Advanced Gaming Monitor Terminology

If you're looking to dive deeper into advanced gaming monitor terminology, here are some key concepts that go beyond the basics:

 

1. Overclocking Refresh Rate

  • Some monitors allow overclocking to achieve a higher refresh rate than advertised.
  • Example: A 144Hz monitor might be overclocked to 165Hz.
  • Done via monitor settings or GPU control panel, but stability varies.

 

2. Pixel Overdrive (Response Time Compensation)

  • A setting that pushes pixels to change colors faster to reduce ghosting.
  • Often called "Overdrive" in settings with options like Off, Normal, Fast, or Extreme.
  • Too much overdrive can cause inverse ghosting (coronas).

 

3. MPRT vs. GtG (Response Time Metrics)

  • MPRT (Moving Picture Response Time) – Measures how blur-free a monitor is.
  • GtG (Gray-to-Gray) – Measures how fast a pixel transitions between shades.
  • MPRT is lower than GtG when motion blur reduction features are enabled.

 

4. ULMB (Ultra Low Motion Blur) / ELMB (Extreme Low Motion Blur)

  • Backlight strobing technology that reduces motion blur.
  • Found in NVIDIA ULMB and ASUS ELMB monitors.
  • Reduces brightness and may introduce flickering.

 

5. HDR Certifications (Beyond HDR10)

  • DisplayHDR 400, 600, 1000, 1400 – Indicate peak brightness levels.
  • True HDR vs. Fake HDR – Many "HDR" monitors lack full local dimming, reducing effectiveness.
  • FALD (Full-Array Local Dimming) – True HDR, multiple dimming zones for better contrast.

 

6. Bit Depth & Color Gamut

  • 8-bit vs. 10-bit vs. 12-bit Color – Higher bit depth means smoother gradients.
  • sRGB, DCI-P3, AdobeRGB – Color spaces used for different purposes.
  • 100% sRGB ≠ Wide Color Gamut – Look for DCI-P3 90%+ for vibrant colors.

 

7. Contrast Ratio and Black Levels

  • Static Contrast Ratio – Measured in 1000:1, 3000:1, etc. (higher is better).
  • Dynamic Contrast Ratio – Marketing gimmick, often exaggerated.
  • OLED and Mini-LED – Near-infinite contrast, deeper blacks.

 

8. HDMI 2.1 & DisplayPort 2.1 (Next-Gen Connectivity)

  • HDMI 2.1 – Supports 4K 120Hz, 8K 60Hz, VRR (Variable Refresh Rate).
  • DisplayPort 2.1 – Supports 4K 240Hz, 8K 165Hz.

 

9. DSC (Display Stream Compression)

  • Lossless compression to allow higher resolutions and refresh rates without bandwidth limits.
  • Essential for 4K 240Hz or 8K 120Hz gaming.

 

10. FreeSync Premium Pro & G-Sync Ultimate

  • FreeSync Premium Pro – Lower latency, HDR support, LFC (Low Framerate Compensation).
  • G-Sync Ultimate – Requires hardware G-Sync module, better HDR and smoother performance.

 

11. HFR (High Frame Rate) vs. HFR Gaming

  • HFR Monitors – Capable of 120Hz, 240Hz, 360Hz, or higher refresh rates.
  • HFR Gaming – Running games above 60 FPS to match HFR monitors.

 

12. Viewing Angles and Subpixel Layouts

  • IPS Glow – Light bleed in dark areas, common in IPS panels.
  • VA Smearing – Black-to-gray transitions are slower, causing blur.
  • BGR vs. RGB Subpixels – Some monitors use BGR, causing blurry text on Windows.

 

13. KVM Switch (Keyboard, Video, Mouse)

  • Allows switching between multiple devices using the same monitor.
  • Found in high-end gaming and productivity monitors.

 

14. Flicker-Free & Low Blue Light

  • Reduces eye strain and headaches for long gaming sessions.
  • PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) Flickering – Some monitors use PWM dimming, which can cause flickering at low brightness levels.

 

15. OLED Burn-in & ABL (Automatic Brightness Limiting)

  • OLED Burn-in – Permanent image retention if static images remain too long.
  • ABL – Lowers brightness automatically to prevent overheating on OLED panels.
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