05/22/2020 UPDATE. The IPS 240hz monitor tier list.(I've measured/tried the all) and my honest explanation why.

[Chief Blur Buster]

Does the increased input lag from ELMB/ULMB come from not being able to cap the fps? Can ELMB-Sync deny the input lag caused by strobing if you cap the framerate for example at 277fps with the refresh rate set to 280hz?

Only partially.

Some of the input lag is caused by waiting for GtG settlement in dark before flashing, as seen at www.blurbusters.com/lightboost/video

But yes, the opportunity exists to lower lag, because of the fps=Hz recommendation for strobing (VSYNC ON or RTSS S-Sync or Low Lag VSYNC HOWTO). The various methods of achieving fps=Hz, especially standard VSYNC ON, can create input latency at varying extents for various reasons.

The world’s easiest low-lag “fps=Hz” technology is a frame rate cap on a VRR display. Which makes ELMB-SYNC perfect in theory, if you cap at a frame rate that doesn’t have strobe crosstalk (and the game can maintain that frame rate).

That’s why I like ELMB-SYNC for that specific reason, even if it is less perfect than I want it to be for fluctuating-framerate situations. Basically using ELMB-SYNC as a low-lag fixed-Hz ELMB alternative, to maintain fps=Hz at lower latency than VSYNC ON.

However, capped ELMB-SYNC is still slightly more lag than capped G-SYNC. Approximately half a refresh cycle more lag, at 0.5/280sec on average (there’s a latency gradient involved along the vertical dimension of the display, due to scanout latency — which is much smaller on higher-Hz displays than lower-Hz displays).

TL;DR: 277fps-capped ELMB-SYNC is less than 2ms more input lag than 277fps-capped non-strobed G-SYNC/FreeSync, for screen-centre measurement.

[TheMadMan697]

When compare VG279QM Vs XG270 response times, take in account that XG270 is 100% overshot free, in order to make a 100% fair comparasion. XG270 GtG curves are perfect, similar curves in all GtG transitions, stability, artifats shield ! Is tweaked for the best response time possible, without affect image quality ! I can't imagine any strobing OD inplementation better than this.

At TFTCentral VG279QM, both 240 and 280 tables show artifacts in several shades with "recommended" OD level. Someone want corona or random shimmering pixels ? Me no, but another gamer can tolerate it. But in this case, XG270 also can boost OD two levels more.

Thank you very much. This is exactly the advice i was looking for. I think for my purpose the XG270 is still the better pick. I love the fact that there is so much feedback and support for that model on here and the fact that firmware is upgradable is also a massive bonus.

[Chief Blur Buster]

The ViewSonic XG270 was looking perfect until I realised the response time of the panel doesn't seem to be that fast for non strobed use (Unsure if I will like the strobing until i try it) I found the newer Asus VG279QM which looks like it is a faster panel overall. The locked OD with ELMB enabled is putting me off the Asus a bit though as I wont be able to strobe effectively at lower refresh rates, The strobing is important to me as it is the main feature I want to try out.

As a general rule of thumb — most users will not like any monitor at maximum-GtG speed settings. See image below. The maximum overdrive settings that equals ASUS, because of the excess ghosting issue. When you back off the overdrive setting, the VG279QM and XG270 looks far more similar. The majority of the GtG curve (>50%) is less than a 240Hz refresh cycle, and remember GtG curve shape as as important as GtG averageness, see GtG versus MPRT as well as How complex it is to measure GtG.

Excessively fast GtG can also create coronas as seen in LCD Motion Artifacts:


Most people intentionally slightly slow down their GtG by adjusting overdrive slightly, to eliminate those ugly after-image ghosts and coronas.

The ViewSonic XG270 is tuned with less aggressive overdrive. In a factory mode (during strobe-tuning work I did earlier) I can force any monitor (including XG270) to have faster GtG than RTINGS measured, but it gets ugly coronas too. ViewSonic simply didn’t bother to ship with those ultra-aggressive overdrive settings — because it’s mostly useless to most people and creates complaints to technical support.

If you want better overdrive, one can also use 224Hz on the ViewSonic XG270 which looks pretty good (both strobed and non-strobed). Although for strobing, 120fps at 120Hz PureXP+ is higher quality than 200+Hz strobing on both ASUS and ViewSonic IPS monitors.

The choice of monitor is left up to you, however if you wish to use Blur Busters Amazon affiliate links to send a commission to Blur Busters (optional), here they are:

Viewsonic XG270 - 27"" 1920x1080 IPS 240Hz FreeSync
ASUS TUF Gaming VG279QM - 27"" 1920x1080 IPS 280Hz FreeSync / ELMB-SYNC

[TheMadMan697]

The choice of monitor is left up to you, however if you wish to use Blur Busters Amazon affiliate links to send a commission to Blur Busters (optional), here they are:

Viewsonic XG270 - 27"" 1920x1080 IPS 240Hz FreeSync
ASUS TUF Gaming VG279QM - 27"" 1920x1080 IPS 280Hz FreeSync / ELMB-SYNC

Thank you very much for the explanation. That really helps to clear things up. I will certainly use the links when I make a purchase. Do you also have an affiliate link for amazon UK?

[AddictFPS]

ApertureGrille VG279QM high quality review, confirm double strobe at all frequencies with ELMB-Sync + VRR, so is only usefull for gamers that accept this, in my opinion, big image quality issue.

https://www.aperturegrille.com/reviews/ ... B-Waveform

In both, ELMB (with fixed frequency) and ELMB-Sync (with VRR), OD is locked at very high level, optimized for 280Hz, but overshot increase progressively with lower frequencies, to realy ugly levels

ASUS try compete with GSync mixing VRR+MBR before Nvidia do it, but not implement the basic tech Automatic Variable Overdrive ? that optimize OD for each frequency. GSync module use variable overdrive since years ! Asus is building the house from the roof

Why ASUS not use more bright backlight, like in high end ROG HDR models, with 1000+ cd/m2, in order to regulate ELMB-Sync brightness with voltage regulator, Automatic Variable Brightness, using single strobe ? Brightness can be maintained stable at different frequencies, and bye-bye atrocious double images.

Util they do it, together with unlock single strobe range 60/280+ and high quality bezels backlight bleeding free, they not call my attention, no matter if cost more money, quality allways cost much money, not exist cheap Ferrari. VRR+MBR with cheap methods not convince. Nobody want double images, or coronas, they want motion like CRT in LCD.

[RLCSContender*]

Those UFO tests really isn't an accurate representation when it comes to actual gameplay at 240hz.

in the adaptive sync range of 44-165hz, sure, those UFO tests are more obvious, but if the FPS is 220hz-280hz, it's very very very subtle to the point where you won't even notice it.

Same with tearing. 144hz, you will see occasional tearing if the FPS is higher than the refresh rate; however, at 240hz, tearing is basically non-existent to the point where the FPS/refresh rate is so fast, that u wont' even see the tear (if at all) to begin with.


240hz framerates/refresh rates breaks every dogmatic rulebook about "overshoots" "pixel smearing" "crosstalk. Just because you see it in the UFO tests does not mean you will see it in gameplay.

A good example is the 25% pixel response time compliance of 280hz for the VG259QM/VG279Q. THe monitor is'nt fast enough to accomodate 280hz, but you won't see any pixel smearing or ghosting. WHY? because it's an oxymoron at that point considering the added +40 adds motion clarity, the high refresh rate of 280hz(presuming the frame rate is close to it) mitigate smearing to the point where you won't even see it.

When i had the asus, i only started to see crosstalk at about 185-190hz and below. Anything above 220hz, it's not even noticeable. As a matter of fact, ELMB-SYNC for the asus is locked at 80 overdrive, which is the optimal overdrive setting at 240hz.

basically, what i'm trying to say is. At 240hz, the added motion clarity from these high frame rates/refresh rates make the crosstalk, ghosting, overshoot less obvious compared to the 44-165hz adaptive sync range.

this is why i always turn off any form of g sync/freesync/g-sync compatibility. I am already seeing a clear image, and the tearing is not noticreable to even justify any form of adaptive sync. Again, every game is different but i'm fairly certain it's difficult to tell the difference.

Everyone is different though. Chief claims he can tell the difference between 0.5ms to 1ms in response times in actual gameplay. LOL i can't.

However, i can easily tell the difference from 4ms g2g to 2ms g2g in response times. this is why i don't recommend people using 240hz for the asus especially if all of your opponents are using a TN monitor. The only way to beat them is to take advantage of 280hz and elmb-sync because although they have less motion blur due to better g2g averages, elmb-sync takes care of that, add in the fact that you are faster than them at 280hz, that is the ONLY way to beat any TN.

What i don get is why ppl are afraid of crosstalk/artifact trade off of using 280hz. guys, YOU WON'T NOTICE IT AT 280HZ. The trade off of sharpness from fast moving objects due to increased visual clarityof elmb-sync OR at 280hz, is more beneficial than the slight input lag increase and the "crosstalk" that you may see in the UFO tests. (hint u won't see it in gameplay presuming u are at 240hz+ framerate)

[Chief Blur Buster]

Those UFO tests really isn't an accurate representation when it comes to actual gameplay at 240hz.

Most UFO tests are designed to amplify visibility of display artifacts, indeed.

For other tests for more accurate representation, you can use www.testufo.com/framerates-text and www.testufo.com/photo

Later this year, future version of TestUFO will have a VRR compatible mode (in a specific browser). We've been working on a way to run TestUFO at multiple VRR frame rates.

[RLCSContender*]

All i'm trying to say is, 240hz is the exception to the rules. Most people here are still abiding by the 144hz adaptive sync range where they will see tearing/overshoot/ghosting/crosstalk.

at 240hz though, it's really not as obvious to the point where it won't affect gameplay performance or add any unncessary distractions.

I remember i went YOLO one day and tried the 100 overdrive setting on the asus at 280hz. I hardly saw any overshoot(blue artifacts) no crosstalk(elmb sync on) the colors however look kinda iffy but those blue halos/crosstalk and overshoots, i hardly even noticed it.

What i did notice is that every thing is brighter(like there's a suble glow that i notice) but the blue halos? i didn't even see it if at all.

with that being said, TFT claimed 0.8ms response time at 100 overdrive. add ELMB-SYNC to eliminate the "glow" that you will see but adds motion clarity. 280hz at 0.8ms response time is probably the fastest combination in the world right now when it comes to monitors. The enormous overshoot will just show a "glow" on every object, but u wont' see much blue halos or distracting artifacts/trails.

[TheMadMan697]

I just have 1 further question regarding VG279QM Vs XG270.

I see from reviews that the VG279QM is not quite fast enough for 280hz non strobed which causes some smearing. Seen as the the XG270 is using less aggressive overdrive and from what I can tell has higher response time (g2g) is it actually fast enough for 240 Hz non strobed without smearing. Is this even something that I should be concerned about?

[RLCSContender*]

I just have 1 further question regarding VG279QM Vs XG270.

I see from reviews that the VG279QM is not quite fast enough for 280hz non strobed which causes some smearing.

In theory, it's supposed to cause smearing, but you won't see it because the added motion clarity and the 280hz refresh rate/framerates make it imperceptible. If however the monitor was at 144hz, pixel smearing will be obvious. Try buying a VA panel and see what i mean.

You don't really have to turn on ELMB-SYNC but at 280hz, ELMB-SYNC has the least crosstalk and the best MPRT(even better than any TN, even the fastest TN). If you want to compete with TN, turn it on. If not, turn off elmb-sync and leave the framerate unclamped(don't worry, u wont' see tearing at 280hz). 280hz is still the fastest monitor today. g2g doesn't matter because the purpose of g2g is to make moving objects less blurry, at 280hz, the motion clarity is already good enough to not need a good g2g average(even on 25% refresh rate compliance, it's imperceptible at these high framerates and refresh rates.

een as the the XG270 is using less aggressive overdrive and from what I can tell has higher response time (g2g) is it actually fast enough for 240 Hz non strobed without smearing. Is this even something that I should be concerned about?

1st generation 240Hz IPS monitors Nitro XV272, Alienware AW2720hf, and viewsonic elite xg270 are generally not as quick as the AHVA IPS cousins (MSI mag251rx, asus vg279qm/vg259qm, Alienware 2521hf, etc). The XG270 however is the best 1st generation IPS 240hz monitor. g2g is just as quick as the LG nano monitor (4.2-4.4ms) but the strobing is the best.

g2g average argument only really matter from 44hz-165hz. MPRT is more important at higher refresh rates because if you play FPS and there's a fast moving object, you have a +40hz frame advantage(which also adds better motion clarity) to the point that it mitigates "ghosting" from a slower response time. Add in ELMB-SYNC, then the ghosting is non-existent. A lot of VG279qm owners are reluctant to use these because they dont' crosstalk or added input lag or flickering, they just prefer 240hz. The problem with that is, if you are competing against other TN users, you are at a major disadvantage because they TOO are at 240hz and they probably have better motion clarity(due to better g2g averages) than you .