Monitor Refresh Rates 59Hz vs 60Hz

[Solecord]

At work I just got two new monitors - ASUS VN279Q - as I set them up and started using them, I noticed one monitor was really "white washed" out versus the other. When I go to Facebook, the background was almost pure white on one and light gray on the other. After screwing around with the monitor settings I realized they were both set the same. Further digging I noticed that the "white washed" monitor was set to 60 Hz refresh rate in Windows and the one that showed more color was set to 59 Hz. I ended up setting both to 59 Hz because it seemed like more natural color was showing up at that setting.

What's the difference between 59 Hz and 60 Hz refresh rate? Should that make the difference in terms of how colors get displayed?

[Sgt-PieFace]

A monitor that is at 59Hz 'flashes' 59 times a second, and a monitor at 60hz 'flashes' 60 times a second. In other words, the maximum frame rate a 60Hz monitor can display is 60 FPS, regardless of the frame rate that the video card can output. For example, if you turn vsync off in Quake, and turn on the frame rate indicator, you can get 100+ FPS. So even if the frame rate indicator says 100 FPS, a 60Hz monitor will only display 60 FPS, and a 59Hz monitor will only display 59 FPS.

Refresh rate shouldn't effect color quality or brightness, however, having the monitors set a different refresh rates could cause problems. Other things to check for would be color settings of the monitor in question. No on the monitor itself, but through windows. Also make sure that you have all cables connected correctly.

If you are running your monitors through SLI or crosfireX, make sure they are configured correctly in either the NVidea Control Panel or AMD Catalyst Control Center respectively.

[Phenom]

There's a few things that determine a monitor's display quality...

Brand of monitor
Color Profile
Video hardware + video driver
OSD Monitor settings (built in)

The main culprit of differences in color between monitors is usually the brand... Other then that if both are identical it may be a driver issue or something down the line.

I doubt that the 1hz difference in refresh rate is the real issue here. But if it works then awesome!

I'd do a check and make sure the drivers are up to date and any issues the drivers may have in the issue/changelog on the monitor's support website to see if there's a specific setting which may cause graphical issues.

Also some hardware just comes buggy though I doubt this is a hardware issue since you didn't mention any real malfunctioning issues just color irregularities.

I'd try setting the monitor with 59hz to 60hz and see if the white washed colors show up, if so then it's very possible just the monitor brand you're using. If not then check OSD settings then OS display settings.

[MadGypsy]

I bought an asus monitor that had this problem and I solved it through the graphics card settings panel and using a different color profile. I never got it to be perfect but, I got it close. I don't recall messing with the refresh rate. I believe I read somewhere that setting your refresh rate can screw up your monitor. I'm guessing this only applies if you are trying to set it too high but, I'm obv. no officianado.

Honestly, I would bring it back assuming it's broken and hope the replacement doesn't have the same issues. You could spend forever screwing up all your display settings just to get the monitor to look proper. Asus is pretty cheap. To end up with a lemon isn't unbelievable.

[Solecord]

I set both monitors to a refresh rate of 60Hz and they both look "white washed" now. So it seems both are behaving the same. If I change the refresh rate to 59 on both, they appear much better.

I did not install a driver. It's using a default plug-n-play monitor driver.

I don't have a graphics card. This is connected to a Dell business laptop using onboard graphics.

Also, just to add, I have an ASUS monitor at home that I use for gaming and I love it. It's a "higher end" model than the one I got here at work though.

[Adam]

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2006076

Certain monitors report a TV-compatibility timing of 59.94Hz. Therefore, Windows 7 and newer versions of Windows expose two frequencies, 59Hz and 60Hz, for every resolution that is supported at that timing. The 59Hz setting makes sure that a TV-compatible timing is always available for an application such as Windows Media Center. The 60Hz setting maintains compatibility for applications that expect 60Hz.


My guess would be that the two settings have a slightly different colour/contrast/brightness output which should be able to be combated with the displays onboard settings.

Nothing to worry about tho', pick the one you prefer the look of.

[H1CC]

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2006076

Certain monitors report a TV-compatibility timing of 59.94Hz. Therefore, Windows 7 and newer versions of Windows expose two frequencies, 59Hz and 60Hz, for every resolution that is supported at that timing. The 59Hz setting makes sure that a TV-compatible timing is always available for an application such as Windows Media Center. The 60Hz setting maintains compatibility for applications that expect 60Hz.


My guess would be that the two settings have a slightly different colour/contrast/brightness output which should be able to be combated with the displays onboard settings.

Nothing to worry about tho', pick the one you prefer the look of.

..
Wait, what?
You're telling me the whole time since I got my windows 8 laptop (now windows 10) it had both 59.94 Hz and full 60 Hz options available?


Because I only see 60 Hz available from the pulldown menu for refresh rate in Windows Control Panel/Personalization menus.
Is there somewhere else I'm supposed to go to get more advanced options?


And which of the two am I supposed to use for graphics-intensive programs-- namely, Gaming (not that I'm a big Gamer with a need to get good FPS, just that I am always having FPS issues in every game I play on my laptop that came out after 2003)?
'cause if I found out that I've been getting half (or less!) the FPS I should be getting, in games, this whole time, just because of a Refresh Rate issue, it wouldn't surprise me.

[Solecord]

..
Wait, what?
You're telling me the whole time since I got my windows 8 laptop (now windows 10) it had both 59.94 Hz and full 60 Hz options available?


Because I only see 60 Hz available from the pulldown menu for refresh rate in Windows Control Panel/Personalization menus.
Is there somewhere else I'm supposed to go to get more advanced options?


And which of the two am I supposed to use for graphics-intensive programs-- namely, Gaming (not that I'm a big Gamer with a need to get good FPS, just that I am always having FPS issues in every game I play on my laptop that came out after 2003)?
'cause if I found out that I've been getting half (or less!) the FPS I should be getting, in games, this whole time, just because of a Refresh Rate issue, it wouldn't surprise me.

I assume you only see the 59Hz if your monitor supports it. My own computer at home only shows 60Hz too.

[Mindf!3ldzX]

Probably as Phenom suggested due to color profile's or temperature. I recommend Flux to adjust to what is easiest on your eyes.

https://justgetflux.com/

Anyone who uses computers on a regular basis owes their eyes to at least check out what Flux has to offer, and its free. Even if you don't use the automatic adjustment (I found it annoying to be honest) , it's still heavily recommended. A+ rating by me.

If you want to check out whats on offer without actually installing Flux (haha damn thats lazy, jk jk) look here

https://fluxometer.com/

[Adam]

..
Wait, what?
You're telling me the whole time since I got my windows 8 laptop (now windows 10) it had both 59.94 Hz and full 60 Hz options available?


Because I only see 60 Hz available from the pulldown menu for refresh rate in Windows Control Panel/Personalization menus.
Is there somewhere else I'm supposed to go to get more advanced options?


And which of the two am I supposed to use for graphics-intensive programs-- namely, Gaming (not that I'm a big Gamer with a need to get good FPS, just that I am always having FPS issues in every game I play on my laptop that came out after 2003)?
'cause if I found out that I've been getting half (or less!) the FPS I should be getting, in games, this whole time, just because of a Refresh Rate issue, it wouldn't surprise me.

Hey!

Don't worry about it,
Your monitor communicates the refresh rates that it supports to your gfx card (unless your rocking some '90s hardware).
Just stick to the reported ones.

You can override it, but I wouldn't recommend it.

[Mindf!3ldzX]

Hey!

Don't worry about it,
Your monitor communicates the refresh rates that it supports to your gfx card (unless your rocking some '90s hardware).
Just stick to the reported ones.

You can override it, but I wouldn't recommend it.

This damn monitor I have supports custom resolutions that exceed the recommended resolution, but the F'ing monitor's OSD gets a hair up its ass and tosses a "Out of Range" dead smack in the middle of it, even though it's fine lol.