Your Guide to High Refresh Rate Monitors

High refresh rate monitors come packed with plenty of gaming essentials, designed to notably enhance both your performance and in-game immersion. No matter what type of games you play, a high refresh monitor is the ultimate choice for those looking to enjoy crisp high-definition visuals with no display stutter.

In this article we’re taking a deep dive into the world of high refresh gaming monitors, detailing what sets them apart, the different types of refresh rate, and why you want one for gaming.

What is a High Refresh Rate Monitor?

A monitor’s refresh rate, measured in Hertz (Hz), is the number of times that display refreshes its pixels per second. For example, a 144Hz gaming monitor will refresh 144 times every second. The higher the refresh is, the better performance with zero screen tearing, motion blur, or stutter.

Typically, your standard monitor will have a refresh of 60Hz. However, you can find variants with higher refresh rates such as 120, 144, 165, 240, or even 360Hz, that are better suited for gaming.

Advantages & Disadvantages of a High Refresh Rate Monitor

Advantages

Less screen tearing
Increased response times
Improved in-game immersion

Disadvantages

Can be more expensive than traditional 60Hz monitors
Requires more power from your components – can put extra strain on your GPU if it’s not up to task

Different Refresh Rates Explained

60Hz

60Hz refresh rate monitors will refresh pixels 60 times per second and are better suited for work or casual gamers. 60Hz is plenty for those looking to enjoy smooth gaming in RPG or real-time strategy titles. Plus, most 60Hz monitors also come equipped with support for technology such as AMD FreeSync or NVIDIA G-Sync, which will notably boost your performance and in-game immersion.

120Hz

A monitor with 120Hz will refresh your screen 120 times a second, delivering you smooth gameplay and crisp visuals. You’ll want to pair your 120Hz monitor with a PC or gaming laptop that can support a high enough FPS, in order for you to fully take advantage of minimal screen tearing, blur, or stutter. All of which will give you a distinct edge over your enemies, especially in AAA and FPS titles.

144Hz

144Hz monitors refresh at up to 144 times per second and have optimised for high-speed competitive gaming. A 144Hz monitor will put you right at the centre of the action thanks to improved motion blur and better response times, ensuring you never miss a single detail or enemy poking around the corner.

165Hz

With a 165Hz monitor, unlock lightning-fast performance indemanding AAA titles, such as Starfield or Alan Wake 2. Redrawing pixels at 165 times per second, these monitors notably reduce screen tearing or display stutter to ensure you can enjoy stunning high-definition visuals and fast response times.

240Hz

240Hz gaming monitors are the perfect choice for enthusiasts demanding that competitive edge over their enemies. Capable of refreshing at up to 240 times per second, these monitors can notably improve your in-game performance by ensuring you see every detail as when it happens. What’s more, for those who demand extra immersion and realistic visuals, 240Hz monitors often come fully equipped with features such as AMD FreeSync or NVIDIA G-Sync.

360Hz

360Hz is the flagship of high refresh rate monitors. Refreshing and redrawing pixels at up to 360 times a second, a 360Hz monitor delivers exceptional in-game performance, paired with enhanced motion resolution, virtually zero screen tearing, and no display stuttering breaking up your immersion. You’ll be placed right at the centre of the gaming action, ensuring you’ll be able to catch every detail during those critical in-game moments.

Why are High Refresh Rate Monitors Good for Gaming?

High refresh rate monitors provide you with countless benefits when it comes to gamers, especially in competitive or esports titles. Thanks to improved motion blur, the perceived sharpness of any moving objects on screen are notably clearer, allowing you to see enemies from afar quicker.

This is further boosted by the improvements made to response times. You’ll be able to see all the action clearly, smoother, and a lot faster. A 240Hz high refresh rate monitor is capable of dramatically reducing the response time down to 4.17ms, in comparisons to 60Hz which is 16.67ms. What’s more, alongside better motion resolution and response times, high refresh rate monitors will also reduce screen tearing or display stutter breaking up any in-game immersion.

Our Top High Refresh Rate Monitors

Is it time for an upgrade? Have we said enough to inspire you into purchasing a high refresh rate monitor?

At Overclockers UK, you can find an extensive range of gaming monitors available, from 60Hz all the way to 360Hz. We’ve included a few of our favourites below, but you can also shop all our gaming monitors by refresh rate by clicking the button.

Shop Monitors By Refresh Rate