XL2720z V2 + BB Strobe Utility = Greatest Gaming Monitor!

Adjusting BENQ Blur Reduction and DyAc (Dynamic Acceleration) including Blur Busters Strobe Utility. Supports most BenQ/Zowie Z-Series monitors (XL2411, XL2420, XL2720, XL2735, XL2540, XL2546)
Falkentyne
Posts: 2793
Joined: 26 Mar 2014, 07:23

Re: XL2720z V2 + BB Strobe Utility = Greatest Gaming Monitor

Post by Falkentyne » 16 Dec 2015, 13:04

Turn off blur reduction and lower the strobe phase in the service menu.

The screen goes black because whenever the monitor is fresh from the factory or set to factory defaults (including after a firmware flash), the strobe phase is reset to 100. 100 strobe phase was the default (unchangeable) setting from V1 because a high strobe phase (e.g. 100 or max before backlight shutoff) has 1 frame lower input lag (equal exactly to the refresh rate frame time = 1000 divided by hz in milliseconds) than a low strobe phase (e.g. 000).

As masterotaku explained in his thread and as I explained in the "VT tweak/AMA" thread, there is a formula for determining the maximum strobe phase before the backlight shuts off. Please refer to that thread.

http://forums.blurbusters.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=2590

If you desire a high strobe phase, remember that the maximum strobe duty allowed to be used (before increasing strobe duty has no effect) is exactly equal to the AMOUNT OF POINTS remaining in strobe phase before the backlight cuts off. referring to the formula in my thread, you can easily calculate that with a VT tweak applied at 120hz refresh rate, where strobe phase 049 is the maximum phase and 050 shuts off the backlight, you can see that at a strobe phase of 044, the max strobe DUTY will be 006, as there are 6 values left of strobe phase before the backlight shuts off.


I also think you're confusing "AMA low" and "blur reduction off low overdrive" (which is equal to tracefree=60 on the Asus VG248QE)
AMA low is an undocumented setting for blur reduction *ON* where you set AMA to high after enabling blur reduction, which overwrites the default (too aggressive; too much overshoot) overdrive with a much lower value. This didn't work in V2 firmware (just made things worse than AMA premium) but this seems to have been intentionally added. This AMA low setting is very similar to how Lightboost looks on the XL2720Z, without the trashed colors of course. The 24" benq monitors naturally have much lower ghosting in LIGHTBOOST mode than the 27" monitors, as this applies to every 24" vs 27" monitor (including the Asus VG248QE vs VG278HE), but that's just referring to Lightboost.

The "Perfect overdrive" for blur reduction *OFF* is a bug in the firmware and is a true *BUG* (unlike the AMA low undocumented setting) and was never intended, but it's very helpful if you don't use blur reduction. Basically, if you switch from a display mode preset with blur reduction ON, to a display mode preset with blur reduction OFF, the overdrive level that was *CURRENTLY IN USE* (whether toggled to "Low" or not) used in blur reduction on, gets applied to blur reduction off, instead of the "Default" (too aggressive) overdrive that is usually used if you disable blur reduction manually.

All of the Benq monitors have FAR too aggressive AMA (overdrive) with blur reduction off, to lower the response time, but this causes intense purplish inverse ghosting and white ghost trails on black objects. The RL2455HM and RL 2755HM have it even worse, in this regard. Blur reduction on has its own default different overdrive setting, which still has too aggressive overdrive but the overdrive level is lower (you can see for yourself, there's a lot less white ghost trails behind dark objectives with blur reduction on but there are still inverse RTA artifacts). So if you switch directly from blur reduction on current/preset profile to a different preset with blur reduction off, blur reduction off will have a lower overdrive applied to it (which is a bug).

Now knowing that, you can combine the "AMA Low" blur reduction on toggle (which reduces the AMA of blur reduction on by about 50%) and have it "Activated" with blur reduction off, by switching profiles. Then you can get blur reduction off overdrive to look far better than any Benq monitor on the market, pretty much (it's a very drastic improvement), and almost exactly equal to Asus Tracefree=60 on their VG248 or VG278 monitors.

Anyway you're making the preset thing much more difficult than it is.
Just read my post again and it makes sense.

Just remember this:
When changing from a preset with blur reduction enabled to a different preset with blur reduction disabled, the CURRENT AMA SETTING in use gets APPLIED to the new preset dynamically (which is a bug you are exploiting). You can use the (undocumented) blur reduction AMA low setting and apply AMA low's calibration to blur reduction off, which is usually not supposed to happen, by changing presets instead of turning off blur reduction on the OSD.

And remember:
if you are using 'AMA low' with blur reduction ENABLED (setting AMA to high after enabling blur reduction), any change to brightness (but not contrast or gamma, just brightness), ANY strobe settings, or any refreshrate/resolution changes will revert the AMA to default.

If you are using the "profile switch" to improve AMA for blur reduction OFF, strobe settings don't matter and this time you CAN change brightness, but changing refresh rate or resolutions will revert the AMA again.

And the reason to use the S-switch is because it's faster. You could do the same thing through Picture Advanced ->Picture mode on the OSD but that takes longer.

---------
Input lag between VT 1350-VT 1500?
the same.
Just having a VT Tweak active seems to change the buffering of the strobe phase.
Look at the formula in the thread I linked.

Once you see how VT tweaks and the "60hz pulse widths" work and you understand WHY Strobe phase 050 shuts off the backlight at 120hz, Strobe phase 060 shuts off the backlight at 100hz, and strobe phase 048 shuts off the backlight at 125hz and strobe phase 071 shuts off the backlight at 85hz (ALL WITH VT TWEAKS ACTIVE), once you fully understand the math and this makes sense, then you can start thinking outside the box and realize something.

120hz is double 60hz.
60hz pulse widths is 0.167 milliseconds (60hz = 16.7 milliseconds equal to 16.7 divided by 100 = 0.167 ms strobe pulse widths)
Since the backlight shuts off at strobe phase 050 with 120hz with 60hz pulse widths (VT tweaks FORCE 60hz pulse widths), then you would EXPECT that WITHOUT A VT tweak, that Strobe phase = 100 should either shut off the backlight or make the maximum strobe DUTY = 001, at 100 strobe phase, right?

(masterotaku on steam mentioned this)

However for some reason, that's not how it seems to work. At strobe phase=100 (WITHOUT VT tweak), you STILL can use strobe duty 000-030 and have it apply at most refresh rates, which seems to break the formula which works perfectly WITH VT Tweaks. The formula not applying without VT tweaks seems to imply that there is extra input or processing lag added to allow all strobe duty values to work with a max strobe phase of 100. But when using a VT tweak, this gets cut out completely, which is why at 120hz, strobe phase=049, the only strobe DUTY value that works is 001...everything up from duty 002-duty 030 act the same as duty 001. So this seems to imply that even though a LOW strobe phase (e.g. 000) has a 1 frame HIGHER input lag than strobe phase 100 (or around the maximum with VT tweak), strobe phase 000 WITHOUT a VT tweak still has slightly higher input lag than strobe phase 000 WITH a VT tweak (it was chief blur buster who mentioned just using a VT tweak SHOULD also improve input lag slightly even if you are NOT using blur reduction!).

But you can test the strobe phase and input lag for yourself. Just watch the UFO's and watch how when you INCREASE The strobe phase from 000 to maximum, the UFO's move AHEAD 1 frame (to the right)--which means you are lowering input lag.
Then turn blur reduction on and off rapidly by holding down the OSD button. You will see that the frames between MBR on and MBR off are identical with a HIGH strobe phase, but the frame moves BACK 1 frame with a LOW strobe phase with MBR on.

http://www.testufo.com/#test=photo&phot ... &height=-1

If yon can't see the difference, try the test at 60hz refresh rate with "single strobe= ON" in the service menu, then adjust strobe phase and test rapidly enabling and disabling blur reduction. It will be extremely obvious.

Whump
Posts: 2
Joined: 16 Dec 2015, 06:33

Re: XL2720z V2 + BB Strobe Utility = Greatest Gaming Monitor

Post by Whump » 16 Dec 2015, 14:01

Falkentyne wrote:Turn off blur reduction and lower the strobe phase in the service menu.

The screen goes black because whenever the monitor is fresh from the factory or set to factory defaults (including after a firmware flash), the strobe phase is reset to 100. 100 strobe phase was the default (unchangeable) setting from V1 because a high strobe phase (e.g. 100 or max before backlight shutoff) has 1 frame lower input lag (equal exactly to the refresh rate frame time = 1000 divided by hz in milliseconds) than a low strobe phase (e.g. 000).

As masterotaku explained in his thread and as I explained in the "VT tweak/AMA" thread, there is a formula for determining the maximum strobe phase before the backlight shuts off. Please refer to that thread.

http://forums.blurbusters.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=2590

If you desire a high strobe phase, remember that the maximum strobe duty allowed to be used (before increasing strobe duty has no effect) is exactly equal to the AMOUNT OF POINTS remaining in strobe phase before the backlight cuts off. referring to the formula in my thread, you can easily calculate that with a VT tweak applied at 120hz refresh rate, where strobe phase 049 is the maximum phase and 050 shuts off the backlight, you can see that at a strobe phase of 044, the max strobe DUTY will be 006, as there are 6 values left of strobe phase before the backlight shuts off.


I also think you're confusing "AMA low" and "blur reduction off low overdrive" (which is equal to tracefree=60 on the Asus VG248QE)
AMA low is an undocumented setting for blur reduction *ON* where you set AMA to high after enabling blur reduction, which overwrites the default (too aggressive; too much overshoot) overdrive with a much lower value. This didn't work in V2 firmware (just made things worse than AMA premium) but this seems to have been intentionally added. This AMA low setting is very similar to how Lightboost looks on the XL2720Z, without the trashed colors of course. The 24" benq monitors naturally have much lower ghosting in LIGHTBOOST mode than the 27" monitors, as this applies to every 24" vs 27" monitor (including the Asus VG248QE vs VG278HE), but that's just referring to Lightboost.

The "Perfect overdrive" for blur reduction *OFF* is a bug in the firmware and is a true *BUG* (unlike the AMA low undocumented setting) and was never intended, but it's very helpful if you don't use blur reduction. Basically, if you switch from a display mode preset with blur reduction ON, to a display mode preset with blur reduction OFF, the overdrive level that was *CURRENTLY IN USE* (whether toggled to "Low" or not) used in blur reduction on, gets applied to blur reduction off, instead of the "Default" (too aggressive) overdrive that is usually used if you disable blur reduction manually.

All of the Benq monitors have FAR too aggressive AMA (overdrive) with blur reduction off, to lower the response time, but this causes intense purplish inverse ghosting and white ghost trails on black objects. The RL2455HM and RL 2755HM have it even worse, in this regard. Blur reduction on has its own default different overdrive setting, which still has too aggressive overdrive but the overdrive level is lower (you can see for yourself, there's a lot less white ghost trails behind dark objectives with blur reduction on but there are still inverse RTA artifacts). So if you switch directly from blur reduction on current/preset profile to a different preset with blur reduction off, blur reduction off will have a lower overdrive applied to it (which is a bug).

Now knowing that, you can combine the "AMA Low" blur reduction on toggle (which reduces the AMA of blur reduction on by about 50%) and have it "Activated" with blur reduction off, by switching profiles. Then you can get blur reduction off overdrive to look far better than any Benq monitor on the market, pretty much (it's a very drastic improvement), and almost exactly equal to Asus Tracefree=60 on their VG248 or VG278 monitors.

Anyway you're making the preset thing much more difficult than it is.
Just read my post again and it makes sense.

Just remember this:
When changing from a preset with blur reduction enabled to a different preset with blur reduction disabled, the CURRENT AMA SETTING in use gets APPLIED to the new preset dynamically (which is a bug you are exploiting). You can use the (undocumented) blur reduction AMA low setting and apply AMA low's calibration to blur reduction off, which is usually not supposed to happen, by changing presets instead of turning off blur reduction on the OSD.

And remember:
if you are using 'AMA low' with blur reduction ENABLED (setting AMA to high after enabling blur reduction), any change to brightness (but not contrast or gamma, just brightness), ANY strobe settings, or any refreshrate/resolution changes will revert the AMA to default.

If you are using the "profile switch" to improve AMA for blur reduction OFF, strobe settings don't matter and this time you CAN change brightness, but changing refresh rate or resolutions will revert the AMA again.

And the reason to use the S-switch is because it's faster. You could do the same thing through Picture Advanced ->Picture mode on the OSD but that takes longer.

---------
Input lag between VT 1350-VT 1500?
the same.
Just having a VT Tweak active seems to change the buffering of the strobe phase.
Look at the formula in the thread I linked.

Once you see how VT tweaks and the "60hz pulse widths" work and you understand WHY Strobe phase 050 shuts off the backlight at 120hz, Strobe phase 060 shuts off the backlight at 100hz, and strobe phase 048 shuts off the backlight at 125hz and strobe phase 071 shuts off the backlight at 85hz (ALL WITH VT TWEAKS ACTIVE), once you fully understand the math and this makes sense, then you can start thinking outside the box and realize something.

120hz is double 60hz.
60hz pulse widths is 0.167 milliseconds (60hz = 16.7 milliseconds equal to 16.7 divided by 100 = 0.167 ms strobe pulse widths)
Since the backlight shuts off at strobe phase 050 with 120hz with 60hz pulse widths (VT tweaks FORCE 60hz pulse widths), then you would EXPECT that WITHOUT A VT tweak, that Strobe phase = 100 should either shut off the backlight or make the maximum strobe DUTY = 001, at 100 strobe phase, right?

(masterotaku on steam mentioned this)

However for some reason, that's not how it seems to work. At strobe phase=100 (WITHOUT VT tweak), you STILL can use strobe duty 000-030 and have it apply at most refresh rates, which seems to break the formula which works perfectly WITH VT Tweaks. The formula not applying without VT tweaks seems to imply that there is extra input or processing lag added to allow all strobe duty values to work with a max strobe phase of 100. But when using a VT tweak, this gets cut out completely, which is why at 120hz, strobe phase=049, the only strobe DUTY value that works is 001...everything up from duty 002-duty 030 act the same as duty 001. So this seems to imply that even though a LOW strobe phase (e.g. 000) has a 1 frame HIGHER input lag than strobe phase 100 (or around the maximum with VT tweak), strobe phase 000 WITHOUT a VT tweak still has slightly higher input lag than strobe phase 000 WITH a VT tweak (it was chief blur buster who mentioned just using a VT tweak SHOULD also improve input lag slightly even if you are NOT using blur reduction!).

But you can test the strobe phase and input lag for yourself. Just watch the UFO's and watch how when you INCREASE The strobe phase from 000 to maximum, the UFO's move AHEAD 1 frame (to the right)--which means you are lowering input lag.
Then turn blur reduction on and off rapidly by holding down the OSD button. You will see that the frames between MBR on and MBR off are identical with a HIGH strobe phase, but the frame moves BACK 1 frame with a LOW strobe phase with MBR on.

http://www.testufo.com/#test=photo&phot ... &height=-1

If yon can't see the difference, try the test at 60hz refresh rate with "single strobe= ON" in the service menu, then adjust strobe phase and test rapidly enabling and disabling blur reduction. It will be extremely obvious.

Hi Falkentyne!

Thank you for such an elaborate and detailed response! Thank you for explaining it to a village idiot :---)

I am still unclear on one aspect though. I thought it was possible to use Benq blur reduction on/using the blur busters trobe utility and having the VT tweak to increase brightness?

I am not able to enable blur reduction after setting Toasty x custom resolution to 1350/2080 @ 120hz. My screen just goes black.

Many thanks indeed!

Falkentyne
Posts: 2793
Joined: 26 Mar 2014, 07:23

Re: XL2720z V2 + BB Strobe Utility = Greatest Gaming Monitor

Post by Falkentyne » 16 Dec 2015, 15:52

VT tweaks increase brightness because the "strobe pulse widths" revert to the 60hz values.
0.167ms per point of strobe duty is 60hz pulse widths (note: 60hz is 16.7 milliseconds input lag/frame time. 16.7 divided by 100 is 0.167ms, which is how that value is calculated).

0.167 ms is a higher number than 0.083 ms (the 120hz pulse widths, which is equal to the frame time for 120hz (8.3ms) divided by 100, and higher than 0.069 ms (144 hz pulse widths, 6.9 ms divided by 100), so the strobe width is longer. VT tweaks force the strobe width to use the 60hz values instead of the values designed for the refresh rate, so more "light" is on during a strobe.

Also, I already answered your question.
I said the screen goes black because the strobe phase is too high.
I explained this in *mathematical* detail for you already.
You need to LOWER THE STROBE PHASE.

I listed the maximum strobe phase setting allowed when VT Tweaks in use, at different refresh rates.
They are all in this thread.

http://forums.blurbusters.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=2590

Here I'll copy it again for you out of that thread.
6) High values of strobe phase give you ONE FRAME of lower (faster/reduced) input lag than strobe phase 000. Strobe phase 000 gives you lowest crosstalk at the bottom of the screen. Changing strobe phase to a higher value pushes the start of the strobe (backlight on/off cycle) EARLIER into the refresh rate. Max strobe phase without VT Tweak is 100 (1 frame improved input lag vs strobe phase 000).
Max strobe phase WITH VT Tweak depends on refresh rate--going any higher will shut off the backlight:

these are based on a Vertical total 1497-1502 range (1280x1440 scaler resolution shown in the factory menu).
125hz: 047
120hz: 049
100hz: 059
91hz: 065 (single strobe=on)
85hz: 070 (single strobe=on)
75hz: higher than 85hz (Note this uses VT 1360; attempting to use VT 1500 will go out of range 90% of the time).

Using a vertical total higher than the default VT for the refresh rate makes the backlight switch to the 60hz strobe pulse widths.
TFTcentral has a nice article on what a "pulse width" actually is
And masterotaku's post also explains why you get a black screen.
Very first post of his thread: http://forums.blurbusters.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=560
000 strobe phase is usually a safe number with only a bit of crosstalk at the top of the screen, but the numbers of my list have less input lag. One frame ahead, I think. In case there's a bit of crosstalk with my settings, it will be at the bottom of the screen instead of the top.

If you pass some point, you'll notice that brightness lowers, meaning that the strobe length is changing alonside the strobe phase (as explained before). Be careful when you change your refresh rate upwards, because if you go from 90Hz with s.p. 058 to 120Hz, you'll get a black screen, unless you disable blur reduction. At least it can be toggled with one button even if you see nothing.
So please, unlock the service menu as I gave the instructions for in my thread, and lower the strobe phase. You can do this with blur reduction off and then you can enable blur reduction.

Spider-Waffle
Posts: 10
Joined: 19 Oct 2015, 13:01

Re: XL2720z V2 + BB Strobe Utility = Greatest Gaming Monitor

Post by Spider-Waffle » 14 Jan 2016, 18:41

Two Part question--
I've had an XL2720z running well for a months now with blurbuster anti-stobe utility, and hidden AMA setting activated, came with v3 firmware, and done some contrasts and other settings adjustments.

1. I was thinking of trying to get some more out of it with further tweaking settings and installing ToastyX utilities (on radeon currently). Was hoping someone had recommendations for this. Ideally I'd like to have 2-3 different 'profiles' that I can quickly toggle between. One for regular web/application use that focuses on eye care image. And other for FPS gaming to get the best performance possible in high frame-rate FPS games. And then maybe some others in-between like for less demanding games and maybe movies.

Any help and recommendations on this would be much appreciated

2. Just noticed an optional windows 7 update I could install; BenQ - LCD - BenQ XL2720Z (Digital) released June, 2013
Should I install this?
Last edited by Spider-Waffle on 15 Jan 2016, 22:02, edited 1 time in total.

Falkentyne
Posts: 2793
Joined: 26 Mar 2014, 07:23

Re: XL2720z V2 + BB Strobe Utility = Greatest Gaming Monitor

Post by Falkentyne » 14 Jan 2016, 19:28

That's a monitor inf driver. Does absolutely nothing whatsoever if your existing driver works fine.
And you cant make profiles without display pilot and displaypilot is buggy. I don't use it.
Just use the s-switch and gaming preset on the monitor and activate the gamer 1/2/3 presets yourself.

Spider-Waffle
Posts: 10
Joined: 19 Oct 2015, 13:01

Re: XL2720z V2 + BB Strobe Utility = Greatest Gaming Monitor

Post by Spider-Waffle » 14 Jan 2016, 22:52

Okay I'll use the S-switch, thanks.
Any advice for ToastyX settings and VT tweaks, I want 144hz (or OC higher?) for my FPS profile, not sure if there's any beneficial VT setting at that frequency.

And for eye care application use, I'm not sure if it's best to keep blur reduction on or off. I have off right now, keeping AMA low, I'm increasing the "low blue light", set color profile to flat 84 for all rgb, upped sharpness a little, dropped contrast, and brightness little.

Any reason to turn instant mode off? Is it less energy consumption and strain for monitor hardware if even?

EDIT: just found out this actually came with version 3 firmware (what a joke), is it worth flashing to v5?

guyfawkes47
Posts: 2
Joined: 20 Jan 2016, 19:16

Re: XL2720z V2 + BB Strobe Utility = Greatest Gaming Monitor

Post by guyfawkes47 » 20 Jan 2016, 19:30

hey guys first post here please excuse my noob questions. im getting a XL2720Z its coming directly from benq so it should have the latest firmware. I'm mainly going to use it for ps4 gaming. so i figured so far the best settings from what i read so far on this forum are turn on the single strobe and the profile bug. what other settings should i use for this monitor to achieve the best picture/ color and lowest lag, and best picture. i find all settings all over the place, and its a little confusing, since i don't have the monitor in my hand yet. but i wanted to compile all the best settings for my usage.

Spider-Waffle
Posts: 10
Joined: 19 Oct 2015, 13:01

Re: XL2720z V2 + BB Strobe Utility = Greatest Gaming Monitor

Post by Spider-Waffle » 24 Jan 2016, 22:47

This guide here is good:
https://www.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/c ... onitor_to/

Unfortunately you'll get the best results with 120hz instead of 144hz and making use of the VT tweaks, at least with the UFO test this definitely looks the best, I haven't tried any fast FPS gaming yet, but I suspect there is no way to properly get the most out of 144hz given the limitations.

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