Many argue about what is better: a monitor of 120 Hz or 60. This article will help to answer this question. It contains information about what is this same Hertz, what and how much it affects and how these monitors differ. The issue of pricing for this type of equipment will also be raised. Reading this short article will not take much time, but after that, anyone will be able to accurately answer the question.
What is hertz?
For those who, in principle, have not encountered such a concept, it will be useful to know that in this way a physical quantity is indicated, which reflects the frequency of some processes that have periodicity. The unit of measure was named in honor of its discoverer, the scientist Heinrich Hertz. It was introduced into everyday life in the distant 30th year of the last century. And thirty years later, it was recognized as the most widely used indicator in the world and included in the international system of units of measurement, also known as the SI system.
Hertz, or, more correctly, Hz is the number of repetitions per unit time - second.
Hertz, for example, measures the frequency of sound vibrations, the so-called pitch of sound or the frequency of electromagnetic radiation in a well-known microwave oven.
But how does the frequency unit apply to monitors? Let's consider in more detail.
What does monitor frequency affect?
To understand why the Hertz is so necessary for the monitor, we need to recall why our eyes can see moving pictures on the screen. To create the illusion of movement, a series of static frames that capture a specific action are sequentially flashed before our eyes at a certain speed. It is very important that the interval between them be the same. In this case, our eyes do not have time to distinguish between pauses between frames, and they merge into one continuous action.
This was used in ancient times to create animations, which later became a reference point for creating the first movie camera. This led to then still dumb black and white, and then to color, “talking” cinema.
About the same principle modern monitors work. They flicker with a certain frequency, measured just in Hertz, each time changing the picture and thereby creating the illusion of movement, say, of your mouse cursor.
Everyone probably heard that a long time ago movies were shot and, accordingly, shown at a frequency of 24 frames per second, that is, 24 Hertz. Today, everything is different. For an ordinary monitor, the minimum working limit of this indicator is a frequency two and a half times greater than then, that is, 60 Hertz.
This allows you to achieve better picture quality - it looks smoother, sharper, more detailed and deeper. This is the key value of gertsovka in modern monitors. The larger it is, the better the picture.
60 Hertz vs 120
However, do not think that the image on the 120 Hz monitor will be very different from the image at 60 Hz. In general, this will be noticeable: the smoothness of the movement of objects on the screen will improve, the clarity of the graphics will become slightly better, the lighting effects in movies and games will become more voluminous and realistic. However, this will be felt only with a detailed comparison. 120 Hertz monitors, of course, allow you to look at some things with new eyes. But you will notice the difference only if you put two screens next to each other, differing in hertz, and carefully look at the details.
In general, after prolonged use of the monitor at 120 Hz, you are unlikely to want to go back to 60 Hz. You obviously will not get the pleasure of seeing a more “clumsy” picture, since the smallest difference in the smoothness of the cursor will already be noticeable. After all, the eyes are already used to seeing a better image.
120 hertz and more?
If the 120 Hz monitor is not enough for you, then do not despair. To date, there are models with a truly cosmic value of hertz, exceeding two hundred updates per second. Such monitors are not yet so common, but it becomes clear that a mere 60 Hertz is not enough for the average user. What can we say about avid gamers, because for a gaming monitor 120 Hz is not quite an acceptable value. It does not always allow you to fully appreciate the beauty of the location or cut-scene. Also in the game, a detailed drawing of the characters, attributes, and other plot elements is important.
Price
Alas, as always, the question of comfort is inextricably linked to monetary costs. Indeed, the greater the frequency characteristic of the monitor, the more technically advanced it is and, as a result, more expensive than its less fast counterparts. On average, the price of 120 Hz monitor is in the range from 13 to 20 thousand rubles. The cost for some segments of consumers is really significant, so you should think about the appropriateness of such a purchase three times. Someone will prefer to purchase a less “nimble” monitor, but for someone personal comfort from spending time at the computer is more significant than the price of 120 Hz monitors.