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Buying new monitor: 2560x1440 60 Hz vs 1920x1080 120 Hz?

28K views 74 replies 29 participants last post by  mdrejhon 
#1 ·
I'm about to buy a new Pc for gaming, powered by one or two GTX 780, my current monitor is 1920x1080 60 Hz 23", i was thinking to buy a new monitor with new features because those days i was feeling my current monitor a bit small. I was always intrigued about 3D Vision in gaming and movies also 120 Hz experience, since i don't have 3D TV in my house (and im not goin to buy another TV any time soon), i feel like im loosing the experience of watch Blu ray 3D movies.

However monitors of 2650x1440 60 Hz have similar price than 1920x1080 120 Hz, then i read in some post of this forum, that higher resolution are a big jump on gaming experience, even better than 120 Hz of less resolution. Plus, in order to enjoy 120 Hz i would need to power 120 Fps on games, which i don't think is going to be posible on many demanding games like Metro 2033, Crysis 3, and future games, after, 3D vision maybe gonna be cool first months but then probably i get tired and never will use that feature again or just few times, having a monitor with the exact same resolution than my current monitor but with 120 Hz that i won't be able to enjoy. Beside, i'm not sure what effect could have a 1920x1080 resolution on a monitor so big as 27" (if i get one of that size).

I cannot test monitors for my own cause they are not on sale in my country, so im shipping them from USA. Any opinions are welcome.
 
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#3 ·
I cannot comment on 1440p vs 1080p but I can tell you for gaming I will NEVER go back to a 60hz monitor again. I've had my VG248QE for a couple weeks now and I just love it. Duplicating my video to my 60hz monitor side by side the 60 looks awful. No screen tearing I can actually follow enemies with my crosshair, unlike on my 60hz I felt like I was just guessing.
 
#5 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruennis View Post

I've owned 3 different 1920x1080 monitors with 144Hz, 120Hz and 60Hz refresh rates I currently own a Korean 2560x1440 monitor.
Go with the higher resolution monitor. Much more rewarding as graphics are unmatched at 1440p
That can be a true personal preference.
Not everyone agrees, depending on how important colors are, versus how important motion fluidity is. The moderator of HardwareCanucks Forum (Canadian PC hardware forum) prefers the 120Hz now:
Quote:
Originally Posted by lowfat
"I'm a definite convert now. Downgrading in resolution [from 1440p] hasn't been a problem. In areas where I can maintain 120Hz, Lightboost makes a huge difference. It truly is like gaming on a CRT again. I really can't wait till we start seeing IPS panels that take advantage of frame matched backlight strobing."
So, again, it's a personal preference.
Want better color and more resolution? Go 1440p
Want the best motion fluidity? Go 1080p + LightBoost

Even 100Hz LightBoost (strobe backlight) has less motion blur than 144Hz non-LightBoost:

http://www.blurbusters.com/faq/60vs120vslb
(From Photos: 60Hz versus 120Hz versus LightBoost)
 
#7 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruennis View Post

Want the best of both worlds? Grab a Korean 1440p monitor and overclock it (Mine is at 96Hz)
thumb.gif
You mean "The best compromise of both worlds". It's an excellent compromise, yes.

Overclocked 120Hz will still have about 6 times more motion blur than a LightBoost monitor (during ideal fps=Hz conditions). See PHOTOS: 60Hz versus 120Hz versus LightBoost.
 
#8 ·
IMO, 1440p/1600p @ 60hz > 120FPS @ 1080p.
 
#9 ·
Go with a 1440P monitor

1440P has 80% more pixels then 1080P or 3,6 million Vs 2 million
 
#10 ·
Depends on what you play the most of. For FPS games the difference is like night and day, but you really really need more than 100+ FPS for it to be smooth. If you mostly play singleplayer FPS games there's probably not that much of a point, as when you get used to 120 Hz, 60 Hz in FPS games is going to feel like stuttery lag (at least it does to me) whenever you drop below 90-100 FPS, whereas 60 Hz will feel smooth at 60 FPS as long as you're used to it.
 
#11 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Reactions View Post

Depends on what you play the most of. For FPS games the difference is like night and day, but you really really need more than 100+ FPS for it to be smooth. If you mostly play singleplayer FPS games there's probably not that much of a point, as when you get used to 120 Hz, 60 Hz in FPS games is going to feel like stuttery lag (at least it does to me) whenever you drop below 90-100 FPS, whereas 60 Hz will feel smooth at 60 FPS as long as you're used to it.
I play video games like Crysis 3 , Metro 2033, in those games hardly i'm goin to find more than 60 FPS for sure, but 3D experience is not important to you?
 
#13 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Reactions View Post

Depends on what you play the most of. For FPS games the difference is like night and day, but you really really need more than 100+ FPS for it to be smooth. If you mostly play singleplayer FPS games there's probably not that much of a point, as when you get used to 120 Hz, 60 Hz in FPS games is going to feel like stuttery lag (at least it does to me) whenever you drop below 90-100 FPS, whereas 60 Hz will feel smooth at 60 FPS as long as you're used to it.
What?
If your gaming experience is stuttery at 60 FPS then you have issues.
Any gaming setup that can lock/Vysnc games at 60FPS @ 60 hz looks great and run very smooth.

120hz is a little smoother but saying 60FPS is stuttery is flat out ridiculous.
Even shooters at 1440p/1600p are far superior, especially games like Skyrim/Reckoning/SC2 etc...
1920 X 1080 is an average resolution now.
 
#15 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by sniperpowa View Post

After playing on a 144hz monitor for a while I can say that 60hz monitors look a little laggy. I can definitely tell a huge difference. I have had the urge to go for a higher resolution though.
Opposite for me.
120hz was a little smoother from my short trial but 1440p/1600p is a world of difference.
It is quite literally/pretty much DOUBLE the resolution and a significant advantage in many titles.

I very very rarely experience any lag at all and most quality panels have very little to no motion blur.
 
#16 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by sniperpowa View Post

After playing on a 144hz monitor for a while I can say that 60hz monitors look a little laggy. I can definitely tell a huge difference. I have had the urge to go for a higher resolution though.
Yep, 60Hz is quite laggy, cannot stand gaming at that refresh rate any more...it's just so awful after going to something that is two times as smooth.
 
#17 ·
#21 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by GfhTattoo View Post

i loved my old 21 inch crt @ 2048-1536 @ 72 hz. But now i game on 120hz close to it. i cant comment on 1440p but i love 120 hz wont go back. why not get 120hz 1440p ?
120Hz 1440p has far more motion blur than 120Hz 1080p LightBoosted (strobe backlight).

See TFTCentral: Motion Blur Reduction Backlights (Including LightBoost)

That said, the 1440p 120Hz overclocks are still a good compromise, if you need the higher resolution and the better colors. They do have less motion blur than regular 60Hz LCD, at least.
 
#22 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by amstech View Post

What?
If your gaming experience is stuttery at 60 FPS then you have issues.
Any gaming setup that can lock/Vysnc games at 60FPS @ 60 hz looks great and run very smooth.

120hz is a little smoother but saying 60FPS is stuttery is flat out ridiculous.
Even shooters at 1440p/1600p are far superior, especially games like Skyrim/Reckoning/SC2 etc...
1920 X 1080 is an average resolution now.
If you're used to playing at 120 Hz with 120 FPS, 60 Hz is going to feel unsmooth and stuttery yes.
 
#25 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Reactions View Post

If you're used to playing at 120 Hz with 120 FPS, 60 Hz is going to feel unsmooth and stuttery yes.
I have already stated I disagree, I experience very very little to no stutter or lag...120hz is smoother but its not that big of a difference for 90% of my games.
Quote:
Originally Posted by johny24 View Post

. I chose a Korean 1440p IPS. I was using the 120Hz monitor for the higher frame rate, not 3D. It didn't make enough of a difference.
Same for me.
 
#26 ·
So guys, as corollary, is not recommended to buy 120 Hz over higher resolution, cause we would be forced to keep more than 100 FPS on everygame to enjoy 120 Hz experience? 100+ FPS its posible today on some games but not in the long run i think. So 120 Hz sounds like a bad investment.
 
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