09-04-2020, 03:03 PM
The EyeLink system will work with any monitor or properly calibrated surface and doesn’t require special presentation hardware to operate. For the majority of tasks any computer monitor will do. However for some projects, such as gaze contingent tasks, you may want to consider using a high refresh rate monitor to minimize the time it takes to update the screen. 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 is important to pay attention to the hardware specifications of that monitor and the conditions under which those specifications apply. The published specifications for any given monitor may only reflect the best conditions/configuration of that monitor, and may not apply to all possible modes of operation for that monitor (e.g. different resolutions / different cables may have an impact). For instance, the “response time” (also sometimes referred to as the 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 an update of the screen. 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/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 make sure to check your monitor's documentation.
It’s also important to understand the various technologies involved, such as variable refresh rates (VRR, GSYNC, FreeSync, etc), and 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. Any time you purchase new hardware it’s always best to consult the latest version of the Experiment Builder manual and look at the PC System Requirements and the Maximizing Real-time Performance sections of that manual to make sure 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 < 2 msec at native resolution and maximum refresh rate. This is by no means an exhaustive list of all makes/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.
The BenQ XL2420Z / XL2411Z / XL2430T / XL2430 / XL2540 / XL2540K and Asus VG248QE, have so far shown to be the most flexible, with < 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 to get setup in certain configurations.
Ultimately if you’re concerned about the timing accuracy of your monitor, it is best to independently test your monitor 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 with respect to your stimulus presentation software / Display PC to perform the relevant tests / interpret the results.
If you have any questions, please contact support@sr-research.com.
When selecting a high refresh rate monitor it is important to pay attention to the hardware specifications of that monitor and the conditions under which those specifications apply. The published specifications for any given monitor may only reflect the best conditions/configuration of that monitor, and may not apply to all possible modes of operation for that monitor (e.g. different resolutions / different cables may have an impact). For instance, the “response time” (also sometimes referred to as the 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 an update of the screen. 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/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 make sure to check your monitor's documentation.
It’s also important to understand the various technologies involved, such as variable refresh rates (VRR, GSYNC, FreeSync, etc), and 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. Any time you purchase new hardware it’s always best to consult the latest version of the Experiment Builder manual and look at the PC System Requirements and the Maximizing Real-time Performance sections of that manual to make sure 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 < 2 msec at native resolution and maximum refresh rate. This is by no means an exhaustive list of all makes/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 |
The BenQ XL2420Z / XL2411Z / XL2430T / XL2430 / XL2540 / XL2540K and Asus VG248QE, have so far shown to be the most flexible, with < 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 to get setup in certain configurations.
Ultimately if you’re concerned about the timing accuracy of your monitor, it is best to independently test your monitor 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 with respect to your stimulus presentation software / Display PC to perform the relevant tests / interpret the results.
If you have any questions, please contact support@sr-research.com.