Monitor Refresh RAtes mess up eyes??

[PlaystAzn]

I've heard mixed opinions from different friends about this, so I really don't know who to believe.

One guy said that having my monitor at a refresh rate of 60 hz is really bad for my eyes.

Another one said that it should be fine because TV refresh rates are 60 hz anyways.

So who's right? How does the refresh rate affect the eyes? What's the lowest refresh rate that would be good to use? 60 too low?

thanks.

 

[MikeO]

I found this from some monitor FAQ:

Vertical frequency (also known as refresh rate) refers to the number of times the picture on the monitor is drawn per second. For example: when a monitor is operating at 75Hz, it mean s the monitor is " drawing" the picture 75 times in one second. A monitor operating at a higher refresh rate has less flicker. Therefore the rule-of-the-thumb is to display the monitor at the highest refresh rate possible.

Higher refresh rate = less flicker = easier on the eyes. This varies from person to person, I can't watch 60hz monitor more than 5 minutes before my head starts to hurt. I would recommend 85hz as minimum, but personally prefer 100hz which is (supposed to be) flicker free. Of course it depends on your videocard & monitor how high you can set it to, setting refresh rate too high can damage your monitor.

 

[HelzBelz]

The TV refresh rate is low (60Hz interlaced, hence 30 images/s), but the eye strain isn't much of an issue since the picture is constantly moving. However, you would see the "flicker effect" on a channel showing a still picture (like some "info" channels on cable)...

On a monitor, this same "flicker effect" is much more visible, since most objects in the pictures are still.

The actual factor that contributes to "flicker" is phosphorus persistency (that's the chemical that coats the inside of your CRT, which illuminates when hit by electrons). The faster the phosphorus (or lower persistency) = the worse flicker effect.

However, the higher the persistency, the more "ghosting" effect (like a "trailing" effect behind your mouse cursor when moving fast...)

However, since we can't really choose our chemicals, it is a rule of thumb to stick with refresh rates above 75Hz. In fact, go as high as your video card/monitor combo can give you !

Of course, this is valid for "Non-Interlaced" mode (stay away from any interlaced modes...)

Most recent monitors (not all, especially in the "cheapo" department) and all recent video cards will offer 75Hz and above (verify up to what resolution before buying).

Any refresh rate below 70Hz gives me a headache on my Trinitron monitor.

😎

 

[Alphazero]

60 Hz is the bare minimum. My monitor can do 75 Hz at my current resolution, which is fine for me. Generally, you should always have the refresh rate as high as possible.

 

[Woodchuck2000]

I'm with Mto81 on that one...
60Hz gives me a headache very quickly. I'm running at 1024x768@100Hz at the moment, and I can't see any flicker. Anything below 85Hz and it's noticeable.

 

[Mikki]

I agree, I run at 85 also, below 70 and I get headaches fast. Thanks for the info, very informative thread! 🙂

 

[HelzBelz]

Originally posted by: Mikki
I agree, I run at 85 also, below 70 and I get headaches fast. Thanks for the info, very informative thread! 🙂

You're most welcome !

... just hoping PlaystAzn will read our posts !

😉

 

[nightowl]

75Hz or above should be fine for most people. Some though have eyes that are more sensitive and like higher refresh rates. Currently I am running at 100Hz on my monitor. Also, if I look out of the corner of my eye I can see the flicker of a monitor running at 60Hz.

 

[Woodchuck2000]

Also, if I look out of the corner of my eye I can see the flicker of a monitor running at 60Hz.

Strange that. I can see flicker below 85Hz looking in my peripheral vision. It's much less noticeable looking straight at the monitor

 

[PlaystAzn]

Thanks a lot guys! I forgot to set the email notification for this thread when I made it so I was just checking my email waiting for replies..haha... Good information! Man...i Have an old monitor..been running at 60 hz for years until my friend came over and told me to change it....maybe that's why my eyes are so bad? Well..i'm thinking of getting a new monitor so this was very helpful. thanks!