Upgrade to 120hz worth £100+

Lighters · 2 Nov 2009 at 14:48

I currently have Viewsonic VX2260wm 22" Widescreen LCD Monitor [VX2260WM]
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MO-071-VS&groupid=17&catid=949&subcat=

I was thinking of upgrading to ViewSonic VX2268wm 22" 120Hz 3D Widescreen LCD Monitor [VX2268wm]
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MO-075-VS&groupid=17&catid=949&subcat=

Or another 120hz monitor!

I would consider myself a semi-pro gamer who needs the best in every aspect so was thinking if having 120/60hz would give me any kind of noticable advantage especially on reaction times?

Is it worth £100 after comparing stats?

bobert50 · 2 Nov 2009 at 16:08

Lighters said:
Or another 120hz monitor!

I would consider myself a "pro" gamer

I'd say definitely worth it then if this "pro gaming" is anything FPS.

I'm hearing the 120hz are comparable to crt's for responsiveness/lack of tearing even if they still do have a bit of input lag and not "quite" as smooth, while normal 60hz ones aint even in the same league.

Rambo2683 · 2 Nov 2009 at 16:12

Quite simply, yes.
I don't consider you a pro gamer at all for not knowing this already

Get it!

Dinkas · 2 Nov 2009 at 18:18

Your upgrade is also a bit of a downgrade as you'll be dropping from 1920x1080 to 1680x1050, a perfectly acceptable resolution for 22" gaming, but not so good if you watch 1080p video.

There are definitely full HD 120Hz monitors coming, not sure when though.

binaryknight · 2 Nov 2009 at 18:25

i thought pr0 gamers still used crts

bobert50 · 2 Nov 2009 at 18:37

Dinkas said:
Your upgrade is also a bit of a downgrade as you'll be dropping from 1920x1080 to 1680x1050, a perfectly acceptable resolution for 22" gaming, but not so good if you watch 1080p video.

There are definitely full HD 120Hz monitors coming, not sure when though.

I thought there was a problem with 1920x1200 @ 120hz due to the bandwidth required? no idea how accurate it was...

Rambo2683 · 2 Nov 2009 at 21:04

binaryknight said:
i thought pr0 gamers still used crts

They're still superior IMO

I have the 120hz LCD now because the screen size is so much nicer than my old 19" CRT. Couldn't find the fabled Sony FW900 anywhere.
I was initially disappointed by the screen as it's just not as fast as a CRT, however I compromised because it was better in all the other ways than my CRT.

Definetely if he is coming from a 60hz panel, he will find it leagues better.

Lighters · 2 Nov 2009 at 21:15

thanks for replies, is there any eta as to when newer 120hz monitors are coming as i would ideally prefer 1080 although not that important.

Samsung or viewsonic?

I play cod4 for [R]eason-gaming competing in prize funded online/lan tournaments so like you said every little helps i was just wondering if theres actually any noticable difference as i have rarely experienced 120hz as all LAN turn up and play events use LCD's with 60/75hz and my last crt i had was like 5 years ago and i knew very little about refresh rates/hz etc

Also cod4 not being like quake/css such as being more aim/reaction dependant

EDIT - After doing some reading it turns out i should definately get a 120hz monitor as it will big a noticable difference - night/day even, however i also read a little bit into the viewsonic only doing 120hz on native res is this true or is there a way to fix it? need to know as i may have an offer on one

Dinkas · 3 Nov 2009 at 09:06

bobert50 said:
I thought there was a problem with 1920x1200 @ 120hz due to the bandwidth required? no idea how accurate it was...

It's the same for the 1680x1050 120Hz screens too afaik. The monitor probably comes with a Dual-Link DVI cable (anyone confirm this?). I think that means your VGA card must have 2 DVI's to overcome this limitation.

From OcUK's product blurb: "DVI-D Dual Link interface allows you to connect directly from your computer".

Rambo2683 · 3 Nov 2009 at 09:35

Dinkas said:
It's the same for the 1680x1050 120Hz screens too afaik. The monitor probably comes with a Dual-Link DVI cable (anyone confirm this?). I think that means your VGA card must have 2 DVI's to overcome this limitation.

Not 100% sure what you mean here, but the monitor comes with 1 cable that I plug into the back of my PC just like any other monitor I've ever used. Not sure what dual link is but there's nothing to worry about for the end user.

Regarding the refresh rate only allowed at native res on the Viewsonic. I'm pretty sure there is a way to enable 120hz on all resolutions, people have definitely commented on it working somehow in other forums I've read.
I haven't tried for myself as I just run everything in native as it looks infinitely better.

TAC4U · 3 Nov 2009 at 10:43

The biggest problem with 120Hz monitors is that they are currently limited in resolution and are all based on TN panels. I'd much rather have a better quality panel and resolution. Certainly I wouldn't "upgrade" from your current monitor. Leave the technology to mature for a bit.

Dinkas · 3 Nov 2009 at 10:50

Rambo2683 said:
Not 100% sure what you mean here, but the monitor comes with 1 cable that I plug into the back of my PC just like any other monitor I've ever used. Not sure what dual link is but there's nothing to worry about for the end user.

My knowledge of Dual-Link DVI isn't great, so I was speculating it needed 2 DVI's on the VGA card, but it seems this is not the case. My bad

The cable that comes with these monitors will be a Dual-Link cable though. It's worth knowing this just in case you have to buy a new cable as trying to use the DVI cable that came with your old 60Hz panel might give undesired results

Lighters · 3 Nov 2009 at 14:04

thanks for bit more added advice but it doesnt cost much more to upgrade and its a benefitting factor in gaming so im sold

still like to hear more on viewsonic/samsung however

Rambo2683 · 3 Nov 2009 at 15:45

From what I read the Viewsonic edged it, which is why I went for it when I was doing my homework a few months ago.
I forget the terminology as I ain't very savvy on LCDs, but from what I remember it was slightly faster, which was good enough for me, lol.
I'm very happy with it.

pig_dog · 3 Nov 2009 at 18:02

Lighters said:
thanks for bit more added advice but it doesnt cost much more to upgrade and its a benefitting factor in gaming so im sold

still like to hear more on viewsonic/samsung however

Have a look at the link below and look at the individual reviews of each on the same site.

http://www.digitalversus.com/duels.php?ty=6&ma1=36&mo1=458&p1=4495&ma2=41&ph=1

From that comparison the Samsung seems to have slightly lower input lag which is what matters to you as a gamer. However if you look in the reviews the Viewsonic seems a tiny bit more responsive.

I'd say just go for which one you prefer the looks of or can find cheaper.

3t3P · 3 Nov 2009 at 19:05

I thought the samsung was meant to be the best...

Lighters · 3 Nov 2009 at 19:51

most things i have read lead me to believe the viewsonic is a tiny bit better

bobert50 · 4 Nov 2009 at 10:32

I've been led to believe the viewsonic one has marginally less input lag?

Might be bull though

who knows.

xGaffner · 4 Nov 2009 at 12:50

Yes it's definitely worth spending £100 extra, especially if you are a "pro gamer" as you say. I've been gaming on CRT's for years and 60hz on and LCD is just unplayable for me.

Lighters · 4 Nov 2009 at 13:44

xGaffner said:
Yes it's definitely worth spending £100 extra, especially if you are a "pro gamer" as you say. I've been gaming on CRT's for years and 60hz on and LCD is just unplayable for me.

ye my team mate says the same when he goes to lan lol, he has a fit saying he can see the screen actually refresh lol

even better news is i can find them for sub £215! viewsonic 1 that is