Why do some high refresh monitors have blurry image and others are crispy?

[Hi P]

I assumed that the higher refresh rate, the crispier and smoother the image, but I was wrong.

 

I was watching a video that was comparing two monitors and he showed that issue on one of them.

 

Without looking for reviews, how do you know if a high refresh monitor has (or not) crispy image?

 

Does the CPU and GPU play a part on this? (assuming that perfomance isn't an issue, i.e easily go above the refresh rate in terms of FPS)

[goatedpenguin]

2 minutes ago, Hi P said:

I assumed that the higher refresh rate, the crispier and smoother the image, but I was wrong.

 

I was watching a video that was comparing two monitors and he showed that issue on one of them.

 

Without looking for reviews, how do you know if a high refresh monitor has (or not) crispy image?

 

Does the CPU and GPU play a part on this? (assuming that perfomance isn't an issue, i.e easily go above the refresh rate in terms of FPS)

that is not true I have a a 240hz monitor that does not cause any blurriness I have the 27gn750-b

[Shimejii]

Buying the best monitor can be an ABSOLUTE nightmare because of all the marketing gimicks, crap and such. 

 

If you want to see what to buy, i would suggest watching Hardware unboxed/Monitors unboxed, or Optimum tech. They deep dive into what works  and what doesnt for these monitors and such. 

 

Yes GPUS can play a role if you need to use Gysnc or Freesync, some monitors do not play well with AMD cards, so you have to be mindful of what you use. 

[goatedpenguin]

it may be cuz of motion blur which is turned on through the game video settings

[xg32]

15 minutes ago, Hi P said:

I assumed that the higher refresh rate, the crispier and smoother the image, but I was wrong.

 

I was watching a video that was comparing two monitors and he showed that issue on one of them.

 

Without looking for reviews, how do you know if a high refresh monitor has (or not) crispy image?

 

Does the CPU and GPU play a part on this? (assuming that perfomance isn't an issue, i.e easily go above the refresh rate in terms of FPS)

we don't know unless we watch reviews or have the monitor, some of it is related to nvidia/amd on certain monitors (the 3423DW looks worse on nvidia vs amd without adjustments), then windows cleartype with BGR, and most monitors have no problems at all. HUB has a list of the best monitors on a short list for certain specs and it's very useful for consumers imho

 

higher refresh leading to blurry text is usually reverse ghosting (when the monitor goes too fast), it's usually those mode used to achieve 1ms response time marketing 

 

 

[goatedpenguin]

it could be the gpu driver issues sometimes

[Hi P]

@swabro@Shimejii@xg32 So do you guys see the UFO test super crispy?

https://www.testufo.com/

 

 

[BuzzingBee]

7 minutes ago, Hi P said:

I assumed that the higher refresh rate, the crispier and smoother the image, but I was wrong.

 

I was watching a video that was comparing two monitors and he showed that issue on one of them.

 

Without looking for reviews, how do you know if a high refresh monitor has (or not) crispy image?

 

Does the CPU and GPU play a part on this? (assuming that perfomance isn't an issue, i.e easily go above the refresh rate in terms of FPS)

It really depends on monitor response time.

 

"1ms" is a lie and I always ignore their advertisements. I only stick to trusted reviewers.

 

Overall IPS and TN have decent response time so there's a bit of blur, OLED has very fast response time that would look crisp, and on the opposite end VA is slow so everything look like motion blur turned on. To answer your question without looking at reviews, not getting VA is probably the best answer (some exceptions like Samsung G7 has fast VA response time, I wish this would become the new norm). Unfortunately there can be good IPS and bad IPS, that's when we need to look at reviews to see their response time. 

 

Finally it depends on motion overdrive settings and the relationship with refresh rate. After seeing multiple reviews 'default' is usually the safe option and can be adjusted faster, but too fast can lead to overshoot (like inverted motion blur).

[xg32]

30 makes me dizzy, 60 a bit blurry, 120 is completely clear,

 

also in response to the refresh rate, i use a fps limiter (sometimes 2), although i've heard about CS:GO players using 2x the monitor refresh rate, but i'm not an expert on that.

[Shimejii]

13 minutes ago, Hi P said:

@swabro@Shimejii@xg32 So do you guys see the UFO test super crispy?

https://www.testufo.com/

 

 

144 hz mode for my aging monitor is quite smooth and nice. But this monitor is on its last legs sadly. Ive had it for nearly 7 years now, the ACER XB270HU and its showing that its been having a slow death for a while. Started last year whenever i turned off the computer it would freak out when powered on for 5 minutes, then 10 minutes, then 20 minutes long of glitching. 

 

I was waiting to see until i got a new GPU what to buy, whether that would be a 4k 144hz IPS or OLED panel, but it doesnt look like thats gonna happen without a steep price.

[Hi P]

10 minutes ago, BuzzingBee said:

It really depends on monitor response time.

Is my monitor bad? I think it is, because I don't see the UFO test as crispy: Asus VG27AQ
 

9 minutes ago, xg32 said:

30 makes me dizzy, 60 a bit blurry, 120 is completely clear

Mine looks like it has a ghost

[BuzzingBee]

1 hour ago, Hi P said:

Is my monitor bad? I think it is, because I don't see the UFO test as crispy: Asus VG27AQ
 

Mine looks like it has a ghost

Did you try playing with overdrive setting?

[Hi P]

10 minutes ago, BuzzingBee said:

Did you try playing with overdrive setting?

I don't know what that is, overclocking? Yes I've tried

[BuzzingBee]

5 minutes ago, Hi P said:

I don't know what that is, overclocking? Yes I've tried

Not that as I believe that increases your max refresh rate. I briefly check the manual for you, should be called Trace Free under Image settings. Try changing to 60 or 80.

[Hi P]

17 minutes ago, BuzzingBee said:

Not that as I believe that increases your max refresh rate. I briefly check the manual for you, should be called Trace Free under Image settings. Try changing to 60 or 80.

I guess nothing can be done hehe, because it allows me to use either Trace Free or ELMB, and out of those two ELMB looks a lot better (which is the one I use by default)

[BuzzingBee]

13 minutes ago, Hi P said:

I guess nothing can be done hehe, because it allows me to use either Trace Free or ELMB, and out of those two ELMB looks a lot better (which is the one I use by default)

Yeah you probably reached dead end. To me CRT above 60hz and OLED with BFI 120hz look crisp. Haven't tried IPS with backlight strobing/ELMB yet, but I don't mind a bit of blur as long there's VRR to eliminate stuttering and tearing. 

[Doobeedoo]

Aside wrong marketing and you need to check reviews, not every LCD is made the same. They're simply too slow vs other tech and varry a lot.

[Stahlmann]

It's simply the pixel response time that isn't fast enough to keep up with the refresh rate. You can have a 1000Hz monitor. If the response times are slow then it's gonna be a blurry mess.

 

OLED's true sub-1ms response times are the reason why a 120Hz OLED can look better than a 240Hz LCD.

[Hi P]

@Doobeedoo@StahlmannSo if I ever upgrade, I should look for reviews on 1ms monitors, right? I'd like to have a pixel perfect / crusty image QD-OLED

[Doobeedoo]

5 minutes ago, Hi P said:

@Doobeedoo@StahlmannSo if I ever upgrade, I should look for reviews on 1ms monitors, right? I'd like to have a pixel perfect / crusty image QD-OLED

I mean as far as LCD don't bother looking at that, but just review in general and as for QD OLED matures yeah it will be the go to for sure.

[BuzzingBee]

4 hours ago, Hi P said:

@Doobeedoo@StahlmannSo if I ever upgrade, I should look for reviews on 1ms monitors, right? I'd like to have a pixel perfect / crusty image QD-OLED

If you only want true 1ms monitors look for only OLED/QD-OLED monitors.

But be warned there is a tradeoff: you'll have worse text clarity due to the way subpixels are layered. If you're planning to upgrade for only gaming and media consumption then that's fine. 

[Stahlmann]

14 hours ago, Hi P said:

@Doobeedoo@StahlmannSo if I ever upgrade, I should look for reviews on 1ms monitors, right? I'd like to have a pixel perfect / crusty image QD-OLED

No, LCDs often market 1ms but they're lying. In truth their response times are actually 4-6 ms for the best LCD monitors. An LCD will never be as good as OLED, that's physically impossible. LCD's have crystals that have to turn around to block or let light through. OLED pixels are simply small LEDs that have to turn on or off.

[xg32]

19 hours ago, Hi P said:

.

LCD's will never be 1ms. you'll have to decide whats the most important to you in a montor and decide what compromises you are willing to make.

 

 The QD-OLED is only available in 21:9, i would not use a console with it, then theres the pixel layout, then there's low peak brightness, glossy finish so you can't really use it in a bright room. The room it's currently in for me is small, dim, and the consoles are connected to something else. Everything else is about perfect, but you have to pick and choose what you are willing to give up when picking a monitor.

[ewitte]

TN may have fast response but I've yet to find one that looks decent although I'm a PQ snob currently on a 48in OLED.

 

On 9/16/2022 at 7:55 AM, xg32 said:

 The QD-OLED is only available in 21:9, 

16:9 QD-OLED is available but only available in 55 and 65 inches.

[Tan3l6]

3 minutes ago, ewitte said:

TN may have fast response but I've yet to find one that looks decent although I'm a PQ snob currently on a 48in OLED.

I think actually these times many IPS contest that. 

Best gaming monitors by Rtings are either IPS or VA. That means response times are considered I think.

https://www.rtings.com/monitor/reviews/best/by-usage/gaming