-= Response Time =-
5. Currently the fastest LCD's have a 16ms response time (such as the 17" Hitachi CML 174). Expect to see the next generation of Flat Panels to have a 12ms response time. Currently only 17" LCD displays have the 16ms response time, expect larger displays to get this Response time before years end.
Look for any LCD with 16ms or less Response time to avoid ghosting problems in games and DVD movies. Please remember that everyone's eyes are different, and while some people might claim that this or that display (while having a 25ms respons time or less) is ghost free. Often this isn't the case, and depending upon the game played, could be true or false. Just as some people don't have a problem looking at a CRT screen with 75hz refresh rate, others might need 100+ refresh rate to avoid eyestrain, and or headaches. To avoid any doubt, get the lowest response time you can.
New testing (from the Ars Technica Forum http://arstechnica.infopop.net/Open...936913&p=60 ) has shown that some LCD’s with a 25ms speed are actually slower when certain colors are present. An example is the Samsung 191t, which has a 40ms (rough guess) when displaying darker gray-scale colors (found in games like Return to Castle Wolfenstein). This also affects such things as scrolling around in webpages and dragging a window around onscreen. You might also notice streaking with certain colors depending upon the screen you purchased.
Also look for new technologies (Mitsubishi’s “Feed-forward”, LG’s “Overdrive circuit”), which is a Grey-to-Grey response time enhancement (12ms avg. GTG). Here is a good article on the new 16ms LCD’s and some of their drawbacks from PCWorld http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,108237,00.asp and a quote:
”Another caveat: These first fast LCD’s use relatively simple twisted nematic (TN) pixel technology, which does not match the color quality and viewing angles of in-plane switching (IPS) and multidomain vertical alignment. So if speed isn't a concern, you might want to spend your display dollars on a slower but better quality LCD.”
Please don’t confuse Response Time with refresh rates on CRT monitors. Remember, CRT's need to constantly refresh the screen. The CRT electrons (beamed at the screen from an electron gun) hit the phosphors on the screen, making the pixels turn on, and then turn off. So with a CRT you get this: Image - black screen - Image - black screen, etc. With LCD's, pixels don’t turn off, they just change, so you won’t actually see the black screen in between like you would on a CRT. Without the black screens, your eyes won’t get tired (or sore) even at lower refresh rates.
Refresh rates to Response times quick reference.
(CRT refresh rate = LCD Response time):
40Hz = 25ms
60Hz = 17ms
72Hz = 14ms
75Hz = 13ms
85Hz = 12ms
100Hz = 10ms
