Need some TV buying tips

After playing games like Dead Rising and Mass Effect, I'm starting to get really tired of tiny unreadable text on my current SDTV. I think I have enough money right now to invest in a small HDTV to hook my consoles up to, so I've been looking around a little. 
However, I'm not really sure what to look for. I don't know what features to look for, and what the numbers actually mean. I've been talking to a friend for a while, but I have the feeling that he really has no idea what he's talking about. I have a PS3 and 360, and I've hooked the PS3 up to my computer monitor, but it's a huge hassle to swap between that and my PC, plus my 360 is an older model without the HDMI, which is how I did it. 
 
So what should I look for, what's a decent contrast ratio, how important is 720p/1080p on a small screen, etc? Any tips? 

1920x1080 resolution is a gimmie. a good hz rate 600hz for plasma. 120hz minimum for lcd unless you like ghosting/lag. a nice contrast ratio is also a plus.

Don't listen to the last poster. You definitely don't want to play your games on 120 hz unless you want a shit load of input lag.

Contrast rates are pretty much a total joke right now, as manufacturers just put literally any number on there.  The competition says ten thousand to one?  I'll put TEN MILLION to one!  I HAVE MORE NUMBER.  Just get a good Samsung thats 1080p that has the letters LED on it somewhere.  You can't go wrong really.  Oh, if you have a bright room with windows you might wanna make sure you don't get the shiny coating.

Ok so we have 2 idiots. One saying 120hz lcd/led tvs have input lag? LOL
 
then a person saying stay away from plasmas. 
 
Do me a favor dont listen to anyone on here and go to a reliable site where people know something cause everyone that posted so far is fucktard stupid.

Not all 120hz has input lag, my toshiba 120hz doesn't lag. But my 120hz sony bravia does at the highest settings, which can be turned off.

I hear lenovo is good.

  wait, is there any difference between computer monitor refresh rate and tv refresh rate? from the sounds of it, half the people here seem to think 120hz is terrible, so would 60hz be completely unplayable? that's what my computer monitor runs at apparently, and I've played my PS3 on it, and it looked great. Keep in mind I would be going from a shitty 30-something inch SDTV to a 22ish HDTV.  I'm also on a small budget, so I'm not really looking for a top-of-the-line TV for my living room.

60hz is fine. 120hz can provide 3D support but it might not be that important for you. 
 
The Asus 23" I mentioned is below $200 and an open box one sold on NewEgg is just $120. If it's for your living room, the Asus might not be big enough for your place.

Don't pay attention to the frequency at which the monitor screen refreshes.  It's pretty much a marketing gimmick - if there is input lag,  it would come from the interpolation between frames when using the smoothing modes on 120hz TV's.  If you buy a 120hz TV just turn that mode off.   
 
http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/samsung-samsung-32-720p-led-hdtv-un32c4000-un32c4000/10140320.aspx?path=d468ed7f92c67b0b05d6135014de2f09en02

I'm planning on sitting close to the TV in my windowless room, so 22''+ would be fine. I'm still trying to decipher all the tv spec talk, so what inputs would I need, and what cables/adapters would I need for a PS3 or HDMI-less 360? I already have a HDMI cable and a DVI/HDMI adapter, so what else would I have to get? I'm looking at a cheap $200ish price range for the TV/Monitor/whatever.

" After playing games like Dead Rising and Mass Effect, I'm starting to get really tired of tiny unreadable text on my current SDTV. I think I have enough money right now to invest in a small HDTV to hook my consoles up to, so I've been looking around a little. However, I'm not really sure what to look for. I don't know what features to look for, and what the numbers actually mean. I've been talking to a friend for a while, but I have the feeling that he really has no idea what he's talking about. I have a PS3 and 360, and I've hooked the PS3 up to my computer monitor, but it's a huge hassle to swap between that and my PC, plus my 360 is an older model without the HDMI, which is how I did it.  So what should I look for, what's a decent contrast ratio, how important is 720p/1080p on a small screen, etc? Any tips?  "

• Check the inputs. Make sure the TV has enough component inputs for all your needs: cable television, Component, Composite, HDMI, whatever it is you need
• On a smaller monitor (which I think is what you were looking for) you will not notice a discernible difference in vertical resolution between 720p and 1080p, at least I can't see one. 720p is fine.
• Refresh rate isn't entirely important. If you are doing any 3-D stuff with the TV, then 120 Hz will probably be necessary, but 60 Hz will serve most purposes.
• I've heard lots of arguments between Plasma, LCD, and LED/LCD screens. In my experience, LCD will be good and will definitely suit your price range. Amazon has some great small LCD displays between $200-$300.

" I'm planning on sitting close to the TV in my windowless room, so 22''+ would be fine. I'm still trying to decipher all the tv spec talk, so what inputs would I need, and what cables/adapters would I need for a PS3 or HDMI-less 360? I already have a HDMI cable and a DVI/HDMI adapter, so what else would I have to get? I'm looking at a cheap $200ish price range for the TV/Monitor/whatever. "

" @Aerobie said:

" After playing games like Dead Rising and Mass Effect, I'm starting to get really tired of tiny unreadable text on my current SDTV. I think I have enough money right now to invest in a small HDTV to hook my consoles up to, so I've been looking around a little. However, I'm not really sure what to look for. I don't know what features to look for, and what the numbers actually mean. I've been talking to a friend for a while, but I have the feeling that he really has no idea what he's talking about. I have a PS3 and 360, and I've hooked the PS3 up to my computer monitor, but it's a huge hassle to swap between that and my PC, plus my 360 is an older model without the HDMI, which is how I did it.  So what should I look for, what's a decent contrast ratio, how important is 720p/1080p on a small screen, etc? Any tips?  "

I was in the same situation you were in a couple months ago. Here's some stuff I looked for: 
 

• Check the inputs. Make sure the TV has enough component inputs for all your needs: cable television, Component, Composite, HDMI, whatever it is you need
• On a smaller monitor (which I think is what you were looking for) you will not notice a discernible difference in vertical resolution between 720p and 1080p, at least I can't see one. 720p is fine.
• Refresh rate isn't entirely important. If you are doing any 3-D stuff with the TV, then 120 Hz will probably be necessary, but 60 Hz will serve most purposes.
• I've heard lots of arguments between Plasma, LCD, and LED/LCD screens. In my experience, LCD will be good and will definitely suit your price range. Amazon has some great small LCD displays between $200-$300.

 
@Aerobie said:

" I'm planning on sitting close to the TV in my windowless room, so 22''+ would be fine. I'm still trying to decipher all the tv spec talk, so what inputs would I need, and what cables/adapters would I need for a PS3 or HDMI-less 360? I already have a HDMI cable and a DVI/HDMI adapter, so what else would I have to get? I'm looking at a cheap $200ish price range for the TV/Monitor/whatever. "

So the three different cables you will run across are component, composite, and HDMI. Composite cables are the ones most folks are familiar with, the yellow video and the white and red audio. Component cables have 5 partitions, usually three video partitions (red, white, and green) and two audio (red and blue). This cable preceded HDMI and is used to transmit high-definition signals from your Xbox or PS3 to your monitor. Then you have the HDMI cable, which is the current industry standard for hi-def. It's a single cable that combines both audio and video signals.  So if you have an HDMI-less Xbox, I would recommend at least on component input, one composite, and one HDMI. That should do ya. "

If the room is windowless, definitely get a plasma. 42" plasmas look better and the majority of them are much cheaper than LCDs. 720p and 1080p differences are negligible if you stay with 42"(or 42" or smaller LCDs).
 
Of course, if you need something smaller, LG lcds are probably the best for games. They don't have as much judder, and the colors don't smear as much as Samsung and Sony lcds.

You will want a $100 Monster HDMI cable so the data doesn't leak.

If you don't intend to use composite, get the Asus monitor.

1080p will make a difference if you want to use 1080p sources, like a pc, pc gaming, satelite cable or high def movies. Those ppl who says 720p is okay, well I also own a 720p set and it's not that great. It's probally the only thing they own so they say well it's okay, yeah maybe if you can't afford anything better. If you can, start at least at 1080p. Only console games are 720p and they think that's good enough, but it's sort of low if you want to go beyond just console games.

" @ThePhantomnaut:  I've been looking at that deal for about an hour now, what's your opinion on getting an open box monitor from Newegg? "