Why is the Fast-TN panel best for Esports?

There are various LCD display technologies on the market, each with its advantages and disadvantages — there is no perfect solution for every situation. When a player is engaged in a fast-paced FPS game, fast response is often the key to winning or losing. A key consideration in ZOWIE’s Esports monitor development process is the selection of the panel technology that produces fast response time and minimal ghosting and provides the best dynamic clarity, giving players the best gaming experience in the battle arena. And even a 1% difference in battle performance can determine the outcome of a fight.

The differences amongst LCD technologies mainly stem from differences in liquid crystal materials and structures. Common LCD panel technologies are divided into TN (Twisted Nematic), IPS (In-Plane-Switching), and VA (Vertical Alignment).

Since different types of panel technology have their own liquid crystal structure, each has its own performance characteristics. Thus each of these particular panel technologies has different advantages and disadvantages.

Manufacturers generally use the response time as the performance index for dynamic image sharpness. However, there is actually no uniform response time measurement or numerical definition method in the industry, and each manufacturer uses different standards to make claims in respect of their product’s response time. Therefore, any stated response time may differ in comparison to the perceived experience from a gamer's point of view.

A TN panel's fast response comes from its special liquid crystal material characteristics, which provides a clearer and sharper dynamic image quality compared with other LCD panel technologies.

The video below compares the XL2546K (240Hz) with a IPS 240Hz monitor. Both monitors are set at the fastest setting for that monitor. The video shows that the IPS monitor has more image noise because it is unable to handle that speed of response time.

In addition, TN provides a faster performance in the game due to its characteristics. The video below shows a CS2 player after a flash-bang attack. The blinding whiteness appears more slowly and fades much more quickly compared with IPS and VA panels. This gives a player the advantage of being able to see the opponent’s outline during the flash-bang.

Fast-TN provides a clearer and less blurred image in situations where images are changing rapidly. This allows the position of the crosshair or a bullet’s impact point to be seen more clearly. It also allows the enemy's movement to be more easily seen when they’re moving quickly. The following is a demonstration of Fast-TN’s different levels of motion clarity in different games:

Q1: I heard that TN panels have a poorer color performance. Is this true?

A: The color performance is related to the specifications set during panel development. The Fast-TN panels used in the XL series cover 95%~99% of the sRGB color gamut, which means that the XL monitor meets the needs of most web pages or for video browsing purposes. So it is not necessarily the case that TN panels have poorer color performance. The XL monitor is also equipped with a Color Vibrance function, which enhances the color vividness of the game screen so that the enemy’s color can be more easily distinguished from the battleground.

Q2: I often hear players complaining that the default settings of the XL monitor are weird. How do I adjust them?

A: The most common complaint about the color of the XL monitor is that the color set at the default (FPS1) is not what people are used to. This is because the FPS1 mode is a color mode specifically fine-tuned for Counter-Strike. The purpose is to make opponents stand out much more against background color and at the same time ensure that there will be not too much contrast between bright and dark details which will reduce the interference and judgment in the game. Compared with general use contexts such as web browsing, there is a clear difference. We suggest that players adjust the mode to the standard mode first so that they can get the color performance close to their general use monitor settings and then make further adjustments to get it just how they want it.

More Information:

Q3: Why do you no longer give the response time of the XL & RL models on the official website?

A: Because there is no uniform measurement standard for monitor response time in the industry. Each brand applies different standards to measure monitor response time. This means that there are no benchmark standards that customers in the market for a panel can refer to. But, as mentioned above, relative to other LCD technologies Fast-TN has the fastest response time due to its characteristics.

Q4: OLED panels have faster response times than Fast-TN, so why don't you use OLED?

A: Any panel technology that assists players’ game performance is welcome. But while it's true that OLED has a very fast response time, when you take into consideration dynamic image clarification overall, the performance of Fast TN + DyAc is still superior. Another consideration is that OLED is not yet compatible with ZOWIE’s exclusive DyAc technology.