1ms Vs 4ms: Published On – 2022

Monitor response time is a headache to the people who play the game often or do high graphical work on the PC. So, a successful gaming experience requires a display that reacts to the screen. When playing a game that involves rapid reflexes, you want your monitor to record the action as quickly as possible.

So, what’s the tricky difference between 1ms vs 4ms? Yeah! If you want a faster refresh rate, use 1ms instead of 4ms. But both help gamers by reducing blur and fractions while playing games and streaming video.

Generally, when playing games or doing heavy work, 1ms response time will be the better option for you. But if you are going with something budget-friendly monitor, 4ms might be better for you. This article will give you a clear idea of this monitor pixel response time and discuss the general differences between the 1ms and 4ms time.

What Is Response Time for Monitors?

Monitor response time measures the time it takes to go from one color to the next. A millisecond is used to indicate the amount of time it takes to transition from black to white and back to black (ms). Some examples of GtG and even plain black-to-white (BtW) are available.

Black to white to black transitions typically take 10 milliseconds. The response time of LCD panels, on the other hand, is often less than 10 milliseconds. However, the better the image and motion blur output, the faster the response time. TN panels have typically been more responsive than IPS panels, although this is no longer the case. However, all of that is changing, thanks mainly to micro IPS.

Comparison Of 1ms vs 4ms Response Time

Now that you know precisely the response time, you must have guessed that there are significant differences between 10 ms to 1ms. Since there is much debate on which one of these is better than the other, we will talk about some general differences between these different response times.

Image Fixation on Monitor

Regarding image issues like ghosting or blurring, 1ms has proved to be better than the 4ms ips time. You will get a better viewing experience and be able to solve the problems quickly. So, when it comes to image problems, 1ms wins.

Refresh Rate

The more frames per second (fps) the display panel can support, the higher the refresh rate. You’ll have a more enjoyable gaming experience and a more responsive PC with a faster refresh rate. Comparatively, 200 Hz is the most popular refresh rate right now, so opting for one of those is a good idea.

Better Gameplay

Lower refresh rates will generally give you many benefits when linking to the gameplay. Though 4ms is not very high, it’s still not that significant when trying something in the gameplay. So, please choose the 1ms response time for this.

Intensity to Aspect Ratio

You should look for a TN monitor with a high aspect ratio to expand the width and height of the display, which will give you a more expansive and immersive gaming experience. On the other hand, Ultra-wide collections offer a 21:9 aspect ratio, allowing for a more immersive viewing and gaming experience.

Graphics Change

Most online games are made with high-quality graphics, and their animations change pretty frequently when you are trying to play one. Now, 1ms and 4ms are a kind of lower response time, and both will work excellently in this regard.

However, 1ms will allow you to catch the scenes faster and move in your games quickly. So, in short, you can use both of these times, but 1ms is recommended.

The Angle Of View

The monitor determines the viewing angle. If your monitor has a rating of 180 or above, you’ll have a better gaming experience, regardless of whether you’re utilizing a 1ms or 4ms refresh rate.

Cost

Generally, a 1ms response time comes with the TN panel, which is less expensive than others. On the other hand, 4ms includes IPS panels, which are much more costly than the TN ones. Now, generally, IPS will give a better performance.

Since 1ms is also compatible with the IPS panel, you can choose either depending on your budget. So, 1ms with an IPS panel will be costlier than 4ms. But 1ms response times that include TN panel will be cheaper than the 4ms ones.

Main Difference: If you want a quicker refresh rate, you could use a lower millisecond value, 1ms instead of 4ms. But both are good for gamers since they reduce blur incidence and fractions when playing and streaming video.

Why Is Response Time Important?

Response time isn’t a big deal if you only use the internet for browsing, shopping, or reading. For the most part, the time isn’t that important, even if you use your PC to watch movies or videos.

Videographers and gamers alike must pay close attention to their response times. A response time of one to five milliseconds can make all the difference in the world to your campaign’s overall success or failure. More apparent motion and less “ghosting” are two other advantages.

Be aware, however, that slower response times might signify that the monitor does not have complicated picture processing, such as increased brightness or blue light filters, which protect your eyes if you suffer from eye strain and headaches. You may not need a monitor with a great degree of responsiveness.

The Process of Monitor Coloring

You may be wondering how color is created after all this discussion about black, white, and gray. Typical LCD panels feature three subpixels for each pixel responsiveness. In addition, displays may display millions of pixels at once (a 4K screen contains about 8.3 million). There are color filters for red, green, and blue light in each of these three subpixels located inside one pixel. Colors may be created by altering these three subpixels’ active and inactive regions.

This is how long it takes pixels to “switch off” or, to put it another way, to block out light in response time. Based on a color scheme and the transition between each gray, gray-to-gray works. However, the intermediate gradations are used to create the color variations.

Thinking About Improving Your Response Time

I recommend it for gamers and videographers alike! Competitive esports require a faster response time to maintain your position at the top of the rankings. It may not be the essential element if you are a regular user, such as in a professional setting or just surfing the web for fun.

ViewSonic Elite’s XG2405 has a response time of 1ms (GtG) and a refresh rate of 144Hz, making it an excellent choice for gaming and even cinematography. ViewSonic Elite’s line of high-performance gaming monitors may also be viewed by clicking this link.

Editor’s Note: Check out our Buying Guide For 7 Best Monitor For BMPCC 4K

What’s The Point Of Having A Fast Response Time?

Current computer displays and television sets don’t even have a discernible lag when playing video. Gaming is an exception. In the world of video games, milliseconds may make the difference between victory and defeat. For example, a single millisecond can distinguish between winning a battle or losing one.

So, if you’re a competitive player, a low refresh rate between 1 and 5 milliseconds is worth the price of a more expensive gaming display.

Monitors With The Fastest Response Time

However, there are certain exceptions to the rule regarding laptops and smartphones, so keep that in mind. However, if you’re looking to upgrade the gaming PC you have must think about the difference between 1ms vs 4ms. Then, of course, you’ll want to spend as much money as possible on a new display. At the time of this writing, 90% of monitors on the market use one of three types of LCD panels.

TN (Twisted Nematic) Screen Panels: 

Low-cost, but with a limited color gamut. They are some of the quickest displays available in response speed, and gaming frequently monitors colorful TN panels to achieve this.

VA (Vertical Alignment) Screen Panels:

This more recent design aims to combine TN’s quick response time with IPS’s more accurate, vibrant color. However, many gaming monitors now use VA panels with refresh rates as low as one millisecond, which is a bit of a compromise.

IPS (In-Plane Switching) Screen Panels: 

IPS displays are preferred by graphic designers, photographers, videographers, and anybody else who cares about color accuracy. They are also more costly. As a result, they aren’t commonly referred to as “gaming” monitors because of their faster response times than TN panels. 

A TN or VA screen panel display will keep up with even the most demanding games. A small number of costly, non-glare IPS gaming monitors exist but aren’t as quick as the competition. When looking at a monitor’s specifications online or in a store, you’ll generally see the panel type listed.

Does A Slow Responsive Monitor Make Sense For You?

If your multiplayer game has a weak connection, the time it takes your computer to send and receive information from the game’s server will likely exceed your response time. It doesn’t matter how “slow” your display is. If your game has a one-tenth of a second ping to the server, visual delay issues will not determine.

When playing fast-paced games like Fortnight, Overwatch, Rocket League, or Street Fighter with a high-speed internet connection, you’ll want to take advantage of every single instant you can. A computer display is no different from a TV for gaming consoles and televisions.

Response Time VS Refresh Rate: Which One is Important For Gaming?

Testing The Response Time

The science and meaning of response time are, unfortunately, rather complex. It can be difficult for even the most experienced engineers. However, if you’re interested in learning more about response time, several excellent resources are available.

You may perform response time tests to see how quickly your monitor responds. Because they are better suited to video and motion, they are particularly beneficial for displays that employ gray-to-gray response times.

Moving picture response time (MPRT) may be measured with these experiments (MPRT). For movies, the response time is measured by how long a single pixel (which has already changed colors) can be seen. the single-pixel you’re a videographer interested in learning more about GtG and MPRT, this explanation is for you.

The Gamer’s View on MPRT

Motion picture response time (MPRT) is the official abbreviation for the term. Using this test, a pixel’s apparent or viewable time on the screen is measured. With each passing frame, the blur or trail that a moving picture leaves in its wake grows longer and longer. This was demonstrated in the well-known flying saucer test that you may have witnessed. Pixels turn on and off to pass the ship from left to right and back again as it advances across the screen.

Pixel activation and deactivation are handled promptly by a fast monitor with substantial processing and power supply capabilities with 1ms MPRT, making the saucer seem to move exceptionally smoothly on screen, with no residue left behind.

From Black To White To Black

The usual response time indication is black to white to black. There are two ways of measuring this: one is by looking at how long it takes for a person to go from active (white) to inactive (black). Using this time measurement, you can calculate how long it takes a pixel to change color. The entire time is determined, for example, by the LCD’s liquid-crystal rise and fall rates.

Response times from black to white to black are often more significant, indicating that they transition more slowly. People who are more concerned with the comfort of their monitor’s ergonomics may appreciate the faster response speeds offered by these displays.

The Transition From Gray To Gray (Gtg)

Because these pixels aren’t completely dormant, they’re referred to as an “intermediate gradation.” It is estimated that LCD GtGs contains about 256 shades of gray. Gray-to-gray response speeds are significantly faster, making them ideal for gamers and videographers.

It’s also vital to note how they’re being ranked. Grey-to-gray is assessed by averaging many selected time sequences instead of black-to-white-to-black, which is a one-way journey. In milliseconds, this is the time it takes for a pixel to change color.

FAQs of 1ms vs 4ms

Can you tell the difference between 4ms and 1ms?

To put it another way, you can tell the difference between the speed of 1ms and the speed of 4ms while you’re playing semi-competitive games.

How fast do displays respond?

A monitor’s response time measures the amount of time it takes to go from one color to another. The time required to transition from black and white to black and back is commonly given in milliseconds (ms) with low input lag. Image and motion quality improve with a faster response time in milliseconds.

Is a response time of 5ms acceptable?

It is not preferred to have the lowest response time of 1ms, but 5ms is okay unless you are a competitive gamer on an IPS monitor. To be considered a competitive player, you must have a response time with the best monitor of fewer than 5 milliseconds. Most individuals aren’t even aware of input latency until it’s more than 20 milliseconds.

How much better is 1 ms than 5 ms?

1ms monitor vs. 5ms in response time is little, and there is no standard way for assessing response times; thus, do not worry about competitive gaming IPS display. Due to the new monitor’s more excellent resolution, performance will be marginally degraded; nevertheless, the response time will not be significantly affected.

How fast should a computer monitor respond?

A smoother viewing experience may be achieved with a quicker response time. The optimum gaming display has a response time of less than 5ms, although much current gaming curved monitor like Asus Rog with VA panel has a response time of 1ms or less.

The End of the Discussion

So, 1ms vs 4ms monitor, which is perfect for gaming? 1ms is the ultimate choice, but TN panels are not always the best. Color reproduction and viewing angles are significantly better on IPS panels than on LCDs. As a result, we propose that you consider all pertinent considerations, including financial constraints, in addition to response time. There is no other way to narrow down your search for a gaming monitor that is suited for you.