Refresh rate is the number of times per second a screen updates its image, measured in hertz (Hz). A 60 Hz display refreshes 60 times each second, a 144 Hz display 144 times.
Why it matters
Higher refresh rates make motion, scrolling and cursor movement look smoother and reduce blur, which is valued in gaming and on modern phones. Your graphics hardware must also produce enough frames per second to benefit.
Adaptive sync technologies, such as FreeSync and G-Sync, vary the refresh rate to match the frame rate and avoid tearing.
Example
60 Hz -> a new frame every 16.7 ms
120 Hz -> a new frame every 8.3 ms
144 Hz -> a new frame every 6.9 msA game running at 45 fps on a 144 Hz monitor will not look like 144 fps; the panel can only show what is rendered.
Common mistakes
- Buying a 144 Hz monitor and never enabling the higher rate in display settings.
- Using a cable or port that limits the monitor to 60 Hz.
- Confusing refresh rate with response time or frames per second.
Related
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