
Final Up to date:
The refresh fee of the gaming monitor you presently have will largely rely in your funds and particular person gaming necessities. If you happen to’re an avid aggressive gamer that wishes to get any benefit over the competitors, then you definately would have in all probability invested in a excessive refresh fee panel – a 144Hz monitor, 240Hz monitor and even 360Hz monitor being the more than likely.
Some avid gamers desire coloration accuracy and crisp graphics over quick refresh charges so they could favor a 4K monitor with an IPS panel – which generally runs at 60Hz. However that isn’t all the time the case with fashionable screens, with many providing up one of the best of each worlds in the case of image high quality, pace, and responsiveness. Like all the time, there are some things to contemplate earlier than upgrading your monitor – and by the top of this text, you’ll know for those who ought to persist with a 60Hz monitor or improve to a 120Hz, 144Hz, 240Hz, and even 360Hz mannequin.
Beneath we’ve compiled a listing of our prime monitor picks for every class, accompanied by analysis knowledge, comparisons, and extra – all of which you can use to slender down your choices and enhance your gaming expertise.
However earlier than we dig into the specifics, let’s check out the fundamentals to get you began.
60Hz vs 144Hz vs 240Hz vs 360Hz: Video rundown.
What Is Hertz (Hz)?
The refresh fee of your monitor is measured in hertz (Hz) and refers back to the variety of occasions your monitor refreshes the picture its displaying each second. Which means that a 60Hz monitor will refresh the picture it’s displaying at a fee of 60 photographs per second. Alternatively, a 120Hz monitor returns 120 photographs per second, 240Hz 240 photographs per second, and so forth – resulting in some simply obvious advantages that we’ll focus on shortly.
One of many large advantages to proudly owning a excessive refresh fee monitor is the way it delivers data to your extra regularly – due to this fact supplying you with a bonus over your competitors. Whereas this may increasingly not matter when taking part in a single-player title, it gives up large efficiency enhancements when competing on the highest degree in esports. Alongside this, basic gameplay is way smoother when utilizing a excessive refresh fee monitor, resulting in a extra immersive expertise too.
Keep in mind although, your PC or console should have the ability to match the refresh fee of the monitor in FPS (frames per second) to expertise the total potential of its skills. If it will probably’t, you gained’t see the advantages of a excessive refresh fee panel.
Excessive refresh charges through the years
Over time, refresh charges have elevated fairly steadily. Regardless of 60Hz providing an OK expertise again within the day, the market quickly cried out for increased refresh fee panels as a consequence of esports video games and basic competitiveness. After some time, we noticed the arrival of 144Hz screens which introduced an enormous uplift in gaming efficiency when in comparison with quickly ageing 60Hz options.
Monitor expertise started to evolve at an exponential fee and the 240Hz monitor craze wasn’t far behind, providing one other bounce in visible fluidity. That being mentioned, the distinction between 144Hz and 240Hz wasn’t almost as obvious because the bounce between 60Hz and 144Hz. Quick ahead to the trendy day and we’ve a complete plethora of refresh charges to select from, with solely the finest gaming screens providing 360Hz and above.
If you happen to don’t know learn how to test your monitor’s refresh fee, you possibly can learn up on learn how to test and alter your monitor’s refresh fee, making certain you get probably the most out of your tools.
What’s a excessive refresh fee monitor?
Again when LED screens first turned well-liked, a excessive refresh fee monitor was thought-about 60hz. These old-school panels had the flexibility to play ageing titles in a clean style – or so we thought. As we quick ahead into the twenty first century, monitor expertise has advanced exponentially, with refresh charges growing properly previous the flagship 60hz of yesteryear.
In present occasions, a excessive refresh fee monitor is classed as 240hz and above (360Hz-390Hz). At these speeds, screens will likely be refreshing at 240-360 occasions per second, providing up unbelievable ranges of fluidity when gaming. Having mentioned that, and as we’ll focus on in additional element shortly, the visible increase you get when transferring up the theoretical refresh fee ladder does diminish the upper you go. For instance, leaping from a 60hz monitor to a 144hz monitor is like evening and day. Nonetheless, making a bounce from 240hz to 360hz isn’t almost as helpful.
That being mentioned, there is no such thing as a substitute for a excessive refresh fee monitor – it actually does make an enormous distinction (particularly if you wish to take your aggressive gaming to the following degree).
How do excessive refresh charges have an effect on your gaming expertise?
In terms of excessive refresh fee screens, seeing the distinction is just not almost as noticeable for a mean person as it’s for aggressive avid gamers. For esports avid gamers, these small variations play an integral position in successful aggressive video games, particularly FPS video games like CS:GO, Valorant, Overwatch, Battlefield, Fortnite, and PUBG.
The standard of the picture is not going to enhance, it’s the fluidity of the movement and the perceived blur that’s improved. A 60Hz monitor will show 60 completely different photographs per second whereas a 120Hz monitor will show 120 completely different photographs per second. In different phrases, Hz is the refresh fee and has nothing to do with enhancing the graphics in anyway.
Equally, this implies 120Hz and 144Hz screens give avid gamers the chance to make sooner reactions when in comparison with a 60Hz monitor.
What makes a 60Hz monitor completely different from 120Hz and 144Hz screens?
So, you now perceive what hertz is in reference to a monitor and the way it can have an effect on your total gaming expertise – however what are the precise variations between 60, 120, 144, and 240Hz screens?
On this part, we’re going to go over the completely different refresh fee values, the professionals and cons of every kind, and eventually advocate a high-quality possibility for every class.
60Hz Screens
60Hz screens had been as soon as the usual with some CRT screens going as excessive as 85Hz. On paper, they present 60 photographs per second, making them far superior to the 30Hz screens. Which means that a brand new picture is generated each sixteenth ms.
4K gaming screens have been rising available in the market and that is largely all the way down to them being cheaper than ever in the mean time and video games are slowly changing into accessible in 4K. So for those who want to get one down the road, then your finest resolution in the mean time is to settle with a 60Hz gaming monitor till it can save you up and afford one.
We’ve got our private decide introduced within the 60Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz and 240hz class beneath so be sure to test that out. For a greater overview of what’s thought-about one of the best of one of the best in the case of screens, you possibly can test our finest monitor picks. We reviewed a number of screens there from completely different classes and did an in-depth clarification together with the professionals and cons of each single monitor.
Greatest 60Hz 4K monitor


ASUS TUF Gaming VG289Q
Most Decision
3840 x 2160
Our ideas
“Because of the VG289Q’s low refresh fee and response time, this monitor gained’t be suited to all avid gamers. That being mentioned, for those who’re available in the market for a 28inch 4K gaming monitor that gained’t break the financial institution, this could possibly be precisely what you’re in search of. It gives nice colours proper out the field and sufficient display real-estate to multi-task in an environment friendly method. The 4K decision additionally gives implausible image readability and depth, making single-player gaming titles all of the extra immersive.”
See the entire ASUS TUF VG289Q evaluation
120Hz screens
As beforehand talked about, 120Hz screens present 120 photographs per second and so they produce a far superior output in comparison with a 60Hz monitor, which you’ll discover. By way of time, that is roughly a picture being produced each eighth ms.
For the 120Hz class, we don’t actually advocate our readers to get one. It might appear foolish that includes a 120Hz class however it is necessary that you’re conscious of the distinction in worth for twenty-four extra hertz, it’s tiny and also you’d remorse not getting a 144Hz on the finish of the day. That being mentioned, we perceive that not everybody has the funds to get 144 frames per second out of their video games, so having a 120Hz possibility could possibly be thought-about a pleasant center floor to realize a extra responsive expertise at a pinch.
In any case, 120Hz gaming screens are arduous to return by and with 144Hz screens being so reasonably priced nowadays, it will be foolish to not advocate one.
Greatest 120Hz gaming monitor

Alienware AW3420DW Curved Gaming Monitor
Most Decision
3440 x 1440
Our ideas
“The Alienware AW3420DW is among the finest screens I’ve examined in a while. Due to the Nano IPS coloration expertise used, this monitor not solely gives a surprising gaming expertise, however it gives crystal clear colours because of 145% sRGB gamut quantity – equal to 100% Adobe RGB and 98% DCI-P3, respectively. If you need a monitor that ticks all the correct bins, look no additional! Simply remember, this panel will set you again into the four-figure area.”
See the entire Alienware AW3420DW evaluation
144Hz screens
For a 144Hz monitor, a brand new picture is produced roughly each seventh ms. This is among the explanation why you possibly can see photographs a lot smoother when in comparison with 60Hz screens, and solely a little bit when in comparison with 120Hz screens.
144Hz has quick change into the brand new benchmark for clean gameplay, with all kinds of fashions popping up for all types of gaming wants. Some of these screens sport quite a lot of resolutions and are being produced from all gaming affiliated monitor producers.
Greatest 144Hz gaming monitor

BenQ ZOWIE XL2411P
Most Decision
1920×1080
Our ideas
“Due to its excessive refresh fee and fast response time, the Zowie XL2411P gives an especially clean and immersive gaming expertise. It offers you the proper platform to attempt to take your gaming to the following degree. And for that motive, we’d extremely advocate this to avid gamers in search of a 24inch show – particularly tailor-made in direction of aggressive gaming titles.”
See the entire BenQ XL2411P evaluation
240Hz screens
The 240Hz gaming monitor has been round for a while now and is definitely value getting. That mentioned, they’re solely beneficial in case you have a excessive spec pc that may deal with working video games at excessive FPS – particularly if you wish to run G-Sync. If that is so, we’d personally advocate an RTX 30 collection GPU to get you began.
In our 240Hz class, our greatest suggestion is the BenQ ZOWIE XL2740 gaming monitor, a stable selection with some spectacular gaming options.
Greatest 240Hz gaming monitor
Our ideas
“From a aggressive gaming standpoint, the Alienware AW2720HF may be probably the greatest we’ve examined in a while. Not solely does it provide lightning-quick responsiveness, however it additionally brings excellent coloration recreation and aesthetics to the desk as properly. In the end, the one query it’s essential ask your self is whether or not or not you possibly can justify spending between $400-500 on a 1080p gaming monitor. If the reply is sure, I’d extremely advocate the Alienware AW2720HF.”
See the entire Alienware AW2720HF evaluation
360Hz monitor
360Hz screens are the most recent and finest customary of gaming monitor in at this time’s market. On common, they’re much faster than 240Hz options, nonetheless, they’ll come at a value. The most recent 360Hz screens are a number of the costliest in at this time’s market, with many retailing on the increased finish of the value spectrum.
That being mentioned, there is no such thing as a substitute for these fast screens, supplying you with a transparent benefit over your competitors.


ASUS ROG Swift PG259QN
Our ideas
“In the end, while this monitor is a little bit of a one-trick pony, it nonetheless outshines its rivals with its implausible smoothness and total picture readability. The ASUS ROG SWIFT PG259QN actually is the following step in gaming monitor expertise – the primary of its type however most definitely not the final.“
See the entire ASUS PG259QN evaluation
Now the true query between the comparability is up:
What monitor ought to I select when upgrading?
When you’ve got a 60Hz monitor and also you need to improve, with there being such a small distinction in efficiency between 120Hz and 144Hz, selecting the previous isn’t the worst factor on the earth, particularly for those who can’t afford a 144Hz possibility. Nonetheless, for those who can afford to get a 144Hz monitor then you must positively make investments your cash in a single.
In case you are presently utilizing a 144Hz monitor and have been contemplating an improve to the 240Hz you solely must be sure to have the PC energy to make the most of the upper hertz. Make sure you test what framerates you’re anticipated to get in sure settings in your video games, in any other case grabbing a better hertz monitor could possibly be a waste of cash or require you to spend much more money. Apart from that, they’re properly value investing in and gives you a slight benefit within the aggressive sphere.
Excessive refresh fee monitor: FAQs
Is There a Massive Distinction Between 120Hz and 144Hz?
The visible distinction between 120Hz and 144Hz actually isn’t that stark, and that’s principally as a result of 24 additional refreshes a second isn’t technically all that a lot. So long as it was backed by a strong system, for those who had been to ‘A-B’ a monitor between these two refresh charges, chances are you’ll not even discover the distinction.
If you happen to’d been utilizing a 144Hz monitor for fairly a while, and your eyes had been absolutely acclimated to that refresh fee, then immediately, your show dropped to 120Hz, you’d in all probability decide up on it. It may not even be a aware factor at first, maybe extra of delicate eye irritation.
If, then again, you jumped from 60Hz to those increased refresh charges sequentially, you’d discover an enormous enchancment upon 60Hz, however differentiating them would nonetheless be fairly tough.
Particular person distinction performs a big half in what you discover. Some folks simply have eyes extra attuned to perceiving delicate contrasts in refresh charges.
Is There a Massive Distinction Between 144Hz and 240Hz?
Technically, sure, there’s a large distinction between 144Hz and 240Hz. 96 additional refreshes a second is fairly vital and quantities to total smoother gameplay. Nonetheless, regardless that 144Hz to 240Hz is a bigger bounce in pace than that of 60Hz to 144Hz, the distinction between the previous gained’t be as noticeable because the distinction between the latter. It’s because because the refresh fee will increase, our potential to understand it weakens.
It’s additionally essential to notice {that a} system able to benefiting from a 240Hz monitor would value a reasonably penny, and even then, for those who had been taking part in on Extremely settings, chances are you’ll not truly be experiencing the total drive of that 240Hz display.
Can the Human Eye See 240Hz?
Traditionally, it was believed that the human eye might solely understand the sparkle fee of a show between 50 and 90Hz, however by that metric, there’d be no distinction to us transferring from a 120Hz show to a 240Hz show, and there positively is a distinction.
Consider it like this. If you happen to arrange a strobe mild to flicker at a 240Hz fee and had somebody transfer a toy boat rapidly throughout the room, you’d see the boat as frozen in place in a number of junctures of its journey. If the human eye couldn’t understand 240Hz, the boat would seem to maneuver easily throughout the room relatively than the stuttered impact we do truly see.
Whether or not we are able to admire 240Hz to the fullest extent is questionable because it’s definitely true that the upper the frequency of a refresh fee turns into, the more durable it’s to tell apart variations. Some research declare to have found that the higher restrict of human Hz notion lies across the 250Hz zone, however keep in mind that people or a diverse bunch. Everyone seems to be completely different, and due to this fact, our notion of Hz is just too.
In any case, it’s round 250Hz that the mind registers one thing we’re seeing on display as having sensible movement, which is to say the final move of the pictures is true to life, even when the sport is fairly wacky.
Can the Human Eye See 144Hz?
Because it’s doable to understand 240Hz, it goes with out saying that the human eye can see 144Hz. Even when it’s solely barely dissimilar to 120Hz, there may be an additional degree of refinement to movement high quality.
If we take 250Hz as a basic capability customary for these with 20/20 imaginative and prescient, not solely can we understand 144Hz, however there’s room to shoehorn in over 100 extra Hz. Telling the distinction between 144Hz and 250Hz should still be fairly tough for some, as 144Hz movement is fairly dang silky in its personal proper, however it’s not fairly on par with how we view movement within the pure world round us.
Can the Human Eye See 1000fps?
We don’t know its origins, however the fantasy goes that the human eye can solely understand 24 frames per second. In fact, this can be a full fabrication as we wouldn’t even deem a recreation playable if it fell beneath the 30fps mark, however then, what number of frames per second can our eyes understand?
Properly, truly…1000. That’s proper, people; we’re fantastical beings certainly! We will hypothetically understand 1000 frames per second as a result of that’s roughly how briskly the neurons in our brains work. The important thing factor to recollect is that sight isn’t all about aware recognition.
Despite the fact that our eyes could also be restricted on what they will give attention to, the knowledge carried by means of to our mind is far more expansive. It’s bizarre, we all know. It feels like an oxymoron, however we’re genuinely registering issues we’re not even conscious of each single day.
Do keep in mind, although, that 1000fps is only a generalized hypothetical determine. Your true capability for perceiving frames could also be far superior or inferior to another person.
Can the Human Eye See 120fps?
Sure, the human eye can positively see 120fps! Not solely can we subconsciously register 120fps because of our tremendous speedy neurons, however we are able to actually register it with our eyes.
The distinction between 60 and 120fps is 8.4ms, which can come throughout as being pretty negligible, however in that 8.4ms is the ability to eradicate any residual movement blur from the 30 – 60fps bounce and clean the sport out a complete heck of a heap!
Nonetheless, for those who’re an skilled PC gamer, you’ll already remember that body charges aren’t all about visuals, however decreasing latency too. It’s all about feeling, guys! The rise in frames from 60 to 120 a second means interplay between you and the sport will likely be enhanced, permitting you to play higher than ever.
Can the Human Eye See 8K?
Sure, analysis means that the human eye does certainly register the distinction when an 8K decision show. In reality, we might in all probability understand the advantages of an much more densely pixelated decision.
As we’re fleshy issues, we are able to’t straight examine the ability of our eyes and mind to that of a show, however it’s estimated that to create a digital camera with an equal decision to our glistening peepers, it will must include 576 million pixels.
Contemplating 8K is a 7680 x 4320 decision, it’s nowhere close to as intricate as our eyes’ capability for perceiving readability.
Why Does 240Hz Look Bizarre?
There are a number of explanation why 240Hz could look bizarre to some. Do you bear in mind when HD televisions had been first launched? Your well-to-do good friend was the primary individual you knew to get one. You go over to their home to witness the following technology of leisure expertise, however to your shock, there’s one thing simply not fairly proper about it. Certain, it’s clearer than your TV again dwelling, however it nonetheless appears…off barely.
It’s because you’re witnessing one thing often known as ‘The Cleaning soap Opera Impact’. This happens as a result of most tv reveals are shot utilizing cameras with a a lot slower body fee than the refresh fee of your good friend’s show. It’s a facet impact of movement interpolation, a course of wherein the show fills within the ‘judder’ of the gradual body footage with its personal frames, smoothing movement out. The one difficulty is that this movement isn’t pure and in most situations could make transferring objects seem superimposed on the set.
This doesn’t actually apply to gaming, however 24Hz should still appear bizarre to you for those who’ve been taking part in on a 60Hz monitor for years.
Is 4K or 240Hz Higher?
Refresh fee is extensively thought-about to be extra essential for gaming than decision, so it is sensible to decide on a 240Hz 1440p or 1080p monitor over a 60Hz 4K monitor. The 60Hz 4K monitor will nonetheless in all probability look sharper, however a better refresh fee permits for smoother motion and a extra responsive gaming expertise.
Do I Want Over 60 Hertz?
144Hz must be thought-about the norm for any gamer who doesn’t want to play in 4K. The price of 144Hz screens has been dropping in worth 12 months on 12 months, with some nice choices accessible for below $200 lastly starting to indicate. Something lesser will present a major distinction in efficiency and gaming expertise in the case of responsiveness.
As for 240Hz, it’s an enormous funding and solely helpful in case you have a GPU that may deal with the high-performance required to pump out 240FPS in your chosen video games. That is particularly the case for those who play FPS video games akin to CS:GO, PUBG, or BF5.
Is It Value Going For 144Hz Or 240Hz?
This depends upon the video games you play and what you need out of your tools. Aggressive avid gamers prefer it quick and really correct, any noticeable delay might lead to a miss or slower reactions. CS:GO gamers certainly know this assertion is just about correct and on level however it goes with out saying that for those who take aggressive play severely, seize a sooner refresh fee monitor.
The place this turns into a little bit bit extra tough is in direction of the acute ends of the gaming PC spectrum. In case you are on a strict funds or simply play casually, then a quick refresh fee monitor in all probability isn’t going to make all that distinction to your gaming expertise. 4K avid gamers may go for 60Hz, just because 60FPS in max settings isn’t the best to realize until you may have a godlike system and 60FPs is a a lot simpler determine in your G-Sync/Freesync to work. Whereas there are 4K gaming screens with quick refresh charges on the market, this can be a comparatively new thought and comes with extremely excessive prices.
Remaining Phrase
We’ve gone over the important thing variations between 60Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz, 240Hz, and 360Hz to finally reply which excessive refresh fee monitor is finest for gaming. In fact, the reply isn’t as black and white as we wish however when is it within the tech world?
The primary level to remove is: in case you are a aggressive gamer who loves quick and responsive tools, you possibly can’t go unsuitable with a sooner refresh fee monitor. It’s value noting, nonetheless, that you’ll want to make sure your PC can deal with the improve however many will think about this a small worth to pay for that aggressive edge.
What’s the refresh fee of you’re gaming monitor? Did you discover the dramatic distinction between 60Hz and 144Hz? Drop us a remark beneath or head over to the WePC group to share with the workforce.