Recently, I’ve started playing Wrecking Ball in Overwatch 2. This character is even more chaotic than my usual choice, Mercy, requiring swift movement across the map and the ability to keep up with fast characters. Therefore, I was eager to test out the Samsung Odyssey G6 monitor, which boasts an impressive 360 Hz refresh rate—one of the fastest I’ve ever experienced. Finally, I had more frames than I could practically use.
The Odyssey G6 features a 27-inch flat-panel OLED screen with a resolution of 2,560 by 1,440 pixels. It supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, allowing for HDR content playback, which is not available on many other FreeSync monitors. The eye-catching aspect of the G6 is undoubtedly its incredibly high refresh rate, a level that many users may have never encountered before.
A Comprehensive Setup
Setting up the stand for the Odyssey G6 was a pleasant experience. The monitor attaches seamlessly to a robust stand, though it also offers VESA mount compatibility for those who want to use a different monitor arm. The stand allows for a horizontal swivel of up to 60 degrees (30 degrees in each direction) and enables easy rotation from portrait to landscape mode and vice versa.
One drawback regarding the stand’s rotation is the absence of a central hole for cable management. While there is a small rubber clip at the back to secure cables, frequent rotation could lead to tangled wires if not organized properly.
Speed Like No Other
In my experience with the Razer Blade 18 gaming laptop, which has a refresh rate of 300 Hz, I initially thought that such speed was excessive. After all, the human eye doesn’t perceive motion in terms of frames per second. Our brains are more attuned to factors like contrast and motion, so while high-speed flickering is detectable, most people may find it challenging to notice significant differences between a 120 Hz display, refreshing at 120 times per second, and a 300 Hz one, since our attention typically isn’t focused on the rapid updates.
However, frame rates gain importance when tracking swiftly moving objects (or characters) in video games. A lower frame rate can cause moving objects to appear as if they’re jumping erratically rather than flowing smoothly. An online tool lets you visualize this effect, where comparing 24 fps to 120 fps illustrates how the differences become quite pronounced.
It’s crucial to grasp the underlying mechanics here. The Odyssey G6 not only ensures smooth motion but creates an almost excessively smooth experience. Even after several weeks of using the monitor, I remain unsure whether this level of smoothness is beneficial. At some point, I begin to question if my brain is the actual limitation preventing me from keeping up with the enemy Cassidy at an astounding 360 updates per second.
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