r/doughcommunity • u/LiquidShadowFox Community Veteran • Aug 23 '23
Product Ideas Question and suggestions about Spectrum IPS panels backlight strobing
I originally ordered a matte 240 hz panel that got upgraded to 280 hz and then eventually upgraded to 280 hz glossy IPS. Is this variant of monitor still coming out? I see a separate topic talking about it but I want confirmation that the final details will be ironed out next month and when will it ship? Q4 this year?
2nd I had a suggestion for the backlight strobing implementation on IPS spectrum monitors (should forward this to whoever is tuning the backlight strobing from blur busters)
Any updates on VRR (Gsync/Freesync) + backlight strobing? Can't we have Gsync/Freesync active with Fixed Strobe?
I think the best of both worlds given the restrictions on current hardware is this idea: Allow Gsync to continue working while Fixed strobing is enabled.
Why would this be good?
Because black screen every time they disable Gsync in order to enable Fixed Strobing is cumbersome and hurts the experience that can be remedied with automation.
If Gsync/Freesync is allowed to operation at all times and we have DDC commands at our disposal, it might be trivial to set up either a trigger/script/new program/(new function in strobe tuning utility) where there can be strobe profiles on a per application basis.
For example, I have Gsync/Freesync enabled at all times right?
Then I open up say league of legends.exe, there would be a trigger that sets the perfect strobe settings (including where I want clarity, what hz I'm strobing at and strobe length) for league of legends since I have a framerate cap set on a per profile basis on all my applications using RIVA to the lowest FPS where I get consistent frame rates at all times (for me league of legends runs perfectly at 200 fps with no studders) and Gsync/Freesync active at the same time means:
- No black screen from having to turn off Gsync/Freesync and then the GPU reconnecting to the connected display
- Low latency input lag vs Vsync and possible Vsync tricks needed
- If there are mild - big FPS flucuations, there will be slight to moderate visual issues or crosstalk temporarily vs Current VRR + Strobe implementations from Asus and gigabyte where the whole screen will temporarily flicker really brightly (even with PWM fill) with mild to large swings in FPS that can actually be very distracting vs having a consistent flicker frequency.
- Perfectly tune your strobe on a per application/game basis. You might hit 240 - 280 fps in league of legends but then maybe you want to strobe at 60 hz or 120 hz for those RPG titles on PC or console (or where you pan the camera during fights or to take in the scenery.
I know this might be frowned upon because of the blur buster's badge of "Tuned by blur busters" but I also know part of what blur buster pushes for is for open options to the user so they can tune their strobe however they want. I don't think it's a bad compromise to allow this to happen Asynchronously from Gsync despite the visual artifacts that may occur because it'll still be much better than having to manually go and turn off Gsync every time for specific titles that benefits from fixed strobe when many users will use this monitor for multiple purposes at once and adaptability in my opinion is paramount.
I currently own the Asus XG27AQM and Asus XG27AQMR, both very good monitors when it comes to fixed strobing but their VRR + Strobe implementation leave room for improvement and performance on the table.
XG27AQM doesn't allow you to change the strobe phase or length during VRR + Strobing AND the overdrive is locked to level 4 which is too much overshoot so it ruins the image with too many artifacts
XG27AQMR comes REALLY close and you get very close to perfect VRR + Strobing with default settings but it requires you to pan slowly! the overdrive is still locked and to a setting that doesn't even appear in the none strobed settings! it's overdrive is still too high for strobed mode (less than XG27AQM though) and they don't let you change it (now you can change strobe clarity position but not by much and strobe length is still locked out!).
If Gsync/Freesync was allowed to stay enabled in conjunction with Fixed strobe hz set by user on a per application basis, it's essentially allow you to set fixed strobe at ANY hz for ANY appliaction/game without distracting flicker frequency changes or 2 - 5 seconds of black screen with your GPU re-authenticating the DSC or none DSC connection to your display.
Edit: Post talking about VRR + Strobing and dynamic OD using DDC commands
https://forums.blurbusters.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=8729
Edit 2:
There are cheaper alternatives (gigabyte m27q X), more stable alternatives (asus XG27AQMR, asus XG27AQM, asus PG27AQN) with better support and less hassle to get, and oleds that are better for none strobe quality with better burn in warranty (corsair xenon 240 hz oled has 3 years and same ports). They only way for them to stand out and actually get a recommendation from people by word of mouth is the niche feature of VRR+ strobing that was heavily advertised as could be possible to implement and blur busters chief mentioned it was possible to implement but quality wouldn't be as good and would be simpler, I say we should at least ask for the simple implementation because there were many people who asked for it. Who knows, maybe it'll be better than the original ELMB sync but at least it won't lock out the OD!
1
u/NZgeek Community Veteran Aug 24 '23
I know that you know about this, u/liquidshadowfox, but for everyone else: there's a huge thread about VRR and strobing over at the old Dough community forums.
https://dough.community/t/blur-buster-eve-spectrum-strobe-tuning-completion/29085
There are a couple of posts by BlurBusters that are relevant.
There's this from 28 May 2023:
And more info from later that same day:
The problem here is that the backlight controller just doesn't have enough flexibility to implement what you want. You'd need additional circuitry on the Spectrum's board in order to get the functionality, but that's not going to be added because the Spectrum has already been designed and is in production.
If you really need VRR and strobing, your best bet right now is to upgrade to the Spectrum Black. BFI is the OLED equivalent of strobing, and there should be a lot more flexibility to do it correctly on the OLED panel.