Refresh rate is one of the most impactful specifications when choosing a gaming monitor. It determines how smoothly motion appears on screen and directly affects how responsive your games feel. But with options ranging from 60Hz to 540Hz, how do you know which refresh rate you actually need?
This guide explains what refresh rate means in practical terms, how different rates affect your gaming experience, and helps you determine the sweet spot for your gaming style and budget.
What Is Refresh Rate?
Refresh rate, measured in Hertz (Hz), indicates how many times per second your monitor redraws the image on screen. A 60Hz monitor refreshes 60 times per second, displaying up to 60 unique frames. A 144Hz monitor refreshes 144 times per second, and so on.
Higher refresh rates mean your monitor can display more frames per second (assuming your graphics card can produce them), resulting in smoother motion and more up-to-date visual information. This is particularly valuable in fast-paced games where quick reactions matter.
Refresh Rate vs Frame Rate
It's important to understand the relationship between refresh rate (what your monitor can display) and frame rate (what your graphics card produces):
- Monitor refresh rate is fixed (or has a maximum). A 144Hz monitor can display up to 144 unique frames per second.
- GPU frame rate varies depending on the game, settings, and hardware. Your GPU might produce 200fps in one game and 80fps in another.
If your GPU produces 200fps but your monitor is 60Hz, you'll only see 60 frames per second. The extra frames are wasted, and you might experience screen tearing. Conversely, if your GPU produces 80fps on a 144Hz monitor, you'll see all 80 frames, but the full potential of your monitor isn't being utilised.
Your effective refresh rate is limited by whichever is lower: your monitor's refresh rate or your GPU's frame rate. For the best experience, match your monitor choice to what your system can realistically produce.
The Difference Between Refresh Rates
60Hz: The Baseline
60Hz was the standard for decades and remains common on office monitors and budget displays. For casual gaming, it's functional but increasingly feels dated. Most gamers who try higher refresh rates find 60Hz difficult to return to.
Suitable for: Very casual gamers, productivity-focused users, or those on extremely tight budgets.
144Hz: The Sweet Spot
144Hz represents the most significant upgrade from 60Hz and is considered the current standard for gaming monitors. The jump from 60 to 144Hz is immediately noticeable—motion appears dramatically smoother, and games feel more responsive.
At 144Hz, each frame is displayed for just 6.94ms compared to 16.67ms at 60Hz. This reduced frame persistence means less motion blur and a crisper image during fast movement.
Suitable for: Most gamers, from casual to competitive. Achievable by mid-range hardware at 1080p-1440p.
240Hz: Competitive Edge
240Hz doubles the refresh rate of 144Hz, but the improvement is less dramatic than the 60Hz to 144Hz jump. The difference is noticeable but subtle—experienced competitive gamers often describe it as "smoother" and "snappier" without the transformative impact of their first high refresh rate monitor.
For esports titles like CS2, Valorant, or Apex Legends, 240Hz provides a genuine competitive advantage by displaying more current visual information. At this level, every millisecond of visual advantage matters.
Suitable for: Competitive FPS players, esports enthusiasts, or anyone with hardware capable of 200+ fps in their primary games.
360Hz and Beyond
360Hz and 540Hz monitors exist for the most demanding competitive players. The improvements are measurable but increasingly marginal. Most gamers cannot distinguish between 240Hz and 360Hz in blind tests, though top-tier professionals may benefit from every available advantage.
Suitable for: Professional esports players, extreme enthusiasts, or those who simply want the fastest available technology regardless of diminishing returns.
Each doubling of refresh rate provides roughly half the improvement of the previous jump:
• 60Hz → 144Hz: Massive, transformative difference
• 144Hz → 240Hz: Noticeable, worthwhile for competitive play
• 240Hz → 360Hz: Subtle, mainly for professionals
• 360Hz → 540Hz: Marginal, mostly for bragging rights
Benefits of High Refresh Rates
Smoother Motion
The most obvious benefit is smoother visual motion. Camera panning, character movement, and fast-moving objects all appear cleaner and more fluid. This isn't just aesthetically pleasing—it reduces visual fatigue during long gaming sessions.
Reduced Input Lag
Higher refresh rates mean your monitor is displaying more current information. At 60Hz, the image you're seeing can be up to 16.67ms old. At 240Hz, it's at most 4.17ms old. This reduction in visual latency means you see and react to events faster.
Less Motion Blur
High refresh rates inherently reduce motion blur because each frame is displayed for less time. Combined with fast pixel response times, this creates a clearer image during movement.
Improved Tracking
For competitive shooters, smoother motion makes it easier to track moving targets. More visual updates mean your crosshair movements appear more connected to your mouse input, improving aim.
Resolution and Refresh Rate Trade-offs
Higher resolutions require more GPU power, which affects achievable frame rates. Here's a practical framework for balancing resolution and refresh rate:
1080p (1920Ă—1080)
The least demanding resolution makes 240Hz or higher practical for many mid-range systems. Ideal for competitive gaming where smoothness trumps visual detail.
1440p (2560Ă—1440)
The popular "sweet spot" resolution. 144Hz is easily achievable, 240Hz is possible with high-end hardware. Offers excellent balance between visual quality and performance.
4K (3840Ă—2160)
Very demanding resolution. 120Hz-144Hz 4K gaming requires top-tier hardware. Most gamers prioritise either 4K at 60-120Hz for visuals or lower resolutions at higher refresh rates for performance.
Before buying a high refresh rate monitor, honestly assess what frame rates your current system achieves. A 360Hz monitor paired with a GPU that produces 80fps is money poorly spent. Check benchmarks for your specific hardware and games.
Adaptive Sync: Handling Variable Frame Rates
Since your GPU's frame rate constantly varies during gameplay, adaptive sync technologies help smooth the experience when frame rates fluctuate:
- G-SYNC / FreeSync synchronise your monitor's refresh rate to your GPU's frame output, eliminating screen tearing and reducing stutter.
- Within their operating range, these technologies make frame rate drops less jarring.
- Most modern gaming monitors support at least one form of adaptive sync.
For a detailed comparison, see our guide to G-SYNC vs FreeSync.
Do You Need High Refresh Rate for All Games?
Different game genres benefit differently from high refresh rates:
Competitive FPS (CS2, Valorant, Overwatch 2)
Benefit the most. High refresh rates provide genuine competitive advantages through better motion clarity and reduced input lag. 144Hz minimum, 240Hz ideal.
Fast-Paced Action (Doom, Racing Games)
Benefit significantly. Smoother motion enhances the experience and makes tracking fast movement easier. 144Hz recommended.
RPGs and Adventure Games
Benefit noticeably but less critically. Smoother camera movement and character animation is pleasant but rarely affects outcomes. 144Hz is nice, 60Hz is acceptable.
Turn-Based/Strategy Games
Minimal benefit. These games don't require fast reactions. Any refresh rate is fine, though smoother scrolling at 144Hz is still pleasant.
For most Australian gamers, 144Hz at 1440p represents the best overall value. It's a significant upgrade over 60Hz, widely achievable with modern hardware, and competitively priced. Only invest in 240Hz+ if you primarily play competitive shooters and have hardware to match.
Testing Refresh Rate
Once you have a high refresh rate monitor, verify it's actually running at the advertised rate:
- Right-click on your desktop and select Display Settings
- Click Advanced Display Settings
- Check the Refresh Rate dropdown and ensure your desired rate is selected
- Visit testufo.com and run the UFO test to visually confirm your refresh rate
Some monitors require specific cable types (DisplayPort or HDMI 2.1) to achieve their maximum refresh rates. Check your monitor's specifications and use appropriate cables.
Final Thoughts
Refresh rate significantly impacts gaming experience, but understanding diminishing returns helps you spend wisely. The jump from 60Hz to 144Hz is transformative and worth prioritising for any serious gamer. Beyond that, additional investment should match your gaming habits and competitive aspirations.
Consider refresh rate alongside other specifications like resolution and panel type. A well-balanced monitor that excels across multiple criteria will serve you better than one that maximises refresh rate at the expense of everything else.