144Hz, 165Hz or 240Hz: When Does More Refresh Rate Matter?

In this guide
Put the numbers in milliseconds · Consider what your games can sustain · Do not confuse refresh rate with response time · Spend where it solves your problem

Refresh rate is one of the easiest monitor specifications to compare and one of the easiest to overvalue. The number describes how frequently the display can update each second. It does not promise that your game will produce that many frames or that every monitor with the same rating will look equally clear in motion.

Put the numbers in milliseconds

The interval between refreshes is 1000 divided by the refresh rate. That gives approximately 16.67 milliseconds at 60Hz, 6.94ms at 144Hz, 6.06ms at 165Hz and 4.17ms at 240Hz. These are calculated intervals, not measurements of total input latency or pixel response time.

The jump from 60Hz to 144Hz reduces the interval by about 9.72ms. Moving from 144Hz to 165Hz reduces it by about 0.88ms. This does not prove that one upgrade is visible to everyone and another is not; it explains why equal-looking jumps in the marketing number do not represent equal changes in time.

Consider what your games can sustain

Intel describes high-refresh gaming as a system-level task involving the CPU, GPU and monitor. Start by observing the games you already play. If you mainly enjoy visually demanding adventures at high quality settings, you may value resolution and contrast more than the highest available refresh ceiling.

If you play fast competitive games and already reach consistently high frame rates, a higher-refresh display deserves more attention. Look at demanding moments as well as easy scenes. A screenshot of a high FPS counter in an empty practice area says little about a busy match.

Do not confuse refresh rate with response time

Refresh rate concerns update frequency. Pixel response concerns how quickly pixels change between shades. Input latency involves additional steps throughout the system. A claimed response-time number, by itself, cannot establish overall motion quality.

When comparing independent testing, check the overdrive setting used and whether it produces visible bright or dark trails. The fastest menu setting is not automatically the best-looking setting. Also compare the behaviour near the frame rates you commonly reach, rather than judging a display only at its maximum refresh rate.

Spend where it solves your problem

For a first move away from 60Hz, compare well-rounded 144–180Hz displays alongside your resolution needs. For an upgrade from an existing 144Hz display, identify the actual limitation before replacing it: motion clarity, inconsistent frame delivery, weak contrast or simply a desire for a larger screen.

• Check supported refresh rates for the specific input you will use.
• Keep enough budget for the graphics performance your games need.
• Verify the selected refresh rate after connecting the monitor.
• Treat a higher maximum as useful headroom, not guaranteed game FPS.

Our buying preference is to favour a balanced display over a refresh-rate headline when the rest of the specifications or real-world behaviour do not match your use.

Sources and further reading

• Intel: refresh rate and gaming

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