60Hz vs. 144Hz vs. 240Hz vs. 360Hz – What Is The Best Refresh Rate For Gaming?

Can a different monitor refresh rate affect performance? Here we discuss some things that are necessary to know when choosing a monitor for your setup.

With technology progressing at an increasingly fast rate, you might be wondering how hard you should try to keep up.

The remarkable qualities of modern GPUs frequently overshadow the truth that a screen with a corresponding refresh rate is also essential for enjoying superior graphics. The query is: what is the optimal refresh rate for gaming?

Before you buy a brand new 240Hz monitor, you need to ensure that your graphics card can provide the necessary output. Conventional wisdom is to usually have the GPU producing more FPS than your monitor’s refresh rate.

For clarity, it’s better to have a system that produces 200 FPS on a 144Hz monitor than a 144 FPS producing system with a 240Hz monitor.

Table of ContentsShow

Why Is Monitor Refresh Rate Important?

A Man With Cap Enjoying Computer Game

Games (and other moving images) are displayed on a monitor when the GPU sends multiple still images in rapid succession. The more powerful the GPU, the faster the images will be sent. Below a certain speed, the illusion of movement will be shattered.

If you want to enjoy smooth visuals from your graphics card, you will need to ensure it is powerful enough for the game you are trying to play.

Another crucial factor that is sometimes overlooked is the need for a great monitor that can keep up with the GPU. Otherwise, the GPU will produce more frames than the monitor can display, and you might end up wanting to fix a problem that isn’t there.

The unnecessary overworking of the GPU might lead to overheating and other bottlenecking problems.

We will now explore some potential benefits and drawbacks of each monitor to determine the optimal refresh rate for gaming.

60Hz vs. 144Hz

The main reason that you might still be using a 60Hz monitor is probably due to a restricted budget. This is the oldest and the most well-established refresh rate, but, as is often the case with technology, it is quickly going out of fashion.

The most common answer as to why people that have tried a 144Hz monitor (or even 240Hz) can’t go back is that everything, from the cursor movement on the desktop to intensive gameplay, felt sluggish when returning to 60Hz.

If you want to continue enjoying your 60Hz monitor, don’t try higher refresh rates, at least until you have the money to upgrade.

Comparison Between 144hz And 60hz.
Comparison between 144Hz and 60Hz.

The stark contrast of the picture above will probably leave many questioning its authenticity and whether or not it was edited.

In truth, the image provides a good comparison of the two refresh rates. We chose this particular image because the discrepancy is particularly noticeable in racing games.

There is only one good reason to persist with a 60Hz monitor in 2024, and that’s a tight budget. If you aren’t playing games where the frame rate is critical, then you don’t need to worry.

A slower-paced game such as ‘Civilization 6‘ can be experienced perfectly well on a 60Hz monitor. However, if you’re playing a faster-paced game such as ‘Counter-Strike: Global Offensive‘ (a first-person shooter), you will likely have a worse experience than on a 144Hz monitor.

This is because success at FPS games depends on your ability to see other players and react quickly. If you are only seeing less than half or even a quarter of the frames that your opponent does, then you will be in trouble.

In addition, a 60 FPS setup has an end-to-end latency in the range of 55 to 75ms (in full-screen mode), while a 144 FPS setup ranges from 30 to 45ms. This means the setup with more frames per second and an accompanying higher monitor refresh rate can generate a higher response rate.

144Hz vs. 240Hz

This is a more complicated comparison. For a long time, 144Hz has been considered the minimum requirement for competitive play. However, an increasing number of gamers are moving into the 240Hz camp.

One of the major reasons why people haven’t dived headfirst into the 240Hz monitor trend is that the difference between these two refresh rates is far less startling than the jump from 60Hz to 144Hz.

The difference is still noticeable, as it means going from a frame every 6.95 ms to a frame every 4.17 ms. This jump might seem small, but humans often adapt to good things quite quickly, so you should still consider it.

One important aspect to note is that if you’re playing an older game, such as the previously mentioned CS: GO, you would still be able to game at 240Hz with a mid-range CPU and GPU.

The video below displays an enlightening comparison of all previously mentioned monitor frame rates.

One thing to note when talking about the distinction between these two monitor refresh rates is that an increasing number of expert eSports players are transitioning to 240Hz. As time goes on, this will surely become the new minimum.

Our advice for the best refresh rate for gaming isn’t the same for other hardware. If you’re already moving away from 60Hz, you should try to jump directly to a 240Hz monitor and skip 144Hz.

However, if you’re already using a 144Hz monitor, you might want to wait a while and go straight to 360Hz if you’re looking for a competitive edge. However, this only matters if you have a system that can support these frame rates.

360Hz Monitor Refresh Rate

First announced as an April Fools’ prank in 2019, NVIDIA and Asus shocked the world when they announced their actual 360Hz monitor at CES 2020. Any gamers who believed that 240Hz was as good as it would get were surprised by the announcement.

The biggest improvement appears to be the ability to display game frames once every 2.8 ms, which is a similar jump to the 144Hz to 240Hz transition. On paper, however, it appears that the jump from 144Hz to 360Hz won’t be as jarring as the jump from 60Hz to 240Hz.

For the Asus ROG Swift 360Hz monitor, NVIDIA is also providing an “advanced G-Sync processor,” which sounds very promising.

Asus isn’t the only company with a 360Hz monitor coming, but they were the first to announce it. Alienware, Acer, MSI, and many others are also poised to enter the 360Hz market.

During NVIDIA’s September 1 RTX 3000 series launch event, CEO Jensen Huang confirmed that the 360Hz monitors were coming in the fall of 2020. Other confirmed brands offering a monitor with this refresh rate are Acer, Alienware, Asus, and MSI.

Asus’ ROG Swift PG259QN was set to be released back in September 2020 with a $699 price tag, while MSI’s Oculux NXG253R was released a bit later in November, costing slightly more at $799.

Whatever you decide, rapidly upgrading to a 360Hz monitor won’t be inexpensive.

Prerequisites For 144Hz Gaming And Beyond

In order to find your ideal refresh rate for gaming, you need to consider many things. The bottom line is that a high refresh rate monitor is futile unless you also have the necessary hardware.

However, it is possible to enjoy a better frame rate by optimizing a few settings. Sometimes it might be better (and bring the coveted competitive edge) if you reduce your visual settings in favor of a higher FPS.

You should still strive to keep your games playable and not reduce them to a bunch of pixels just to play at 300 FPS.

144hz Monitor Front And Back View

However, there’s only so much you can do to increase your frame rate. After a certain point, you will simply need a stronger GPU.

NVIDIA’s RTX 3070 series currently seems like a great choice for 240Hz gaming, while the RTX 3060 series would be sufficient for a 144Hz experience. Alternatively, you could opt for AMD’s RX 6700 XT or RX 6800 XT.

Keep in mind that these are suggestions based on modern titles, as you will be able to play an older and less demanding game at 144Hz with a GTX 2060. As new hardware arrives, we will also see more demanding games.

Once your hardware is satisfactory, there might still be some kinks to iron out. One that’s often disregarded is adjusting Windows to operate at your monitor’s innate refresh rate. To achieve this, follow these steps: -> System -> Display -> Advanced Display Settings -> Display Adapter Properties -> Monitor -> Monitor Settings -> Screen Refresh Rate.

You might already know how to do this, but, just to make sure, you need to be running the game in full-screen mode. You should also adjust the in-game settings, if possible.

G-Sync and FreeSync

Nvidia G-sync

These are technologies developed by NVIDIA and AMD, respectively, but they perform the same role. They fix the nagging issue that sometimes occurs when the monitor refresh rate differs from the GPU’s output frame rate. This visual glitch is called screen tearing.

Related:FreeSync vs G-Sync – Which Is Best?

To fix screen tearing, it’s best to use G-Sync or FreeSync, depending on your GPU, but it’s important to highlight that there has been some discussion about them causing input lag.

However, when you’re gaming at 240Hz, input lag will be tough to notice, while screen tearing will be difficult to miss. This might not seem like a great trade-off, but you should probably try it for yourself and make a decision.

So, Which One Is The Best?

A Man With Headphone And Glasses Playing Computer Game

What is the absolute best refresh rate for gaming? The answer is 360Hz. This is a numbers game, and you don’t need a tech degree to know that 360 is the highest number here.

The more relevant question is, which one should you get? This answer is more nuanced and depends on which games you play and what you want to get from your gaming experience.

If you enjoy simulation-based games at a leisurely pace, then gaming at 60Hz is plenty for you. You can invest the money you save with a cheaper monitor to upgrade your RAM or CPU.

If you’re a frequent multiplayer gamer, then a 144Hz monitor should be your bare minimum. This is gradually losing its place at the forefront of the discussion, but, for at least a few more years, you will be able to play at 144Hz and not feel that your hardware is limiting you, as would be the case with 60Hz vs. 144Hz or 240Hz.

240Hz monitors are a necessity if you’re looking to get anywhere in the world of professional gaming. They might also give you an advantage if you’re a casual player.

While only a few people have tried the new 360Hz monitors, not many of them have reported significant differences. The sample size is currently rather small, but, as of 2024, it probably isn’t worth getting one of those, even if you can afford it.

Recommended Reads

RTX vs GTX
NVIDIA RTX vs GTX – Which Should You Buy?
Aleksandar Cosic

Alex is a Computer Science student and a former game designer. That has enabled him to develop skills in critical thinking and fair analysis. As a CS student, Aleksandar has very in-depth technical knowledge about computers, and he also likes to stay current with new technologies.