Editing Displays

Jump to navigation Jump to search

Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.

The edit can be undone. Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then save the changes below to finish undoing the edit.
Latest revision Your text
Line 2: Line 2:
  
 
==CRT TVs==
 
==CRT TVs==
'''CRT''' (or '''cathode ray tube''') TVs are the old kinds of TVs that older consoles were designed to output to. They typically accepted signals with a 15.7kHz scan rate under NTSC or PAL standards. They are usually preferred for gaming because of it's better motion, [[Input_lag#Display|response times]], and lower [[Input_lag|input lag]] compared to LCD TVs. CRT TVs have scanlines which help reduce the pixelation of older games.
+
'''CRT''' (or '''cathode ray tube''') TVs are the old kinds of TVs that older consoles were designed to output to. They typically accepted signals with a 15.7kHz scan rate under NTSC or PAL standards. They are usually preferred for gaming because of it's better motion, response times, and lower input lag compared to LCD TVs. CRT TVs have scanlines which help reduce the pixelation of older games.
  
 
[[File:Slot mask vs aperture grille.jpeg|thumb|300px|right|Shadow (slot) mask vs aperture grille]]
 
[[File:Slot mask vs aperture grille.jpeg|thumb|300px|right|Shadow (slot) mask vs aperture grille]]
Line 14: Line 14:
  
 
*Can display a wide range of resolutions up to 480i on SDTVs and 1080i on HDTVs
 
*Can display a wide range of resolutions up to 480i on SDTVs and 1080i on HDTVs
**May actually force and scale to a resolution non-native to the input. HDTVs that scale EVERYTHING to 1080i aren't rare. That defeats the purpose of avoiding scaling (no [[Input_lag|input lag]], native resolution, etc.), but you still get the other benefits (minus the "no input delay").
+
**May actually force and scale to a resolution non-native to the input. HDTVs that scale EVERYTHING to 1080i aren't rare. That defeats the purpose of avoiding scaling (no input lag, native resolution, etc.), but you still get the other benefits (minus the "no input delay").
  
*'''Nearly''' no [[Input_lag|input delay]], the exception being later model HD CRTs that do digital image processing such as High-Definition, 100Hz/doubling the scanrate or 480p inputs which use scaling and cause noticable [[Input_lag|input lag]].
+
*Almost no [[Input_lag|input delay]], the exception being later model HD CRTs that do digital image processing such as High-Definition, 100Hz/doubling the scanrate or 480p inputs which use scaling and cause input lag.
  
*Very fast [[Input_lag#Display|response times]] (less than 1 µs) but limited by [https://old.reddit.com/r/crtgaming/comments/qyx4r3/is_this_normal_for_a_crt_monitor_if_not_is_there/ phosphor decay time] (around 5 ms).
+
*Very fast [[wikipedia:Response_time_%28technology%29|response times]] (less than 1 µs) but limited by phosphor decay time (around 5 ms).
  
 
*True black levels
 
*True black levels
Line 87: Line 87:
 
Given the many advantages that CRT monitors possess, they make ideal displays for emulation, particularly for 5th-gen games and below. However, to get the most out of them, some extra steps may be necessary. For instance, some games used interlaced modes, which without a shader results in ugly deinterlacing artifacts. Also, even at 480p, games that ran at 240p and below look blocky and pixellated, not to mention correcting the aspect ratio for games using non-square pixels results in scaling artifacts, just as on an LCD. The scaling issues can be dealt with using a superwide 240p resolution, but that requires using 120hz with black frame insertion, and games that use 480i get downsampled to 240p, making it a less than ideal solution in those cases, although it does have lower latency due lower frame times between vsync.
 
Given the many advantages that CRT monitors possess, they make ideal displays for emulation, particularly for 5th-gen games and below. However, to get the most out of them, some extra steps may be necessary. For instance, some games used interlaced modes, which without a shader results in ugly deinterlacing artifacts. Also, even at 480p, games that ran at 240p and below look blocky and pixellated, not to mention correcting the aspect ratio for games using non-square pixels results in scaling artifacts, just as on an LCD. The scaling issues can be dealt with using a superwide 240p resolution, but that requires using 120hz with black frame insertion, and games that use 480i get downsampled to 240p, making it a less than ideal solution in those cases, although it does have lower latency due lower frame times between vsync.
  
To correctly display games that need both 240p and 480i resolutions, the solution lies in creating a custom superwide 3840x480 modeline, combining it with a shader that scanlines 240p content and interlaces 480i content, and using both through [[RetroArch]], essentially turning your monitor into an extremely sharp CRT TV. On Nvidia cards, the custom modeline can easily be set within your graphics card's drivers. On AMD, it requires the use of third-party software, such as [https://www.monitortests.com/forum/Thread-Custom-Resolution-Utility-CRU Custom Resolution Utility]. Simply add a detailed resolution with the exact settings shown on the picture, restart your computer, and the monitor should now be able to make use of the new modeline. As for the shader, hunterk's [https://github.com/libretro/common-shaders/blob/master/misc/interlacing.cg interlacing.cg] gives you black lines that will oscillate when given an image with 400 or higher vertical resolution, emulating the behavior of 15kHz displays. There are also some [https://github.com/libretro/common-shaders/tree/master/cgp/tvout%2Binterlacing shader presets] that combine the interlacing shader with tvout-tweaks and image-adjustment for accurate RGB signal emulation and colour controls, and also some that utilize Themaister's NTSC shader for composite/s-video emulation.
+
To correctly display games that need both 240p and 480i resolutions, the solution lies in creating a custom superwide 3840x480 modeline, combining it with a shader that scanlines 240p content and interlaces 480i content, and using both through [[RetroArch]], essentially turning your monitor into an extremely sharp CRT TV. On Nvidia cards, the custom modeline can easily be set within your graphics card's drivers. On AMD, it requires the use of third-party software, such as [http://www.monitortests.com/cru-1.1.2.zip Custom Resolution Utility]. Simply add a detailed resolution with the exact settings shown on the picture, restart your computer, and the monitor should now be able to make use of the new modeline. As for the shader, hunterk's [https://github.com/libretro/common-shaders/blob/master/misc/interlacing.cg interlacing.cg] gives you black lines that will oscillate when given an image with 400 or higher vertical resolution, emulating the behavior of 15kHz displays. There are also some [https://github.com/libretro/common-shaders/tree/master/cgp/tvout%2Binterlacing shader presets] that combine the interlacing shader with tvout-tweaks and image-adjustment for accurate RGB signal emulation and colour controls, and also some that utilize Themaister's NTSC shader for composite/s-video emulation.
  
 
Once you have the new modeline set and have the shader in hand, open your RetroArch configuration file of choice, set the fullscreen resolution to 3840x480, aspect ratio to 8, aspect ratio index to 19, and windowed fullscreen to false. Adjust your monitor's image as necessary. It may be necessary to raise your monitor's brightness somewhat or increase colour intensity to deal with the loss of brightness from having pure black scanlines. Some monitors, such as the NEC/Mitsubishi SuperBright series, have settings that increase the monitor's brightness without compromising black level or colour temperature significantly.
 
Once you have the new modeline set and have the shader in hand, open your RetroArch configuration file of choice, set the fullscreen resolution to 3840x480, aspect ratio to 8, aspect ratio index to 19, and windowed fullscreen to false. Adjust your monitor's image as necessary. It may be necessary to raise your monitor's brightness somewhat or increase colour intensity to deal with the loss of brightness from having pure black scanlines. Some monitors, such as the NEC/Mitsubishi SuperBright series, have settings that increase the monitor's brightness without compromising black level or colour temperature significantly.
Line 98: Line 98:
 
Please add to this list if you have a specific model CRT monitor that you recommend for using with emulation.
 
Please add to this list if you have a specific model CRT monitor that you recommend for using with emulation.
  
*'''Dell P1130'''
+
*'''[http://www.cnet.com/products/monitor-dell-e771p-17-16-vis-grey-crt-monitor/specs/ Dell E771p]''' - Very common CRT monitor. Able to boost colour level intensity, allowing 240p with black frame insertion or 480p with inserted scanlines to have vibrant colours despite 50% brightness. Capable of up to 1400x1050 @60Hz with custom resolutions, but disallows 1440x1080 for some reason despite being able to display other 1080p resolutions at 60Hz.
*'''[https://web.archive.org/web/20160322111422/http://www.cnet.com/products/monitor-dell-e771p-17-16-vis-grey-crt-monitor/specs Dell E771p]''' - Very common CRT monitor. Able to boost colour level intensity, allowing 240p with black frame insertion or 480p with inserted scanlines to have vibrant colours despite 50% brightness. Capable of up to 1400x1050 @60Hz with custom resolutions, but disallows 1440x1080 for some reason despite being able to display other 1080p resolutions at 60Hz.
 
*'''Sony GDM-FW900 and HP A7217A'''
 
*'''Sony MultiScan CPD-E540/B and CPD-E530'''
 
*'''Sony GDM-F520, GDM-C520K, GDM-C520, CPD-G520'''
 
*'''[https://crtdatabase.com/crts/mitsubishi/mitsubishi-2070sb Mitsubishi Diamond Pro 2070SB]'''
 
*'''Iiyama Vision Master Pro 514 (HM204DT) and Pro 512 (HA202DT), '''
 
*'''Iiyama Vision Master Pro 454 (A902MT-v) and Pro 454 (HM903DT)'''
 
*'''LaCie Electron 22 Blue IV'''
 
*'''Diamondtron UWG RDF225WG'''
 
*'''HP P1230'''
 
*'''Samsung SyncMaster 1200NF, 1200N, 1100MB and 1100DF'''
 
*'''Philips Professional 202P4'''
 
*'''LG StudioWorks 995E (CB995BE), 995U (CB995BUSB), 795SC, 912U, 910SC, 221U''' - Price/performance
 
  
 
====External links for VGA CRT====
 
====External links for VGA CRT====
 
*[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZPcKlhNiGKJwSoVI-8z5ROf7PyQ5fagRi60Gz_UafvU/edit?usp=sharing VGA CRT Monitors Mega List (WIP)]
 
*[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZPcKlhNiGKJwSoVI-8z5ROf7PyQ5fagRi60Gz_UafvU/edit?usp=sharing VGA CRT Monitors Mega List (WIP)]
 
*[https://hardforum.com/threads/24-widescreen-crt-fw900-from-ebay-arrived-comments.952788/ HardForum: Popular FW900 thread]
 
*[https://hardforum.com/threads/24-widescreen-crt-fw900-from-ebay-arrived-comments.952788/ HardForum: Popular FW900 thread]
*[https://crtdatabase.com/crts/ CRTDatabase]
 
  
 
==[[Wikipedia:Plasma_display|Plasma TVs]]==
 
==[[Wikipedia:Plasma_display|Plasma TVs]]==
Line 130: Line 116:
 
All LCD monitors have a native resolution which all output must scale to, unlike CRTs.
 
All LCD monitors have a native resolution which all output must scale to, unlike CRTs.
  
High refresh rate displays with backlight strobing/BFI can display motion resolution and motion clarity at the '''almost''' on the same level as a CRT or OLED, see: [[Input_lag#Display|Input Lag#Display response time section]], [http://www.blurbusters.com/ Blurbusters] or [https://www.rtings.com/monitor/tests/motion/black-frame-insertion RTINGS: BFI page] for more information about this technology.
+
High refresh rate (120/240/360/480Hz+) displays with backlight strobing can display motion at the almost on the same level as a CRT. See: [http://www.blurbusters.com/ Blurbusters] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20130514051506/http://www.techngaming.com/home/guide/tips/updated-eliminate-motion-blur-while-gaming-with-nvidia-lightboost-r485 techngaming]
  
There is extreme variance between panels in each section. The best of one is most likely going to be better than the worst of another. So in summary, always value [[Input_lag|input lag]] on a per [https://tftcentral.co.uk/monitor_panel_parts panel] basis. Do research through [[#External_links_for_LCD|these websites]] or [[Input_lag#External_Links|these section]] for [[Input_lag|input lag]] results.
+
There is extreme variance between panels in each section. The best of one is most likely going to be better than the worst of another.
 +
 
 +
Always value [[Input_lag|input lag]] on a per [https://tftcentral.co.uk/monitor_panel_parts panel] basis. Do research through [[#External_links_for_LCD|these websites]] or [[Input_lag#External_Links|these section]] for input lag results.
  
 
====TN panels====
 
====TN panels====
*Fast [[Input_lag#Display|response times]]
+
*Fast [[wikipedia:Response_time_%28technology%29|response times]]
  
 
*Cheap prices
 
*Cheap prices
Line 151: Line 139:
 
**Though IPS glow will be far more visible and troublesome the farther you get from straight on
 
**Though IPS glow will be far more visible and troublesome the farther you get from straight on
  
*Fairly long [[Input_lag#Display|response times]] (will differ between panels), this causes motion blur, ghosting, and delay. Although [https://www.rtings.com/monitor/tests/motion/motion-blur-and-response-time higher-end recent ones has acceptable performance].
+
*Fairly long [[wikipedia:Response_time_%28technology%29|response times]] (will differ between panels), this causes motion blur, ghosting, and delay. Although [https://www.rtings.com/monitor/tests/motion/motion-blur-and-response-time higher-end recent ones has acceptable performance].
  
 
*Some monitors can be 'overclocked' to run at higher refresh rates.
 
*Some monitors can be 'overclocked' to run at higher refresh rates.
**But most cannot resolve every frame of such refresh rates due to [[Input_lag#Display|response times]]
+
**But most cannot resolve every frame of such refresh rates due to [[wikipedia:Response_time_%28technology%29|response times]]
  
 
*IPS glow. A form of backlight bleed that varies with viewing angle. Affects dark areas. Generally makes IPS panels have terrible black levels.
 
*IPS glow. A form of backlight bleed that varies with viewing angle. Affects dark areas. Generally makes IPS panels have terrible black levels.
Line 168: Line 156:
 
**Some panels may have an issue called 'black crush' which darkens the panel when viewed straightforward.
 
**Some panels may have an issue called 'black crush' which darkens the panel when viewed straightforward.
  
*Generally mid-range [[Input_lag#Display|response times]] (will differ between panels), '''Blur/ghosting and overshoot issues is the main knock on VA panels'''.
+
*Generally mid-range [[wikipedia:Response_time_%28technology%29|response times]] (will differ between panels), Blur/ghosting and overshoot issues is the main knock on VA panels.
  
 
====External links for LCD====
 
====External links for LCD====
Line 182: Line 170:
 
Although similar to LCD monitors, OLED monitors share many of the picture quality advantages of CRT monitors, but also have the advantage of being actively produced and sold by a wide range of manufacturers and vendors. One of the main disadvantages is the high price, although the price has come down over time (slowly) and is likely to continue to do so. Despite the many current drawbacks, OLED TVs and monitors are likely to become the most popular type of screen in general due to the clear benefits of the technology as the drawbacks are ironed out.
 
Although similar to LCD monitors, OLED monitors share many of the picture quality advantages of CRT monitors, but also have the advantage of being actively produced and sold by a wide range of manufacturers and vendors. One of the main disadvantages is the high price, although the price has come down over time (slowly) and is likely to continue to do so. Despite the many current drawbacks, OLED TVs and monitors are likely to become the most popular type of screen in general due to the clear benefits of the technology as the drawbacks are ironed out.
  
Do research through [[#External_links_for_OLED|these websites]] or [[Input_lag#External_Links|these section]] for [[Input_lag|input lag]] results.
+
Do research through [[#External_links_for_OLED|these websites]] or [[Input_lag#External_Links|these section]] for input lag results.
  
 
====Advantages over LCD====
 
====Advantages over LCD====
 
*Improved contrast ratio: OLED displays can produce true black levels because each pixel emits it's own light, whereas LCDs rely on a backlight that cannot completely prevent light from escaping. They can also be thinner and more efficient than LCDs.
 
*Improved contrast ratio: OLED displays can produce true black levels because each pixel emits it's own light, whereas LCDs rely on a backlight that cannot completely prevent light from escaping. They can also be thinner and more efficient than LCDs.
  
*Faster [[Input_lag#Display|response time]]: OLEDs have faster response times, which means smoother motion and less motion blur/display lag, making them ideal for fast-paced content such as games or video playback.
+
*Faster <abbr title="Shouldn't be confused with Input Lag">response time</abbr>: OLEDs have faster response times, which means smoother motion and less motion blur/display lag, making them ideal for fast-paced content such as games or video playback.
  
 
====Disadvantages over LCD====
 
====Disadvantages over LCD====
  
*[https://www.rtings.com/tv/tests/longevity-burn-in-test-updates-and-results Burn-in and image retention]: OLED displays can suffer from burn-in when static images are displayed for long periods of time. Pixels also degrade over time, resulting in reduced brightness and colour accuracy. LCDs generally have a longer lifespan.
+
*Burn-in and image retention: OLED displays can suffer from burn-in when static images are displayed for long periods of time. Pixels also degrade over time, resulting in reduced brightness and colour accuracy. LCDs generally have a longer lifespan.
  
 
*[https://www.rtings.com/monitor/tests/picture-quality/text-clarity Text clarity] issues. [https://www.rtings.com/discussions/996wIgE4017qJtNG/discuss-subpixel-layouts-of-oleds-and-maybe-crts Many OLED displays have weird subpixel layouts] - WBGR/RWBG/etc on LG OLEDs, triangular layout on QD-OLEDs.
 
*[https://www.rtings.com/monitor/tests/picture-quality/text-clarity Text clarity] issues. [https://www.rtings.com/discussions/996wIgE4017qJtNG/discuss-subpixel-layouts-of-oleds-and-maybe-crts Many OLED displays have weird subpixel layouts] - WBGR/RWBG/etc on LG OLEDs, triangular layout on QD-OLEDs.
  
*Expensive: Because they are still relatively new when you talk about the history of monitor technology, a lot OLEDs still cost around a $1000. Fortunately, this seems to be because most manufacturers include other premium features such as 4K resolution and 48-inch size, while special examples such as the Switch OLED are available for $350 the Steam Deck OLED for $550 for 512GB of storage and the LG UltraGear monitor for around $800.
+
*Expensive: Because they are still relatively new when you talk about the history of monitor technology, OLEDs can still cost around a $1000. Fortunately, this seems to be because most manufacturers include other premium features like 4K resolution and 48-inch size, while special examples like the Switch OLED are available for $349.99, and the Steam Deck OLED for $550 for 512GB of storage.
  
*So few OLED '''monitors''' in the market at the moment, and also OLED screen sizes are too big for some users (especially competitive gamers). OLED TVs have a general size of 42–48 inches as their smallest sizes, while certain QD-OLED monitors have a size of 34 inches ultra-wide, with the LG UltraGear being 27 inch. Other than [[Wikipedia:Comparison_of_high-definition_smartphone_displays#720p_by_1280_(HD_ready)|some of the older smartphones]] there are no <=1080P OLED display in the market, although the Switch OLED screen is 720p and the Steam Deck OLED is 800p and the UltraGear a resolution of 1440p.
+
*So few OLED '''monitors''' in the market at the moment, and also OLED screen sizes are too big for some users (especially competitive gamers). OLED TVs have a general size of 42–48 inches as their smallest sizes, while certain QD-OLED monitors have a size of 34 inches ultra-wide. Other than [[Wikipedia:Comparison_of_high-definition_smartphone_displays#720p_by_1280_(HD_ready)|some of the older smartphones]] there are no <=1080P OLED display in the market, although the Switch OLED model's screen is 720p, and the Steam Deck OLED's screen is 800p.
  
 
====External links for OLED====
 
====External links for OLED====
Line 209: Line 197:
  
 
==[[Wikipedia:MicroLED|MicroLED]]==
 
==[[Wikipedia:MicroLED|MicroLED]]==
====Advantages over LCD (theoretically)====
+
{{WIP}}
*Near-instantaneous pixel switching: Similar to OLED, each pixel in a MicroLED panel is self-illuminating, allowing for incredibly fast transitions between colors and brightness levels. Measurements often fall in the microsecond (μs) range, significantly faster than LCDs. So no backlight response time. So in summary minimal motion blur: the fast pixel switching and lack of backlight response time contribute to excellent motion clarity, minimizing blur and judder even for fast-paced content.
 
*MicroLED displays achieve perfect black levels due to individual pixel self-illumination and significantly higher peak brightness levels, delivering a more vivid and lifelike viewing experience and superior contrast, especially in HDR content, compared to LCD which struggle with backlight leakage and blooming.
 
*Lower power consumption; while LCDs require constant backlight illumination, MicroLED pixels only consume power when lit. This can lead to overall lower power consumption, especially for content with dark scenes or static images.
 
*Improved viewing angles: MicroLED displays offer excellent viewing angles with minimal color or brightness shifts, unlike most of TN or VA panel LCDs which can suffer from color shift when viewed from off-axis angles.
 
 
 
====Advantages over OLED (theoretically)====
 
*Longer Lifespan: MicroLEDs are inorganic LEDs with a theoretically longer lifespan than the organic LEDs used in OLED displays. This translates to potentially longer display life before experiencing significant degradation.
 
 
 
====Disadvantages over other display technologies====
 
*Too early for mass production.
 
  
 
==Upscalers==
 
==Upscalers==
Line 227: Line 205:
 
*[[Wikipedia:Comparison_of_CRT,_LCD,_Plasma,_and_OLED|Wikipedia: Comparison of CRT, LCD, plasma, and OLED displays]]<br/>
 
*[[Wikipedia:Comparison_of_CRT,_LCD,_Plasma,_and_OLED|Wikipedia: Comparison of CRT, LCD, plasma, and OLED displays]]<br/>
 
*[[Wikipedia:Plasma_display#Plasma_display_advantages_and_disadvantages|Plasma display advantages and disadvantages]]<br/>
 
*[[Wikipedia:Plasma_display#Plasma_display_advantages_and_disadvantages|Plasma display advantages and disadvantages]]<br/>
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyUA1OmXMXA TechAltar: The billion dollar race for the perfect display]
 
 
*[http://retrorgb.com RetroRGB] - Provides lots of info on displays<br>
 
*[http://retrorgb.com RetroRGB] - Provides lots of info on displays<br>
 
*[http://junkerhq.net/xrgb/index.php/240p_test_suite 240p test suite] - Test suite for properly configuring 240p. Designed mostly for CRTs, but will work with any monitor that supports 240p. Available as a homebrew program for several consoles.
 
*[http://junkerhq.net/xrgb/index.php/240p_test_suite 240p test suite] - Test suite for properly configuring 240p. Designed mostly for CRTs, but will work with any monitor that supports 240p. Available as a homebrew program for several consoles.

Please note that all contributions to Emulation General Wiki may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here.
You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Emulation General Wiki:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission!

To edit this page, please answer the question that appears below (more info):

Cancel Editing help (opens in new window)

Template used on this page: