Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Hdmi>monitor

Mar 10, 2018 10:56PM PST

If I have a 60hz monitor connected via hdmi and the hdmi is limited to 60fps what is the value of connecting a 120hz monitor?

Yes I refresh the screen twice as often but will I see a difference?

Seems to me that the same screen will be refreshed.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Answer
I don't understand that either Bob
Mar 11, 2018 5:38AM PDT

it seems to me that since we in the U.S run at 60 hz , the 120 hz monitor would be limited to that .

- Collapse -
Monitor
Mar 11, 2018 6:16AM PDT

Even if I had a monitor that internally doubled the refresh rate I'm still limited by the 60 fps hdmi.

There are hits on goggle that say it's better so now I'm wondering if I'm thinking about this wrong.

Since I'm not a gamer I don't have a good way to test.

- Collapse -
I still don't get it
Mar 11, 2018 6:35AM PDT
- Collapse -
Answer
Figure it out yet ?
Mar 12, 2018 9:37AM PDT

I'm curious Confused

- Collapse -
No
Mar 12, 2018 9:55AM PDT

If 120hz does make it better then it has to be something going on between frames.

I was hoping someone with a deeper understanding could explain this to me.

I'll admit I'm thick and most of this stuff goes over my head.

- Collapse -
I think I read
Mar 12, 2018 10:00AM PDT

somewhere in the link I supplied that you need to set the monitor to 60hz because you may get stuttering

- Collapse -
Answer
Let me try.
Mar 12, 2018 10:09AM PDT

HDMI, the link is 99.99% of the time going to send out about 60 frames per second. Yes it supports 24, 25, 50 and of course 60 frames per second so if you get an 120 Hz display (another way to write 120 frames per second) what is going on?

The answer is not sure. Some monitors simply show the frame 2 times and we are back to 60 FPS but on scree 120 FPS. WHY IS THIS!!!!? Because LCD panels are mass manufactured so to get the cost down you use what you can get on the market and tweak the electronics to match. You also get to sell this as a feature.

The next thing that could happen is MOTION SMOOTHING but gamers tend to dislike that since it can create INPUT LAG. Google INPUT LAG if you need to catch up. Motion smoothing is hit and miss from what I see. Some folk like it as the monitor or TV tries to make up what the new frame could be from one frame to the next. But there's the reason for INPUT LAG. We have to wait for the next frame before we can display the prior frame with smoothing.

PS. Edited for spelling.

Post was last edited on March 12, 2018 11:42 AM PDT

- Collapse -
Smoothing
Mar 12, 2018 10:53AM PDT

Perhaps that's why some folks claim it makes it better.

I was just looking at this as displaying the same frame twice and could not understand how that made it better.

- Collapse -
LOL
Mar 16, 2018 7:39PM PDT

So what happened ?

- Collapse -
What happened with what?
Mar 16, 2018 8:14PM PDT

I have no way to test this.

It was just some posts I was reading that claimed it was better with a 120hz monitor.

- Collapse -
I was curious
Mar 16, 2018 8:22PM PDT

about what you found....
Did you switch back and forth between 120 and 60 and see a difference ?

- Collapse -
Monitor
Mar 16, 2018 8:56PM PDT

I don't have a 120hz monitor to test with.

Even if I did I doubt that what I do would show a difference.

I also doubt these old eyeballs could see a difference.

- Collapse -
@ my nephew's house
Mar 16, 2018 9:15PM PDT

I couldn't tell the difference between a 720 and 1080 so go figure........