What is refresh rate & why is it important?

Why Refresh Rate Matters in Displays

Comparison of a fast-moving red sports car with and without motion blur, illustrating the impact of higher refresh rates on visual clarity. Comparison of a fast-moving red sports car with and without motion blur, illustrating the impact of higher refresh rates on visual clarity.

What is Refresh Rate

Refresh rate refers to how many times a display updates the image in one second, meaning a 120Hz monitor refreshes 120 times per second. It’s measured in hertz or Hz.


A high refresh rate monitor can

  • Create fluid, natural-looking motion
  • Displays small background details more clearly
  • Adjusts to lower speeds (like 60Hz) when necessary

60Hz is a standard rate for modern monitors, while the highest refresh rate currently on the market is 540Hz.

Graphic comparing 60Hz, 120Hz, and 240Hz refresh rates, showing how higher refresh rates deliver smoother motion and reduced lag. Graphic comparing 60Hz, 120Hz, and 240Hz refresh rates, showing how higher refresh rates deliver smoother motion and reduced lag.

How Refresh Rate Affects User Experience

Refresh Rate vs Frames Per Second (FPS): The Key Difference

Curved gaming monitor displaying a futuristic action scene, demonstrating high refresh rates for fluid and immersive gameplay. Curved gaming monitor displaying a futuristic action scene, demonstrating high refresh rates for fluid and immersive gameplay.

Refresh Rate measures how fast your monitor updates the screen, while Frames Per Second (FPS) measures how fast your GPU outputs images.

Key Points to Remember:

A monitor with a refresh rate lower than your GPU’s FPS can lead to screen tearing.
For the best experience, match your monitor's refresh rate to your GPU's FPS or exceed it.

Example: If your game runs at 60 FPS, a 60Hz monitor is fine.
If your game runs at 144 FPS, a 144Hz monitor is essential for clarity.

Common Refresh Rate Options and Their Benefits

Refresh Rate and Monitor Resolution:
A Balancing Act


Side-by-side image comparison of a landscape, showing the difference between lower and higher monitor resolutions, emphasizing display sharpness Side-by-side image comparison of a landscape, showing the difference between lower and higher monitor resolutions, emphasizing display sharpness

How Refresh Rate Impacts Power Consumption


Ultra-wide curved gaming monitor displaying a futuristic space battle, illustrating high refresh rate gaming performance and energy-efficient design. Ultra-wide curved gaming monitor displaying a futuristic space battle, illustrating high refresh rate gaming performance and energy-efficient design.

High refresh rates improve performance but can:

Increase power consumption.
Shorten battery life on laptops.
Be less energy-efficient, especially when paired with high resolutions.

If energy efficiency or battery life is a priority, consider monitors with lower refresh rates.

Do You Need a High Refresh Rate Monitor?
Key Takeaways


Gaming monitor with a first-person shooter displayed against a neon-lit purple background, illustrating the benefits of a high refresh rate for competitive gaming. Gaming monitor with a first-person shooter displayed against a neon-lit purple background, illustrating the benefits of a high refresh rate for competitive gaming.

60Hz: Sufficient for most basic tasks and media consumption
120Hz - 144Hz: Perfect for gamers and video editors.
240Hz and above: Ideal for competitive gamers seeking every advantage.

Your choice of refresh rate should depend on your use case, budget, and PC capabilities. For more tips on choosing the right monitor, check out our comprehensive Monitor Buying Guide