[Spliff]

I've heard people complain that LCD screens are not responsive enough to keep up with the rapidly changing visuals in video games.

Is this true? I've never played games on a computer with an LCD, so forgive my ignorance. Will the new iMac being a decent game machine with a LCD?

[seanyepez]

Yes. They are too slow. I can't explain again, as I almost had my post finished when I accidentally closed the window. I don't feel like typing my page-long post over again tonight. I'll probably edit this post and elaborate about different pixel technologies again tomorrow.

[keveridge]

Some LCD's are definately too slow to keep up with first person games, however not all are. I use a cinema display and play Quake 3 and Unreal and the screen refresh is not far off a CRT.

It's fast enough not to be noticeable

[The_Equivocator]

We've had this topic posted a bunch of times before. Here are the links:

Are flat panel displays decent for gaming???

Apple LCD Monitors - Can they keep up in games????

LCD's and Games

LCD image quality in gaming?

17" Flat Screen and Games

[ 01-14-2002: Message edited by: The_Equivocator ]

[--Helen--]

I think ya'll are completely nuts. I've played everything from Oni to Red Faction on my boyfriend's ACD 22" for the last year. I've never noticed any sort of refresh rate problem.



[ 01-14-2002: Message edited by: --Helen-- ]

[Jansar]

First of all, I appreciate The_Equivocator's time for looking up all of those links, but as you can see they are very old, and perhaps this topic is starting again, because we want to bring the topic up front again. I feel the same way about forums that get too big. It's time to move on.

I have an Apple Studio Display 15" and I don't notice ANYTHING at all with games, programs, you name it. It could be that some displays are faulty and are not too responsive.

[rampant]

Some are, some aren't. It depends on their ns refresh rate. Mine is 60hz, which is definately fast enough.

[blizzard]

C'mon rampant, we all know that the refresh rate of your monitor has to be at LEAST 125 hertz - you know, to keep up with the polling rate of a USB mouse

Kidding! I for one am always impressed by the incredible detail which you put into your posts, sean. Keep up the good work.

Isn't the ibook's screen only 50hz? I recall not being able to tell if it was 80 or 50 in Unreal Tournament on the ibook. I can tell on my new laptop. Does apple say on their specs page?

[jtc]

The refresh rates of LCDs are limited by how fast the diodes can turn on and off. For most LCDs this is around 20 to 40 Hz (25 to 50 milliseconds). Regardless of what refresh rate your monitor control panel is letting you choose, the picture on the display won't update faster than this.

[Spliff]

Tom's Hardware Guide has a review of 13 LCD monitors:
http://www.tomshardware.com/display/...114/index.html

And Slashdot discusses it:
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=0...mp;mode=nested

[seanyepez]

Originally posted by --Helen--:
<STRONG>I think ya'll are completely nuts. I've played everything from Oni to Red Faction on my boyfriend's ACD 22" for the last year. I've never noticed any sort of refresh rate problem.



[ 01-14-2002: Message edited by: --Helen-- ]</STRONG>

You're obviously not an experienced or serious gamer, then.

[rampant]

Yeah, does anyone remember the ms delay (or hz) for the apple flat screens? I think those are created for image quality, not games.

I think mine is 18 ms...

[--Helen--]

"You're obviously not an experienced or serious gamer, then."

[masskinner]

It's not just the refresh rate--it's also the black levels (or lack thereof).

[Leonard]

Tom's article was very good. It sounds like I made a good decision staying with a CRT since I'm gaming a good part of the time.

Now if I could find a good use of my second monitor in games... I guess I'll have to reserve it for use with my amateur photo importing/editting hobby. At least I now know how a second monitor works from actual practical experience.

[ 01-17-2002: Message edited by: Leonard ]

[Deal]

I play on either a Ti Powerbook screen, 20" applevision (CRT) or an 22" cinema display. I don't think the screen has much to do between the difference of machines I use.

Given the choice I like the Cinema display (LCD) for obvious reasons.

I am not a serious gamer, but I am a competitive one.

[Corys]

I picked up one of the cheapo envision 17" LCD's from costco about 2 months back ($460).
I personally can't tell a diff from my 20" CRT. UT, Red Faction, RTCW. it all pretty much seems to play the same for me.
it's just great to have my desk back!