60Hz or 120Hz monitor?

[hellborg]

I'm building a new computer and have decided on what hardware to go with.

However, I'm a bit unsure on what monitor I should go with. It basically

comes down to if I should choose a 120hz or a 60hz. The computer is built

with gaming in mind and around the i7 875k, one HD 5870 (for now) and 4GB

of RAM.


As it is now I'm looking on three different monitors, one 60Hz and two 120hz;

60Hz

DELL U2311H

120Hz

ACER GD245HQBID 23,6" WIDE TFT

or

LG W2363D 23" WIDE TFT


I'm willing to pay the premium price on either of the 120's if the gains can

be justified.


Thanks in advance!

 

[RaiderJ]

The biggest reason I'd go with a 120Hz monitor is that it makes the whole computing experience better, not just gaming. I was always picky about running my old CRT monitors at 85Hz or higher, since 60Hz made everything choppy, even moving windows around in the OS.

But, I'm still looking for a 120Hz, 24", IPS monitor. Not sure if they even exist.

 

[ModestGamer]

The biggest reason I'd go with a 120Hz monitor is that it makes the whole computing experience better, not just gaming. I was always picky about running my old CRT monitors at 85Hz or higher, since 60Hz made everything choppy, even moving windows around in the OS.

But, I'm still looking for a 120Hz, 24", IPS monitor. Not sure if they even exist.

huh ??? never had those problems at 60hz. Still don't.

 

[0roo0roo]

xbitlabs review found that atleast on the review model the 120hz effectively increased pixel response.

 

[jaydee]

huh ??? never had those problems at 60hz. Still don't.

I absolutely hated running less than 85Hz on CRT's. LCD's I'm not that picky about.

 

[RaiderJ]

huh ??? never had those problems at 60hz. Still don't.

Have you ever used a CRT monitor at 60Hz, and then again at 120Hz? Did you see a difference there? It's not unlike that moving from a 60Hz LCD to a 120Hz LCD.

 

[Pia]

Have you ever used a CRT monitor at 60Hz, and then again at 120Hz? Did you see a difference there? It's not unlike that moving from a 60Hz LCD to a 120Hz LCD.

I have to question that. The technologies involved are entirely different. CRTs need high refresh rate just to maintain an illusion of a stable static picture - many will see flickering at 60Hz, or even if they don't consciously "see" it, will very soon find it fatiguing. I doubt you see any difference between 60Hz and 120Hz LCD when looking at a static picture. Even the IBM T220 monster display, with a $22k initial sticker price, operated at only 41Hz.

As for movement, to put things into perspective, 100% of console players, 100% of arcade players and the overwhelming majority of PC gamers are capped at 60Hz. 120Hz almost certainly helps if you are very serious about twitchy first person shooters (and your computer can actually render the game at an equivalently high framerate). OP, unless you fit that description, I'd err on the side of better contrast, color and viewing angles and get the Dell.

 

[0roo0roo]

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/monitors/display/samsung-sm2233rz.html
Its not quite the same, crts suffer horrible refresh flickering at 60hz. lcd do not. so its true crt get a massive boost mainly from less eye strain going up in hz, i never noticed actual movement smoothness increase though, since 60hz crt is pretty instantaneous anyways. the reason for 120hz lcd is it seems to increase pixel response, thats about it.

 

[RaiderJ]

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/monitors/display/samsung-sm2233rz.html
Its not quite the same, crts suffer horrible refresh flickering at 60hz. lcd do not. so its true crt get a massive boost mainly from less eye strain going up in hz, i never noticed actual movement smoothness increase though, since 60hz crt is pretty instantaneous anyways. the reason for 120hz lcd is it seems to increase pixel response, thats about it.

Yup, exactly.

 

[RaiderJ]

I have to question that. The technologies involved are entirely different. CRTs need high refresh rate just to maintain an illusion of a stable static picture - many will see flickering at 60Hz, or even if they don't consciously "see" it, will very soon find it fatiguing. I doubt you see any difference between 60Hz and 120Hz LCD when looking at a static picture. Even the IBM T220 monster display, with a $22k initial sticker price, operated at only 41Hz.

As for movement, to put things into perspective, 100% of console players, 100% of arcade players and the overwhelming majority of PC gamers are capped at 60Hz. 120Hz almost certainly helps if you are very serious about twitchy first person shooters (and your computer can actually render the game at an equivalently high framerate). OP, unless you fit that description, I'd err on the side of better contrast, color and viewing angles and get the Dell.

Obviously a CRT and LCD are different, and therefore the move from 60Hz to 120Hz will also be different. However, the increase in refresh rate is noticeable, especially when you have sources that aren't running at exactly 60Hz.

I don't think 100% of console players are capped at 60Hz, how is the PS3 supposed to do 3D? Also, many games, especially those in 2D, would look much better if they were to run at 120Hz.

 

[Trevor311]

Don't the new stereoscopic 3D techs like the one from nVidia require 120Hz refresh rate so they display alternating Left/Right images at 60Hz each?

 

[RaiderJ]

They do. However, those same monitors are capable of displaying non-3D input at 120Hz as well.

I think it'd be slick to have triple monitor 3D! Might be another generation or two before graphics cards have that much power for running that many pixels.

Some quick math: (1920x1200 pixels, 3 monitors, 120Hz) = 829,440,000 pixels/sec

 

[borisvodofsky]

All the panels you posted are TN panels. 120hz is useless, no games will utilize it,

TN panels in general: refreshes and responds very quickly. 120hz will make little difference


Now, the truth is though, if YOU HAVE THE MONEY, get an IPS panel.

TN panels have SHIT color, this is a fact, no exceptions. and in cases of the supposed "fast" TN panels, they're overdriven like crazy and are hosts to a plethora of image problems, inverse ghosting, color shifts, etc..

BUY IPS if you have the money. In this case I think you do. Idk how much 4000kr is but the dell u23 is 300 so i assume you have at least 500 US dollars


Buy the dell wfp 2407 or 2410

FUCK TN..:hmm:

 

[samduhman]

All the panels you posted are TN panels. 120hz is useless, no games will utilize it,

TN panels in general: refreshes and responds very quickly. 120hz will make little difference

Now, the truth is though, if YOU HAVE THE MONEY, get an IPS panel.

BUY IPS if you have the money. In this case I think you do. Idk how much 4000kr is but the dell u23 is 300 so i assume you have at least 500 US dollars

Buy the dell wfp 2407 or 2410

FUCK TN..:hmm:

Did YOU do any research at all or did you just decide to troll on the thread? A TN panel is the only way to go if gaming is your main focus.

OP do not listen to tp4tissue. You will definitely see a difference in gaming between a 60hz and 120hz. Just doing a little bit of research online will prove that fact. This is a good place to start. http://www.digitalversus.com/duels.php?ty=6

OP get a 120hz you will not be disappointed.

 

[konakona]

A TN panel is the only way to go if gaming is your main focus.

Some like TN, others don't. Perhaps it is unfair to say flatout TNs suck for everyone, but I disagree with that statement of yours right there. Even this sticked thread goes against notion: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=39226

Yes TNs generally tend to be faster overall but it is just as flawed to rule out IPS's for gaming as declaring all TNs crappy. There are IPS monitors that have plenty fast response and minimal input lag.

OP doesn't seem to be too strapped on cash, personally I don't see why he should settle for a TN.

 

[RaiderJ]

I have two NEC EA231WMI monitors (IPS), and wouldn't consider going back to a TN monitor. The contrast and clarity, plus viewing angles, make them fantastic for a multi-monitor setup. They're refresh rate is pretty good, at least for an IPS. I have no problems playing FPS type games either.

 

[disappoint]

The difference between a 60hz LCD and 120hz LCD is like night and day. You WILL notice a difference. All these posters saying it won't make a difference don't realize they are getting owned by 120hz gamers. They probably just assume it's skill alone that cost them the frag.

 

[RaiderJ]

The difference between a 60hz LCD and 120hz LCD is like night and day. You WILL notice a difference. All these posters saying it won't make a difference don't realize they are getting owned by 120hz gamers. They probably just assume it's skill alone that cost them the frag.

Seems the review on Anandtech agrees with you!

http://www.anandtech.com/show/3842/asus-vg236h-review-our-first-look-at-120hz

I spent the first half hour seriously just dragging windows back and forth across the desktop - from a 120Hz display to a 60Hz, stunned at how smooth and different 120Hz was. Yeah, it’s that different.

 

[Sp12]

120hz means giving up the IPS tech that that Dell has. Some people aren't bothered by it, but for me it's significantly worse than 60hz. I just can't deal with the dithering/color variation TN has. Not to mention viewing angles are pretty sad on TN.

Also, if you go 3D you're seeing 60hz anyway, so if it doesn't bother you then then I don't think it's significant. Yes I have owned a 120hz CRT, and on CRTs I think higher refresh rates reduced flicker, but on LCDs I don't see it.

 

[RaiderJ]

120hz means giving up the IPS tech that that Dell has. Some people aren't bothered by it, but for me it's significantly worse than 60hz. I just can't deal with the dithering/color variation TN has. Not to mention viewing angles are pretty sad on TN.

Also, if you go 3D you're seeing 60hz anyway, so if it doesn't bother you then then I don't think it's significant. Yes I have owned a 120hz CRT, and on CRTs I think higher refresh rates reduced flicker, but on LCDs I don't see it.

Switched from a TN to an IPS panel not long ago - definitely agree IPS is the way to go.

 

[masterkaj]

Wish I could buy LG W2363D 23" in the US, anyone know when/if it will be released?

I went from a 100hz CRT to a 60hz LCD, and it is VERY noticeable. Playing FPS at 60hz sucks pretty bad.

 

[Emulex]

its impossible to go back to TN from (pva/mva/*-ips) - its like going back from 32bit color to 16bit color imo.

well it is 24 bit to 18bit

 

[RaiderJ]

Just saw a LCD TV at Best Buy tonight - advertised as an IPS panel and 120Hz (interpolation). Maybe we'll see 120Hz IPS monitors in the near future?