In our input lag and subjective gaming tests, the Samsung LE40C530 performed unbelievably well, lagging by only 14ms! Needless to say, this figure makes input lag completely irrelevant on this LCD TV, making it one of the best we’ve ever seen for fast, fluid gaming enjoyment.
In the past, we have attributed the large input lag typically seen on SPVA LCD TVs to response time compensation processing. The fact that this SPVA LCD TV has achieved responsiveness on par with (and marginally better than some) Plasma displays challenges this theory and suggests that other unwanted video processing may be to blame. Just for comparison, the best input lag figure we could squeeze out of the recently reviewed Samsung LE40C750 was 41ms, which made games requiring fast reflexes much less enjoyable. We’d love for manufacturers to begin commenting on the issue of input lag, because it is a serious problem on many HDTVs – but fortunately, not this one.
One other thing to note that is that the input lag here is this low even when “Game Mode” is not enabled. In fact, on the Samsung LE40C530, the “Game Mode” switch is in fact nothing more than a marketing feature. On most Samsung TVs, selecting “Game Mode” temporarily blacks the screen out as it adjusts to an alternate driving mode, but here it does nothing except for applying a separate custom picture mode with heightened colour temperature and colour brightness. We left if off and just used our calibrated “Movie” mode for playing games (the 14ms measurement was in fact taken in this mode).
This excellent state of affairs means that the Samsung LE40C530 is sure to be a hit with gamers looking for a smaller screen
