Refresh rate is how many times per second a display updates its image, measured in hertz (Hz). A higher rate can make fast movement look smoother and reduce the display’s potential share of input delay—but it does not make a game render more frames, guarantee clear motion, or ensure lower total latency. What you gain depends on the game, your PC or console, the display’s response time, and the connection.
Refresh rate and frame rate are different
Refresh rate describes the display; frame rate describes the game or other source. A 144Hz monitor can refresh up to 144 times per second, but it cannot make a game produce 144 frames per second (fps). If the system renders fewer frames, the display has fewer new frames to show. How those frames appear also depends on settings and whether the display and source use compatible variable refresh rate (VRR) technology.
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Refresh interval is the time between display refreshes: 1,000 milliseconds divided by the refresh rate. RTINGS explains the distinction and provides the following intervals and theoretical minimum input-lag figures for its middle-of-screen measurement method:
| Refresh rate | Time per refresh | RTINGS’ minimum input-lag figure |
|---|---|---|
| 60Hz | 16.67ms | 8.33ms |
| 120Hz | 8.33ms | 4.17ms |
| 144Hz | 6.94ms | 3.47ms |
| 240Hz | 4.17ms | 2.09ms |
| 360Hz | 2.78ms | 1.39ms |
These are technical relationships, not guaranteed latency results for every display. RTINGS describes the minimum as half the frame time using a sensor at the screen’s center. Actual input lag depends on the display and system. RTINGS’ refresh-rate explainer, updated September 15, 2026, covers the measurement and distinction.
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What a higher refresh rate changes during gameplay
Motion can look smoother
At a higher refresh rate, each refresh interval is shorter. With new frames arriving at a suitable rate, that can make fast camera turns and moving targets look smoother and reduce persistence blur—the blur associated with an image remaining visible between updates. The improvement is often more obvious when moving from a lower rate, such as 60Hz, to a much higher one than when moving between already high rates. There is no universal point at which everyone stops noticing a difference; sensitivity varies. RTINGS contrasts the more noticeable change from 60Hz to 240Hz with the smaller perceptual change from 500Hz to 700Hz.
It can reduce one part of input delay
A shorter refresh interval gives the display less time to wait for its next update, so a higher rate can reduce the monitor’s possible contribution to input lag. That is not the same as reducing total end-to-end latency: game processing, peripherals, display behavior, and—when playing online—network conditions all matter. A faster monitor alone cannot promise a competitive advantage or a particular response time.
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The benefit depends on the game
Fast action and competitive games are more likely to make smoother motion useful because the view and targets move quickly. Turn-based and slower-paced games generally offer less fast-moving content in which to notice the change. Whether the difference matters to you also depends on your sensitivity and what refresh rate your system can sustain.
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Refresh rate measures how often a display can update; response time describes how quickly its pixels transition from one state to another. Slow pixel transitions can leave visible blur even on a high-refresh display. RTINGS illustrates the difference with two cited 240Hz monitor examples whose total response times were 0.6ms and 7.1ms; those are examples, not typical or guaranteed results for all 240Hz displays.
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When judging motion, responsiveness, or a potential upgrade, consider measured response behavior and input lag at the mode you intend to use, not just the number printed in the refresh-rate specification.
How VRR helps when frame rates fluctuate
Without VRR, a display updates on a fixed schedule. If a new game frame is not ready at a refresh boundary, parts of two frames can appear together as screen tearing. VRR adjusts the display’s refresh timing to match changing frame rates, which can mostly prevent tearing when frame times are reasonably similar. It requires compatible support across the display, graphics hardware or console, and connection; the formats are not interchangeable on every device.
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For example, RTINGS reports that PS5 supports HDMI Forum VRR, while Xbox Series X|S supports HDMI Forum VRR and FreeSync. Check the compatibility of your particular console, display, and connection rather than assuming that a VRR label guarantees support for every format. RTINGS’ VRR comparison, updated December 15, 2025, discusses format differences and console compatibility.
AMD describes FreeSync as synchronizing a compatible display’s refresh rate with the frame rate of compatible graphics cards. AMD’s FreeSync Premium and Premium Pro criteria include at least 120Hz at minimum Full HD resolution and low frame-rate compensation (LFC). Those are tier criteria, not a guarantee that any given system, game, or connection will support a particular mode. See AMD’s FreeSync setup documentation, last updated March 3, 2025, for its explanation and system-dependent setup information.
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Is 60Hz good enough for gaming?
Yes. RTINGS considers 60Hz fine for many players, including console players, when the display performs well in other respects. A higher rate is more likely to matter in fast or competitive play, but it is not automatically a better choice for every game or setup. If the console, PC, or game cannot produce a higher frame rate in the resolution and mode you use, a faster display cannot create those frames.
Console output also has its own ceiling. RTINGS’ explainer reports support up to 60Hz or 120Hz, depending on console and mode, for PS5, PS5 Pro, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. Check the current specifications for your exact model and game mode; a display’s maximum rating does not raise the console’s supported output.
Check your whole setup before targeting a higher rate
- Start with your game and resolution. Identify the frame rate your PC or console can sustain in the games and resolution you actually use. A system’s output, not just the monitor, sets the practical target.
- Check the display’s mode at that resolution. Confirm the supported refresh rate for the intended resolution and input, rather than relying only on the headline maximum.
- Look beyond the Hz figure. Check response-time and motion-handling performance, as well as input lag at the refresh rate and input mode you plan to use.
- Verify VRR across the chain. Confirm that the display and PC or console support a compatible VRR format over the selected connection. AMD’s FreeSync documentation explains the technology and its tier criteria.
- Confirm connection bandwidth and settings. HDMI or DisplayPort version, port choice, cable configuration, and display or operating-system settings can affect available modes. RTINGS notes an example in which a display reached its advertised maximum over DisplayPort but was limited by HDMI 2.0 bandwidth over HDMI.
When comparing high-refresh-rate gaming monitors, compare the maximum refresh at your intended resolution and connection, the frame rate your system can sustain, motion clarity, input lag, VRR compatibility, and any resolution trade-off. The best fit depends on your hardware and games, not simply on which display advertises the highest Hz.
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