60 Hz/50 Hz!!! what the hell does it mean?

This section of the site explains the difference between 50 & 60 Hz.


"Hz" influences the speed at which the console/tv runs.
-60 Hz is the normal speed in games made by Japanese/American game manufacturers.
-50 Hz is slower than 60 Hz; 16,7% slower than 60 Hz((60-50)/60*100%) to be exact.


The "Hz" also usually influences the size of the screen on your tv that your console outputs.
-60 Hz is allways full screen.
-50 Hz is not full screen if the games have not been converted to run full screen. This is usually the case when Japanese & American manufacterers release their games in Europe.
-50 Hz is full screen in games made by European game manufacturers,because they program their games to run full screen on 50 HZ.
(for exceptions to the screensize check screenshot 3 and the corresponding explanation).


-60 Hz is the Japanese/American standard for tv's, Japanese/American consoles therefore run 60 Hz.

-50 Hz is the default European standard for tv's, European consoles therefore run default 50 Hz. Most European tv's produced from 1990 on however can handle 60 HZ as well.

Most European Dreamcast games like Gunbird 2 have a 50 Hz/ 60 Hz selectable option though, which is a welcome option and it is a shame this option seldom seen in European games on other platforms).
Most European tv's can handle 60 Hz. Generaly you can apply the rule that if a tv is less than 10 years old it probably supports 60 Hz.

There are some exceptions though,

To illustrate check these four screenshots.



-The first screenshot is a screenshot from a game that runs 60 Hz.
60 Hz is the way the Japanese/American developers intended the game to run .
Full screen, full speed.
This can either be a Japanese/American game or an European game that has a 60 Hz option.
Most Dreamcast games have this option.

-The second screenshot is a screenshot form a game that runs 50 Hz.
50 Hz is the way most Japanese/American games are released in Europe.
Bars at the top and at the bottom, 16,7% slower than 60 Hz((60-50)/60*100%)

-The third screenshot is a screenshot form a game that runs 50 Hz but is adapted to run full screen and in most cases has the speed upped.
Full screen, full speed (framerate is 25 or 50 instead of 30 or 60)

-The fourth screenshot like the second screenshot is a screenshot from a game that runs 50 Hz. A horible example of Street Fighter II that was released in Europe. Which isn't even fun to play like this. If you jump you float through the air and all characters are small and fat; the dimensions don't make any sense.



So,.... 16,7% slower?: you could also state that 60 Hz runs 20% faster than 50 Hz((60-50)/50*100%), but seeing as 60 Hz is the standard for Japanese and American games this is not really fair, but still worth taking into consideration.