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What’s A Refresh Rate?
The refresh rate of a monitor has been defined as the number of times the monitor updates per second. It differs from frames per second (FPS), which, as the name suggests, specifies how many frames are shown by the specific file per second. The refresh rate is critical for motion managing since a higher refresh rate usually provides a more fluid motion.
The number of images that are viewed per second when the screen updates is expressed in the term Hertz (Hz). A 60Hz display will update pictures and display 60 pictures per second whereas a 120HZ display has 120 images per second when refreshed and 240Hz monitor has 240 images per second. This is the term that you commonly see denoted as Hz next to a number when looking at any sort of display.
Why does Refresh Rate Matter?
Refresh rate matters for people who want to game (competitively or causally) and those who work in the gaming industry (e-sports etc) and require something that’ll put them over the edge and above their competition. Professionally, Refresh rates are a game-changer (no pun intended) and sometimes even help normal people become pros.
For example, a 60hz monitor would display only 60 images a second. But, let’s say the opponent has a 240hz monitor, which means their monitor would show 240 images per second and that means they would spot you first. Here’s a GIF to help you visualize it better.
Credits: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGBreL63hQZIG3EpOv8ZTCg (WASD.ro)
You can clearly see how the 60hz monitor is choppier and displays the opponents model slower, whereas, in the 144hz and 240hz monitors, you can see a more fluid motion and spot the enemy faster.
These subtle changes play an essential role for players in winning or losing ranked/competitive games, tournaments and e-sports events for first-person shooter games such as Valorant, Rainbow Six Siege, CSGO etc.
60hz vs. 144hz vs. 240hz Monitors- Which one should you opt for?
Higher refresh rate video displays are not the best choice for optimal quality and colour fidelity. Therefore, content creators usually prefer a 60hz refresh rate. But with the new 4k displays with 240Hz refresh rates, that might soon change.
So, if you’re only aiming for aesthetics, a 60 Hz display is the way to go, although if you’re aiming to get good results and trying to get an advantage over your competition, then a higher refresh rate display is what you should be looking for.
Credits: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGBreL63hQZIG3EpOv8ZTCg (WASD.ro)
Note: It is important to understand that FPS plays a crucial role in determining your refresh rate too. So, for instance, if you were playing a game with a 144Hz monitor, but your GPU isn’t powerful enough and can only pump out 70-80 frames, then your refresh rate becomes 70-80hz also as the images displayed per second is equal to frames displayed per second.
60hz: The Oldie But Goldie
60Hz is the minimum refresh rate available on modern displays. If you are aiming to buy a display just for regular work and personal activities, then you can opt for a 60hz monitor. It T performs well only for watching videos and films. It’s the simplest most cost-efficient and easiest available alternative.
It’s even great for casual and minimal gaming. I’ve used a 60hz display for over 10 years and did some competitive gaming on it as well and I wasn’t the worst player that ever lived. So, if you’re low on the pocket and are looking for a good monitor to buy, I’d say opt for a 60hz monitor.
144hz: Worth Every Penny
In the gaming scene, the most popular refresh rate is 144 Hz. It offers a cleaner interface but is marginally more expensive than 60 Hz displays. This refresh rate is ideal for competitive players, and if you’d like to purchase a PC exclusively for gaming purposes, this is the display for you.
I upgraded to a 144hz display recently and I don’t think I can look at a 60Hz display ever again. The consistency and the fluid motion of graphics make my gaming experience seem like nothing else. I would highly recommend switching to a 144hz or a 120hz display if your budget allows it.
240hz: Did you see that?!
One of the fastest refresh rate seen in modern displays is 240 Hz. This refresh rate produces extremely clear images, which make the motion appear so smooth as if you’re in the game. And it does that while almost eliminating motion blur, which is common in most higher refresh rates monitors.
When testing it out in person, however, I experienced something unique. Even though the image quality was almost perfect, and there was no motion blur or reduced clarity in sight, I didn’t see that much of a difference between 144hz display and 240hz Monitor. The difference in testing, when switching from a 60hz display to a 144hz one is day and night, the same could not be said for switching from a 144hz display to a 240hz Monitor. On top of that, it costs a limb to buy these things.
Conclusion
So, to keep it short, the best option to opt for if you’re low on budget and require a high refresh rate with smooth operating is the 144hz monitor. Not only is it fast and provides what other monitors cannot, but it’s also light on the pocket as well. Trust me, once you use a 144hz monitor, you never go back. However if you are a multi monitor setup fan which presents you all the time with good additional options and advantages than the single monitor then also you can go for the 144hz. The multi monitor setup provides you with lots of space to get the job done, to play the games which need a wide screen-space and much more. So, by bearing in mind all these added features, you can think of going in the direction of setting up the dual monitor wallpaper.
