A good refresh rate for a gaming monitor is one of the most fundamental aspects of choosing a gaming monitor. It affects how smoothly games and videos run, as well as how immersive the experience is. A refresh rate of 75Hz or more is recommended for gaming, while a refresh rate of 60Hz should be sufficient for most other purposes. One should note, however, that refresh rates above 120Hz are only useful if the right hardware is available.
The refresh rate is the number of times per second that the display refreshes, or redraws, the image shown on the screen. This is measured in Hertz, or “Hz”. A 60Hz monitor refreshes 60 times per second, a 75Hz monitor refreshes 75 times per second, and so on. A higher refresh rate provides better clarity, meaning that fast-paced movement, like in shooting games, will look and feel smoother.
In order for a monitor to be able to generate higher refresh rates, a compatible graphics card is also necessary. For example, an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 or an AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT are required to achieve a refresh rate of 144Hz or above. Otherwise, a monitor can only sync up to a maximum of 75Hz.
Furthermore, a monitor’s resolution also affects its refresh rate. High resolutions such as 4K (3840 x 2160) are limited to a maximum refresh rate of 60Hz, while 1440p (2560 x 1440) has a maximum refresh rate of 100Hz, and 1080p (1920 x 1080) has a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz. Thus, when it comes to finding the best refresh rate for gaming purposes, lower resolutions are generally preferred.
Lastly, one should take into consideration the technology behind the monitor. Most monitors use either TN or IPS technology. TN technology is usually cheaper, but it has limited viewing angles, and the colour accuracy is not as good as that of IPS technology. On the other hand, IPS technology usually has superior colour accuracy and better viewing angles, but it is usually priced higher.
Adaptive-Sync Technology
Adaptive-Sync technology is a technology used to reduce screen tearing and stuttering by syncing the refresh rate of the monitor with the frame rate of the graphics card. It is available in two forms: AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-Sync. FreeSync is open-source and is available on most monitors, while G-Sync is proprietary and can only be found on a select few monitors. Both technologies provide a more fluid gaming experience, and are recommended for gamers who are looking for the best refresh rate for their gaming monitor.
Panel Technology
Apart from refresh rate, it is important to consider the panel technology of a monitor. TN panels are the most common and are usually the cheapest, but their image quality and viewing angles are limited. IPS panels offer superior image quality and wide viewing angles, but they usually cost more. Alternatively, there are curved panels that provide an immersive experience, such as with the popular Samsung CF791.
Ultra-Wide Monitors
Given the popularity of immersive gaming experiences, ultra-wide displays are becoming increasingly common. Ultra-wide monitors feature a 21:9 aspect ratio and provide a more expansive view, improving the gaming experience. While ultra-wide monitors typically feature a lower response time than regular displays, they are generally limited to a maximum refresh rate of 75Hz.
Conclusion
When choosing a gaming monitor, one should always give a priority to its refresh rate. A refresh rate of 75Hz or more is generally recommended for gaming, but one should take into consideration other factors such as resolution, panel technology, and Adaptive-Sync technology. Ultra-wide monitors offer an immersive experience, but they are limited to a maximum refresh rate of 75Hz.
