What Refresh Rate Do You Really Need?

Refresh rate has become one of the most discussed monitor specifications, particularly among gamers. With monitors now available ranging from 60Hz to an impressive 500Hz, understanding what refresh rate actually means and how much you genuinely need can save you money and help you make a more informed purchase decision. This guide demystifies refresh rates and helps you determine the right choice for your specific situation.

Understanding Refresh Rate Basics

Refresh rate, measured in Hertz (Hz), describes how many times per second your monitor updates the image on screen. A 60Hz monitor refreshes 60 times per second, while a 144Hz monitor refreshes 144 times per second. Each refresh displays a new frame, so higher refresh rates can show more frames per second, resulting in smoother motion perception.

It's important to understand that your graphics card must produce enough frames to match your monitor's refresh rate. If your GPU only outputs 80 frames per second, a 144Hz monitor will still only display 80 unique frames, though the increased refresh rate may still provide some benefits through reduced input lag. Conversely, a powerful GPU outputting 200 frames per second on a 60Hz monitor means 140 of those frames are never displayed.

The relationship between frame rate and refresh rate is crucial. To fully benefit from a high refresh rate monitor, you need hardware capable of producing matching frame rates in the games or applications you use most.

60Hz: The Standard Baseline

60Hz remains the standard for most productivity monitors and budget displays. For office work, web browsing, document editing, and general computing tasks, 60Hz is perfectly adequate. The human eye perceives motion at roughly 10-12 frames per second as continuous movement, so 60Hz provides a comfortable viewing experience for static and slow-moving content.

Many creative professionals use 60Hz monitors without issue, particularly those focused on photo editing where individual frames matter more than motion smoothness. Video editors working with standard 24fps or 30fps content also find 60Hz sufficient for their workflows.

However, the difference between 60Hz and higher refresh rates is immediately noticeable once you've experienced it. Even simple actions like moving the mouse cursor or scrolling through a webpage appear noticeably smoother at higher refresh rates.

75Hz to 100Hz: Entry-Level Upgrades

Many modern monitors, including office-oriented displays, now offer 75Hz refresh rates as standard. This modest increase over 60Hz provides a subtle but perceptible improvement in smoothness. For users who aren't primarily gamers but appreciate smoother motion, 75Hz offers good value without the premium associated with higher refresh rates.

100Hz monitors occupy a middle ground, offering noticeable improvements for casual gaming and general use without requiring the powerful hardware needed for 144Hz gaming at high resolutions. This refresh rate is particularly common in ultrawide productivity monitors, where the combination of smooth scrolling and expansive screen real estate enhances workflow efficiency.

144Hz: The Gaming Sweet Spot

144Hz has established itself as the default recommendation for gaming monitors, and for good reason. The jump from 60Hz to 144Hz is substantial and immediately apparent to virtually everyone. Games feel significantly smoother, camera movements are more fluid, and fast-paced action becomes easier to track.

The performance requirements for 144Hz gaming vary by resolution. At 1080p, most modern mid-range graphics cards can achieve 144fps in popular competitive titles like Valorant, Apex Legends, or Fortnite. At 1440p, more powerful hardware is needed, but many graphics cards can still achieve high frame rates in esports titles while hitting 100+ fps in demanding single-player games.

For most gamers, 144Hz represents excellent value. The improvement over 60Hz is dramatic, while the additional cost compared to 60Hz monitors has become minimal as the technology has matured. Unless you have specific reasons to go higher, 144Hz satisfies the needs of the vast majority of gamers.

165Hz to 180Hz: Marginal Gains

Many gaming monitors now advertise 165Hz or 180Hz refresh rates. These represent minor upgrades over 144Hz, typically achieved through panel overclocking. The difference between 144Hz and 165Hz is essentially imperceptible to most users, so these should be viewed as nice-to-have features rather than reasons to choose one monitor over another.

That said, there's no downside to these higher refresh rates if available, and they come without premium pricing. If you're choosing between otherwise identical monitors, the higher refresh rate model is a sensible choice.

240Hz: Competitive Gaming Territory

240Hz monitors target serious competitive gamers who seek every possible advantage. The improvement from 144Hz to 240Hz is less dramatic than from 60Hz to 144Hz, but dedicated players report tangible benefits in games where split-second reactions matter. Reduced motion blur and lower input lag can translate to genuine competitive advantages.

Achieving 240fps requires powerful hardware, particularly at higher resolutions. At 1080p, high-end graphics cards can reach 240fps in many competitive titles. At 1440p, only the fastest GPUs can consistently hit 240fps in esports games, and achieving this in graphically demanding titles requires significant compromises to visual quality settings.

For most gamers, the investment in both a 240Hz monitor and the hardware to drive it may not be justified. However, for those who compete seriously in esports or simply want the smoothest possible experience regardless of cost, 240Hz delivers measurable improvements.

360Hz and Beyond: Diminishing Returns

Monitors with 360Hz, 480Hz, and even 500Hz refresh rates now exist, primarily targeting professional esports players and enthusiasts seeking the absolute cutting edge. The differences at these levels are subtle and primarily benefit those with exceptional reaction times who can perceive and respond to these minimal improvements.

For the average gamer, the investment in hardware capable of 360+ fps yields diminishing returns compared to other upgrades like higher resolution or better panel quality. These monitors are best suited for those who compete at the highest levels and require every possible edge.

Adaptive Sync: The Essential Companion

When discussing refresh rates, adaptive sync technology deserves mention. FreeSync (AMD) and G-Sync (NVIDIA) synchronise your monitor's refresh rate with your graphics card's frame output, eliminating screen tearing and stuttering that occurs when the two are mismatched.

Adaptive sync is particularly valuable when your frame rate fluctuates below your monitor's maximum refresh rate. Instead of fixed 144Hz operation, the monitor might vary between 80-140Hz depending on your current frame rate, ensuring smooth visuals without tearing throughout.

Most modern gaming monitors support at least one adaptive sync standard, and many support both. This feature has become essentially mandatory for gaming monitors and should be a baseline requirement in your purchase decision.

Making Your Decision

For office work and general productivity, 60Hz remains adequate, though 75Hz monitors offer nice-to-have improvements without cost premiums. Creative professionals should prioritise colour accuracy over refresh rate, though higher refresh rates don't hurt.

For gaming, 144Hz represents the best value for most users. It offers dramatic improvements over 60Hz while remaining achievable with mainstream hardware. This should be your target unless you have specific requirements for higher refresh rates.

Competitive gamers serious about esports titles should consider 240Hz, provided they have or plan to acquire hardware capable of producing matching frame rates. The investment is justified if competitive performance matters to you.

Whatever refresh rate you choose, ensure your graphics card can actually produce the frame rates needed to take advantage of it. A 240Hz monitor paired with a GPU that only manages 80fps wastes potential, whereas a 144Hz monitor with capable hardware delivers excellent value.