120Hz Monitor - newb question

jumeeno · 23 Nov 2011 at 22:55

Hey guys, I currently have a 23.6" Samsung P2370 1920x1080 monitor. I'm really into PC gaming, and am someone who believes the difference between 30FPS and 60FPS is night and day.

So... 120Hz - worth it for a gamer? Budget of ~£250.

What happens when you apply in-game Vsync? Do the FPS automatically cap at 120 max (rather than usual 60)?

moogle · 23 Nov 2011 at 23:07

jumeeno said:
What happens when you apply in-game Vsync? Do the FPS automatically cap at 120 max (rather than usual 60)?

Yeah, I haven't tried a 120Hz monitor but that's what vertical sync does, synchronises with your monitors refresh rate which would be 120Hz in that scenario. Kinda stating the obvious

jumeeno · 23 Nov 2011 at 23:14

moogle said:
Yeah, I haven't tried a 120Hz monitor but that's what vertical sync does, synchronises with your monitors refresh rate which would be 120Hz in that scenario. Kinda stating the obvious

Therefore then, between 60FPS and 120FPS where I'd usually enable Vsync to reduce screen tearing... there wouldn't be any tearing! That's what I am presuming and hoping anyway :confused:

moogle · 23 Nov 2011 at 23:21

jumeeno said:
Therefore then, between 60FPS and 120FPS where I'd usually enable Vsync to reduce screen tearing... there wouldn't be any tearing! That's what I am presuming and hoping anyway

Well as long as your graphics card can keep up with the 120FPS then yeah. It's a lot more fluid in motion.

As for if it's worth it for a gamer, only the guys who have such screens can tell you. I've not yet seen one side by side with a normal monitor to see the difference. Once I'm over 60FPS I'm okay with it.

jumeeno · 23 Nov 2011 at 23:24

I'm torn between 1080p @ 120Hz, or 1440p @ 60Hz...

... and yes, I know my 5850 will need replacing :rolleyes:

Black Dog · 23 Nov 2011 at 23:47

I am in the same situation and thinking of getting a 120hz monitor. But getting a 120hz monitor would mean that with v-sync on your pc will have to run the game @ 120fps plus to get a smooth frame rate. With a 60hz monitor you would only have to get to 60fps.

I currently have 60hz monitor and when any game that goes below 60fps it starts to stutter and gets worse the lower the frame rate gets and the less it syncs with the refresh rate.

I would assume you would need a monster system to run the likes of Crysis 2 at 120fps or over.

I dont know whether the stutter would be so noticable on a 120hz monitor though.

Is there anyone with a 120hz monitor that could clear this up?

PCM2 · 24 Nov 2011 at 07:53

Black Dog said:
But getting a 120hz monitor would mean that with v-sync on your pc will have to run the game @ 120fps plus to get a smooth frame rate.

I don't think the 'stutter' actually has much to do with not achieving the maximum framerate of the monitor, more to do with your own sensitivity to frame rate fluctuation and lower FPS. On a decent 120Hz monitor the lower frame rates feel similar to on a very responsive 60Hz monitor. The trailing at 60fps is similar to the best 60Hz gaming monitors out there and it just improves beyond this as framerate increases. Another massive advantage which also applies at 60Hz is that the monitor responds to twice the number of mouse inputs per second. Couple this with low input lag and you get a connected feeling that no 60Hz LCD will give you, even at 60fps.

B1gbeard · 24 Nov 2011 at 09:32

Very impressed here with 120hz.

I'm just using my very first 120hzer and side by side with a Hazro, the overall smoothness and lack of blur is very noticeable. Responsiveness also seems much improved.

I'm over 60fps on all of my games and it's nice not to have to worry about tearing.

Black Dog · 24 Nov 2011 at 10:16

more to do with your own sensitivity to frame rate fluctuation and lower FPS.

I don't think it's the sensitivity to frame rates, anyone can see the frame rate stuttering but some people are more bothered than others.

I just wanted to know if you get stutters on 120hz monitor if it's not running @ 120fps. Being double the hz of a 60hz monitor is it not as noticeable?

B1gbeard · 24 Nov 2011 at 10:19

Black Dog said:
more to do with your own sensitivity to frame rate fluctuation and lower FPS.

I don't think it's the sensitivity to frame rates, anyone can see the frame rate stuttering but some people are more bothered than others.

I just wanted to know if you get stutters on 120hz monitor if it's not running @ 120fps. Being double the hz of a 60hz monitor is it not as noticeable?

Click to expand...

My framerates fluctuate depending on game from 60 to over 120 and its only been butter smooth for me so far.

Click to expand...

PCM2 · 24 Nov 2011 at 10:39

@ Blackdog

The 'stuttering' is nothing to do with the actual frame rate compared to the maximum the monitor can output, it is simply to do with the fluctuation and feeling of a lower frame rate. If you are being pedantic there are also secondary effects to do with uneven frame division but since 60Hz doubles nicely to 120Hz this isn't an issue at all. To me 40fps on an FPS is simply uncomfortably slow on a 60Hz and 120Hz LCD monitor regardless of its pixel responsiveness. I have probably extensively used more monitor models than you have even laid eyes on (sad but true) and have had a lot of recent experience with 120Hz monitors. I understand the technology at a greater depth than most people, gamer or otherwise. I am also very sensitive to responsiveness and suchlike which comes partly as an unfortunate side-effect of critically analysing so many monitors. When I say that 120Hz monitors are good even at 60fps you had better believe it. If not you're wasting your time posting here as all you are going to see is informed opinion stating the same.

dvs20 · 24 Nov 2011 at 10:53

Side by side playing a game (and even on the desktop) 60Hz vs 120Hz is night and day. Playing an old game like quake3 where the fps will be locked without deviation to 125fps, it's a smoothness I haven't seen since the old days of high refresh rate CRTs. Absolutely gorgeous. I paid through the nose for my screen (in hindsight 3D isn't worth it) but don't regret it at all.

Black Dog · 24 Nov 2011 at 10:59

PCM2, I can understand what you are saying but the frame rate smoothness is directly linked to the hz of the monitor. If I play HL2 for instance and change my max fps to 59 in the console then it will start to stutter at predifined moments eg. every 2 seconds or so constantly. This is because it it not in conjunction with the 60hz refresh rate. If I lower it further it will get worse but again at timed intervals rather than random fluctuations. Change it back to 60 and smooth as silk.

With v-sync disabled that it does not matter as there is no syncing taking place but screen tearing will occur.

If you say stuttering will not be noticable on 120hz then that's fine I believe you.

PCM2 · 24 Nov 2011 at 11:25

Black Dog said:
PCM2, I can understand what you are saying but the frame rate smoothness is directly linked to the hz of the monitor. If I play HL2 for instance and change my max fps to 59 in the console then it will start to stutter at predifined moments eg. every 2 seconds or so constantly. This is because it it not in conjunction with the 60hz refresh rate. If I lower it further it will get worse but again at timed intervals rather than random fluctuations. Change it back to 60 and smooth as silk.

With v-sync disabled that it does not matter as there is no syncing taking place but screen tearing will occur.

If you say stuttering will not be noticable on 120hz then that's fine I believe you.

This could be linked to the 'secondary' effect I mentioned above where you are considering frames that don't divide up neatly into the refresh rate. Usually Triple Buffering will reduce the effect of this but it depends on the game title. This effect seems much reduced if you're considering frame rates between 60 and 120fps. I understand your concern that you would be moving from a stable 60fps (if you want it) to fluctuations between 60 and 120fps but in my experience a 120Hz monitor running at say 83fps Vsync+TB will be a smoother experience than a 60Hz monitor running at 60fps. Considering the mouse input poll advantages even more so.

Black Dog · 24 Nov 2011 at 11:38

I appreciate your comments but I suppose getting a 120hz monitor and experimenting is the only way of really knowing.

PCM2 · 24 Nov 2011 at 13:07

Sad but true.

churchhawk · 24 Nov 2011 at 17:47

I got a 120hz monitor and didnt really belive it would be that great, but it makes a massive difference!

Everything is so smooth with no tearing ( v sync off ) it has made BF3 a totally totally awesome game for me.

Try it, i guarantee you never go back to 60hz.