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LightBoost, G-SYNC, Turbo240: 120Hz Strobe Backlight LCDs / No Motion Blur!

311K views 3K replies 318 participants last post by  Joe13 
#1 ·
Low-Persistence LCDs - Eliminate Motion Blur - CRT Clarity Motion

Updated October 2013

These are high-efficiency low-persistence LCD's that achieve CRT quality motion through the use of a strobe backlight. LightBoost is the most famous one (which Blur Busters helped make popular, also see LightBoost media coverage). As of 2013, the most common low-persistence LCD is LightBoost. However, there are other low-persistence LCD's now becoming available:
  1. NVIDIA LightBoost -- the one that started it all! -- unofficial for 2D
  2. NVIDIA G-SYNC's optional strobe mode -- Official "sequel" to LightBoost
  3. Eizo Turbo240 Mode -- official strobe backlight
  4. BENQ Blur Reduction Mode (XL2720Z) -- official strobe backlight
  5. Samsung 120Hz 3D Mode -- unofficial for 2D
  6. Sony Motionflow Impulse -- 60Hz interpolation-free low-latency mode
Supported EIZO Turbo240 Monitors

...This is the first 120Hz(native) / 240Hz(internal) gaming VA monitor ever released, with an official (optional) strobe backlight. Enabling the strobe mode (Turbo240) allows games to run with CRT-quality motion.

- EIZO Foris FS2421 ............... 23.5" ....... 1920Ă—1080 VA....... 120Hz/240Hz ....... Turbo240

Supported LightBoost & G-SYNC Monitors

...has the LightBoost strobe backlight that can eliminate motion blur, see LightBoost HOWTO.

- ASUS VG248QE ............... 24" ....... 1920Ă—1080 ....... 144Hz ....... LightBoost/G-SYNC upgrade
- ASUS VG278H ................. 24" ....... 1920Ă—1080 ....... 120Hz ....... LightBoost
- ASUS VG278HE ............... 27" ....... 1920Ă—1080 ....... 144Hz ....... LightBoost
- BENQ XL2411T ................ 24" ....... 1920Ă—1080 ....... 144Hz ....... LightBoost
- BENQ XL2420T ................ 24" ....... 1920Ă—1080 ....... 120Hz ....... LightBoost
- BENQ XL2420TX .............. 24" ....... 1920Ă—1080 ....... 120Hz ....... LightBoost
- BENQ XL2420T Rev 2 ....... 24" ....... 1920Ă—1080 ....... 120Hz ....... LightBoost
- BENQ XL2420TE .............. 24" ....... 1920Ă—1080 ....... 144Hz ....... LightBoost
- BENQ XL2720T ................ 27" ....... 1920Ă—1080 ....... 120Hz ....... LightBoost
- BENQ XL2411Z ................ 24" ....... 1920Ă—1080 ....... 144Hz ....... BENQ Blur Reduction
- BENQ XL2420Z ................ 24" ....... 1920Ă—1080 ....... 144Hz ....... BENQ Blur Reduction
- BENQ XL2720Z ................ 27" ....... 1920Ă—1080 ....... 144Hz ....... BENQ Blur Reduction
- ACER HN274HB bmiiid ....... 27" ....... 1920Ă—1080 ....... 120Hz ....... LightBoost
(From list of 120Hz monitors)

Supported G-SYNC Monitors

...These use NVIDIA G-SYNC, and there is also an optional LightBoost sequel strobe backlight mode with G-SYNC too
.

- ASUS VG248QE .................. 24" ....... 1920Ă—1080 ....... 144Hz ....... ULMB
- ASUS ROG Swift PG278Q ...... 27" ....... 2560x1440 ....... 144Hz ....... ULMB
- Philips 272G5DYEB .............. 24" ....... 1920Ă—1080 ....... 144Hz ....... ULMB
- BENQ XL2420G .................. 24" ....... 1920Ă—1080 ....... 144Hz ....... ULMB
- BENQ XL2720G .................. 27" ....... 1920Ă—1080 ....... 144Hz ....... ULMB
- ViewSonic VX2457GML ........ 24" ....... 1920Ă—1080 ....... 144Hz ....... ULMB
(From G-SYNC Monitors)

Supported Samsung 120Hz Monitors

...has a strobe backlight that can eliminate motion blur, see Samsung Zero Motion Blur HOWTO

- Samsung S23A700D ....... 23" ....... 1920Ă—1080 ....... 120Hz
- Samsung S23A750D ....... 23" ....... 1920Ă—1080 ....... 120Hz
- Samsung S23A950D ....... 23" ....... 1920Ă—1080 ....... 120Hz
- Samsung S27A700D ....... 27" ....... 1920Ă—1080 ....... 120Hz
- Samsung S27A750D ....... 27" ....... 1920Ă—1080 ....... 120Hz
- Samsung S27A950D ....... 27" ....... 1920Ă—1080 ....... 120Hz
(From list of 120Hz monitors)

Instructions

Motionflow Impulse - If you own certain Sony TV's
LightBoost HOWTO - If you own a newer-model ASUS or BENQ 120 Hz Monitor
Samsung HOWTO - If you own a newer-model Samsung 120 Hz Monitor

(Note: NVIDIA G-SYNC has not yet arrived as of this time of writing, so G-SYNC instructions will come soon)

Motion Tests

Testing for motion blur can be accomplished using animations at:
www.testufo.com
Different tests are selectable using the top-right corner.
These are the most useful tests:

www.testufo.com/framerates -- 30fps vs 60fps vs 120fps
www.testufo.com/eyetracking -- Motion blur caused by persistence, not GtG transitions.
www.testufo.com/blackframes -- Black frame insertion demo
www.testufo.com/ghosting -- Tests for ghosting
www.testufo.com/photo -- Fast panning photo tests for motion blur

A very good test is to view www.testufo.com/photo while turning ON/OFF your low-persistence mode, to see the improvements in motion blur. If using LightBoost, you can use ToastyX Strobelight to easily turn ON/OFF LightBoost while viewing a motion test.

Low persistence modes tend to be very stutter-sensitive due to very clear motion, so it is necessary to aim at framerates near refresh rates. For example, 120fps @ 120Hz.

Background Info

You get faster reaction times in FPS games, since you can identify enemies faster during fast turns without motion blur. This (1000 fps) demonstrate a specially configured LightBoost strobe backlight successfully bypassing LCD pixel persistence as the motion blur limiting factor:

The backlight is turned off while waiting for pixel transitions (unseen by human eyes), and the backlight is strobed only on fully-refreshed LCD frames (seen by human eyes). The strobes can be shorter than pixel transitions, breaking the pixel transition speed barrier!

LightBoost backlights are normally used to brighten 3D Vision images, but back in December 2012, were discovered to have a side effect of eliminating motion blur even for 2D! As a result, many video gamers have started forcing LightBoost in 2D mode (even without the 3D glasses) to get the zero motion blur benefit.

Motion Tests BENQ XL2411T and ASUS VG278H

baseline - 60 Hz mode (16.7ms frame samples)
50% less motion blur (2x clearer) - 120 Hz mode (8.33ms frame samples)
60% less motion blur (2.4x clearer) - 144 Hz mode (6.94ms frame samples)
85% less motion blur (7x clearer) - 120 Hz LightBoost, set to 100% (2.4ms frame strobe flashes)
92% less motion blur (12x clearer) - 120 Hz LightBoost, set to 10% (1.4ms frame strobe flashes)

NOTE: You can also turn on/off the CRT-style LightBoost strobe backlight mode, whenever you don't want it. Manufacturers should make it better advertised for motion blur, and easier to turn on/off!

Gaming Styles That Benefit

Example of fast game play styles that benefit from zero motion blur:
-- Fast 180-degree flick turns in FPS shooting, great for Quake Live
-- Shooting while turning, without stopping turning (easier on CRT or LightBoost)
-- Close-up strafing, especially circle strafing, you aim better.
-- Running while looking at the ground (e.g. hunting for tiny objects quickly).
-- Identifying multiple far-away enemies or small targets, while turning fast
-- Playing fast characters such as "Scout" in Team Fortress 2
-- High-speed low passes, such as low helicoptor flybys in Battlefield 3, you aim better.

For a long time, some gamers have noticed that CRT 60fps@60Hz still has less motion blur than LCD 120fps@120Hz. Not anymore: The CRT-quality perfect motion now available on LightBoost LCD displays, is a huge benefit for those gamers who have played on a CRT for a long time, and have never found a "good enough LCD" without motion blur.
 
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#2 ·
LightBoost Articles

Various articles about LightBoost, the first truly low-persistence strobe backlight to solve the LCD motion blur problem:

TFT Central
Link: Motion Blur Reduction Backlights

NewEgg and ASUS
Link:

TechNGaming Review Article
Link: Eliminate Motion Blur While Gaming With nVidia LightBoost!

3D Vision Blog
Link: Taking Advantage of the Lightboost Technology for 2D 120Hz Gaming
Link: Calibrating Picture of Lightboost For Better Color

PC Games Hardware (German gaming magazine)
Link: Nvidia Lightboost Strobe Hack

PCMonitors.info (mentions the LightBoost effect)
Link: Asus VG248QE Monitor Review

Team Exile 5 (Professional sponsored competition gamers!)
Link: nVidia GeForce GTX 660 Ti and nVidia LightBoost Technology

The lack of motion blur provides a reaction time advantage, because you can see everything clearly during fast motion, allowing you to react to enemies faster in online fast-action FPS games. Team Fortress 2, Battlefield 3, Counter Strike, Quake Live, etc.

Forum Buzz

There are many testimonials on many forums at the moment, so there's been many, many reports from enthusiac video gamers. It does not benefit other usage much (e.g. programming, web design, PhotoShop), but if you're a big time gamer who have used CRT's, then LightBoost is finally making some CRT die-hard's happy:
Quote:
original post (Transsive)
Then yesterday I, for some reason, disabled the 3d and noticed there was no ghosting to be spotted at all in titan quest. It's like playing on my old CRT.
Quote:
original post (Inu)
I can confirm this works on BENQ XL2420TX
EDIT: And OMG i can play scout so much better now in TF2, this is borderline cheating.
Quote:
original post (TerrorHead)
Thanks for this, it really works! Just tried it on my VG278H. Its like a CRT now!
Quote:
original post (Vega)
Oh my, I just got Skyrim AFK camera spinning (which I used to test LCD's versus the [Sony CRT] FW900) to run without stutters and VSYNC locked to 120. This Benq with Lightboost is just as crystal clear if not clearer than the FW900 motion. I am in awe. More testing tomorrow. Any of my doubts about this Lightboost technology have been vaporized! I've been playing around with this fluid motion on this monitor for like 6-hours straight, that is how impressive it is.
Quote:
OCN post (Baxter299)
way to go vega enjoyed your review and pics ..thanks for taking the time .got my VG248QE last friday .replacing my fw900 witch is finally taking a rest in my closet .
Quote:
OCN post (Romir)
Thanks for the timely review Vega.
I went ahead and opened mine and WOW, it really does feel like my FW900. I haven't tried a game yet but it's down right eerie seeing 2d text move without going blurry.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheExodu5
original post (TheExodu5)
Lightboost was a complete revelation, and brought me back to the CRT glory days.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cat
QuakeLive forum post (Cat)
With my Asus VG278HE at 120Hz and Lightboost (the Lightboost registry hack doesn't currently support 144Hz) playing at 1080p I am pretty much brutalizing my competition. Even with its 2-5ms input lag, which is worse than the 1ms of my old 120Hz monitor the difference with Lightboost is so huge the input lag literally becomes a non-issue. The only thing that matters now that I don't experience any motion blur is my true reaction time.
The FW900 is a famous 24" widescreen CRT that has been a long-time favourite of CRT die-hards. If you were used to CRT gaming in the past -- and is very sensitive to motion blur -- the motion blur problem has now been fully solved on low-persistence strobe backlight LCD monitors, including LightBoost monitors and G-SYNC monitors.
 
#4 ·
Does the monitor have to be in a specific setting for this to work? My 3d emitter at the top of the VG278H will not turn on unless I boot up a game and without the glasses everything is double imaged. I followed your instructions but I must be overlooking something obvious here....
sad-smiley-002.gif


 
#5 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Derp View Post

Does the monitor have to be in a specific setting for this to work? My 3d emitter at the top of the VG278H will not turn on unless I boot up a game and without the glasses everything is double imaged. I followed your instructions but I must be overlooking something obvious here....
Did you also try rebooting first?
Did you install the registry tweak (not sure if that's needed for your case, but just asking if you tried it too, anyway).
Also, you need to reboot after the registy tweak.

To confirm if LightBoost is enabled in 2D mode (maybe the 3D indicator doesn't show in your case)
Go into your monitor picture adjustment menu. Does it say LightBoost is enabled? (Some monitors tell you).
On VG278H, most picture settings will be disabled, and the LightBoost adjustment setting will be enabled.
If this is the case, you will now have zero motion blur when you do things like dragging windows around (text does not go blurry when you drag a window around).

Failing this, try disabling 3D, launching a game in 2D, keep game running, Alt+Tab back to nVidia Control Panel and re-enable 3D, then Alt+Tab back to the game.
It seems another user on HardForum is having exactly the same problem as you are, but one other seems to have solved the problem. Let's see what exactly the fix seems to be...
 
#6 ·
OMG!? Say wha?
Color me interested...I'm in the market for a good monitor, might have to check this out eventually.
rolleyes.gif
 
#8 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by mdrejhon View Post

Did you also try rebooting first?
Did you install the registry tweak (not sure if that's needed for your case, but just asking if you tried it too, anyway).
Also, you need to reboot after the registy tweak.
To confirm if LightBoost is enabled in 2D mode (maybe the 3D indicator doesn't show in your case)
Go into your monitor picture adjustment menu. Does it say LightBoost is enabled? (Some monitors tell you).
On VG278H, most picture settings will be disabled, and the LightBoost adjustment setting will be enabled.
If this is the case, you will now have zero motion blur when you do things like dragging windows around (text does not go blurry when you drag a window around).
Failing this, try disabling 3D, launching a game in 2D, keep game running, Alt+Tab back to nVidia Control Panel and re-enable 3D, then Alt+Tab back to the game.
It seems another user on HardForum is having exactly the same problem as you are, but one other seems to have solved the problem. Let's see what exactly the fix seems to be...
I have not tried the registry tweak. I would like to try this without messing with the registry and since some are able to do this without the registry tweak, I must be doing something wrong. In 2d mode without the 3d emitter lit up the Lightboost setting in the monitor menu is greyed out.

When I boot a game up and the emitter turns on I can see that the light boost is enabled at max but the image is doubled without using the glasses. I did try your suggestion of disabling 3d, booting up the game, tabbing out and turning 3d back on but that didn't accomplish anything, Lightboost was still greyed out.

I'll try rebooting but I don't think that will help. Edit: didn't help.
 
#9 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by FlighterPilot View Post

So it combats the motion blur by strobing the screen between refreshed images? Sounds interesting -- like an emulated CRT.
Yes, it's a similar CRT stroboscopic effect, and produces the same zero motion blur effect.
If you're not sensitive to a 120Hz CRT flicker, you're okay with a 120Hz strobe backlight. (one strobe per refresh)

Zero motion blur is FINALLY possible on modern LCD panels because of 3D. This is because panels need to refresh fast enough to work with 3D shutter glasses (both shutters are closed while waiting for LCD to finish refreshing between frames). LCD makers have been aggressively working to refresh faster, and clear pixel persistence before the end of the same refresh, with aggressive response time acceleration technology. Conveniently, that makes strobe backlights possible. The vast majority of pixel persistence is far less than a refresh cycle nowadays on the new "1ms" and "2ms" LCD's that are 3D compatible.

You can even have 2 milliseconds of pixel persistence early in a 8ms refresh (120Hz), then strobe for only 1ms later during an 8ms refresh. The human eye only sees the 1ms strobe, instead of the 2ms pixel persistence (because it is kept in the dark) This allows you to completely bypass pixel persistence as the motion blur barrier. Your limiting factor is how short the strobes you can make. The shorter the strobes, the less motion blur. Strobe a backlight as short as CRT phosphor flicker. Voila. CRT Zero motion blur effect on an LCD -- thanks to LightBoost2 strobe backlight which apparently also can be forced to work in 2D (not just 3D).

Some interesting reading on strobe backlight technologies: Science & References
 
#10 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Derp View Post

I have not tried the registry tweak. I would like to try this without messing with the registry and since some are able to do this without the registry tweak, I must be doing something wrong.
I'd love to understand why some computers are behaving differently. Eventually, one of us will figure out the ingredients that cause such behavior.

Why not try manually changing the values?
It's a very small registry file (5 values), and you can easily undo it manually if nothing happens too.
Quote:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\NVIDIA Corporation\Global\Stereo3D]
@=""
"EnableWindowedMode"=dword:00000005
"StereoVisionConfirmed"=dword:00000001
"StereoTypeSet"=dword:00000001
"EnablePersistentStereoDesktop"=dword:00000001
"StereoRefreshDefaultOn"=dword:00000000
Especially try the EnablePersistentStereoDesktop setting, at least. You can do this modification by hand, and undo by hand, too.
 
#12 ·
Wonder if there's anything I can do with my S27A950D?! Hmm!
 
#13 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roxborough View Post

Wonder if there's anything I can do with my S27A950D?! Hmm!
You need LightBoost2. Not the older LightBoost or older 3D Vision monitor.

P.S. Even LightBoost2 could use some technological improvement because LightBoost2 actually dims the picture in 2D mode. It was originally designed to boost brightness through 3D shutter glasses (via strobing the backlight only while shutters are open, avoiding wasting backlight when both shutters are closed waiting for LCD to refresh). It was not designed to brighten the 2D picture. Short strobes often lead to a dimmer picture. You really need very short strobes, with very bright & expensive LED's to compenate. Strobed backlights (LightBoost2) are mainly found in expensive monitors.

Fortunately, the picture is perfect brightness for my eyes when I adjust Brightness to 92, and I mainly game at night, so it's not a problem. (It might be a problem for sunny computer rooms during the day, though).

EDIT: I just realized that older 3D Vision does not have LightBoost. So there's no such thing as a "LightBoost 1". Only the 3D Vision 2 with LightBoost -- the one I've been calling LightBoost2 because it's good for 2D too.
 
#14 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by mdrejhon View Post

I'd love to understand why some computers are behaving differently. Eventually, one of us will figure out the ingredients that cause such behavior.
Why not try manually changing the values?
It's a very small registry file (5 values), and you can easily undo it manually if nothing happens too.
Especially try the EnablePersistentStereoDesktop setting, at least. You can do this modification by hand, and undo by hand, too.
Is it safe to add these keys? "EnablePersistentStereoDesktop" and "StereoRefreshDefaultOn" aren't in that directory for me to edit. The others are there and are already set to those values.
 
#15 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Derp View Post

Is it safe to add these keys? "EnablePersistentStereoDesktop" and "StereoRefreshDefaultOn" aren't in that directory for me to edit. The others are there and are already set to those values.
Yes, it's safe to add those keys.
Note: If you are using Windows 8, you may get some strange login-screen redraw artifacts if you're using Windows 8. (start screen and login screen only). No problems at the Desktop. Appears to be a stereoscopic Windows desktop issue.
 
#18 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by ivanlabrie View Post

What's the cheapest lightboost2 equipped monitor out there?
rolleyes.gif
The BenQ XL2420T, but the Asus models have better colours...
 
#19 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by MenacingTuba View Post

The BenQ XL2420T, but the Asus models have better colours...
On the other hand, LightBoost2 makes 2D dimmer. (The brightening effect is only seen through 3D glasses, it's simply timing the strobes only when shutters are open, surging an extra powerful light strobe through, and avoiding wasting backlight when both shutters are closed waiting for LCD to refresh between frames)

When using LightBoost2 in 2D mode, you really want the brightest possible backlight, so that LightBoost doesn't become too dim.
....so (drum roll), I hear the Benq backlight is famously known to be super bright...

I wonder if that's more important for LightBoost2 image quality?
Maybe someone can compare?
Get two, compare, and return one?
 
#20 ·
Hmmm tough deciding between those...I want an IPS version xD (not gonna happen...)
You raise some valid points, perhaps a compare is in order.
smil3dbd4e4c2e742.gif
 
#21 ·
#22 ·
So it's either that Benq or an IPS for me...I'll have a couple of months worth of saving before actually buying into any of these.
Thanks for sharing!
 
#24 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by mdrejhon View Post

Yes, it's a similar CRT stroboscopic effect, and produces the same zero motion blur effect.
If you're not sensitive to a 120Hz CRT flicker, you're okay with a 120Hz strobe backlight. (one strobe per refresh)
I'm not sure you can make such a comparison.

CRT has a very long phosphor decay. Flicker is simply a result of the last frame dimming to such a degree that the next bright frame shows a visible brightness delta. CRT TVs have a longer phosphor decay than monitors, allowing 50hz/60hz operation without eyestrain.

LED is instant on/off with no decay, which is why PWM is such an issue. Strobing may have a long "on" period, but the lack of decay is still there.

I plan to pick up the Asus 24" when it comes on sale and will see how it affects me. I'm very sensitive to LED PWM.
 
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