Best monitor so far even if 1080p

[petchorin]

What do you mean by "adjusting the strobe may be frustrating"?

[Falkentyne]

As per this page and the math formula I listed, when using a Vertical Total (VT) Tweak, the maximum strobe phase is reduced from 100, to a percentage lower, depending on how the refresh rate "Divides" into 16.7ms (60hz). I'm not going to explain that here, it's in the thread here: http://forums.blurbusters.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2467
But basically, if you use a VT tweak at different refresh rates, you have to change the strobe phase each time you change to a different refresh rate.

If you are not using a VT tweak, you'll usually use strobe phase 100 (more crosstalk but lower input lag) or strobe phase 000 (less crosstalk but up to 1 frame higher input lag).

These apply to the Benq Z series monitors BEFORE the XL2730, which does not accept VT tweaks (ignored). The XL2735 accepts VT tweaks but no one has tested how a VT tweak affects the max Strobe Phase (called "Area") on the XL2735.

[petchorin]

So it means I need to use a constant refresh rate. Am I right? Why is that a problem? Movie fps vary from 24 to 30, sometimes you get 25 sometimes it's 29, even lower and higher values, why do people want to seek a multiple? Is it revelant? What happens it you set a constant refresh rate of 144hz on a XL2720Z? Are the tweaks able to eliminate razor shape ghosts, usual ghosting, blur, and all the chaff?

[Falkentyne]

No you're wrong.
You need to keep the FRAMERATE matching the refresh rate at all times for best quality if you use Motion blur reduction.

VT tweaks are for REDUCING the strobe crosstalk. However as I explained in my sticky, VT Tweaks also REDUCE THE maximum strobe phase you can use, from 100 to a lower value. The "lower value" depends on the refresh rate the VT Tweak is used at. For example, 85hz with a VT 1501 tweak (the only VT Tweak in the 1497-1502 range that doesn't stutter and frameskip) is capped at Strobe Phase 071. Any higher and the backlight will shut off if blur reduction is enabled (so disable blur reduction from the OSD hotkey then reduce the strobe phase). For 100hz its Strobe Phase 060. For 120hz its strobe phase 050. For 125hz its strobe phase 048.

It's IMPOSSIBLE To eliminate ALL 'sharp ghosts' and ghosting on a LCD screen. Due to how LCD overdrive and pixel persistence and settling times work. Blur reduction is for elimination of motion blur. The only two monitors that could have literally NO ghosting OR overdrive artifacts in strobing mode, are the VG248QE and the Eizo Foris FG2421. But both require huge sacrifices---FG2421-mulitple frames of input lag (>20ms+), VG248QE-requires setting "OD Gain" in the service menu to 0C, after "Lightboost" mode is enabled, then set Contrast to 0.

[petchorin]

VG248QE it is then, Thank you.

[Chief Blur Buster]

If you're very picky about smooth motion, and you don't mind interpolation (24fps -> 120fps as well as 60fps -> 120fps), the combination of VG248QE + LightBoost + SVP makes for very smooth blur-free video. Color will not be very good but the images will be very blur-free (except any original blur by the camera).

But personally if you dislike SVP, the non-SVP motion on an XL2720Z looks better.

Give SVP a try today on your 60Hz/72Hz display (24fps->60fps or 24fps->72fps) and see if you like it. If you like it a lot, then 120Hz+strobing+SVP can make it even smoother and clearer.

[Falkentyne]

Chief, I only recommended the VG248QE because he said he wants NO ghosting whatsoever in Lightboost / Strobe mode, and the only two monitors that seem to be capable of that are FG2421 (+input lag) and the VG248QE. The service menu option I only found out rather recently, and by then hardly anyone was buying these for Lightboost anymore.

First trick is to let the monitor warm up for >30 minutes (this is important; the 27" monitors don't require such an extended warmup but it does help them to).

Then enable Lightboost mode and stay on the desired refresh rate.
Then, go into the service menu (Power off, hold middle MENU button, power on with menu button held down. Menu opens the Asus service menu) and change OD Gain, which defaults to 0F in Lightboost, to 0C.
This should remove the inverse ghosting at the bottom of the screen and change part of the top to a light normal ghosting.

Then drop the contrast to 0.
This should remove 95% of all the ghosting on the screen, with it 100% not seeable in any FPS or RTS Games, and barely noticeable at all on TestUFO alien invasion fullscreen. Some motion test color settings (on the testUFO ghosting page) may pick up minor ghosting, but it's basically as clear as a CRT. The image is VERY, VERY Washed out however. Eventually people will get bored of seeing a washed out image and would rather trade more ghosting for more colors.

It's worth noting that the Benq XL2730Z, XL2735 and XL2540 also have a very similar service menu, with the "OD Gain" setting, but there are no longer 16 values (from 00 to 0F in hexadecimal), but much fewer. Yes they affect the AMA main setting but instantly revert as soon as refresh rate is changed.

[petchorin]

I couldn't get SVP to work yet. They have a 4.0 free version, a 4.0 pro one, a 3.xx free version and a 3.xx pro. I don't even know which one I should pick. The pro versions aren't free, although I could get a 3.xx pro. But nothing worked so far, it just messed with players and codecs, movies playing only sound, no picture.

[petchorin]

But I think I might get the idea of SVP. Isn't it the effect that made the picture looked so real on that huge screen my parents once had? I was weird. So high quality that it looked too good, and gave an impression of fakeness, like in an amateur video. It was less immersive, like you could feel the cameraman was here doing his best , and it was like like the actors were in the room with you or something. I wan't to try it though, maybe I'm wrong and it gave this impression because of the size of the screen or because when I looked at the screen they were airing a cheap brand new soap opera.

[petchorin]

If svp reduces razorshape ghosts and blur on my single imput qnix 2710 evolution II ips monitor I could even avoid to buy a new one, but I wouldn't have high expectations considering the well known high pixel persistance on ips screens, and I would still get a blurry experience when doing something else than watching movies on my computer.