Response-time menus make monitor setup look deceptively simple: Normal, Fast, Extreme. Grey-to-grey response times only become useful when you understand what each mode trades to make moving pixels change more quickly.

Quick Answer

GtG measures selected grey transitions, while Extreme and typical modes apply different amounts of pixel overdrive. A lower figure may reduce trails but create inverse ghosting, so use the fastest mode that stays visually clean at the active refresh rate. The Lenovo L24-4e specifies 4ms GtG in Extreme mode, making a direct visual comparison more useful than treating one measurement as a universal result.

🔬 Begin with the part a response figure measures

A flat-panel pixel does not change from one shade to another instantly. Grey-to-grey, abbreviated GtG, is a way of measuring selected transitions between shades. It is useful because many moving edges contain these kinds of changes, but it is not a measurement of every colour pair the panel can display. It also says nothing about how quickly a game engine creates a frame or how long an input device takes to report movement.

This is why a 4ms number cannot be read as "every pixel always takes four milliseconds". A manufacturer may test the fastest selected transition under a particular overdrive mode. Another transition can take longer, and a different mode can use a different amount of drive. The number is a clue about the design, not a complete model of the display.

For the Lenovo L24-4e, the product information says 4ms GtG in Extreme mode. The responsible interpretation is narrow: this model has an Extreme response setting associated with that quoted timing. It does not invent a claim about every scene, game or setting.

⚙️ Understand overdrive before turning it up

Overdrive is the electronics' attempt to push a pixel toward its next value more firmly. With too little, a moving edge can leave a soft trail because the previous shade lingers. With too much, the pixel can overshoot its intended value and briefly become too bright or too dark. That creates inverse ghosting, often visible as a pale or dark outline behind motion.

Typical, Normal, Fast and Extreme labels are not standardised across every monitor maker. They describe a ladder within the monitor you own. Start at the default mode and use your real content. Move to the next faster setting only if ordinary trails are distracting. If a faster setting creates bright halos around dark text, scrolling objects or familiar game elements, step back one setting. The best setting is the one that removes the problem you actually see without introducing a worse one.

🎯 Put pixel response beside refresh timing

Refresh rate controls how often the monitor begins a new update. At 60Hz, that happens every 16.7 milliseconds. At 100Hz, it happens every 10 milliseconds. The Lenovo L24-4e supports 100Hz, so motion settings should be evaluated at that active rate after the monitor is connected by HDMI and configured correctly.

Response time and refresh rate solve different parts of the same picture. A 100Hz screen can present updates more frequently; a suitable response setting helps the pixel settle cleanly during those updates. One cannot replace the other. A display set to 60Hz will not show the full motion benefit of 100Hz merely because Extreme response is enabled. Conversely, setting 100Hz does not guarantee clean movement if an overdrive setting produces obvious overshoot.

Use a known test: scroll black text on a white page, move a high-contrast window across a grey background, and use a familiar game or video clip. The combination reveals both blurred trailing and exaggerated edges better than a static desktop.

👁️ Build a short, repeatable comparison

First, confirm native 1920x1080 resolution and 100Hz in the operating-system display controls. Second, open the same content at each response setting. Third, change only one variable at a time. If you change resolution, refresh rate, cable and response mode together, you will not know what improved or worsened the image.

Write down three observations: trailing behind text, haloing around contrast edges, and whether the motion feels comfortable after five minutes. This is more useful than trying to catch a fraction-of-a-millisecond difference by eye. A normal office user may prefer a balanced mode because it is clean when scrolling documents. A user who spends long sessions with quick camera movement may prefer a faster mode if the resulting image remains natural.

The obvious answer is not always Extreme. The label sounds like a performance upgrade, but it can be wrong for a panel, refresh rate or content type. A clean Fast mode is better than an aggressive setting that makes every high-contrast edge look artificial.

🧩 Separate response artefacts from other problems

Not every visual issue is response time. A stutter that occurs when the computer is busy can be an application, graphics-driver or frame-delivery issue. A fuzzy image may be a wrong resolution, poor VGA cable or scaling problem. Washed-out colour can come from output range, picture preset or room reflections. Diagnose the symptom before changing the response mode repeatedly.

The L24-4e also has an IPS panel, 250-nit output and anti-glare coating. Those are relevant to viewing behaviour but do not alter the basic response-time test. For a wider comparison of motion-oriented options, use gaming monitors; for a mixed work desk, compare office monitors with the rest of the specification in mind.

🛠️ Make configuration durable

Once you find the best setting, leave it in place for a normal workday or gaming session. If it stays comfortable across documents, video and the game you play most, you have a better answer than a short test could provide. Recheck after graphics-driver updates or a change from HDMI to another connection, because the available refresh modes can differ.

Keep brightness at a level that suits the room while testing. A screen set very bright can make halos and text fatigue harder to judge. Likewise, clean the panel gently with a dry microfibre cloth before deciding that a faint trail is a response issue; smudges and reflections can blur perceived edges.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does GtG mean?

GtG means grey-to-grey. It measures selected pixel transitions between shades rather than every possible colour change.

Why can a faster response mode look worse?

Strong overdrive can overshoot a target shade and create inverse ghosting, seen as bright or dark halos behind moving edges.

Should I always use Extreme mode on the L24-4e?

No. The 4ms figure is associated with Extreme mode, but the best choice is the fastest setting that stays visually clean in your content.

Is response time the same as input lag?

No. Response time concerns pixel transitions. Input lag also involves processing and the rest of the signal path.

Does 100Hz matter when testing overdrive?

Yes. Response behaviour should be judged at the refresh rate you plan to use. The L24-4e supports 100Hz when correctly configured.

Ready to make moving images look natural rather than merely fast? Set the screen to its intended refresh rate, test one response mode at a time and keep the setting that stays clean in your normal content.