does anyone actually use the tf2 tab?

might just axe that since it seems a bit redundant, especially now that tf.tv streams playing tf2 have priority now on the main tab.

there actually was something I saw recently that did exactly this -- let me see if i can find it

this'll take you part way there:
https://github.com/SizzlingStats/demboyz

Sorry for the late response, but I'd just use the difference in price to buy whatever hardware you need to boost your FPS to 144+ and go with the GSYNC-less 144Hz.

this is why you use imgur

started a tf.tv clone @ http://www.over.gg for overwatch related things. it's a rough port at the moment that needs work, but should be functional.

it shares the same codebase as tf.tv so whatever work I do should benefit both communities.

i'll also be reworking the sidebar on tf.tv shortly so that it'll feature tf2 streams more prominently instead of the overwatch spam that's going on right now.

should be showing you the old twitch player now

what browser/version/device?

I've swapped the old twitch player for the new psuedo-html5 player on stream pages.

The implementation is still buggy (https://www.reddit.com/r/Twitch/comments/3n4q0s/embedding_html5_player_into_site/), so this is just a test to see if it's stable enough on all browsers/devices.

It definitely helps although I've found any sort of colored crosshair gets lost more easily with an increase in vibrance. A crosshair with a solid black outline more or less solves this problem.

I bought it and returned it after 2 days of trying to get the monitor to look right through different .icc color profiles and monitor settings but never could. The performance in-game @ 144Hz is on par with this monitor, but the colors were just too awful for me to deal with.

I'd try it from a store you can return it to first to see if you have better luck than I did or spend $20 more and get the XL2411T if you're looking to buy one around that price point.

The input lag was never enough for me to notice with blur reduction/lightboost enabled on this monitor or my old XL2411T. I'm not calling you a liar by any means--you could just more sensitive to it than I am.

source: http://www.displaylag.com/benq-xl2430t-review-144hz-gaming-monitor/

144Hz Performance

The distinguishing characteristic and reason why the XL2430T commands a premium over normal 1080p LED/LCD monitors is that it has a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz as opposed to the standard 60Hz. The result is MUCH smoother rendering of any sort of motion and significantly less input lag. The benefits are especially pronounced in TF2 where frequent aiming/jumping/dodging is required.

144Hz monitors are a popular topic around these parts, and for good reason: this is one of the few cases where the technology is all it's hyped up to be. The advantage they give over 60Hz screens isn't marginal; it’s massive. If you're in the market for new gaming peripherals but are still using a 60Hz monitor, a 144Hz monitor ranks as the best purchase you can make.

BenQ's have always been best-in-class in terms of 120/144Hz performance, and the XL2430T is no exception. It's hard to say much more other than that it performs flawlessly by producing the smoothest and most responsive experience that's reasonably possible right now.

Black Equalizer

The Black Equalizer is a feature unique to BenQ monitors that selectively increases the brightness levels on areas of the screen that are dark. The result is greater visibility in shadowy areas without the completely washed-out look you'd get from simply ramping up your gamma. The magnitude of its effect can be tuned between a value of 0 and 20.

Most TF2 maps are fairly well-lit, so the Black Equalizer doesn't confer any huge advantages outside of particularly dark spots such as the underside of badlands mid, but it does do a good deal to reduce eye strain and makes long playing sessions more tolerable.

However, it really shines in games where shadows are plentiful, lighting up previously-obscured objects or players hiding in the dark (H1Z1 for me).

Vibrance

The XL2430T comes with a vibrance setting (0-20) that increases the colorfulness of the image. A key distinction to note: vibrance is not the same as the saturation setting available on all monitors. Increasing vibrance will selectively increase the least saturated colors more than already saturated colors, while increasing saturation will saturate all colors evenly regardless of their previous state.

From what I can tell it behaves just like NVIDIA's digital vibrance setting, but with a big upside: it's tied to the monitor rather than the video card. There's no option to set per-game digital vibrance via the NVIDIA control panel, so if you wish to use it in-game, you're either stuck using it all the time or have to rely on third-party utilities to disable/enable it selectively. The XL2430T allows you to save your ideal vibrance setting in up to 3 profiles that can be switched to via a button on the S-switch depending on the environment (desktop browsing, gaming, etc.).

Its practical effect is to allow you to see targets more easily in-game. Some high-profile TF2 players that use digital vibrance who immediately come to mind: shrugger, Tyrone, and Seagull.

Blur Reduction

Blur Reduction is BenQ's flavor of Lightboost, which is a feature that can be enabled on some 120/144Hz monitors to reduce motion blur even further. Blur Reduction/Lightboost create an almost CRT-like experience, but at the cost of a reduction in screen brightness. You can find a good in-depth explanation of how it works here: http://www.blurbusters.com/zero-motion-blur/lightboost-faq/.

Not all 144Hz monitors are capable, but those that are usually require some fiddling to get it to work. The XL2430T has the feature built in and can be toggled via settings.

Blur Reduction isn't some gimmick; it works completely as advertised and significantly reduces blur. The downside is a drop in brightness that somewhat offsets the benefit gained. The trick is to find a happy medium where lightboost's improvement of your motion perception isn't outweighed by the decreased general visibility in a low-brightness environment.

There's again the ability to tune this setting with two options you can change: intensity (1-20) and area (0-100). Increasing intensity will simultaneously reduce motion blur and screen brightness.

I found an intensity value of 15 to be ideal; it gave me the most blur reduction at the very limit of screen dimness I could tolerate. Fiddling with the area setting didn't seem to have a noticeable effect so I left it at the default of 10. Upping the vibrance setting helps with visibility when blur reduction is enabled.

S-switch and Profiles

The XL2430T comes with an external switch that attaches to the monitor via mini-USB and can be rested in a small indent at the base of the stand. Its purpose is to allow easy configuration of the monitor and quick switching between preset profiles.

Navigating through monitor menus is usually a pain at best, but the S-switch makes it a breeze. It features a scroll wheel with distinct steps and also doubles as a click. If you need or prefer the standard configuration buttons (though I can't imagine you would), the XL2430T also has five five of them on the lower-right bezel.

The S-switch also has 3 buttons to switch between 3 programmable profiles, which are incredibly useful for alternating between desktop and gaming use. The monitor profiles eliminate the need for any software/GPU-based approaches and give much more granular control to achieve the ideal look for each environment.

Final Thoughts

The overall build quality of the XL2430T is excellent. The stand is quite hefty as far as monitor stands go and gives no hint of instability. It's fantastic for LANs because of its portability; there are no screws or shoddy plastic parts to deal with and the entire thing assembles in well under a minute.

The XL2430T is a feature loaded 144Hz monitor that's easily the best in its class. It's a bit pricier than other 144Hz monitors, but access to native features (Black Equalizer, Blur Reduction/Lightboost, and vibrance), quality construction, and configurability options easily justify the price.

I'd liken it to getting a car with all the options, except all the options are legitimately useful and aren't overpriced.

I only recommend products I actually end up using on a day-to-day basis, and have no hesitation in putting my backing behind the XL2430T. If you're in the market for a new 144Hz and have a little extra to spare, give it some serious consideration.

http://gaming.benq.com/gaming-monitor/xl2430t

• Price: $369.99 @ amazon.com
  
• Display size: 24 inches
  
• Maximum resolution: 1920x1080
  
• Maximum refresh rate: 144Hz
  
• Weight: 15 pounds

The XL2430T is one of the newer models in BenQ's lineup of 144Hz gaming monitors, priced between their flagship G-SYNC-enabled XL2420G and barebones XL2411T/Z. It's a step up from the XL2420Z with a newer Black Equalizer (2.0) and improved Lightboost performance.

BenQ sent me one for review a few weeks ago and I've been testing it as my primary monitor since. This certainly isn't the first review of the monitor, so I'll try and give you guys a fresh perspective. I don't have the experience or equipment at my disposal to give a thorough technical review (they've been done already, anyways), but I do have over a decade of competitive FPS experience to differentiate what's really relevant from what's simply marketing.

I've also used a wide range of 120/144Hz monitors (from Viewsonic/Acer/ASUS/BenQ/Samsung/AOC/iiyama) through either ownership or LANs/tournaments, so I have a good idea of how similar monitors compare.

If you're short on time, here's a quick summary of the monitors key features:

• 144Hz
  
• Black Equalizer
  
• Vibrance control
  
• Native Lightboost support
  
• Easily configurable settings and preset profiles via S-switch
  
• Height/pitch/angle adjustment scale and LAN-ability

Skip to the end for an overall evaluation of the monitor, or read on for a more verbose breakdown of the monitor's features.

should be fixed after I did this: http://www.teamfortress.tv/post/495749/issues-with-mobile

are you still getting redirects on mobile?

do you really want to see anime everywhere?