I've recently switched from an 180Hz IPS monitor to a 165Hz VA monitor, and now I'm experiencing eye strain and headaches. I want to figure out whether the problem lies with the refresh rate difference or if it's more about the different panel types. I've come across some 165Hz IPS monitors and I'm wondering if they are a better option. What's causing my discomfort?
5 Answers
A quick fix might be adjusting your brightness settings before you decide to buy a different monitor. It might help reduce strain if you crank it down a bit!
The difference of 15Hz isn’t a big deal when it comes to eye strain; it’s more likely the VA panel. VA monitors can have a lot of motion blur when compared side by side with IPS screens. Why did you switch to a VA in the first place?
Diagnosing eye strain can be tricky, but if your VA monitor has noticeable blurriness while gaming, that might not directly cause headaches. What kind of activities are you doing? Casual gaming, or more intense stuff? Also, what's the lighting like in your gaming space?
I mostly game at night with overhead lights and no natural light, playing things like Tekken and indie titles.
It's definitely the VA panel! They tend to have worse smearing, especially with darker colors. But keep in mind they do have better black levels compared to IPS and don't suffer from IPS glow. Still, if you’re sensitive to motion blur, switching to an IPS or OLED may be your best bet.
Have you checked if your monitor's backlight is causing the strain? Some monitors use PWM to dim the backlight, causing flickering that you can't see but can feel as headaches. Better to look for monitors that use a DC method for brightness adjustments—they're flicker-free!
How can I tell which backlight method a monitor uses before purchasing?
My last monitor broke, and a friend lent me their spare. Plus, this one's 1440p, while my last was just 1080p.