General 3D FAQ

What does "3D Ready" mean?

Optoma 3D Ready technology gives you the flexibility to enjoy all existing 2D formats with added support for 120Hz frame sequential 3D content ...at no extra cost!


How does it work?

What do I need for 3D?

Click here to find out what you need for:

Educational 3D
3D Home Entertainment
Professional 3D



What 3D content is available now?

Education:
There are multiple software developers creating 3D content for education, including, the following:

...with many more to follow.

Professional:
Many professional OpenGL based 3D applications natively support quad-buffered stereo, including AutoDesk’s Maya, Dassault Systemes CATIA, Landmark GeoProbe, Eon Reality and many more. Additionally, applications such as Solidworks & OsiriX, will support quad-buffered stereo using custom plug-ins. Please check with your software vendor for support information.

(NB. Most educational and professional 3D software will require a "Quad-buffered" graphics card for 3D operation, please check the minimum system requirements of your software application)

Home Entertainment:

Movies - With the official launch of Blu-ray 3D in 2010, the latest movies can now be enjoyed in Full-HD 1080p 3D. (Please ensure that any 3D title you purchase has the correct Blu-ray 3D logo on the case)

Console Games - 3D Gaming is now possible on both the Sony PS3 and the Microsoft Xbox 360

Broadcasts - Sky launched its first 3D Channel in the UK in 2010 providing Sports, Wildlife & Movies. (Only available on Sky+ HD)

NB: All of the above 3D content for home entertainment will require the 3D-XL 3D projector adapter to work with an Optoma "3D Ready" projector.

PC Games - Using Nvidia 3D-Vision and a compatible PC, almost any PC game can be played in 3D on a display that has been certified Nvidia.

There are also "High Quality Field Sequential" (HQFS) 3D DVD titles available (NB. These are only SDTV quality).


What is a "Quad-Buffered" Graphics card?

Professional & Educational software usually create 3D graphics using the "OpenGL" (Open Graphics Library) specification.

One of the cool features supported by OpenGL is Quad-buffering.

A normal graphics card has 2 buffers (one front & one back), this is fine for normal everyday 2D computing.

A Quad buffered Graphics card has 4 buffers (front left, back left, front right & back right) This allows you to simultaneously render and then display the 2 seperate video streams required for 3D viewing.

Both NVIDIA® & ATI have models that support Quad-buffering. NVIDIA® include support accross their whole Quadro® FX range, however ATI typically only include support on their high-end FirePro™ products. Please make sure you check the specifications before making a purchase.


Does the projector turn everything into 3D?

No. To use the 3D function of the projector, you will need some content that has been made in 3D.


Will it still work as a normal projector?

Yes. All of our 3D models will also function as a normal projector.


Can I just plug it into my TV set-top box / XBOX / PS3 and get 3DTV and games?

No. The 3D features of Optoma projectors can only be used with compatible 3D content. Typical applications include use with 3D educational or 3D design and modelling systems. Currently they do not support 3D TV broadcast systems, (SKY in the UK) or 3D Blu-ray, support for these applications will require the 3D-XL which is available seperately. NB. To be compatible with the 3D-XL, your 3D Ready projector must have an HDMI Input.


What format must the 3D content be?

The content must be supplied in a frame-sequential format with a refresh rate of 120Hz, for resolutions of 800x600, 1024x768 & 1280x720.

Most of models also include 3D support for SDTV signals, (480i @60Hz) for viewing “high quality field sequential” (HQFS) DVD titles – the projector will up-convert these to 120Hz in real-time to enhance your viewing experience.


I have seen other 3D systems that use two projectors, how is this different?

These systems use a special silver screen, polarising filters and polarised glasses to separate the left and right video streams.

Our DLP® link™ system only requires a single projector, no special screen and no filters, making it more flexible, cheaper, easier to set-up than a two-projector system.


Can I use the glasses from the cinema, my 3DTV or the red/blue ones?

No. Optoma uses “active shutter-glass” technology, controlled by DLP® link™ to produce 3D images.

The glasses from the cinema use “passive, polarised” technology. The Red/Blue glasses use a technology called “Anaglyph.” 3DTVs typically use Infra-red to control their active shutter-glasses.


Will the 3D glasses work over my normal glasses?

Yes.


How long do the batteries last in the glasses and can they be recharged?

Our second generation ZD201 glasses will last for approximately 70 Hours.
Watch this space for updates...


How long can I watch 3D, when should I take a break?

Optoma recommends taking a 5 min break for every hour of 3D viewing.


I have an HD67 / HD67N - can I use it for 3D PC Gaming?

Please check that your projector's carton box has the "NVIDIA 3D Vision Ready" logo in the top left hand corner.

If so, it will support 3D gaming, movies & images using the "NVIDIA 3D Vision" kit - please check the NVIDIA website for minimum system requirements.

If not, it can be upgraded to support NVIDIA 3D Vision - please contact your local customer services representative for details.



3D-XL 3D Projector Adapter FAQ

Which projectors are compatible with the 3D-XL?

Please click here for a list of all projectors that have been fully tested to be compatible with the 3D-XL.



Can I use the 3D-XL with my 120Hz TV or Monitor?

Many TVs that claim to support 120Hz cannot actually accept a 120Hz input signal, they only accept a standard 50/60Hz signal and convert the signal to 120Hz internally. These are not suitable for use with the 3D-XL.

Some PC monitors can accept a true 120Hz input signal, however they do not have the necessary DLP-Link technology to control the ZD201 Glasses supplied with the 3D-XL. To use these monitors with the 3D-XL, it will be necessay to use 3D glasses from a 3rd party that support a VESA 3D Sync signal (via the 3-Pin mini DIn connector on reverse of 3D-XL)


Why does the 3D become inverted & how do I tell if it is correct?

Each time the projector locks onto a 3D signal from the 3D-XL, the 3D sync has a 50/50 chance of being correct. This is easily remedied by changing the "3D-Sync" option in your projector's OSD menu. Some home cinema/entertainment models eg. HD67N can swap this even easier by pressing the "re-sync" button on the remote.

The latest firmware for the 3D-XL added a feature to easily tell whether the 3D sync is correct. During 3D playback, put on your glasses and close your left eye. If you can see the HDMI LED on the front panel of the 3D-XL, you need to invert your projector's 3D sync option.


Are there any Firmware upgrades availabe?

The latest firmware version & full installation instructions will be available for download soon. Please check back regularly for updates.


Does it support 1080p projectors?

The 3D-XL can output in 3 different 3D modes:

720p frame sequential - for DLP-Link 3D projectors
1080p (right frame only)
1080p (left frame only)

The two 1080p modes are for use in a dual-projector passive 3D setup. This setup will requires two identical projectors, an additional 3D-XL, an HDMI splitter, passive polarising filters & Glasses and a special "silver" non-depolarising screen.


What audio signals can pass through?

Audio Channels: 2 (stereo)
Audio format: Linear PCM
Sampling Rate: 32KHz/44.1KHz/48KHz/88KHz/96KHz
Sample Size: 24bit/20bit/16bit.

NB: If you wish to get surround sound from your source device, you will need to do it using seperate cables.

Dolby Digital 5.1 / DTS - use optical/coaxial SPDIF

Dolby TrueHD / DTS MAster - Use an HDMI splitter before the 3D-XL to send the Audio stream to your Amplifier. Ensure that your splitter can pass the EDID information from 3D-XL to the the source, so that it correctly recognises the 3D features of the HDMI 1.4a port on the 3D-XL.


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