Understanding input lag and its impact on gaming performance

Input lag is the delay between a player's action and the corresponding response on screen. It is crucial for gaming, especially for competitive players, as lower input lag can enhance performance and responsiveness. Modern displays, including TVs and monitors, typically have input lag due to processing time. CRT TVs had almost zero input lag, but today’s LCD and OLED screens can vary widely. Game modes on displays can help reduce lag to below 30 milliseconds, with some achieving under 10 milliseconds. For most gamers, input lag under 40 milliseconds is acceptable. Serious gamers prefer it below 20 milliseconds to avoid noticeable delays. The best performance is achieved at refresh rates of 100/120Hz, which can reduce lag to less than 4 milliseconds.