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Active: 830 users

144hz monitor for sc2 worth it?

Forum Index > Tech Support
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TRaFFiC
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
Canada1448 Posts
Last Edited: 2017-12-18 17:38:30
December 18 2017 17:17 GMT
#1
Hey, so I finally have some money to throw at a monitor and want the absolute best. Nathanias, in this thread, says it's worth it. https://www.reddit.com/r/starcraft/comments/28h99s/is_it_worth_getting_a_120hz_monitor_for_sc2/

First thing first, my graphics card is nvdia gtx660 and I'm connecting with DVI. My fps in sc2 is between 60-200 (usually down to 60 when big fights). My understanding is that if you're running the game over 60fps you will benefit from a monitor over 60hz? Is this true? What else to consider?

This is the monitor I'm currently testing https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/acer-gn246hl-bid-24-led/6000192504151 It looks smooth, but honestly can't tell the difference between 60hz only better quality for streams and photos compared to the one below. How would I tell the difference? Why pay more?

https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/samsung-samsung-24-fhd-60hz-1ms-gtg-led-gaming-monitor-ls24d330hsl-za-ls24d330hsl-za/10488736.aspx

This 60 hz monitor was the last I tested. On game mode, I actually prefer the dark areas, but it's worse for streams/pics.

Any help appreciated greatly.
2v2, 1v1, Zerg, Terran http://www.twitch.tv/trafficsc2
Atom[Bomb]
Profile Joined July 2015
Sweden108 Posts
December 18 2017 23:55 GMT
#2
144hz for sc2 not really.
However, it is worth if for everyday activity.
_fool
Profile Joined February 2011
Netherlands677 Posts
December 19 2017 07:51 GMT
#3
Be aware though that 144hz screens will almost always be TN screens, which have less vibrant colors then IPS screens. If you have an IPS screen now, you might experience a TN screen as "greyish/washed out". I tried switching from 60hz IPS to 144hz TN, but the bleak colors made me return to IPS within a week.
"News is to the mind what sugar is to the body"
Mohdoo
Profile Joined August 2007
United States15690 Posts
December 19 2017 19:12 GMT
#4
It's like HDD --> SSD. You don't need it until you've tried it.
DPK
Profile Joined May 2011
Canada487 Posts
December 20 2017 01:48 GMT
#5
Did the switch recently from 60hz to 144hz and you should see the difference right off the bat. I have both a 60hz and 144hz next to each other and just doing circle on the desktop I can notice it. It's really a good improvement.

So far, I found that what people say about needing 144fps to really benefit from 144hz is plain false. Hit 80-85 FPS in some games and still felt smoother than the same fps on a 60hz monitor. Sure if you run your games at 60fps and lower it might not be the best and you might start seeing some stuttering and stuff like that but I think that's normal.

If you want the absolute best, it boils down to 2 models in particular from the weeks of research before buying mine

BenQ ZOWIE XL2411 or the ASUS VG248QE (both are sold on the walmart site you linked)

There's a thing with the asus tho, the desktop looks all washed up right off the box, you need to tweak some setting and add a special file to windows to fix it, you can find it on reddit, it's easy to do and makes a world of difference in colors.

Desire.Discipline.Dedication
Varanice
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United States1517 Posts
Last Edited: 2017-12-20 07:01:04
December 20 2017 06:59 GMT
#6
i have played a lot of CS and OW and take it pretty seriously, so 144 hz was pretty much the reason why I built my gaming pc in the first place.

i'd singlehandedly say the Benq xl2411 is the best purchase i made for my pc. As DPK mentioned above, the ASUS VG248QE is specs-wise identical, but the Benq comes with a couple of extra settings and it was $20 cheaper at my local computer store (it was on sale), which is why I picked it personally.

I would recommend avoiding any other 144hz 1ms monitor in the $350 or less price range (should be able to get the two monitors mentioned for $220-$250 depending on the current market), because as far as I am aware they all use the same panel, so all you're paying for is aesthetic/brand/features.

It's definitely not something you need for sc2 though. but it's a nice QoL upgrade regardless imo. I'd probably recommend upgrading your graphics card first though, you won't get the full enjoyment of a high hz monitor if you can't hold a similarly high stable framerate.
www.twitch.tv/varanice
DSK
Profile Blog Joined February 2015
England1110 Posts
Last Edited: 2017-12-21 15:59:56
December 21 2017 15:56 GMT
#7
I'd like to chime in and say that if you are sensitive to flicker, or if the monitor has PWM (pulse width modulation) I would avoid it. BenQ have a number of models PWM free that I might get. Otherwise a pair of VDU flicker glasses might be a good buy.

[Added]

I have a ASUS VG248QE and the colour intensity is meh and it has PWM (playing at 720 for me is fine, 1080 I feel ill and wierd).
**@ YT: SC2POVs at https://www.youtube.com/c/SC2POVsTV | https://liquipedia.net/starcraft2/SC2POVs @**
Creager
Profile Joined February 2011
Germany1895 Posts
December 21 2017 22:08 GMT
#8
I got an Eizo Foris FS2735 two months ago and it is THE shit. Really expensive, but this thing is just a total blast.
... einmal mit Profis spielen!
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20289 Posts
Last Edited: 2017-12-22 00:36:22
December 22 2017 00:35 GMT
#9
There are notable benefits to having >60hz even on content below 60fps

It looks smooth, but honestly can't tell the difference between 60hz only better quality for streams and photos compared to the one below. How would I tell the difference? Why pay more?


Sure you set the refresh rate properly after plugging it in? The main benefits are smoothness, input lag reduction+consistency and motion blur
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
ByuuN
Profile Joined November 2016
Poland678 Posts
Last Edited: 2017-12-23 10:00:33
December 23 2017 09:57 GMT
#10
My new ASUS XG27VQ ( VA 144hz ) is WAY better than my previous 60hz TN screen.
iloveav
Profile Joined November 2008
Poland1478 Posts
December 29 2017 11:43 GMT
#11
I am going to drop in my 2 cents:

In once sentence: is it worth it? same way as a Porsche is worth it.

*in some cases you drive 50 km/h anyway because you are in the city, other times you go at 150km/h in highway.... and in some very specific cases, you get to run at 300 km/h in germany.

Does that mean there is no benefit in having a Porsche in the city over a regular car? Of course it does. Better breaks, looks better, etc, but for the most part, the main attribute of the car (faster) would be not as important.

Same here with the monitor. I own a 240Hz TN monitor and after my 60Hz ips, its very fast.
I did get improved performance in every game I play, but in some cases its a large improvement, in others much less so.

In sc2/broodwar? Very slight improvement. Its just a game that does not rely on millisecond reflexes. Overwatch on the other hand? yeap, big change.

So the question I would ask you is "Are you looking to improve your gaming experience (in which case id say its worth it) or are you looking to increase your game skill (in this case id say it is not as a general rule, in sc2 at least).

I personally wanted the quality of added FPS (it does feel better) and I even bought a monitor calibrator (Now that was a big change I did not expect).

But most people are totally fine with a 60Hz ips.

If you DO go for a high refresh rate monitor, id say get a decent one. There are many IPS 144hz that suffer from ghosting and blurring. I tested 3 monitors till I decided on the one I got because the others were just too bad in this regard.

What I am saying is that there are a lot of mid ranged price 144hz monitors that are great on paper for the price, only to be bad in real world performance. (like the http://www.lg.com/uk/monitors/lg-34UC79G-B, amazing on paper, not huge price, and it turns out the ghosting, blurring and pixel response makes it a bad choice).

Probably gave you more questions than answers, but I hope you do your own due diligence so you know exactly what you pay for.
aka LRM)Cats_Paw.
TRaFFiC
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
Canada1448 Posts
January 24 2018 10:37 GMT
#12
Thanks everyone for the replies. Some great advice in here. My graphics card died so I'm looking to replace that and then go with the suggestions. I returned that Walmart one even though it was a decent option to try out something better.

On December 22 2017 09:35 Cyro wrote:
There are notable benefits to having >60hz even on content below 60fps

Show nested quote +
It looks smooth, but honestly can't tell the difference between 60hz only better quality for streams and photos compared to the one below. How would I tell the difference? Why pay more?


Sure you set the refresh rate properly after plugging it in? The main benefits are smoothness, input lag reduction+consistency and motion blur

I believe so. I set it to 144hz from 60hz.
2v2, 1v1, Zerg, Terran http://www.twitch.tv/trafficsc2
JacobShock
Profile Blog Joined April 2012
Denmark2485 Posts
January 24 2018 18:59 GMT
#13
On December 19 2017 16:51 _fool wrote:
Be aware though that 144hz screens will almost always be TN screens, which have less vibrant colors then IPS screens. If you have an IPS screen now, you might experience a TN screen as "greyish/washed out". I tried switching from 60hz IPS to 144hz TN, but the bleak colors made me return to IPS within a week.


I bought a TN screen just because I heard color bleed or whatever its called is quite an issue with IPS monitors. But I don't know if that issue is overstated.
"Right on" - Morrow
semantics
Profile Blog Joined November 2009
10040 Posts
Last Edited: 2018-01-24 20:49:22
January 24 2018 20:42 GMT
#14
On January 25 2018 03:59 JacobShock wrote:
Show nested quote +
On December 19 2017 16:51 _fool wrote:
Be aware though that 144hz screens will almost always be TN screens, which have less vibrant colors then IPS screens. If you have an IPS screen now, you might experience a TN screen as "greyish/washed out". I tried switching from 60hz IPS to 144hz TN, but the bleak colors made me return to IPS within a week.


I bought a TN screen just because I heard color bleed or whatever its called is quite an issue with IPS monitors. But I don't know if that issue is overstated.

It just depends on the individual monitors.

6bit+FRC panels exist for both TN and IPS screens and can be just fine for some people
true 8 bit screens can have terrible color accuracy on their default configuration

A vivid look, showroom settings which crush colors and ruin gradients is still commonplace as people seem to attribute strong colors as a good picture. So defaults aren't always the best representation of what a monitor can do.

The backlight bleed is something both TN and IPS panels can display, just depends on the monitor and how much you boost that backlight and can throw off colors even in brighter scenes

IPS glow is strongly correlated to IPS in which dark scenes can be washed out by the backlight still going through the screen at undesirable amounts so true blacks become harder to display. Either way do research on your monitors before buying.

Either way the main benefit of IPS of TN is the viewing angles IPS is just flat out superior, so if you often view your monitor at off center angles IPS will keep the picture more consistent in presentation . So i'd strongly recommend IPS monitors for those who use multiple monitors but if you use just 1 monitor a good quality TN panel works just fine.

144hz will make things a bit smoother even if you can't hit that in games consistently. If your game updates at 60fps but your monitor updates at 144hz vs 60fps and 60hz there still is benefits. Screen tearing windows decrease as your increase your monitor refresh rate so if you habitually play without v-sync it can improve your avg scene quality as it will decrease the amount of screen tearing that occurs and decrease the amount of time the screen tearing is on the screen. But again it's far from perfect v-sync.
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