Why do people buy TN panels?

Don
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I'm actually interested in the answer to this. I don't understand what the benefit of a TN panel over an IPS panel is.
I mean, you can get IPS screens at 22" for around the £110 mark but people spend more on (what I assumed to be) inferior technology TN screens. Why?

What do TN screens have that IPS doesn't? Is it purely down to the response time?
 
Higher refresh rates (120Hz/144Hz f.ex), lower input lag.

They are superior for gaming but lack in colour reproduction and viewing angles.

Panel to panel TN is cheaper than IPS, price difference is likely associated with other 'features' that most gaming orientated monitors have.
 
While not so true today awhile back non-TN panels that didn't produce significant ghosting issues when used for gaming were few and far between.

I have 2 panels on my desk because I notice a night and day like difference in response/fluidity with 120Hz over 60Hz even something like Eve Online theres a massive difference between the feel of 60Hz VSync and 120Hz VSync, but theres no way I'd do any extended desktop stuff on the average TN.
 
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Higher refresh rates (120Hz/144Hz f.ex), lower input lag.

They are superior for gaming but lack in colour reproduction and viewing angles.

Panel to panel TN is cheaper than IPS, price difference is likely associated with other 'features' that most gaming orientated monitors have.

The input lag isn't because of IPS, it's because IPS panels are usually used in monitors with multiple inputs and outputs.

If you have an IPS monitor with a single input (like a DVI-D) then the input lag isn't a factor.

The primary advantage is simply the higher refresh rate of them.

TN have lots of things IPS miss, and some of the above are a few of them!


Lots is quite an exaggeration.
 
Interesting.
I'm about to replace my 3 TN panels with some IPS ones (for the second time, don't ask) and just wondered.
 
The input lag isn't because of IPS, it's because IPS panels are usually used in monitors with multiple inputs and outputs.

If you have an IPS monitor with a single input (like a DVI-D) then the input lag isn't a factor. .

I think he said input lag but meant 'overall latency.' While single-input IPS monitors (especially those without scalers and OSDs) may indeed have low-ish input lag, they can still have higher overall latency than quality TN screens due to slower pixel response time.

Pixel response time, it should be noted, is slower on certain IPS technologies than it is on others. For instance, H-IPS panels are generally better in the pixel response time department than the older S-IPS panels.

Another complicating factor is that some IPS screens use the so-called overdrive technology, which can speed up the screen's pixel response times but can at the same time increase input lag (and, incidentally, exacerbate ghosting).

And then, as you rightly point out, input lag can be affected by factors unrelated to the panel, such as the number of monitor inputs.

In other words, it's necessary to think in terms of overall latency, as a combination of input lag, pixel response time, refresh rate and other factors
 
Higher refresh rates (120Hz/144Hz f.ex), lower input lag.

They are superior for gaming but lack in colour reproduction and viewing angles.

Panel to panel TN is cheaper than IPS, price difference is likely associated with other 'features' that most gaming orientated monitors have.

Pretty much this.
 
I've always been fairly vocal in my distaste towards TN Panels, however, since I've got my BenQ (and calibrated it) i've not switched the 27" Hazro on once for gaming.
 
TN have lots of things IPS miss, and some of the above are a few of them!

Not really no... The above are the only things that TN have over IPS!

Response time and refresh rate and no IPS white glow.

Everything else on IPS is better than TN
.
 
I think he said input lag but meant 'overall latency.' While single-input IPS monitors (especially those without scalers and OSDs) may indeed have low-ish input lag, they can still have higher overall latency than quality TN screens due to slower pixel response time.

Pixel response time, it should be noted, is slower on certain IPS technologies than it is on others. For instance, H-IPS panels are generally better in the pixel response time department than the older S-IPS panels.

Another complicating factor is that some IPS screens use the so-called overdrive technology, which can speed up the screen's pixel response times but can at the same time increase input lag (and, incidentally, exacerbate ghosting).

And then, as you rightly point out, input lag can be affected by factors unrelated to the panel, such as the number of monitor inputs.

In other words, it's necessary to think in terms of overall latency, as a combination of input lag, pixel response time, refresh rate and other factors

TN uses overdrive as well. TBH some modern IPS screens have input lag which overall is basically the same as the fast TN panels and in some cases better. The only MAJOR advantage of TN panels is that they are currently available at 120hz.
I wish they would hurry up and release 120hz IPS screens because clearly it is possible they are just being lazy.
 
I think he said input lag but meant 'overall latency.' While single-input IPS monitors (especially those without scalers and OSDs) may indeed have low-ish input lag, they can still have higher overall latency than quality TN screens due to slower pixel response time.

Pixel response time, it should be noted, is slower on certain IPS technologies than it is on others. For instance, H-IPS panels are generally better in the pixel response time department than the older S-IPS panels.

Another complicating factor is that some IPS screens use the so-called overdrive technology, which can speed up the screen's pixel response times but can at the same time increase input lag (and, incidentally, exacerbate ghosting).

And then, as you rightly point out, input lag can be affected by factors unrelated to the panel, such as the number of monitor inputs.

In other words, it's necessary to think in terms of overall latency, as a combination of input lag, pixel response time, refresh rate and other factors

Yeah most people including myself when mentioning input latency are referring to overall latency. (I tend to use input latency as I'm thinking about the delay beween me pressing a button/moving mouse and the result of that input action actually happening on screen).
 
Modern overdrive algorithms actually introduce very little input lag. This is just as will given it is used more often than not. In some cases (some Samsung models, for example) the input lag (signal delay) is reduced alongside an increase in pixel responsiveness when the 'Response Time' setting is set to a faster setting. It's something that is done very well on some monitors, badly on others - there are TN and IPS examples for both.

One frequent criticism I get from users who have purchased or have used IPS models, particularly larger ones, is that they dislike 'IPS glow'. This is understandable and although it doesn't bother some people others find it abhorrent. Others find even the best overdriven IPS models too slow when it comes to pixel responsiveness and in that regard a decent 60Hz TN panel can offer an advantage. Not necessarily a huge one but enough to sway some users. Overall, though, the main advantage of TN remains the support for 120Hz+ refresh rates.
 
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ANY MANUFACTURERS READING - Please release the following.

24" 1920 x 1200
10 bit AH-IPS Screen
1000:1 Static contrast
TW Polariser
120hz
Low input lag
£500

Come on you know it is possible and it will sell loads - Please do this.
 
PCM2: you just taught me something I didn't know. Thanks!

Rroff: yes I've noticed that several people refer to 'input lag' or 'input latency' in the same way as you. But this is confusing because input lag is technically the delay between your GPU rendering an image and it being received and processed by the screen. The next step is the actual displaying of that processed image by the pixels.
(at least, this is how I understand it).
 
If you're adventurous you might want to look up 120hz(dot)net or google Overlord Computers in the US.

Both have 'overclocked' IPS screens for sale (tho they may be sold out at the mo - my Yamasaki Catleap came in one of the last batches available to buy recently). They have a single DL-DVI and no OSD or scaler, gtg is approx. 6ms I believe.

Have had it at 116hz with no issues so far, still trying for the magic 120 ;)
 
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