen and the TV is far too valuable to risk that way. Sucks though. I do not know if DLP’s have this problem. Supposedly the older type three-gun projectors still do. LCD I also have no clue but suspect it is less a problem if a problem at all. Standard CRTs are fine as always. In short, I’d check with the manufacturer of the television to be certain. ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-screen-gaming-the-threat-of-burn/318739/4 "2005-08-26T17:00:12Z")
It depends a lot on the type of game. If the game has a fixed background, or has the scores constantly displayed in the same place on the screen, there is much more likelihood of burn-in than if the images are constantly changing. ---
**Author:** ![Emerald\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Emerald\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emerald_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-screen-gaming-the-threat-of-burn/318739/5 "2005-08-26T17:04:06Z")
Which technology? Plasma screens can be in danger of burn in, LCD’s and DLPs are not affected, and most modern CRT screens should not be affected but some can be, check with the manufacturer. That’s the simplified version anyway, you can read more about plasma and plasma vs. LCD in places like [here](http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6463_7-5023901-3.html) and [here](http://www.plasmatvbuyingguide.com/plasmatv/plasmatv-burnin.html) . You can read more general info at [how stuff works](http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/home-theater-channel.htm) as well. Even among CRT’s and plasma displays not all are created equal with regards to burn-in, so it helps to check review sites as well. ---
**Author:** ![Saranga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Saranga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saranga)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2005, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-screen-gaming-the-threat-of-burn/318739/6 "2005-08-27T22:20:48Z")
To say that CRTs are not affected by burn-in is a major mistake. The OP specifically refers to big screens, the most common type being a rear-projection television. CRT based rear-projection sets are the **most** susceptible to burn-in of all TV types. The 8-12" CRT inside is run extremely bright because the light gets diffused over the 40"+ screen. Add in the overly high factory brightness settings, and the nearly 100% amplitudes put out by gaming consoles, and you have a quick recipe for burn-in. That said, if you turn the brightness down and don’t leave the game on pause for 3 hours, you really shouldn’t have anything to worry about. And as said before, DLP and LCD based TVs have no risk of burn-in.