Ok, cool, now that you’ve got all your gaming needs taken care of, it’s time to shop for a television set to complete the experience, but before you buy yourself that new TV, lets start off by taking a look at the system you will be using it with.

The Nintendo Wii will only output at a resolution of 480p, so pretty much any new television will do. But in order to get that 480p, you will need to purchase a component cable, as the composite cables won’t do.

The Xbox 360 and PS3 have the ability to output of 1080p through component and HDMI cables. The added benefit of HD-DVD (add-on for the 360) and Blu-ray (built into the PS3) make the purchase of a 1080p set a no brainer.

Alright, now that we have got that out of the way, we can start looking at some TV’s. In terms of types, we will be focusing on two brand names (available in both LCD and Plasma) that will give you some of the best gaming graphics available without running your wallet dry.

Sharp Aquos: One of the better lines of televisions available on the market, it will beautifully showcase video game graphic. The 1080p LCDs offer very high contrast ratios. The Aquos 1080p variety will run you between $1,200 to $2,500 for 40” and above, with the 720p LCDs available for between $700 to $1,200.

Comparable TVs with higher price tags: LG, Sony

Vizio: We won’t go into the 1080p vs. 720p gang battle again when it comes to this manufacturer, but the popular brand available in the orange box is rather complaint free. What you need to remember is, even though Vizio is a lower end brand, and possibly more prone to being faulty at times, what sets the Vizio above the rest is their amazing picture quality and untouchable price point.

Comparable TVs: Olevia

In closing, TVs are all about preference and room setup, so make sure to check out the sets in-store before you purchase. Do ask about their service plans, but avoid the high priced accessories in-store, and opt to purchase them at Monoprice.com instead.

The right cables are the essential last step to ensuring the best picture quality, but there is no reason to buy them at insanely marked up department store prices.

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