When getting a monitor, there are a LOT of things to consider. Even those considerations can vary upon the type of user you are. However, we’re not gonna cover every aspect of monitors in this one. Our primary focus here is response time.
Response times be vital in your overall user experience. Especially if you’re a gamer, who wants his quick reflexes to get registered as fast as possible. Then again, you might ask if it’ll affect you in basic “non-gaming” scenarios. Well, not to worry. We’ll be answering all that in this one and more.
So, which one wins the 1ms vs 4ms monitor battle? Stick around to find out! Be sure to read every bit. You might just find something interesting.
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Defining Monitor Response Time
To put it down on pen and paper, the refresh rate of a monitor is a means of scientific measurement to show how fast your monitor reacts to the information on the screen.
To be more specific, response time refers to the duration of time taken for a single pixel to change from one color to another. Let’s say if a monitor’s response rate is 4ms, then it should take 4ms of time for a pixel of that monitor to change from one color to another.
Higher response rates might result in lags caused by the graphics chips. That’s exactly why many prefer lower response rates for a smoother and more enjoyable viewing/gaming experience.
Why is Monitor Response Time Important?
If monitor response time wasn’t a crucial factor, we wouldn’t actually be here now, would we? Let’s discuss the importance of response times and the value it adds step by step.
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A Smooth Viewing Experience
The overall visual experience itself is heavily dependent on the response time your monitor has. If the monitor’s response time manages to fix the pixels in the right manner to illustrate the images clearly, it’ll lead to the best possible screen performance. And thus, an optimal viewership.
This can be especially said when there’s a lot going on the screen. Response times need to be just right to capture all the action.
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Displaying the Colors Right
Let’s talk about the intensity of colors a bit. As we have said before, response times are the determining facts that ensure different colors and color combinations that affect the screen at the same time.
When a particular color is darker, let’s say gray, it means that a less amount of color will go through the particular color filter. Which means multiple gray shades will offer a more intense feeling of all the other colors on the screen of the monitor.
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The Millisecond Game
Since a monitor’s response time is measured by milliseconds, faster rates beat the time a particular color or image will stay on the screen. Higher response times often lead to trails of moving objects. We obviously don’t want that now, do we?
Pixels do take some time to switch in between shades of colors. Slow response times lead to images staying on the screen for longer periods of time than they ought to. To obliterate the possibility of ghosting, lower response times are a must.
Also, heavier programs that require fast response times like 1ms, might suffer in performance in monitors with higher response times. This leads to unavoidable distractions and in some cases, artifacts as well.
Why is Low Response Time Preferred by Gamers?
Before we go into the 1ms Vs. 4ms monitor discussion, I really should cover this bit. Low response rates are celebrated by gamers and professional users alike. Ever wondered why? Let’s find out.
You should be aware by now that normal PC usage doesn’t really require an insanely low response time like 1ms. By normal PC usage, I mean streaming, editing, web surfing, writing, keeping notes, and all that.
However, in gaming, every fraction of a second matters. It might even determine the win or loss of a game. I mean, the last moment strike or a long-range sniper shot at the right moment can be very decisive when it comes to competitive gaming. This is where 1ms monitors outshine the competition.
A highly responsive screen can really help out in the gaming scenario. That’s why it’s safe to say, the lower the response rate, the better (At least in this case).
The Bad Side of Fast Response Time
Fast response times can really have some serious impact when it comes to competitive gaming and professional video editing. But it has a slight downside to it as well. Sometimes they fail to achieve the complex image processing data that are sent out by your PC.
These problems relate to displaying the correct color portion or boosting the brightness of your monitor. Even more so, there’s the blue light factor. It might cause eye strain by reducing the blue light filters to some extent.
Choosing the fastest response time inevitably reduces brightness and offers dull colors in comparison during gaming. This is something you might want to keep in mind before making your next purchase.
Is it All That Noticeable?
Let’s get down to the main point here, is the difference at hand all that noticeable? A millisecond (“ms”) is a unit that refers to one-thousandth of a second. I mean, are our eyes really that fast? The debate ends with a question of color Vs. Performance.
I mean, come on! If an hour is of 3600 seconds. What’s a millisecond compared to a second? A second is made of a thousand milliseconds. The difference can hardly be detected here.
If you’re a gamer, you can straight up go with the fastest response time. Otherwise, a 4ms monitor won’t ruin your day at all. You might even get to enjoy some vibrant and accurate colors.
1ms Vs. 4ms Monitor: The Comparison Chart
Let’s compare the response time and give you a clear view of the perks and quirks, shall we?
The Final Verdict
Choosing the best one for yourself might get a bit tricky. However, the comparisons show that the 1ms monitor is better in most cases. But that doesn’t necessarily bring the TN panel (Best Suited for 1ms) to the best possible position. IPS panels have much better color production and viewing angles.
My final take on it would be, there’s no better alternative for 1ms monitors if you’re a gamer. But for other casual usages, 4ms monitors should do just fine.
So, that puts an end to our 1ms Vs. 4ms monitor battle. Hope you enjoyed the read and found the answers you were looking for. Bye for now!
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