What is Response Time on a Monitor?

Today I decided to write about the response speed of monitors. I will explain what this monitor function means and whether it is important to you.
You have probably seen “ms” on monitors somewhere, and that indicates the response speed of a monitor.
Below we will see if you need such a monitor for your needs because the more advanced the monitor the more expensive it will be.

Table of Contents

What Is Response Time for Monitors?

Response time is how long it takes for a monitor to change colors. Milliseconds (ms) are usually used to measure this. They show how long it takes to go from black to white and back to black.

But there is also gray-to-gray (GtG) and sometimes just black-to-white.

What is Gray-to-Gray (GtG) and Black-to-White (B2W

Gray-to-Gray (GtG): This measures how quickly a pixel transitions between different shades of gray. GtG is the most common measurement because it better represents real world usage and also for gamers.
Black-to-White (B2W): This measures the time it takes for a pixel to change from black to white and vice versa. This measurement is outdated and was more commonly used on older monitors.

For most purposes GtG is the relevant measurement so if you see a monitor with a 1ms response time it usually refers to GtG.

Why Does Response Time Matter?

The importance of response time depends largely on how you plan to use your monitor.

In the following, I will write you three main situations where monitors are mainly used:

1. Gaming

For gamers fast response time is crucial especially in FPS games where every millisecond counts. Slower monitor response can cause motion blur or ghosting where afterimages remain visible as faint shadows on the screen. Read our guide LG vs. Samsung Monitors.

For gamers, a fast response time is crucial

Monitors with a response time of 1ms are considered the gold standard for gaming.

2. Watching Movies and Videos

While a monitor’s response time isn’t as important for movies and videos it can still cause slight motion blur during fast paced scenes.

3. General Use

For everyday tasks like browsing or document editing response time isn’t as significant. Most users won’t notice a difference between a 1ms or 10ms response time during typical work tasks.

But if you occasionally watch videos or play casual games, a 5ms and 10ms monitor should serve you well.

Different Types of Monitor Panels and Response Times

TN panels offer the fastest response times making them a favorite for competitive gamers. IPS panels deliver better color accuracy perfect for designers and content creators.

VA panels balance good color accuracy with deeper blacks suitable for mixed use but may have slower response times leading to slight ghosting in fast motion scenes. Read our guide What is ASCR?.

How to Choose the Best Response Time for Your Needs

Choosing the right response time depends on your primary monitor activities:

Gaming: If you play games, aim for a monitor with a response time of 1ms or 2ms. So that you don’t have problems in fast-paced games, if you are a casual gamer, 4ms or 8ms response monitors can also work.
Design and Content Creation: For creative work, you shouldn’t have any problem using slower monitors. Focus on color accuracy and go for an IPS panel monitor with a response time of up to 5ms or 8ms, which will provide adequate clarity without sacrificing visual quality.
General Use: For browsing or light office work, choose monitors between 5ms and 10ms, which are usually ideal.

Conclusion

I hope you understand what monitor response time means and that it will help you when choosing a monitor.

For competitive gamers, a 1ms response time is ideal, while general users can comfortably choose a monitor with 4ms to 8ms response times.

If you want a monitor for gaming it would be good to get a monitor with a 1ms time, but if you want a monitor for work for example then monitors with 4ms or more can meet your needs. Read our guide What is HDR on a monitor?

FAQs

Is 1ms response time always necessary?

No, only if you want to play some fast games then you need some faster monitor response like 1ms.

How does response time affect gaming?

Faster response times reduce motion blur and ghosting making games look smoother and improving reaction times for competitive gamers.

Can I use a 5ms monitor for gaming?

5ms is sufficient for most gaming although there may be slight motion blur in fast-action games. For competitive gaming a lower response time is better.

Do all types of monitor panels offer 1ms response time?

1ms response time is mostly available on TN panels while IPS and VA panels typically range from 4ms to 8ms.

Does response time affect video playback?

It can slightly impact video playback especially during fast action scenes. However a response time under 8ms is usually adequate for smooth viewing.