High-refresh rate monitors have become a sensation in recent years. It appears on many of the best gaming monitors and 4K displays. But do you need gaming monitors?
A refresh rate can do wonders for gamers; a high number isn’t better for everyone. It depends on what you use your computer for. This might be related to screen resolution, panel type, or color accuracy.
What Does Hz Mean?
Hz stands for hertz, which is a unit of frequency. Regardless of the context, 1 Hz equals one cycle per second. So, you may see a gaming monitor‘s computer processor that runs at 4 Hz. This completes 4,000,000,000 instruction cycles per second. This is true for monitors, except Hz takes the measurement known as refresh rate.
Refresh rate refers to the number of times per second a display refreshes an image. As the difference in frame displays movement, the refresh rate places a hard cap on the frame rate, which is visible.
It is an attribute of the monitor, while the frame rate is an attribute of the information sent to it. If you can run games at 100 frames per second, you may notice a tangible benefit from playing them on a monitor.
Conversely, a high refresh rate won’t make a difference if you watch a movie at a classic 24 FPS (frames per second).
Motion Resolution:
If your computer can play a game at a high frame rate to match a 120Hz or 240Hz monitor, you can experience noticeable changes in the perceived sharpness of moving images. Blurring happens as the human brain processes to set the individual frames in a monitor display.
Typically, the brain blurs together the frames to create a realistic moving picture, but the detail is lost along the way. A high refresh helps decrease blur by giving our brains more information to act on.
Games are likely to have sharp visuals during fast action. Moving a mouse can give you a better experience than the 60Hz display. Web browsing when scrolling down a page becomes smooth, and watching online videos or answering emails becomes easy.
Why is The Refresh Rate Important for Gaming?
A gaming monitor with a high refresh rate can make a huge difference when playing fast-paced games like first-person shooters or racing games. A higher refresh rate means that the image on the screen is updated more frequently, resulting in smoother motion and less blurring. This is particularly important for competitive gaming, where split-second decisions can mean victory or defeat.
In addition to providing a smoother gaming experience, a high refresh rate can also reduce input lag. Input lag is the delay between when a player inputs a command and when that command is reflected on the screen. A monitor with a high refresh rate can reduce this delay, providing a more responsive gaming experience.
A higher refresh rate also correlates with a higher frame rate. Frame rate, measured in frames per second (fps), represents the number of individual images displayed per second. The refresh rate and frame rate are interconnected, and achieving a frame rate that matches or exceeds the refresh rate is essential for unlocking the full benefits of a high-refresh-rate monitor.
Moreover, a higher refresh rate contributes to a reduction in input lag. Input lag is the delay between a user’s action, such as moving the mouse or pressing a key, and the corresponding on-screen response. In gaming scenarios where split-second decisions can make a significant difference, minimizing input lag is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge. A higher refresh rate, coupled with a high frame rate, helps in achieving lower input lag, ensuring that the on-screen action closely mirrors the player’s inputs.
What Refresh Rate Should You Look for in a Gaming PC Monitor?
The optimal refresh rate for a best PC gaming monitor largely depends on the type of games you play and your personal preferences. Many gamers find that a refresh rate of 144 Hz is ideal, as it significantly improves over standard 60 Hz monitors without being too expensive. A refresh rate of 240 Hz or higher may be necessary for competitive gamers to keep up with the fast-paced action.
It’s also worth noting that a high refresh rate is only beneficial if your PC can consistently output enough frames to keep up. If your PC struggles to maintain a high frame rate, a high refresh rate monitor may not benefit significantly.
Conclusion:
When shopping for a gaming monitor, pay attention to the importance of the refresh rate. A monitor with a high refresh rate can provide a smoother, more responsive gaming experience, particularly for fast-paced games. Consider your gaming preferences and budget when selecting a monitor, and remember to ensure that your PC can output enough frame rates.
