When purchasing a new computer monitor, there are several things to keep in mind. Did you know that responsiveness is just as important? If you use your computer for simple tasks like viewing movies, producing paperwork, and so on, a fast monitor may not be necessary.
But if you’re a gamer and you need a monitor for your gaming adventures, you definitely need a monitor with a fast response time. Getting one of these will significantly enhance your gaming experience, so it is so crucial to gamers.
In this article, you will learn about the 1ms vs. 4ms display technology. And in the end, you should be able to choose which one works best for you depending on your peculiar needs. Let’s get started!
What is Meant by Response Time?
In computing, this is the amount of time it takes a system to change the color of a single pixel from black to white. However, market grey-grey response time is also unimportant, and it is always the time it takes to get from black to white that is the proper response time.
Two characteristics of gameplay are affected mainly by response time. Motion blur and ghosting are real problems in gaming. Motion blur may be seen in fast-paced games if the response time is too slow. In some instances, a picture may look blurry because of a slow transition from black to white.
When a change isn’t made promptly, ghosting might occur. Because of this, you will perceive a shadow or a silhouette surrounding the moving item. And because of the negative impact that these problems may have on the game experience, it is preferable to have a reduced response time.
4ms vs. 1ms Response time
The faster a system responds, the better. As a result, going with 1ms is a better option. All high-end gaming machines now give a response time of 1 millisecond. Do the results indicate that 4ms is unacceptable? Not at all. It’s all up to you, of course.
Many games do not need a 1 millisecond response time, and you don’t have to be concerned if you play them. Because of this, it may not be the best choice if you’re a dedicated player who plays fast-paced games.
Type of Display Panel
Please remember that the display type you’re using impacts the response time. Even if it’s possible to perceive fast-moving things clearly with the quickest response time, this isn’t true in its whole.
TN (Twisted Nematic) and IPS (In-Plane Switching) display panels are utilized by various brands to use two primary display panel forms of display, called a VA, in addition to these two.
Most TN panels have a response time of 1ms, whereas IPS and VA panels may reach response times of 4ms or more.
Because TN displays have the fastest response time, they are the obvious choice for those who want the fastest. You must also consider the display panel’s features and aspects when deciding. Here are some things to consider about these panels.
TN Display Panels
TN panels have the quickest response time; they lack broad viewing angles and sound color reproduction. Despite their poor color reproduction, TN panels feature an excellent refresh rate. As a result, many professional gamers and organizations rely on this display to run smoothly.
IPS and VA Display Panels
These display panels are fantastic because they provide excellent viewing angles and color accuracy. IPS panels are more popular with graphic designers because of their consistent and accurate color reproduction; however, IPS and VA panels do not have a reasonable response rate. It all comes down to what you’re willing to give up to achieve what you want from display panels.
If your budget is limited, your best chance may be to go with the TN or VA panel among these three screen options. Although expensive, IPS displays aren’t a viable gaming option because of their sluggish response times.
Before purchasing from an online retailer or a brick-and-mortar retailer, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the monitor’s panel description. If your display supports overdrive options, you may increase the pixel response time. Color-changing speed is boosted by incorporating the required screen panel into your ordinary monitor.
Overdrive may lead to complications such as overshoot in the monitor’s overdrive, which can negatively influence the screening process. It’s possible that overshooting is similar to ghosting, except the pixels change before the screen changes color or the picture transforms.
You may use a medium-strength overdrive to correct the overshoot, allowing for quicker reaction times without the overshoot visual effects.
How Essential is the Response Time of Your Monitor?
To get the most out of a gaming or watching experience, monitor response time must be fast enough to keep up with the activity on the screen. To provide the optimum viewing experience and screen performance, the monitor’s response time ensures that the pixels are fixed accurately.
The pixel’s response time also impacts how quickly it can show numerous colors since different color combinations might affect the display. The intensity of any other color on the panel will be magnified if the screen includes a lot of gray tones. The deeper the gray hue, the less light will pass through the filter.
Response time is measured in milliseconds, which means that a higher pace beats how long an image would be on the screen, thereby preventing ghosting. Because the picture remains on the screen for a more extended period, it leaves trailing marks of the moving objects, and the pixels take a long time to flip between shades of green because the ghosting is so strong.
Even if you utilize the 1ms, heavy apps and games may slow down the loading times. It is impossible to avoid visual artifacts and distractions while playing on a heavy application because of the slow reaction time.
Comparison of 4ms and 1ms Monitors
Choosing the ideal monitor necessitates a comparison of 1ms against 4ms. You’re not the only one who is unsure whether the 1ms or 4ms is better for your computer. However, the greater the refresh rate, the quicker the monitor and PC refresh, the lower the ms must be.
| 4ms | 1ms |
| When gaming, the 4ms has a four-fold slower response time than the 1ms, resulting in blurry graphics that might affect the results. | As the picture pixel is updated, 1ms is very responsive, updating images and colors concurrently. It’s ideal for gaming since it doesn’t leave behind a ghost trail, which may be tedious. When it comes to the availability of technology, zero is never a possibility since progress is always being made. |
| It can operate at 144 and 60 Hz. | You may achieve refresh rates of up to 240Hz with a TN panel with minor processing required. |
| The pixels on the 4ms display take four milliseconds to generate each frame, resulting in a fuzzy picture that may be visible. | The pixel response time is one millisecond on every frame, making it ideal for both 60Hz and 144Hz screens. It provides a seamless and error-free experience, although the human eye may not be able to see it. |
4ms vs. 1ms: Which one is better?
Both of these speeds have advantages and disadvantages, and there is no better choice. The ordinary person’s sight or brain cannot see the difference between the two; hence there is no way to tell them apart. The producers must select which option is better for their product. A 4ms monitor is cheaper to produce than a 1ms monitor.
Is a Monitor with a Slow Response Time Worth Buying?
Gaming and video streaming will suffer blurry visuals and delayed color changes if the display has a short response time. During gaming, blurry vision and ghost images may be unappealing and may even affect the game’s result.
High-speed screen panels come at the cost of certain features, such as screen brightness and eye strain prevention, but they may be worth it in the long run. As a result, choosing a monitor with a slow response time may not be the best option.
In gaming, the difference between a fast and a sluggish screen panel is like night and day. An opponent may harm you if, for example, your color scheme and photos leave a trail and do not alter soon. In addition, the monitor’s brightness is decreased by the rapid reaction, although this does not hinder the ability to play games or stream video.
Specifications like refresh rate and lighting technology have a more significant influence than whether or not a monitor has a fast response time.
Conclusion
Since both 4ms and 1ms are considered to have lesser response times, many individuals become confused about choosing one. As a result, 4ms vs. 1ms may be a tricky topic. Both of these response times are excellent for your gaming and other activities.
But comparing the two is difficult. We genuinely hope that this post answered all of your questions and that you could make an informed decision on which monitor response time to purchase or utilize.
