In article <3b9837d9-4d98-4729-b967-3184bfbd3b07@a2g2000prm.googlegroups.com>, DJW <ddwr@hotmail.com> wrote:
> In setting a monitors Hz rate is that just a flicker thing?
It affects flicker, but it can also affect video quality in other ways. (See below.)
> Is a higher rate always better?
No. Which rates work best depends on the monitor. To get the best performance, you usually have to try several modes and see which one gives you the best video.
> Will a higher or lower rate cause the monitor to wear out or consume > more power faster?
Wear out? Probably not. Consume more power, probably yes, slightly. Power consumption in your video drivers probably also changes somewhat at higher rates, but I assume the effect is small.
> Is it specific to the monitor what will be the best rate?
Very much so.
> Is there a web site listing monitors and there optimal rate?
Not that I know of. Everybody I know uses a try and see method or just sets it to the highest resolution and frame rate they can get an accepts the performance in that mode.
> Is this the refresh rate and is it only for the width and the other is > height is set automatically to a ratio of what the user chooses for > width (vertical)?
It's the video refresh rate, aka the frame rate. The ratio of height to width is called aspect ratio. For most purposes, you want to set it the height and width (described in pixels, for instance 1024x768) so that it has the same aspect ratio as your screen. Otherwise, you get distortion: things looks too skinny or too fat, which you notice particularly with pictures. On the other hand, I know people who tolerate some distortion to get more information on the screen.
You want to set the resolution to whatever looks good to you -- on that monitor. Some monitors can display high resolution modes, but in those modes it appears blurry. Others display high resolution modes flawlessly. You usually pay more for a monitor with outstanding performance. An Apple studio display is an excellent high-performance monitor, for instance, and costs like it.
On CRT monitors, there's an interaction between frame rate, number of lines and aspect ratio. But you can normally adjust the aspect ratio some after you set the video mode. On CRT monitors, I've also noticed that frame rate can affect resolution clarity. Again, it's a situation of playing with the mode until you find something you like. If you have occasion to switch video modes, it's a good idea to save the profile so you can switch back easily.
