How do refresh rates affect gaming?

The monitor refresh rate is an important specification that you should pay close attention to if you are buying a monitor for PC gaming or using it with a modern console. This is especially true if you are a competitive player looking for an edge.

What does “refresh rate” mean?

The term “refresh rate” is used to describe the number of times a screen refreshes in one second. This was measured in Hertz (HZ), with most regular monitors designed for office use having a 60Hz refresh rate, although higher refresh rates are becoming more common.

All monitors use this metric, whether I see them quoted out of the box or not. This includes smartphones and tablets, most of which use 60Hz. Manufacturers are quick to point out higher refresh rate models that use 90Hz displays (eg Google Pixel 5), although some manufacturers like Apple hide this number behind marketing terms like “promotion” which is used to describe the iPad Pro’s 120Hz display.

Even TVs now feature higher refresh rates thanks to a boost for 120Hz gaming from Microsoft’s Xbox Series consoles and Sony’s PlayStation 5. These gaming machines use the ample bandwidth provided by the HDMI 2.1 standard to run some games in 4K with HDR in 120Hz mode.

What is considered a “high” refresh rate?

A standard desktop monitor, budget smartphone, or entry-level TV will have a refresh rate of 60 to 75 Hz. This is fine for most activities, including browsing the web, scrolling through social media, or playing games in a non-competitive environment.

In general, anything above 120Hz qualifies as a “high” refresh rate display, as this is higher than the established standard of 60Hz. There is no hard definition of what is considered “high” and others may interpret this differently.

120Hz gaming has been thrust into the spotlight with the arrival of a new generation of consoles in 2020. The majority of TVs being made around launch are still shipping with 60Hz panels but expect to see more models shipping with panels that flash at 120Hz (and HDMI 2.1 ports are essential for 4K gaming at higher refresh rates).

The next step up for PC gamers is 144Hz monitors. The question of why 144Hz is the magic number has theories, including marketing, the fact that 144Hz is a multiple of 24 (with 24p being the cinematic frame rate), and the bandwidth limitations of a DVI connection. Many 144Hz displays can be “overclocked” to 165Hz by simply forcing the refresh rate under the display settings.

Finally, there are 240Hz and 360Hz monitors like the Asus Rog Swift PG259QN. At this point, many gamers can’t tell the difference between the two, although lower latency at the higher end can be helpful.

High frame rates require high refresh rates

Because a monitor’s refresh rate determines how many times a refresh occurs each second, a monitor’s refresh rate is closely related to its frame rate (measured in frames per second, or FPS). If you’re playing a game at 120fps on a 60Hz monitor, your display is only able to show half the frames produced by your GPU.

For high frame rates to be “worth it,” you’ll need a monitor that can keep up with your GPU, and that means buying a monitor with a high refresh rate. If your computer can’t handle the high refresh rates in the games you play, purchasing a high refresh rate monitor for gaming may not be worth it.

Many gamers turn down graphical settings including resolution, texture quality, and post-processing effects like anti-aliasing to get the best possible frame rate. This is especially true in competitive gaming circles, where higher frame rates may lead to an advantage over the competition.

Since higher refresh rates are usually higher price tags, many gamers are opting for smaller 24-inch and 27-inch monitors to keep the price down. Many of these displays don’t go beyond 1080p or 1440p in terms of resolution, although if you have a bigger budget, you can get your hands on superior 240Hz displays like the Samsung Odyssey G9.

Higher refresh rates mean a more responsive screen

A screen that refreshes at 60 Hz is capable of displaying a new image every 1/60 of a second. If you double the refresh rate, you can produce a new image every 1/120 of a second. This depends on the computer or console’s ability to deliver a consistent frame rate, of course.

Higher frame rates mean lower frame times (or the time it takes to display a new frame). A 60Hz monitor running at 60fps will display a new frame every 16.667 milliseconds (this is because there are 1000 milliseconds in a second, and 1000/60 = 16.667). A 120Hz monitor running at 120fps cuts this in half, with a new frame every 8,333 milliseconds.

Doubling the visual frame rate and half the frame time makes a perceptible difference in terms of how smooth the action is on the screen. In reality, not everyone can see or feel the benefit right away, but most people notice it when they return to a 60Hz monitor, especially after gaming at or beyond 144Hz.

RELATED: 1440p vs. 1080p monitors for gaming and work

Imagine you are playing a competitive shooter. You can get feedback on what’s happening on screen every 1/60 of a second, including any actions you or your competitors take. You also have your own screen response time, which can be a few milliseconds. A 240Hz display can theoretically deliver four times the number of frames per second, giving you more feedback on what’s happening and a smoother gaming experience to boot.

YouTube channel Tech Tips Linus took a look at this phenomenon in Their video On the impact of 240Hz on gaming.

There are of course other factors, such as how long it takes your computer to process your input and how quickly your GPU can get a new frame ready. Screen refresh rate is just one part of the equation, but it’s also one of the easiest changes you can make in terms of improving the player experience.

This is why competitive gamers are so eager to boost their frame rates, even at the expense of graphical fidelity. The more feedback you receive and the more fluid your actions appear on screen, the better.

Of course, this doesn’t just affect games, everything looks better at higher refresh rates. Even dragging windows around the desktop or panning across a timeline in the video editor will be noticeably smoother, with less “wobble” and flicker.

Variable refresh rate is now standard

Variable refresh rate (VRR) technology such as Nvidia’s G-Sync, AMD’s FreeSync, and HDMI 2.1 VRR Standard have been developed to eliminate screen tearing. Tearing occurs when the GPU is not able to draw a frame within the required frame time, so half a frame is sent instead. This means that half of the old frame continues on the screen, resulting in unsightly tearing.

By instructing the monitor to wait (and repeat frames if necessary), half frames are not sent, and tearing no longer occurs. Fortunately, variable refresh rate technology is now standard on the vast majority of monitors, whether they support high refresh rates or not.

VRR works in conjunction with target refresh rates such as 120Hz or 240Hz by adjusting the refresh rate on the fly. Make sure your monitor’s VRR technology matches your graphics card’s capabilities to avoid disappointment.

Choose a high refresh rate monitor

You should match your monitor’s screen refresh rate with your computer’s performance. Unless you plan to upgrade your computer soon, purchasing a monitor with a refresh rate that your computer won’t achieve could be a waste of money (unless you live for a silky-smooth desktop interface).

You can check out our guide to buying a gaming monitor and read more about what features to look for on a gaming TV.