Best Projector for under $1k

[steve51523]

Looking for a projector that will best fill up a 10x10 screen. i know it wont cover the bottom and that's fine. Will use for golf sim and movies.

Currently thinking GT1080HDR ($800) or EH412ST ($900).

Appreciate your advice.

[gmbtempe]

Yes, either the Crimson AV JR or JR3 would work perfect for you. The JR is a good budget option, but if you can swing it, the JR3 will give you thumbscrew fine adjustments for pitch, roll, and yaw that makes perfect positioning easy.

Thanks, some of this is more complicated than I thought. I am slightly offset from the center of the screen, about 9". I assume you want the projector centered on the screen and not on your ball, then do a horizontal offset in the software (Skytrak for me, and then either TGC or E6)?

I guess now I am worried about hitting the projector, I always thought it would just mount above my head but now thinking about the offset. The throw is at 12' +/- which is in line with the back of my mat.

Did I mess this up?

[gmbtempe]

Got projector, seems to work great though I am hardly an expert on projectors. Already see some things I want to fix with my screen. I have a white backdrop behind the screen but the way I hung it there is a gap at the top, its a huge difference having that backdrop in my opinion when you have high light (during the day in my garage), so need to adjust that.

NVIDIA control panel and laptops, well my Acer, have a issue and had to use the silly Windows software but temporary issue until I build PC around xmas (waiting on new Ryzen processors to come into stock).

The joist was 6" from center, I did not feel like correcting for this and it helped with hitting offset though I would have been fine with projector mounded over the center of screen. Everything is coming together nicely.

[steve51523]

I ended up going with eh412st and have the GTX 1650 and I don't think my picture is that great. What am I doing wrong? GungHoGolf

[myrison]

It's hard to tell if it's the attachment quality or a real life problem but what you posted looks like the focus is slightly off. The text doesn't look completely crisp so you might try adjusting the focus on the projector. If focus is not the problem, what about the image don't you like ?

[GungHoGolf]

I ended up going with eh412st and have the GTX 1650 and I don't think my picture is that great. What am I doing wrong? GungHoGolf

It's hard to diagnose projector issues via a photograph, but that doesn't look too bad, with the exception of your screen not being flat - which will prevent good focus corner-to-corner.

[steve51523]

focus is as good as I can get it, but it is nowhere near close to 1080 and I thought it could even be better with the projector I have. Is it a screen issue, projector issue, graphics card issue or a combination?

[myrison]

I think we all need more info to help. The image looks ok as you posted it. Some ideas to help us troubleshoot: send screenshots of your display settings showing resolution for the projector (on the computer), then send a photo of the display settings on the projector to see what you have selected there (ie 4:3 vs 16:9, resolution, etc). Hopefully with that we can see any obvious problems and go from there.

[Dax]

1080p is the best resolution that projector will put out. What is it about the image that you are having issues with (sorry I am on my cell phone)? The only thing that I can really see is that your focus looks ok in the centre but not at the bottom or right edge. Is your screen aligned to the projector correctly (it is tough to get it perfect, but I definitely think that the focus is out a little.

Also, have you gone into display settings to make sure the proper resolution for the projector has been selected ? Will not fill the screen as you have above, but perhaps start there and then look at some of Ron’s posting on how you might be able to use Nvidia to get things to fill your screen a little.

[steve51523]

Setup as 4:3 display on the projector. 1920 by 1080 on the computer I think.

[myrison]

1920x1080 is a 16:9 aspect ratio not a 4:3. That could be part of your issue. Adjust one or the other (either to a 4:3 resolution on the computer or set the projector to 16x9 or “auto” aspect)

[steve51523]

What size would you recommend I change it to?

[myrison]

Either change your projector settings to a 16:9 ratio (this is a traditional widescreen 1080p resolution ) or if you want a more square looking image then change to something like 1600 x 1200 in your PC settings and keep the projector on 4:3.

[Dax]

From these new images, the focus really needs to be dialed in.

[steve51523]

i cant get the focus to be any better. it is not crisp at all. i even trip to just watch tv on a Roku and the image wasn't clear so I feel like the projector isn't great. felt like I was watching tv in 720p.