Question about Monitor Refresh Rates

[LucJoe]

What would be an optimal refresh rate for a 19inch monitor that won't kill my eyes? I just reinstalled windows and it automatically had a refresh rate of 60 hz. This seems bad. It can go up to 85, is there a reason to not put it at 85?

 

[igowerf]

I always set mine to 85 if possible, because I can still see flickering at 75. Sometimes a higher refresh rate can still hurt your eyes so try setting it to different settings and find one that you feel most comfortable with. You can always try the "Optimal" setting too.

 

[cbuchach]

75-85 Hz is generally considered optimal. I think I remember reading that with anything above 72 Hz, the human eye will not notice the flickering. Going any higher than 85 Hz is really not necessary and can actually degrade the image quality.

 

[VBboy]

I notice flicker even at 85 Hz. I go with at least 90, or 100 if possible. My monitor can do 100-120 Hz at my favorite resolutions, so it's good.

You actually need to set your refresh rate higher to be able to get higher FPS in games (assuming your hardware is fast enough). For example, you will not be able to get above 85 fps in games if the refresh rate is set to 85 Hz and Vsync is enabled.

 

[igowerf]

On our other computer, I can see a slow flickering (several, barely noticeable lines slowly travel down the screen) using a Savage 4 @ 85 hz but on my GeForce DDR, I don't see anything. The monitor I use on my computer maxes out at 75 Hz at 1024...
I got used to it but I can still see the flickering if I look carefully.

 

[Jazon]

Run you monitor at the recommended maximum refresh, but don't got over that. It may cause damage to your monitor. I smoked a old NEC when I tried to get higher refresh rates..

 

[VBboy]

You can't damage a newer monitor with high refresh rates. All new monitors are "multi-sync" and will adjust to the specified frequency or will not allow it by going "scan out of range".

 

[heffe734]

85mhz usually does the trick...

 

[ProviaFan]

My Iiyama VisionMaster 17 (a 17 incher, fyi) will do 80Hz at 1280x1024, although Windows will go 60, 75, 85, etc., so I have to settle for 75Hz, which isn't too bad, in that I can't see the flickering. BTW, even though my monitor was made back in 1995, it will still protect itself from refresh rates that are too fast, and when you try to give it something that is higher than what it can handle, the little lcd screen below the monitor will say something about refresh rate out of range or similar.