Which refresh rate for monitors?

aaronjunited · 28 Sep 2011 at 23:27

Need help in deciding wether to go do 120hz and pay extra above my budget or go with lower around my budget.

Is there really a need for 120hz????
What will i need 120hz for and why wouldnt i need it?

Please clear this up for me.

Thanks.

mickyflinn · 28 Sep 2011 at 23:32

LCD Refresh Rates Explained - 240HZ vs. 120HZ vs. 60HZ

http://www.topreviewshop.com/lcd_refresh_rates_explained_240hz_vs_120hz_vs_60hz

Buchanan0204 · 28 Sep 2011 at 23:32

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?p=17655742

cmndr_andi · 28 Sep 2011 at 23:35

Hi there,

It really depends what you are doing. If you play a lot of fast paced games, then 120Hz can be very nice as it usually makes fast motion look smoother - it also allows you to use special shutter glasses (like the Nvidia 3D vision kit) to watch video and play games in 3D (at 60Hz per eye). However, there are a few downsides to 120Hz which are worth noting:

- Due to the really quick response times required for 120Hz monitors, only TN panels are currently used, not IPS or VA. This means that as well as the good response time and low input lag - you get relatively poor colour accuracy and small viewing angles (this doesn't just mean looks at your monitor from a silly angle - it means that colours can noticeably shift when you move your head a bit).
- There is a price premium compared to comparable 60Hz TN panel monitors which are still perfectly fine for gaming uses.
- You need to have a beefy (and expensive) graphics card to drive a 60FPS+ framerate to make good use of your super-quick 120Hz monitor.

If you don't play a lot of really fast-paced games or care about 3D then I would suggest going for a nice, responsive E-IPS monitor like this one (review here).

aaronjunited · 28 Sep 2011 at 23:57

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MO-075-IY&groupid=17&catid=949&subcat=

is this 120hz?

also the LG W2363D-PF is aparently 120hz according to another website

Buchanan0204 · 29 Sep 2011 at 00:08

aaronjunited said:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MO-075-IY&groupid=17&catid=949&subcat=

is this 120hz?

also the LG W2363D-PF is aparently 120hz according to another website

First one isn't... second one is.

If it's 3D, it will be 120Hz. (correct me if I'm wrong anyone)

aaronjunited · 29 Sep 2011 at 07:35

Thanks man. Anyone know how to work this out? How can you say wether its 120hz or 60hz?

It never says screen refresh rate in specs.

cmndr_andi · 29 Sep 2011 at 08:14

Buchanan0204 said:
If it's 3D, it will be 120Hz. (correct me if I'm wrong anyone)

In most cases this is correct, but there are a number of monitors coming out that use the passive 3D method which can use 60Hz panels (even IPS ones) and still produce a 3D effect (though the vertical resolution per eye is halved, which is bad).

aaronjunited said:
Anyone know how to work this out? How can you say wether its 120hz or 60hz?

It never says screen refresh rate in specs.

You need to look up the manufacturers specifications page. For example, for that W2363D, the LG product page clearly says that it is 120Hz and it can support 3D.

aaronjunited · 29 Sep 2011 at 14:34

Thanks for that tip, good tip infact.