EVE Spectrum 4K144 Strobe Utility Download [Single Strobe 60Hz, Large Vertical Total, etc]

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Chief Blur Buster
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EVE Spectrum 4K144 Strobe Utility Download [Single Strobe 60Hz, Large Vertical Total, etc]

Post by Chief Blur Buster » 23 Jul 2021, 07:00

Public Service Announcement for Early Users & Reviewers of Eve Spectrum 4K144

If you got one of the first units, please firmware update to firmware Version 100R852 or newer for much better strobe backlight tuning.

The Eve Spectrums are Tuned by Blur Busters beginning with this firmware version.

While these monitors have the slow(ish) red KSF phosphor, they are Tuned by Blur Busters (a new designation separate from Blur Busters Approved). Beginning with V100R852 or newer, we believe this is now among the best strobing (at the moment) you can get in any KSF-phosphor monitor on the market, featuring the following.
  • Easy High Quality Pre-Tuned Strobe (50, 60, 100, 120, 144 Hz) via monitor menu
  • Retro Friendly Strobe (50, 60 Hz) compatible with consoles, TV, and emulators!
  • Strobe any Hz, 50Hz to 144Hz in 0.001Hz increments. No preset limits!
  • Strobe any video source, not just GPUs
  • Optional Strobe Utility support (see below)
  • Optional Large Vertical Total support (requires ToastyX CRU) (strobe crosstalk reductions)
  • Optional Quick Frame Transport support (requires ToastyX CRU) (low lag strobing)
Make sure you break-in your monitor by warming up for 30-60 minutes before doing TestUFO tests on the strobe-backlight feature of this monitor. (Warm panels have faster LCD GtG)

Optional Eve Strobe Utility Download for Advanced Beta Testers

This is not a mandatory download -- but this is useful for several use cases. Just like color tuning by colorimeter are mainly used by advanced users, strobe tuning is optional for advanced users.

This is what the optional advanced-user strobe calibration utility looks like, for users who would like to do DIY strobe tuning. (This is the Eve skinned version of the free strobe utility Blur Busters offers to multiple vendors)

Image

Strobe tuning is the following in a nutshell:
  1. Make sure your Eve Spectrum is running firmware V100R852 or newer for much better "Tuned by Blur Busters" settings. Firmware upgrade instructions: https://eve.community/t/project-spectru ... mware/2908
  2. Download and run Eve Strobe Utility Installer
    This is an official Blur Busters URL with code signature by Blur Busters / Rejhon Technologies Inc.
  3. Warm up the panel for at least 30-60 minutes; since panels are temperature sensitive and will produce lowest strobe crosstalk when warmed up.
  4. Enable Backlight Strobing via monitor menus on Eve Spectrum
  5. Switch to the mode you want to custom-tune (resolution, Hz, custom large vertical total, via NVIDIA Control Panel or ToastyX CRU)
  6. Launch Eve Strobe Utility
  7. It runs a built-in TestUFO crosstalk pattern (a scrolling swarm of UFOs)
  8. First, adjust Strobe Pulse Width to a preferred brightness-vs-clarity tradeoff; adjust to preference.
  9. Next, adjust Overdrive Gain until the crosstalk is minimized as much as possible.
    The goal of this step is to reduce the number of visible vertical lines

    Image
  10. Finally, adjust Strobe Pulse Phase until the screen middle is clearest.
    The goal of this step is to move the strobe crosstalk to a less visible area, such as off the top/bottom edges of the screen

    Image
IMPORTANT: Strobe Utility is for advanced users only; it is best to use the easy pre-adjusted strobe included in Eve Spectrum. The default settings will be good enough for majority of users.

Strobe Utility can help you with the following:
  • Reduce strobe crosstalk for specific areas of screen during motion blur reduction via backlight strobing (strobe crosstalk = the double-image effect)
  • Temperature compensation (reduce strobe crosstalk in cold rooms or hot rooms)
  • Panel variance compensation (compensate for minor panel lottery effects in strobe tuning, or panel aging effects)
  • Additional levels of strobe brightness/dimness settings
  • With sufficient learning/training, ability to achieve better than factory tuning, especially when combined with Large Vertical Totals via a Custom Resolution Utility (NVIDIA Control Panel or ToastyX CRU)
Before re-tuning your strobe calibration, it is best to power your monitor 24/7 for a few days to break-in your monitor when first receiving the monitor, since LCD GtG pixel response takes time to stabilize (e.g. temperatures during shipping, pressure spots during shipping, etc).

Also, when enabling motion blur reduction, don't confuse strobe crosstalk with framerate-derived double image effects (e.g. like CRT 30fps at 60Hz) -- strobe crosstalk is caused by LCD GtG leaking between strobed refresh cycles.

Also, there will always be some red phosphor ghosting due to the KSF red phosphor in the backlight of Eve Spectrum monitors. This is normal for all current NanoIPS panels, and not as noticeable in games as in the extreme crosstalk test animation. As a rule of thumb, KSF phosphor ghosting on a well-tuned panel is more visible than CRT ghosting but less visible than plasma TV ghosting.

The factory strobe tuning is good enough that there will usually only be a 1 to 5% reduction in strobe crosstalk after breaking-in and re-tuning with Strobe Utility. Larger improvements are possible with Large Vertical Totals via a Custom Resolution Utility (see Tips)

Thus, unless you're an experienced/advanced user, you may not need Strobe Utility; You just simply adjust the "Backlight Strobing" setting in the on-screen menu for most needs.

You can minimize Strobe Utility anytime; it will reside in the System Tray until you right click to exit it.

Errata Note: A sleep or power-off will cause the custom strobe tuning to be reset; write down your three numbers. This will be fixed in a future firmware update. Supplementing this, a future version of Strobe Utility later this year, is intended to have strobe profiles that can be saved, and automatically recalled for a specific refresh rate, specific resolution, and specific vertical total

Optional Advanced User Posts Written by Blur Busters
Easy Everyday User Tips For Backlight Strobing

If you're only interested in easy strobing, you don't really have to worry about any of the above EXCEPT making sure your monitor is running firmware version V100R852 or newer.
  • Strobing is much better quality on latest firmware (V100R852 and newer)
  • Strobing is much better quality at framerates matching Hz. Make sure GPU keeps up.
    This is true for all impulsed displays, whether be CRT, plasma, or strobe-backlight, as another method of avoiding double images
  • Strobing is much better with refresh rate headroom below max Hz.
    This is true for all panels, not just Spectrum. Try 100Hz or 120Hz (also easier on GPU). More LCD GtG time between refresh cycles. Some vendors (e.g. ULMB) caps strobing Hz to avoid crosstalk, but Eve backlight strobing is 100% uncapped and lets users choose! So you can just optionally lower Hz if you're more picky about crosstalk double-images than the average user.
  • Make sure to warm up the monitor if it's been turned off for a while.
    The monitor is factory strobe-tuned by Blur Busters on an already warmed-up Eve Spectrum running in a room-temperature room, for fastest LCD GtG pixel response. Warm panels reduces strobe crosstalk (least double image effect).
Head of Blur Busters - BlurBusters.com | TestUFO.com | Follow @BlurBusters on Twitter

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Hellstyx
Posts: 18
Joined: 25 Jul 2021, 16:33

Re: EVE Spectrum 4K144 Strobe Utility Download [Single Strobe 60Hz, Large Vertical Total, etc]

Post by Hellstyx » 09 Aug 2021, 15:45

Hello Chief,

May we consider that Eve monitors has « blur buster 2.0 » full features and are equivalent to XG2431 ? (Very hard to find especially in France).

Thanks ! 

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Re: EVE Spectrum 4K144 Strobe Utility Download [Single Strobe 60Hz, Large Vertical Total, etc]

Post by Chief Blur Buster » 09 Aug 2021, 15:54

Hellstyx wrote:
09 Aug 2021, 15:45
Hello Chief,

May we consider that Eve monitors has « blur buster 2.0 » full features and are equivalent to XG2431 ? (Very hard to find especially in France).

Thanks ! 
All features normally part of ”Blur Busters Approved” 2.0 (our gold rating) is part of it, with the sole exception of KSF red phosphor at www.blurbusters.com/red-phosphor

Due to this one line-item fail, the panel is awarded “Tuned by Blur Busters” (our silver rating).

This is our new consolation prize rating for panels whose hardware limitations may just barely fail the strobe-crosstalk/ghosting thresholds of Blur Busters Approved, but where the manufacture went above and beyond supporting Blur Busters requested strobe features (any-Hz strobing with retro friendly refresh rate options and DDC API supporting Strobe Utility).

I am currently working on possible variable refresh rate strobing support for the Spectrums, via a downloadable end-user firmware upgrade. No promises yet (hardware limitations may be discovered).

That said, it is currently the best strobe-tuned KSF panel on the market, with less visible ghosting than plasma TVs. Which means its strobe backlight has far better motion handling than a plasma TV, even if not quite as good as CRT tube.

For zero crosstalk/zero ghost, XG2431 especially with QFT modes (Large Vertical Totals) will outperform the Spectrum in CRT-like motion clarity. But for resolution and color quality (NanoIPS), the Spectrum is superior if you want wide-gamut strobing, and may produce preferable visuals for things like MAME HLSL (CRT filters in emulators rendered at 4K wide-gamut). According to a pleased HardForum user, the KSF ghosting is not noticeable in most bright real-world material.

You will have to decide what is best for your needs.
Head of Blur Busters - BlurBusters.com | TestUFO.com | Follow @BlurBusters on Twitter

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Forum Rules wrote:  1. Rule #1: Be Nice. This is published forum rule #1. Even To Newbies & People You Disagree With!
  2. Please report rule violations If you see a post that violates forum rules, then report the post.
  3. ALWAYS respect indie testers here. See how indies are bootstrapping Blur Busters research!

Falkentyne
Posts: 2788
Joined: 26 Mar 2014, 07:23

Re: EVE Spectrum 4K144 Strobe Utility Download [Single Strobe 60Hz, Large Vertical Total, etc]

Post by Falkentyne » 09 Aug 2021, 17:00

Chief Blur Buster wrote:
09 Aug 2021, 15:54
Hellstyx wrote:
09 Aug 2021, 15:45
Hello Chief,

May we consider that Eve monitors has « blur buster 2.0 » full features and are equivalent to XG2431 ? (Very hard to find especially in France).

Thanks ! 
All features normally part of ”Blur Busters Approved” 2.0 (our gold rating) is part of it, with the sole exception of KSF red phosphor at www.blurbusters.com/red-phosphor

Due to this one line-item fail, the panel is awarded “Tuned by Blur Busters” (our silver rating).

This is our new consolation prize rating for panels whose hardware limitations may just barely fail the strobe-crosstalk/ghosting thresholds of Blur Busters Approved, but where the manufacture went above and beyond supporting Blur Busters requested strobe features (any-Hz strobing with retro friendly refresh rate options and DDC API supporting Strobe Utility).

I am currently working on possible variable refresh rate strobing support for the Spectrums, via a downloadable end-user firmware upgrade. No promises yet (hardware limitations may be discovered).

That said, it is currently the best strobe-tuned KSF panel on the market, with less visible ghosting than plasma TVs. Which means its strobe backlight has far better motion handling than a plasma TV, even if not quite as good as CRT tube.

For zero crosstalk/zero ghost, XG2431 especially with QFT modes (Large Vertical Totals) will outperform the Spectrum in CRT-like motion clarity. But for resolution and color quality (NanoIPS), the Spectrum is superior if you want wide-gamut strobing, and may produce preferable visuals for things like MAME HLSL (CRT filters in emulators rendered at 4K wide-gamut). According to a pleased HardForum user, the KSF ghosting is not noticeable in most bright real-world material.

You will have to decide what is best for your needs.
Chief,
If this monitor could be overclocked and run at half resolution, at 1920 x 1080 @ 240hz via ToastyX CRU, I would buy this in an instant.
But you said that this monitor is capped to 144hz? Is there a specific reason for this?
Because the Viewsonic KSF monitor that uses this exact same panel and exact same (4k) resolution runs at 165hz.

So why can't this monitor run at at least 165hz (if not even higher!) at 1920x1080 via ToastyX CRU ? Is this not a multi-sync monitor?

I'm really confused about this, and being short on money (and still wanting a XG2431), I can't afford to throw money away on a bad purchase. So I have to ask difficult questions, even if it makes people upset. I apologize. And thank you for your help.

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Chief Blur Buster
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Re: EVE Spectrum 4K144 Strobe Utility Download [Single Strobe 60Hz, Large Vertical Total, etc]

Post by Chief Blur Buster » 09 Aug 2021, 21:25

Falkentyne wrote:
09 Aug 2021, 17:00
If this monitor could be overclocked and run at half resolution, at 1920 x 1080 @ 240hz via ToastyX CRU, I would buy this in an instant.
No. It does not support overclocks to 240Hz.
Falkentyne wrote:
09 Aug 2021, 17:00
But you said that this monitor is capped to 144hz? Is there a specific reason for this?
Hardware limitations. On the Zisworks 4k120, he had to replace the scaler/TCON with a custom-programmed FPGA to get 1080p240 on the panel. If you are even asking a question "Is there a specific reasons for this", you do not realize the complexity of monitor scaler/TCON programming.

Minor overclocks are possible with unmodified scaler/TCON on many panels (e.g. 165 Hz) but large overclocks like 144->240 requires a lot more custom hardware modifications to work reliably without image degradation/glitching.

Now, if you're asking why it is not overclockable to 165Hz, this wasn't the specialization that the Eve Spectrum went in. I am not the correct person to be asking this question about the 144-vs-165 decision; but I can ask Suzhou Lehui (Eve's firmware developer) if a firmware upgrade is theoretically possible to unlock an optional 165 Hz overclock on existing hardware.

Now, companies do not advertise overclocked refresh rates unless they know it almost always works reliably (e.g. 165 Hz). The overclockability of the BenQ/ZOWIE XL2411/XL2720s far beyond 144Hz from the discovered hack is one of those rare ones but sometimes it is crapshoot (some not doing above 160Hz, others managing to reach >250Hz), and these also end up degrading image quality too as you've already noticed.

In theory, uncapped overclocking can be done with some panels, if all the vendors agree to try. Also, there could be overheating risks with some forms of overclockings, and some companies want to play it safe warranty-wise especially when a new panel is pushed to their limits. We got super-lucky with an overclocking unlock feature for some panels, and it clearly didn't damage/overheat those monitors.
Falkentyne wrote:
09 Aug 2021, 17:00
I'm really confused about this, and being short on money (and still wanting a XG2431), I can't afford to throw money away on a bad purchase. So I have to ask difficult questions, even if it makes people upset. I apologize. And thank you for your help.
I suggest you do not buy any monitor if you need the money to feed & shelter yourself. You could also sell the XL2546 and use the money to buy an XG2531. You have risks with any monitor you purchase, and I don't want to be responsible for your disappointment in a high risk purchase. Remember, this is Eve you're purchasing from -- a great monitor from a company who's never released a monitor before -- but ends up being a model with great motion blur reduction, and whose firmware vendor (Suzhou Lehui) really communicated with me and worked with me to get the best strobing that a KSF panel can get.

I know you've been wanting single strobe 60 Hz but you could not wait and bought a non-single-strobe 60Hz new monitor a few months ago -- and of a sudden, you're salivating over two newly released monitors with retro-friendly 60 Hz strobing.

So, Falkentyne, it is best bear the financial consequences of having not waited for a good 60Hz single-strobe monitor -- by deciding to simply wait to save up more money, or sell your monitor to finance the next monitor... It's a blunt answer, I know.
Head of Blur Busters - BlurBusters.com | TestUFO.com | Follow @BlurBusters on Twitter

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Forum Rules wrote:  1. Rule #1: Be Nice. This is published forum rule #1. Even To Newbies & People You Disagree With!
  2. Please report rule violations If you see a post that violates forum rules, then report the post.
  3. ALWAYS respect indie testers here. See how indies are bootstrapping Blur Busters research!

Hellstyx
Posts: 18
Joined: 25 Jul 2021, 16:33

Re: EVE Spectrum 4K144 Strobe Utility Download [Single Strobe 60Hz, Large Vertical Total, etc]

Post by Hellstyx » 20 Aug 2021, 05:31

Hello Chief,

Any good new about VRR support for EVE monitors ?
I would like to order one, but I still hesitate 🙂

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