Overdrive in the monitor, what is it?

have many features designed to improve image quality. One of them is Overdrive technology.

An LCD panel is a collection of subpixels that refract the rays of a specially directed light source. Due to this, an image appears on the screen. In this case, the frame rate depends on the speed of movement of the turning crystals, which provide the right amount of light and the correct angle of refraction.

For reference. The amount of time it takes for liquid crystals to take the right position is the response time. It largely depends primarily on the type of matrix, as well as on the composition of the crystals and the voltage applied to the pixel - the higher the voltage, the higher the response time. On average, it is from 4 ms to 60 ms.

For matrices of different types, the response time varies greatly:

• TN + film is a good modern matrix at an affordable price, response time is 6 ms and below. The disadvantages of the matrix are low color rendering and fading of the image when viewing it at the wrong angle;
• modern IPS - the best modern matrix with excellent color reproduction, good clarity and brightness at any viewing angle and the highest VO (1-2 ms). Disadvantages - high cost;
• MVA is not the best matrix, it has a large viewing angle, good color reproduction and contrast at a low price, but is characterized by the distortion of some shades, and the response time is 16-25 ms;

• PVA - a matrix with characteristics close to MVA, but with a very high response time (up to 80 ms);
• S-PVA / S-MVA - a "hybrid" matrix, adopting the best properties of its predecessors. IN - 5-12 ms.

In a conventional monitor, the color change "black and white" is faster than "gray-gray". It depends on the voltage applied to the pixels. The essence of Overdrive technology is the supply of precisely calculated control voltages, due to which the rotation of liquid crystals to the desired position is significantly accelerated, and the response time is 1-8 ms.

Thus, the speed of changing images on the screen is significantly increased. But the technology has its drawbacks - firstly, the magnitude of the pulses applied to the pixels should significantly exceed the standard, this leads to a complication of the monitor’s electronics and an increase in its cost. Secondly, white flicker may appear on gray surfaces when playing very dynamic scenes.

Description of Overdrive

In simple words, the Overdrive function increases image clarity for both video and games, and is also responsible for:

• brightness of white, black;
• color gamut;
• color temperature;
• uniformity of illumination;
• possible color deviations;
• gray gamma and RGB color changes.

Important! You can determine whether a particular monitor supports this function by its specification - if the response time is specified as gray-to-gray (gtg, g2g), then the monitor almost certainly supports Overdrive. However, the need to connect this technology is not always. For monitors with high VO (8-10 ms) Overdrive is not relevant, as it can only slightly increase the clarity of the image, but at the same time greatly increase its contrast. But the function is great for screens with a response time of 25 ms or higher.

Depending on the monitor model, the Overdrive function can be adjusted either automatically or manually. Manual implies turning it on / off in the monitor menu, and with automatic Overdrive it works by default.