Now....
Emulation's Best Kept Secret:
Using 240Hz To Improve 60Hz Emulation
The VG248QE is a famous reference for software BFI.
But there's a new king. Blur Busters sometimes innovates in little-known emulator research such as
beam raced synchronization of real raster with emulator raster.
Now we have a new easier-to-implement tip. One little best-kept secret for emulation is a 240Hz esports monitor such as XL2546. Very few emulator users realize what a gem 240Hz can be for emulator use.
Some 240Hz monitors have voltage-boosted strobing that is much brighter than many 144Hz monitors, the brightness loss is smaller (Even at lower Hz).
One big problem of software BFI on a 6-bit TN panel is that software BFI can amplify visibility of inversion artifacts:
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Explanation here)
So, there's a way to eliminate this with software BFI if you use 240Hz monitor.
240Hz reduces input lag
240Hz has a natural input-lag-lowering effect (as long as you stay at 240Hz to do 60Hz emulation, don't use lower refresh rate)
240Hz can enable a software BFI cadence without inversion artifacts
240Hz can enable a software BFI cadence that has full 8-bit color quality
Avoid the bitdepth reduction side effect that often happens on TN 6-bit FRC panels. A 240Hz monitor hides a lot of little known goodies for emulator developers and emulator fans such as (A) brighter strobing and (B) better color quality without the checkerboard-pixel-texture problem (assuming you use the 60fps@180Hz ON:OFF:OFF software BFI cadence with strobe mode, or 60fps@240Hz ON:ON:OFF:OFF software BFI cadence with non-strobed mode).
Not all emulators support custom BFI cadence necessary for improved-quality blur reduction for emulator use. When done properly, 240Hz monitor blur-reduction emulator quality can look much better than VG248QE LightBoost + 60Hz software BFI.
Recommendations For 240Hz BFI For Emulator Use
For BFI on 240Hz emulator use (full 8-bit quality, no fine-checkerboard inversion artifact), Chief Blur Buster recommends:
- NTSC: Native 180Hz refresh rate hardware-strobed at 180Hz, combined with software BFI using ON:OFF:OFF cadence for 60Hz emulators.
Recommended monitor: BenQ Zowie XL2546, because it supports 180Hz *and* has voltage-boosted strobe brightness that the XL2540 does not have.
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- NTSC: Native 240Hz refresh non-strobed, combined with software BFI using ON:ON:OFF:OFF cadence for 60Hz emulator.
Recommended monitor: Any bright 240Hz monitor of any brand.
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- PAL: Native 150Hz refresh rate hardware-strobed at 150Hz, combiend with software BFI using ON:OFF:OFF cadence for 50Hz
Recommended monitor: BenQ Zowie XL2546, because it supports 150Hz *and* has voltage-boosted strobe brightness that the XL2540 does not have.
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- PAL: Native 200Hz refresh non-strobed, combined with software BFI using ON:ON:OFF:OFF cadence for 50Hz emulator.
Recommended monitor: BenQ Zowie XL2540, XL2546, XL2740 -- because those support 200Hz custom refresh rate
For custom 150Hz or 180Hz or 200Hz refresh rates, create the Custom Resolution manually first (e.g. NVIDIA Control Panel, or ToastyX CRU, etc).
Recommendations For Emulator Developers Adding BFI Support For 150Hz, 180Hz, 200Hz and 240Hz
I strongly recommend emulator developers to add support for custom BFI cadences, as some cadences can eliminate software BFI problems (full 8-bit color quality, no inversion artifact, no image retention).
-- Like "1,0,0" and "1,1,0" (for 3-refresh-per-refresh, e.g. 50fps@150Hz or 60fps@180Hz)
-- Like "1,1,0,0" and "1,0,0,0" and "1,1,1,0" (for 4-refresh-per-refresh, e.g. 50fps@200Hz or 60fps@240Hz).
-- Or percentages to do phosphor-fade-emulated BFI sequences, such as "100%,25%,5%,0%" for 60fps-on-240Hz.
As a comma-separated command line BFI argument. Don't forget to apply gamma correction to the BFI fades (2.4) so they correspond more. For ease, perhaps accomplished via a user-friendly slider in a Settings screen.
Emulator users would be able to thusly choose BFI cadences that can do the following:
(A) Avoid inversion artifacts and improve color by choosing a cadence that pairs up 6-bit TN refresh cycles (even/odd); or
(B) Adjust brightness-vs-blur-reduction tradeoff, via adjusting the BFI ON:OFF ratio; or
(C) Simulate phosphor fade at a coarse granularity, via consecutively-faded refresh cycles