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Everything you need to know about monitor refresh rates

When selecting a new monitor, one key specification you’ll come across is refresh rate. Whether you’re gaming, working, or enjoying entertainment like watching videos, the refresh rate of your monitor plays an important role in how smooth and responsive your display feels. This guide will help you understand what refresh rate is, how it works, and why it matters for different users and activities.

What is a monitor refresh rate?

A refresh rate refers to how many times your monitor updates the image on the screen per second. It plays a big role in how smooth and fluid motion looks, making it especially important for activities like gaming, video editing, or watching fast-paced videos.

How is refresh rate measured?

Refresh rates are measured in Hertz (Hz), which indicates how many times the screen refreshes the image every second. For example, a 120Hz monitor refreshes 120 times per second. Common refresh rates include 60Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz, 240Hz, and 360Hz. A higher number means smoother transitions and less blurring, especially when displaying fast-moving content.

Three identical cars racing at 240Hz, 144Hz and 60Hz. The car moves smoother at 240Hz, while the cars at 144Hz and 60Hz move slowly with stutter and lag.

Choosing the right refresh rate for your needs

• 144Hz and above:

While higher refresh rates in this range are primarily advantageous for gaming, they can also benefit video editors and motion graphics professionals by offering smoother previews and potentially reducing eye strain during prolonged use.

• 75Hz to 120Hz:

Monitors within this range offer smoother motion and can be beneficial for tasks like graphic design and video playback, especially for action-heavy content. The enhanced refresh rate can make interactions feel more responsive.

• 60Hz:

This is the standard refresh rate for most monitors, suitable for everyday tasks such as web browsing, email, document editing, and casual video streaming. It provides adequate performance for general use.

What is a good refresh rate for gaming?

How refresh rates impact your gaming experience

Two identical fighting scenes at 60Hz and 144Hz. The scene at 60Hz has lag, leading to the gamer's defeat, while the scene at 144Hz is smoother, helping to secure victory.

* Video simulated for illustrative purposes.

Smoother motion with high refresh rates

For gamers, a high refresh rate can make all the difference. Monitors with higher refresh rates deliver smoother motion and more realistic gameplay, especially in fast-paced genres like racing and fighting games, as well as simulation games that aim to accurately mimic real-world environments. A higher refresh rate reduces motion blur and provides a more fluid gaming experience, giving players a more realistic gaming experience and a competitive edge.

Improving gaming responsiveness

In addition to smoother visuals, higher refresh rates enhance gaming responsiveness, which is crucial in games where quick reactions can make all the difference. This is particularly important for competitive gamers playing titles where even milliseconds matter. Genres like first-person shooters (FPS), sports and fighting games rely heavily on swift player responses. A monitor with a refresh rate of 144Hz or higher refreshes the display more frequently, allowing you to see the action more quickly and clearly. This enables you to react faster in the game, while also making inputs feel more immediate.

Recommended refresh rates for different gamers

Casual gamers on a budget

A 100Hz monitor is displaying casual game. A 100Hz monitor is displaying casual game.

A 100Hz to 120Hz monitor can handle simple or less demanding games, offering satisfactory performance for those who play occasionally or prefer less intensive titles. This option is suitable if you're looking to keep costs down while still enjoying your gaming sessions.

100Hz-120Hz Monitors

Most gamers

A 144Hz monitor is displaying a graphic game featuring three knights fighting a dragon. A 144Hz monitor is displaying a graphic game featuring three knights fighting a dragon.

For a satisfying gaming experience, we recommend a monitor with a refresh rate between 144Hz and 200Hz. This range provides smoother and more responsive gameplay, improving your overall experience across a wide range of genres.

144Hz-200Hz Monitors

Competitive and elite gamers

A 240Hz monitor is displaying FPS game. A 240Hz monitor is displaying FPS game.

For gamers striving for peak performance, monitors with refresh rates starting at 240Hz and reaching 360Hz or higher can provide a game-changing experience. These ultra-high refresh rates deliver incredibly smooth and immersive action, paired with near-instantaneous responsiveness. Genres like first-person shooters, battle royale games, and esports titles greatly benefit the most, giving you a significant competitive edge.

240Hz, 360Hz and Beyond

An important thing to note is that if your setup can’t consistently produce the necessary FPS to match your monitor’s refresh rate, you may not see significant improvements. So, it’s important to evaluate your entire system before upgrading to a high-refresh-rate monitor.

What is a good monitor refresh rate for other uses?

For tasks outside of gaming, the ideal refresh rate depends on what you’re using your monitor for:

Video editing and content creation
Professionals in video editing and content creation benefit from higher refresh rates (100Hz or above) because smoother playback improves accuracy during video reviews and enhances color grading.

Office and everyday use
60Hz is generally sufficient for general office work, web browsing, and video viewing. However, when scrolling through web pages or documents or moving the mouse, monitor with a refresh rate of 100Hz or higher will provide smoother motion, higher responsiveness, and clearer images and text.

How to check and change your monitor's refresh rate

Adjusting your monitor’s refresh rate is straightforward. Depending on your operating system, you can follow these steps:

  1. On Windows: Right-click on your desktop, select "Display Settings," then go to "Advanced Display Settings." Here, you can see and change your monitor’s refresh rate.
  2. On macOS: Go to "System Settings," select "Displays," then click the "Refresh Rate" dropdown menu and select your desired refresh rate.

Before making any adjustments to your monitor's refresh rate, confirm that your hardware setup—including your PC, GPU, and monitor—supports the desired rate. If your current hardware is unable to handle higher refresh rates, consider upgrading to ensure smoother visuals and optimal performance.

G-Sync and FreeSync: The latest trends in refresh rate tech

Variable refresh rate (VRR) technology

One of the most exciting advancements in refresh rate technology is Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). Technologies like G-Sync (by NVIDIA) and FreeSync (by AMD) dynamically adjust the monitor’s refresh rate to match the FPS being delivered by the GPU. This helps eliminate screen tearing and stuttering, resulting in smoother gameplay.

Why VRR matters

VRR is particularly beneficial when the frame rate of your content varies, whether due to fluctuating GPU output in games or differences in video frame rates. By aligning the monitor's refresh rate with the frame rate of the content being displayed, VRR ensures a seamless visual experience without visual artifacts like screen tearing or stuttering.

Two identical scenes showing a race car racing on the tracks. Sync OFF shows screen tearing while Sync ON shows a smooth visual.

* Video simulated for illustrative purposes.

Got questions about monitors? Check out our quick-tip articles below for answers:

What to look for in a Gaming monitor
Why resolution matters for your monitor
Why choose a curved monitor?
Your guide to home office monitors for better productivity
Your one-stop monitor size guide
Everything you need to know about monitor refresh rates

* Screen images simulated for illustrative purposes.