refresh rate and speed

[gangster]

How much does a higher or lower refresh rate effect the video cards performance, if at all?

[Gurm]

There are a couple factors here, but...

A little.

Unless, of course, the video card is so fast that it can render more FPS than the refresh rate, in which case it can monkey with things a bit.

But if you have a normal human-level card like the rest of us, the difference between 85hz and 120hz is minimal.

- Gurm

[gangster]

Originally posted by Gurm
There are a couple factors here, but...

A little.

Unless, of course, the video card is so fast that it can render more FPS than the refresh rate, in which case it can monkey with things a bit.

But if you have a normal human-level card like the rest of us, the difference between 85hz and 120hz is minimal.

- Gurm

My monitor supports 100, but I run at 85 because I see no difference. At 75 though, I see flicker. Being as I am attempting to take full advantage of my Parhelia's IQ I thought I should max out the refresh.

Thanks for the quick reply!

[Wombat]

Hey, if 85Hz works for you, keep it there. Faster refresh rates just increase monitor wear'n'tear a bit.

[Admiral]

Guess it's all about v-sync and how fast your card is.
When you have v-sync on, it's supposed to be the maximum of fps your screen displays.
With v-sync off it's up to as much frames as your card can deliver, yet you need a high enough refresh rate (85, 100 Hz) to eliminate tearing (parts of the screen moving ahead of others when you turn).

Benchmarks are generally run with v-sync off, for the obvious reason of not limiting the maximum framerate of the videocard by the monitor's refresh rate. In games, where you don't really see a difference if you have a maximum of 85 or 100 fps on screen instead of 100-200 fps, it's more pleasing to the eye to run with v-sync on.

[gangster]

Originally posted by Admiral
Guess it's all about v-sync and how fast your card is.
When you have v-sync on, it's supposed to be the maximum of fps your screen displays.
With v-sync off it's up to as much frames as your card can deliver, yet you need a high enough refresh rate (85, 100 Hz) to eliminate tearing (parts of the screen moving ahead of others when you turn).

Benchmarks are generally run with v-sync off, for the obvious reason of not limiting the maximum framerate of the videocard by the monitor's refresh rate. In games, where you don't really see a difference if you have a maximum of 85 or 100 fps on screen instead of 100-200 fps, it's more pleasing to the eye to run with v-sync on.

I've had bad luck with V-sync. If it's on it adds choppiness to games, so I leave it off. I find this to be the case on my Parhelia and ATI 9700, but I only refer to gaming, haven't tried with work related programs. But I will check it out now that you mention it.

Thanks!

[Admiral]

If it's on it adds choppiness to games,....

I've experienced that with very few games, NOLF 2 being one of them.

[gangster]

Originally posted by Admiral
I've experienced that with very few games, NOLF 2 being one of them.

NFS Underground and NHL 2004 here...