PHOTOS: 60Hz vs 120Hz vs LightBoost (motion blur)

Mark Rejhon · 3 Jun 2013 at 20:08

From Blur Busters Blog article: PHOTOS: 60Hz vs 120Hz vs LightBoost

Standard 60 Hz LCD

Standard 120 Hz LCD : 50% less motion blur

120 Hz LightBoost : ~90% less motion blur

For getting LightBoost:
-- Supported monitors: Most new 120Hz or 144Hz monitors, including BENQ XL2411T, BENQ XL2420T, BENQ XL2720T, ASUS VG278H, ASUS VG278HE, ASUS VG248QE, ACER HN274Hbmiid, AOC g2460Pqu.
-- Instructions: At LightBoost HOWTO
-- Other Info: There's also TFTCentral.co.uk: Motion Blur Reduction Backlights Including LightBoost. Also google "lightboost", it's now very popular for CRT motion quality on LCD, for the perfect zero motion blur on LCD (assuming you can handle 120fps@120Hz necessary). You don't need 3D, as LightBoost also benefits 2D.

Yaka · 3 Jun 2013 at 20:45

hmm how well do peeps who suffer from migraines take to lightboost?

tang0 · 3 Jun 2013 at 22:19

Is anyone hacking it to make it work on AMD cards?

Mark Rejhon · 5 Jun 2013 at 19:51

Yaka said:
hmm how well do peeps who suffer from migraines take to lightboost?

Person-dependant.
If you liked CRT's, LightBoost is not a problem. (Roughly equivalent to a 100Hz or 120Hz CRT)
If you hated CRT's, LightBoost can be a problem.

Some people get migraines simply by looking at LCD's that are too bright, or from motion blur (people who get headaches from motion blur, get less headaches with LightBoost). Other people get migraines from flicker (those people tell me they get more headaches). Your mileage may vary.

Meanwhile, here's a motion blur comparision graph:

Yaka · 5 Jun 2013 at 20:30

wish i could demo one, but theres no chance of that. idealy was looking for a 30" screen, have been after one a heck of a long time but theres a lot of peeps suggesting to go for 27" screen with light boost instead.

if and when i do metro 2033 is the game im gonna try first. on my old 2405 i have problems playing it

ikari1 · 17 Oct 2013 at 09:57

tang0 said:
Is anyone hacking it to make it work on AMD cards?

Doesn't it work on AMD cards then?

BaDBoY_uK · 17 Oct 2013 at 10:30

I have it working on my 2 x 7970s here with my ASUS 24" 144Hz

skuko · 17 Oct 2013 at 10:45

well, it's all nice and everything, but i just couldn't put up with the crappy colors of TN panels in the supported 120Hz+ LCDs

Gazb · 18 Oct 2013 at 21:39

As much as I'd love to try out one of the monitors with light boost, I think I'd much rather have a monitor with a zero flicker backlight, to help avoid eye strain/headaches. I'm guessing lightboost would have the opposite effect.

I'm thinking a the Dell P2414H is a prime candidate for my next monitor.

Mark Rejhon · 23 Oct 2013 at 21:32

Gazb said:
As much as I'd love to try out one of the monitors with light boost, I think I'd much rather have a monitor with a zero flicker backlight, to help avoid eye strain/headaches. I'm guessing lightboost would have the opposite effect.

Not quite necessarily,
-- Some get more eyestrain from flicker
-- Some get more eyestrain from motion blur during extended fast motion

If you use good motion-blur-reducing strobing (CRT-style), it can be less evil for some people than unsynchronized PWM (creates artifacts) for some people. Many people didn't mind 120Hz CRT's. Sometimes motion blur creates more eyestrain than strobe eyestrain. FPS gamers sometimes get less eyestrain during extended play periods when enabling LightBoost, according to the testimonials. Even EIZO claims their FDF2405W 240Hz satellite-mapping monitor ($$$) reduces eyestrain:

The monitor converts 120 Hz input signals to 240 Hz to reduce ghosting and blurring that is caused during frame changes. This greatly improves sharpness and visibility and reduces eye fatigue that occurs when viewing scrolling or moving images.

It actually uses a motion blur reducing strobe backlight, according to page 15 of the EIZO manual.

The ideal situation is a monitor that offers both. BENQ XL2420TE and BENQ XL2420T Revision 2.0 (available here on overclockers.co.uk) is PWM-free in non-LightBoost mode. So that satisfies you. Yet you have the optional option of turning ON/OFF LightBoost strobing, if you'd like.

(Same for upcoming BENQ G-SYNC monitors, which has the sequel to LightBoost).

shotgunshand · 25 Oct 2013 at 10:51

This is a very interesting post, thank you very much for sharing.

SirCanealot · 25 Oct 2013 at 11:58

FFS, I have a 60hz TN iiyama, screw all of you!

(oh well, low "1ms" input lag makes it decent for what I paid)

Even overclocking the monitor to the max it'll go (66-68hz depending on how it feels) gives a decent and perceivable reduction in motion blur. But obviously it's tiny compared to the things being discussed here.

Is there no news on this technology being put in IPS/PLS panels?

I know there are more motion issues with IPS/PLS technology, but the current display market is a bit frustrating as I don't have a choice either way. Even if I wanted to save up some insane amount of money to spend :/

beasty6 · 25 Oct 2013 at 12:28

hmmm, IPS panel 60hz monitor or a 144hz TN panel monitor

ive never had any problems at 60hz but i have never tried a 120/44hz monitor or a IPS panel monitor

Hotshoteu · 25 Oct 2013 at 17:56

Lightboost is actually amazing. It almost looks like it doubles the resolution of the monitor in an FPS. EG: You can see much finer details on moving textures when walking forwards in an FPS, same thing on the walls. Without it they become a blur.

beasty6 · 26 Oct 2013 at 00:22

so if i buy this monitor http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MO-053-AS

i can use lightboost technology with my 7990 by downloading and installing the software mentioned in the OP?

if so im very tempted to order now!

Twirlywoos · 26 Oct 2013 at 09:50

you might want to investigate how turning on light boost throws of the colours.

Gazb · 27 Oct 2013 at 23:22

majnu said:
you might want to investigate how turning on light boost throws of the colours.

I did read somewhere about lightboost mode messing up the colours, and that it was worse on the 120/144Hz BenQ monitors than Asus 120/144Hz monitors.
Haven't really looked into it more though, as I still haven't convinced myself to make the jump from an IPS panel to a TN 120Hz one.

rare · 27 Oct 2013 at 23:28

I tried it on my BenQ, and had a lot of horrible strobing/flicker? Turned it off soon after that and never tried it since.

Rroff · 27 Oct 2013 at 23:29

Gazb said:
I did read somewhere about lightboost mode messing up the colours, and that it was worse on the 120/144Hz BenQ monitors than Asus 120/144Hz monitors.
Haven't really looked into it more though, as I still haven't convinced myself to make the jump from an IPS panel to a TN 120Hz one.

Yeah on the BenQs it looks as if the saturation has dropped about 35% when enabled and the brightness also. While it does increase the sharpness of moving stuff in games and reduces or eliminates the inverse halo effects from overdrive I can't really say I consider it enough of an advantage on the BenQ to offset the negatives when the monitor is already fairly good for that stuff. On other brands it might be a bit different but I've not tried it on anything else.

Gazb · 28 Oct 2013 at 21:11

Not sure if anyone's mentioned it or not here, but is it true that Lightboost will only work properly if your FPS is atleast the same as the refresh rate otherwise it becomes jerky/messy?