09-04-2020, 03:03 PM
The EyeLink system works with any monitor or properly calibrated surface and doesn't require special presentation hardware. For the majority of tasks any computer monitor will do.However, for some projects, such as gaze-contingent tasks, you may want to use a monitor with a high refresh rate to minimize screen update time. For any task where rapid display changes are critical, it's best to use a monitor with a refresh rate of 120 Hz or higher to minimize the time between screen refreshes.
When selecting a high refresh rate monitor, it's important to pay attention to its hardware specifications and the conditions under which those specifications apply. The published specifications for a monitor may only reflect its best conditions or configuration and may not apply to all of its possible modes of operation (e.g., different resolutions or cables may have an impact). For instance, the "response time" (also referred to as Grey-to-Grey or Moving Picture Response Time) is a metric used to report how fast the pixels on the screen can change in response to a screen update. This factor can be very important for determining how quickly the image will appear to the subject once the screen has been updated. The lowest or fastest response time is generally the best. However, this may only be achievable with specific combinations of resolution, refresh rate, and settings on the monitor, so check your monitor's documentation.
It's also important to understand the various technologies involved, such as variable refresh rates (VRR, GSYNC, FreeSync, etc.). You should also determine if your stimulus presentation software supports those features and what would be involved in utilizing them if they are required to achieve the published specifications. For example, with our Experiment Builder software, it's advised to disable any variable refresh rate technologies, given that the methods used for stimulus presentation in Experiment Builder are not currently compatible with these technologies. We generally recommend using a 24” 1920x1080 monitor with up to 240hz refresh rate when using Experiment Builder. Anytime you purchase new hardware, it's always best to consult the latest version of the Experiment Builder manual. You should also look at the PC System Requirements and the Maximizing Real-time Performance sections of that manual to ensure you're getting the most out of your hardware.
Below is a list of monitors that we have tested for internal purposes and found that they perform admirably, with a response time of less than 2 msec at native resolution and maximum refresh rate. This is not an exhaustive list of all makes or models of potentially suitable monitors and may not reflect current market offerings. Manufacturers may only supply specific models to specific geographical markets. Unfortunately we do not have the resources to test every make and model that reaches the market. The vast majority of monitors we have tested perform as advertised.
he BenQ XL2420Z, XL2411Z, XL2430T, XL2430, XL2540, XL2540K, and Asus VG248QE have so far proven to be the most flexible, with less than 2 ms delays at all the refresh rates we tested.
*The ASUS XG17AHP is a portable display with a built-in battery for travel setups. This monitor performs well but can present some usability issues in certain configurations.
Ultimately, if you're concerned about your monitor's timing accuracy, it is best to test it independently to characterize how it performs with your specific Display PC, stimulus presentation software, and task stimuli. Such tests typically involve using a photodiode test rig, such as those provided by the Millikey delux and Black Box toolkit. Please refer to the relevant documentation for your stimulus presentation software or Display PC to perform the relevant tests or interpret the results.
If you have any questions, please contact support@sr-research.com.
When selecting a high refresh rate monitor, it's important to pay attention to its hardware specifications and the conditions under which those specifications apply. The published specifications for a monitor may only reflect its best conditions or configuration and may not apply to all of its possible modes of operation (e.g., different resolutions or cables may have an impact). For instance, the "response time" (also referred to as Grey-to-Grey or Moving Picture Response Time) is a metric used to report how fast the pixels on the screen can change in response to a screen update. This factor can be very important for determining how quickly the image will appear to the subject once the screen has been updated. The lowest or fastest response time is generally the best. However, this may only be achievable with specific combinations of resolution, refresh rate, and settings on the monitor, so check your monitor's documentation.
It's also important to understand the various technologies involved, such as variable refresh rates (VRR, GSYNC, FreeSync, etc.). You should also determine if your stimulus presentation software supports those features and what would be involved in utilizing them if they are required to achieve the published specifications. For example, with our Experiment Builder software, it's advised to disable any variable refresh rate technologies, given that the methods used for stimulus presentation in Experiment Builder are not currently compatible with these technologies. We generally recommend using a 24” 1920x1080 monitor with up to 240hz refresh rate when using Experiment Builder. Anytime you purchase new hardware, it's always best to consult the latest version of the Experiment Builder manual. You should also look at the PC System Requirements and the Maximizing Real-time Performance sections of that manual to ensure you're getting the most out of your hardware.
Below is a list of monitors that we have tested for internal purposes and found that they perform admirably, with a response time of less than 2 msec at native resolution and maximum refresh rate. This is not an exhaustive list of all makes or models of potentially suitable monitors and may not reflect current market offerings. Manufacturers may only supply specific models to specific geographical markets. Unfortunately we do not have the resources to test every make and model that reaches the market. The vast majority of monitors we have tested perform as advertised.
| Make | Model | Panel Size | Native Resolution | Max Refresh Rate | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aorus | Fi25F | 24.5" | 1920x1080 | 240 | DisplayPort, HDMI 2.0 (x2) |
| Asus | VG258Q | 24.5" | 1920x1080 | 240 | DisplayPort, HDMI 1.4, DVI-D |
| Asus | VG248QG | 24" | 1920x1080 | 165 | DisplayPort, HDMI 1.4, DVI-D |
| Asus | XG17AHP* | 17" | 1920x1080 | 240 | Mini HDMI 2.0, USB-C |
| BenQ | XL2540 | 24.5" | 1920x1080 | 240 | DisplayPort, HDMI 1.4 (x2), DVI-D |
| BenQ | XL2540k | 24.5" | 1920x1080 | 240 | DisplayPort, HDMI 1.4 (x2), HDMI 2.0 |
| Asus | VG248QE | 24" | 1920x1080 | 144 | DisplayPort, HDMI 1.4, DVI-D |
| BenQ | XL2420TE | 24" | 1920x1080 | 144 | DisplayPort, HDMI 1.4 (x2), DVI-D, VGA |
| BenQ | XL2420Z | 24" | 1920x1080 | 144 | DisplayPort, HDMI 1.4 (x2), DVI-D, VGA |
| BenQ | XL2411Z | 24" | 1920x1080 | 144 | HDMI 1.4, DVI-D, VGA |
| BenQ | XL2430 | 24" | 1920x1080 | 144 | DisplayPort, HDMI 1.4, DVI-D, VGA |
| Dell | S2421HGF | 24" | 1920x1080 | 144 | DisplayPort, HDMI 2.0 (x2) |
| BenQ | XL2420T | 24" | 1920x1080 | 120 | HDMI 1.4, DVI-D, VGA |
| BenQ | XL2420TX | 24" | 1920x1080 | 120 | HDMI 1.4 (x2), DVI-D, VGA |
| BenQ | XL2410T | 24" | 1920x1080 | 120 | HDMI 1.4, DVI-D, VGA |
| Samsung | 2233RZ | 22" | 1680x1050 | 120 | DVI-D |
| Viewsonic | VX2265wm | 22" | 1680x1050 | 120 | DVI-D |
| Viewsonic | VX2268wm | 22" | 1680x1050 | 120 | DVI-D |
he BenQ XL2420Z, XL2411Z, XL2430T, XL2430, XL2540, XL2540K, and Asus VG248QE have so far proven to be the most flexible, with less than 2 ms delays at all the refresh rates we tested.
*The ASUS XG17AHP is a portable display with a built-in battery for travel setups. This monitor performs well but can present some usability issues in certain configurations.
Ultimately, if you're concerned about your monitor's timing accuracy, it is best to test it independently to characterize how it performs with your specific Display PC, stimulus presentation software, and task stimuli. Such tests typically involve using a photodiode test rig, such as those provided by the Millikey delux and Black Box toolkit. Please refer to the relevant documentation for your stimulus presentation software or Display PC to perform the relevant tests or interpret the results.
If you have any questions, please contact support@sr-research.com.