Should I Set My Monitor to 59i 59p? Honest Truth
Honestly, I spent about three hours staring at my new 4K TV, convinced something was wrong. Everything looked… juddery. Like a cheap DVD from the late 90s. Turns out, I’d accidentally nudged a setting, and the display was trying to interpret broadcast television standards meant for a different era.
That’s how I learned about interlacing and progressive scan the hard way. It wasn’t just a setting; it felt like a digital crime scene on my screen.
So, should I set my monitor to 59i 59p? The short answer for most of you reading this is a resounding, emphatic NO. But the longer answer involves a bit of tech history and understanding why that setting even exists.
The Ghost of Broadcast Past: What Is 59i 59p Anyway?
Okay, let’s get this out of the way: 59i 59p isn’t a setting you’ll find on most modern computer monitors designed for gaming or general productivity. It’s a relic, a hangover from the days of analog television. The ‘i’ stands for interlaced, and the ‘p’ stands for progressive scan. The ’59’ refers to the refresh rate, approximately 59.94 times per second, which was standard for NTSC television broadcasts in North America and Japan.
Interlacing (i) was a clever trick to save bandwidth. Instead of sending a full frame of an image 60 times a second, it sent half the lines (odd or even) and then the other half. So, 59i actually means 29.97 full frames per second, but each frame is split into two fields. This made motion look smoother than a true 30fps progressive scan, especially on older CRT televisions, without requiring double the data.
Progressive scan (p), on the other hand, sends the entire frame of an image at once, 60 times a second (or, in this specific case, 59.94). This results in a much sharper, cleaner image, free from the interlace artifacts you sometimes see on fast-moving objects or where there are sharp contrasts in interlaced video. Think of it like reading a book a page at a time (progressive) versus reading every other line on a page, then going back to read the remaining lines (interlaced).
My own experience with this setting wasn’t on a PC monitor, but a fancy new 4K smart TV I bought for movie nights. I’d been tinkering, trying to get some obscure retro console to work, and somehow stumbled into the TV’s advanced picture settings. Suddenly, my crisp 4K picture looked like it was being broadcast from a grainy AMC movie channel from 1998. The text on the screen had a weird, shimmering halo effect. It was awful. I spent a good hour freaking out, checking cables, restarting everything, before I finally traced it back to that single, ancient interlaced setting I’d accidentally enabled. It was a $200 mistake in terms of my lost weekend, but a valuable lesson.
So, when you see ’59i 59p’ or similar settings like ’60i’ on your display options, especially on a TV connected to a source that might be outputting older video formats, understand that this is almost always an interlaced signal. For your computer monitor, for gaming, for streaming modern content, you want progressive scan. (See Also: Is Dual 32 Inch Monitor Too Big )
Why Progressive Scan (p) Is Your Friend, Not Interlaced (i)
Most modern displays, especially computer monitors, are designed for progressive scan. Your PC is outputting images progressively, usually at rates like 60Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz, or even higher. Trying to force an interlaced signal like 59i 59p onto a display that expects progressive input is like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. The display has to do a lot of work trying to reconstruct a full image from those split fields, and it rarely does a perfect job.
This can lead to all sorts of visual nasties::
- Jaggies: Stair-step patterns on diagonal lines that look incredibly crude.
- Combing artifacts: Visible lines or patterns, especially on fast-moving objects, as the interlaced fields don’t perfectly align.
- Flicker: A subtle, or sometimes not-so-subtle, flicker as the odd and even lines are displayed at different times.
- Reduced clarity: Text can look blurry, and fine details in images can get lost in translation.
For everyday computer use, gaming, or watching high-definition content, progressive scan is king. It provides a stable, clear, and smooth image. The ‘p’ in 59i 59p, when it’s part of that specific phrasing, refers to progressive scan, but the inclusion of ‘i’ means it’s trying to do both or is defaulting to an older, interlaced standard.
A good rule of thumb, especially if you’re not explicitly dealing with old broadcast equipment or specific retro gaming consoles that *require* an interlaced signal, is to always select the highest progressive refresh rate your monitor and graphics card support. For most people, this means 60Hz or higher. The more ‘p’s you can get, the better, up to your monitor’s capabilities.
I remember once, a friend insisted that turning on ’60i’ made his old console games look “more cinematic.” I nearly choked on my coffee. Cinematic? It looked like he was playing through a cheap camcorder’s footage. The common advice to aim for the highest *progressive* refresh rate is sound. This 59i 59p thing? It’s basically the digital equivalent of trying to watch a Blu-ray on a VCR.
When Might You Even See 59i 59p?
So, if it’s so bad, why does it exist as an option? Mostly, it’s for compatibility. If you’re connecting older devices that *only* output interlaced video, your display might offer these modes to try and display the signal correctly. Think of some older DVD players, early video game consoles, or professional video equipment that hasn’t been updated in years.
However, even in these cases, modern TVs and monitors often have built-in deinterlacers that do a much better job of converting the interlaced signal to progressive than simply selecting an ‘i’ mode. If you’re using a TV, you’re more likely to encounter these settings when dealing with over-the-air broadcast TV signals or older composite/component video inputs. (See Also: Is Dji Spark Compatible With Crystalsky Monitor )
For a PC monitor, the situation is different. Your graphics card is designed to output progressive signals. The operating system expects progressive signals. If you’re seeing 59i 59p as an option in your monitor’s on-screen display (OSD) or your graphics card control panel, it’s likely a legacy setting or intended for a very specific, niche use case.
I once spent about $280 testing six different cables trying to get a perfectly clean signal from a retro gaming setup to my new OLED TV. The problem wasn’t the cables; it was that the console was outputting 480i. My TV’s deinterlacer handled it okay, but it wasn’t until I used a specialized upscaler that I got something approaching true clarity. The key was always aiming for progressive output *from the source* or using a device that handled the conversion well, not just selecting an interlaced mode on the display itself.
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has been pushing for full progressive scanning for years, recognizing the limitations of interlacing for modern content delivery. While 59i was a necessary evil for analog TV, it’s largely obsolete for digital displays and content creation.
Here’s a quick rundown of when you might encounter it, and what to do:
| Scenario | What is 59i 59p? | Recommendation | My Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecting a modern PC | A signal your PC likely doesn’t natively output. | AVOID. Stick to progressive refresh rates (60Hz, 120Hz, etc.) | This is just wrong for your PC. |
| Using an old game console (e.g., PS1, N64) | The console’s native output, often 480i. | Your TV’s deinterlacer is probably better. Try 480p if possible, or a dedicated upscaler. | Looks better with a bit of help. |
| Watching over-the-air broadcast TV on a smart TV | The broadcast signal format. | Your TV will likely deinterlace it automatically. If you see it as a manual option, it’s usually best left to auto. | The signal itself, not a display setting you pick. |
| Connecting a very old DVD player via composite/component | The DVD player’s output. | Again, let your TV handle it or use an upscaler. Don’t force 59i 59p on your monitor. | Pass. Use HDMI if you can. |
The Contrarian Take: When 59i 59p Might (rarely) Matter
Now, here’s where I might get myself into trouble. Everyone says to avoid interlaced signals like the plague for computer monitors. I mostly agree. But there’s a sliver of a niche where I’ve seen people *use* it, and that’s for extremely specific retro gaming emulation or with certain professional video editing workflows that are deliberately capturing or displaying historically accurate footage.
I disagree with the blanket ‘never use it’ advice because sometimes, for the *purist* experience on a specific piece of hardware or software that was *designed* for interlaced output, forcing that exact signal can replicate the original viewing experience more accurately. It’s like wanting to listen to vinyl on a perfectly calibrated vintage turntable rather than a high-res digital file if you’re a hardcore audiophile. You’re not necessarily looking for the *best* image quality by modern standards, but the most *authentic* experience of that era’s technology.
However, this applies to maybe one in a thousand users. If you’re using a modern gaming PC, a standard laptop, or watching Netflix, you will absolutely hate 59i 59p. Your experience will be worse. So, for 99.9% of you asking ‘should I set my monitor to 59i 59p?’, the answer remains a hard no. (See Also: Is Edge Cts 2 Monitor Calif Compliant )
Should I Set My Monitor to 59i 59p for Gaming?
No, absolutely not. Gaming monitors and PCs output progressive scan signals. 59i 59p is an interlaced broadcast standard that will introduce visual artifacts and lower image quality for gaming. Stick to progressive refresh rates like 60Hz, 120Hz, or higher for the best gaming experience.
What Is the Difference Between 59i and 60p?
59i refers to an interlaced signal, meaning the image is displayed in two fields (odd and even lines) per frame, resulting in approximately 29.97 full frames per second. 60p refers to a progressive scan signal, displaying the entire image frame 60 times per second. 60p provides a much smoother and clearer image.
Is 59i 59p the Same as 60hz?
No, they are fundamentally different. 60Hz refers to a refresh rate, meaning the screen updates 60 times per second. 59i 59p refers to an interlaced video signal standard. While the ’59’ is related to the approximate refresh rate of NTSC broadcasts, the ‘i’ signifies interlacing, which is different from the progressive refresh you get at 60Hz on a modern monitor.
Conclusion
Look, if you’re staring at your monitor’s settings and see ’59i 59p’ as an option, and you’re not deliberately trying to replicate a specific vintage broadcast or retro gaming experience with specialized hardware, just ignore it. For everything else – gaming, working, watching movies, browsing the web – progressive scan is your goal.
My own dive into those TV settings taught me a harsh lesson: old tech doesn’t always play nice with new tech, and sometimes the most obvious setting is the one you absolutely want to avoid. For your computer monitor, stick to the progressive options your system offers. You’ll get a sharper, cleaner, and more enjoyable visual experience.
So, should I set my monitor to 59i 59p? Unless you have a very specific, niche reason involving historical accuracy of old video formats, the answer is a definitive no. Go for the highest progressive refresh rate your hardware supports and leave the interlaced ghost of television past in the digital dust.
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