Gtg vs mprt: what is the best method of rating monitors?

GtG vs MPRT:

The GtG method is a bit tricky, as it is called that because it was mainly tested on LCD monitors. In these devices, the base panel projects only light and it has a filter on top that simulates colors by blocking certain lights. Imagine it as a stained glass window of a cathedral.

Structure diagram of LCD screens

So when we talk about gray, we are actually referring to the light from the base panel behind the filter (which is technically white).

With this in mind, what this method does is calculate the time it takes to change from one color to another. In other words, the time is counted from when the base panel is turned off until it is turned back on, which we would see as a color change.

Moving Picture Response Time (MPRT)

The MPRT, on the other hand, is a test that is subject to the refresh cycles of the monitor.

In these tests, the device is forced to quickly change colors. Depending on the level of the test, it is passed at one speed or another (depends on the refresh rate of the monitor) . With this, we can determine if the screen is capable of keeping the rhythm for which it was designed or not, among other things.

In a way, it is a more realistic test, since it tests it in a context that may occur. However, it is also less accurate and may not reflect its actual response time, especially if the display has other technologies.

GtG vs MPRT:

At Gray to Gray we have the problem that it is measured under fairly controlled experimental conditions. This translates to being tests in situations that are not common in everyday life.

It would be similar to installing a liquid cooling laptop to perform better and sell that is capable of reaching X score. It is not a lie, it is capable, but it is something taken out of context.

On the other hand, if the displays have a different technology like LED, OLED or similar, the tests change slightly. Luckily, most monitors share the same LCD technology, so it is not common to find ourselves in these cases.

Also, even if the screen is measuring 0 ms in GtG , we can still suffer from unintended motion blur. Since it is a visual effect, gray measurement may not do us much good .

MPRT

In the case of MPRT we have other series of drawbacks.

To begin with, today's monitors are usually at 60, 120, 144 or 240Hz, which leaves us with a response time of 1000ms / 240 (refreshments / s) = 4.16ms. That is, the actual minimum refresh rate for a monitor calculated in MPRT is approximately 4 ms .

In the market, however, they are usually sold at 1 ms since with auxiliary technologies the illusion of reducing Motion Blur can be made . Inexplicably, there are some models that without even having Motion Blur reduction technologies announce the known 1 ms response.

However, another extra problem also arises. These technologies are not compatible with G-Sync or FreeSync on most devices, but some brands advertise both technologies on the same models with 1ms.

We have some recent TUF Gaming, which seem to have implemented a new implementation of both, but how they perform remains to be seen.

What is Motion Blur ?

We've mentioned it a couple of times as Motion Blur or as Motion Blur , but what exactly is it.

Motion blur is a phenomenon that occurs when moving images cross in front of you. Since we cannot receive all the light information at once, our brain fills in the missing gaps. You can experience this effect simply by moving your hand from left to right at high speed. It is as if your hand leaves a beam behind it.

What happen? Well, it happens that monitors replicate this effect especially when there are movements at high speed on the screen. In certain specific scenes of animations, video games or movies it can be a desired visual effect, but at other times it is not.

Motion Blur example in The Witcher 3

For example, in the competitive field of video games, the less Motion Blur you have, the sharper you will see the images. It is a somewhat unnatural vision, but much better to be more precise. That's why many users don't like or directly detest motion blur.

As a result, monitors with high refresh rates have become increasingly popular . The more frames you have per second, the less involuntary motion blur is created.

And this is where refresh rates, response times, and motion blur connect .

Regarding GtG vs MPRT, Motion Blur is usually noticeable even though the GtG time is even as low as 1 ms . On the other hand and as we have mentioned, the MPRT is unable to reach 1 ms , making it unsurmountable that it suffers from motion blur naturally.

However, assistive technologies allow these MPRT or GtG certified monitors to fool the human eye.

Auxiliary technologies

At the end of the day, in the battle GtG vs MPRT what determines better which screen is superior is not usually the Persian quality, but the sensation that the screen transmits to us. So there are a couple or three of features that are added to the gadgets to offer a better user experience.

First of all, one of the methods is to turn the monitor off and on more times per second to reduce the time we see the pixels. Thus, we will have certain almost imperceptible "black screens" that eliminate the illusion of blur.

Here is a slow motion example of how the above method works.

On the other hand, we have the classic method of increasing the refresh rate of the screens, but right now we are at 240 Hz. However, for it to be a smooth experience we need as many frames as the refresh rate we have and few graphics allow this. It should be noted that there are screens that adapt their frequency with FreeSync or G-Sync and that others also support overclocking to offer higher figures.

If we wanted a real response of 1 ms we would need a 1000 Hz monitor and components capable of producing 1000 frames per second. Imagine searching 1000 frames per second in Metro Exodus with RTX. You can imagine the calico, right?

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Another somewhat more radical method is to switch to OLED displays, for example, which have better response times. In these monitors each pixel is an LED , making the image sharper and the color changes more accurate. Not surprisingly, some OLED monitors and similar technologies also suffer from Motion Blur in certain circumstances.

Finally, we again mention the ASUS TUF Gaming, which were presented at Computex 2019. They are a new model of monitors with what they call ELBM-Sync. This technology merges Motion Blur Reduction with Adaptive Sync, which were incompatible.

This allows us to change the refresh rate to have a better user experience while eliminating Motion Blur using the first method outlined. However, these monitors are not yet for sale.

GtG vs MPRT : marketing

As most of you already know, marketing is a dark world where almost anything goes in order to attract more attention. That is why the marketing leaders will always put that number that certifies 1 ms . To the unwary buyer this seems correct, but to that person who investigates that it smells regular.

We have to be clear that having a low GtG is not indicative of the absence of Motion Blur . Similarly, having a low MPRT is also not.

The sweet point would be to find a monitor that shows both values and, in addition, they are low. However, as the market goes, almost no brand shows the two and sometimes they only mention 1 ms without explaining in which of the two tests.

This is why we cannot trust 100% what the specifications or the manufacturers themselves tell us. The most recommended is to see reviews of those products in which you are interested. There are numerous sources online that analyze these devices in depth, so you have a long investigation ahead.

Until the market is a healthy space to walk safely, this will remain so. What we advise you is to ask manufacturers and sales websites to publish the results in both tests, GtG and MPRT.

It is something tremendously improbable, since it would show the true nature of the devices, but it is what is best for the users.

Conclusions on response time

I am sorry you have to read this, but it is the most sincere thing we can tell you. After all this article we cannot really get anything clear, since both methods are not opposed or adversarial.

In the same way that with graphics we do synthetic tests and performance in video games, with monitors we have these two methods.

Since the ideal is to have data from both tests, we recommend that you ask brands to publish all the results for each model (remember to be polite) . In this way, the market could be healthy and we will have more and more reliable data on the quality of the devices. Until then, our best recommendation is to follow the reviews and investigate which models behave best in which environments.

In the future, monitors with 1000Hz refresh rates are expected to be a fairly close reality (before 2030) . At the same time, it is also expected that, with supporting technologies, the graphics will support the 1000 fps quota. With this we will reduce the Motion Blur in a “natural” way , although there would still be special people capable of seeing above this mirage.

However, all that is already speculation and witchcraft. We hope you found this article interesting and that you learned something else.

We highly recommend the Blurbusters website, which has much more extensive and documented research on the subject .

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