Key takeaways
- What is refresh rate? It is how many times per second a screen redraws, measured in Hz. See frame times from 60 to 360Hz, plus how to set yours.
Refresh rate is the number of times per second a display redraws its image, measured in hertz (Hz). A 60Hz screen redraws 60 times each second, a 144Hz screen 144 times. Higher numbers show motion in smaller time steps, which looks smoother and trims a little display delay, but only when the computer, console or video source actually delivers that many new frames. This guide explains the timing, compares the common tiers and gives a checklist for getting the rate you paid for.
Basis: published display-interface documentation and general display knowledge. Figures in the tables are calculated as one second divided by the rate, and any other numbers are labeled estimates.
How a screen redraws
A monitor shows a picture by updating its pixels line by line, top to bottom, many times a second. Each full pass is one refresh. Between refreshes the image holds still, which is why LCD and OLED screens are called sample-and-hold displays. Your eyes track moving objects across the screen, and while the image sits still between updates the eye keeps moving, which smears the object slightly. This perceived blur is called persistence blur, and shorter hold times reduce it.
That is the reason refresh rate matters for motion clarity. A scrolling web page, a spinning camera in a shooter or a sports broadcast all contain movement that benefits from more frequent updates. A still photograph or a text document looks identical at any rate, because nothing changes between refreshes.
Refresh rate is separate from response time, which describes how fast a single pixel changes color, usually quoted in milliseconds. A monitor can have a high refresh rate and slow pixels, in which case the image smears no matter how often it is redrawn. Spec sheets quote response time under specific test conditions, so treat the number as a seller claim and check independent measurements if motion quality matters to you.
Refresh rate tiers and their timing
The time between refreshes is simply 1000 divided by the rate in hertz. The table below also shows how much shorter each step is than the one before it, which shows why returns shrink.
| Refresh rate | Time per refresh | Saved compared with previous tier shown | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60Hz | 16.7 ms | baseline | Office monitors, many TVs and laptops |
| 75Hz | 13.3 ms | 3.3 ms | Budget monitors |
| 120Hz | 8.3 ms | 5.0 ms | Console gaming TVs, phones, tablets |
| 144Hz | 6.9 ms | 1.4 ms | Entry gaming monitors |
| 165Hz | 6.1 ms | 0.9 ms | Mainstream gaming monitors |
| 240Hz | 4.2 ms | 1.9 ms | Competitive gaming monitors |
| 360Hz | 2.8 ms | 1.4 ms | Esports-focused monitors |
Going from 60 to 144Hz removes about 9.7 ms from each refresh interval. Going from 144 to 240Hz removes about 2.8 ms, and 240 to 360Hz only about 1.4 ms. The first jump is obvious to almost everyone, the second takes some attention to spot, and the third is something many people cannot reliably tell in a blind comparison. If you are shopping across tiers, a 144Hz or 165Hz screen at a good resolution is often a better use of money than a 360Hz panel at a lower one.
Several of our monitor roundups sort models by this spec; see the LG monitors compared by resolution and refresh rate, the KTC models sorted by resolution, curve and refresh rate and the Gigabyte gaming screens by panel type for concrete options.
Refresh rate, frame rate and what your PC sends
These two numbers get mixed up constantly. The graphics card renders frames, and the monitor displays them. If the card produces 90 frames per second and the monitor runs at 144Hz, the screen still redraws 144 times, but only 90 of those show a new picture. Some refreshes repeat the previous frame, and without adaptive sync the mismatch can cause uneven pacing or tearing, the visible horizontal split when the screen updates mid-frame.
The practical rule: set the refresh rate near the frame rate your PC can sustain in your usual games, not the highest number the monitor allows. A graphics card that holds 100 frames per second in a demanding title gains more from a 120Hz or 144Hz screen with adaptive sync than from a 360Hz panel that it can never feed.
Adaptive sync changes the equation by letting the screen follow the frame rate inside a supported range. Frame rate caps just below the maximum refresh rate also keep the system inside that range. Check the monitor’s spec page for the exact range, since some budget models only support a narrow window.
Worked example: what does your setup actually deliver?
Use this decision flow with your own numbers. Assumptions: your graphics card sustains the frame rate shown in your main game with your usual settings.
| Sustained frame rate in your game | Refresh rate worth buying | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Under 60 | 60 to 75Hz with adaptive sync | Higher rates cannot show frames that do not exist |
| 60 to 100 | 120 to 144Hz with adaptive sync | Covers the whole range with smooth pacing |
| 100 to 160 | 144 to 165Hz | Matches typical sustained rates |
| 160 to 240 | 240Hz | Lets a strong card use its speed |
| 240 and above, competitive title | 240 to 360Hz | Only worth it if you also have a fast CPU |
For a quick example, suppose a game reports an average of 130 frames per second on your system. A 144Hz monitor with adaptive sync matches that closely. A 240Hz monitor would work as well, but you would be paying for headroom your graphics card does not yet fill, and you would see the benefit only if you upgrade the card later.
Consoles and TVs follow a similar rule. Many TVs offer 120Hz modes, often at specific resolutions, and the HDMI port that supports them may be a particular port on the TV. Our list of smart TVs for gaming compared by refresh rate sorts screens by refresh rate, and the TV’s manual tells you which HDMI input supports the high-rate modes.
System optimization checklist for a high refresh display
- Use a cable and port that support the rate. Check the monitor manual for the recommended input; DisplayPort is common for high rates on PC.
- Install the graphics driver from the card maker, then open Settings, System, Display, Advanced display and select the highest rate.
- Confirm the choice stuck by reopening the page after a restart.
- Enable adaptive sync in the monitor menu if it is off, then in the graphics driver control panel.
- In the game, choose fullscreen or borderless fullscreen and set the game’s refresh rate option to match.
- Cap the frame rate a few frames below the maximum to stay inside the adaptive sync range.
- Turn off the monitor’s overdrive or response-time mode if you see inverse ghosting, a bright trail behind moving objects, and try the next lower level.
- On a laptop, plug in the power and check the power plan, since some laptops lower the rate on battery.
When several monitors are connected, set the rate per monitor, because one screen may sit at 60Hz while the other runs fast.
Myths worth dropping
“The human eye can only see 60 frames per second” is a popular claim and it does not hold up: people routinely spot the difference between 60Hz and 144Hz motion on a desktop, especially while moving the cursor or scrolling. The opposite myth is that more hertz fixes everything. A 360Hz label does nothing for color accuracy, contrast or a slow panel, and it cannot make a game that runs at 80 frames per second look like one that runs at 300.
A third mix-up is HDMI versus DisplayPort. Neither is better in the abstract; what counts is the version on both ends. Older HDMI versions top out at lower refresh rates at high resolutions, which is why a monitor can offer 144Hz at 1080p and only 60Hz at 4K over the same cable. The monitor manual lists which resolution and rate pairs each input supports.
When to stop tuning and replace or call support
If the high refresh option never appears after trying a certified cable, another port and a clean driver install, the limit may be the monitor input, the graphics card output or the operating system. Test the monitor on another computer. If it shows the higher rate there, the problem is with your PC’s output or driver; if not, check the monitor’s firmware notes and contact the maker’s support. Flicker, black screens or a screen that drops to 60Hz when you plug in a second display deserve the same step-by-step isolation before you spend money on replacements.
Also check the claim on the box. Some listings advertise a rate that the screen reaches only with overclocking, only on one input or only at a lower resolution. Reading the technical spec table, not the headline, avoids that surprise.
Frequently asked questions
Is a higher refresh rate always better?
A higher refresh rate gives smoother motion and slightly lower display delay, but only if your computer produces frames fast enough to use it. A 240Hz screen showing a game that runs at 70 frames per second gains little over a 75Hz one. Returns also shrink as numbers climb, so the jump from 60 to 144Hz is far more noticeable than 240 to 360Hz.
What is the difference between refresh rate and frame rate?
Refresh rate belongs to the monitor and is how often it redraws the image. Frame rate belongs to the computer and is how many new images the graphics card produces each second. The screen can only show a new picture when it has one, so a 144Hz monitor fed 60 frames per second shows each frame about two to three times. Both must be high for smooth motion.
Why does my 144Hz monitor show 60Hz in Windows?
Windows often defaults to 60Hz after a fresh install or a cable change. Open Settings, System, Display, Advanced display, pick the monitor, and choose the higher rate under Choose a refresh rate. If the option is missing, check the cable and port (an old HDMI cable or port can cap the rate), install the graphics driver, and check the monitor’s on-screen menu for any setting that limits the rate.
Does refresh rate matter for non-gaming use?
It helps a little. Scrolling, cursor movement and window dragging look smoother at 120Hz or more, and some people find it more comfortable on the eyes, though comfort varies by person. For documents, video and email, 60Hz works perfectly well. Higher rates also cost battery on laptops and phones, so many devices lower the rate automatically when idle.
What does adaptive sync do for refresh rate?
Adaptive sync, sold as G-Sync Compatible, FreeSync or the HDMI Variable Refresh Rate feature, lets the monitor change its refresh rate to match the frame rate coming from the graphics card. That reduces tearing and the stutter that appears when frame rate falls just below the screen’s rate. It works inside a range listed on the monitor’s spec page, so check that range for your model.
