When it comes to selecting a gaming monitor, the number of Hertz (Hz) is a crucial factor. It is frequently forgotten by gamers when they’re making their choice. This can have dire consequences; an inadequate Hz, as well as insufficient resolution, and refresh rate, could result in an undesirable gaming experience. Hence, it’s important to identify what the best Hz for gaming monitors is.
The Hz of a gaming monitor is the number of times per second that the monitor updates the display. Existing gaming monitors usually range from 60 Hz to 240 Hz, though new models could go up to 360 Hz. Monitors that boast a higher Hz will be able to display more frames every second than a monitor with a lower Hz. This translates to a smoother gaming experience.
A higher Hz isn’t necessarily a definitive means of producing a better gaming experience. It’s important to note that it won’t make any discernible difference on monitors with less than a 144 Hz refresh rate. Hence, the best Hz for gaming monitors depends on the monitor’s refresh rate; anything above 144 Hz is known as overdrive. Though, most gaming monitors for PCs rarely go below the 144 Hz mark.
This Hz doesn’t carry over to console gaming. Console games usually have a maximum of 60 frames per second while PC games normally have a minimum of 144 frames per second. This would mean that a console game wouldn’t necessarily benefit from a higher Hz. Most console gamers would need a 60 Hz gaming monitor.
Going further, the type of games you play may influence the Hz of your gaming monitor. It is assumed that competitive gamers would prefer a higher Hz due to the extreme accuracy and minor details that such games heavily rely on. Whereas gamers who play games with less competitive mechanics such as MMORPGs or RPGS won’t necessarily need a cent higher than a 120 Hz gaming monitor.
Seeking out the best Hz for gaming monitors is an important factor when deciding on a gaming monitor. While the task may appear daunting, it can be made easier when the aforementioned information is taken into account. The optimal Hz could depend on the type of gaming monitor you’re after, the type of game you’re playing, as well as the maximum frames per second for that game.
Adaptive Sync and Variable Refresh Rate
With modern gaming monitors, there is more to selecting an ideal Hz setting than just the refresh rate. This is where adaptive sync (FreeSync) and variable refresh rate (G-Sync) come in. These are technologies used by gaming monitors to produce sync frames; the elimination of screen tearing and enabling a more immersive gaming experience.
Adaptive Sync and Variable Refresh Rate allow the monitor to adjust its Hz automatically to the frames per second. This will not only produce the smoothest gaming experience, but it’ll also alleviate some of the workload from the graphics card, allowing it to focus on other tasks like image rendering or advanced lighting.
When looking for the optimal Hz for a gaming monitor, it’s important to consider gaming technologies like Adaptive Sync and Variable Refresh Rate. Most of the gaming monitors available today are compatible with one or both of these technologies. And that can be an important factor when selecting the ideal Hz for a gaming monitor.
That said, the gaming monitor’s environment should also be taken into consideration. Adaptive Sync and Variable Refresh Rate may be beneficial to some gamers but may not bring any significant differences to others since they rely on smooth frames per second. So, anyone looking at the best Hz for gaming monitors should also consider the environment.
Motion Blur Reduction
Motion blur is another factor that could influence someone’s decision when selecting an ideal Hz for a gaming monitor. This is an issue that often plagues monitors with lower Hz, resulting in a less than ideal gaming experience. Fortunately, a lot of gaming monitors nowadays come equipped with motion blur technology. This comes in the form of a backlight strobe, which helps reduce motion blur.
Most gaming monitors capable of motion blur reduction are able to go up to a 240 Hz refresh rate. This allows gamers to benefit from the motion blur reduction technology, as well as have an enjoyable gaming experience. However, this technology costs more than a regular gaming monitor.
On the other hand, those looking for a 120 Hz refresh rate gaming monitor may not require motion blur reduction technology. This technology is more useful and beneficial with monitors that have higher refresh rates. Thus, they may be able to get away with a 120 Hz refresh rate without suffering from too much motion blur.
In conclusion, when deciding on the best Hz for gaming monitors, the gaming monitor’s Hz, refresh rate, resolution, and other features should all be taken into account. The environment in which the monitor will be used should also be taken into consideration. Furthermore, there are other gaming technologies like Adaptive Sync and Variable Refresh Rate and Motion Blur Reduction, which could be beneficial for some gamers.
Resolution and Image Quality
Besides refresh rate, resolution is also a very important factor when it comes to the best Hz for gaming monitors. It’s important to note that even if you have a monitor with a 240 Hz refresh rate, the image quality won’t be as great without a higher resolution. This means that you won’t be able to take advantage of the higher refresh rates.
For gamers that want to take advantage of the higher Hz, they’ll need to invest in monitors that have higher resolutions as well. This would mean investing in monitors that are capable of 4K or 5K resolutions. These monitors would not only have greater image quality but also have higher Hz refresh rate.
For those that don’t need such a high resolution, then the best Hz for a gaming monitor will depend on their budget and preference. Most gaming monitors that offer a lower resolution still come with a 120 Hz or 144 Hz refresh rate. This would be perfect for serious gamers who require accuracy in their gaming.
Additionally, one should also consider the input lag of the gaming monitor. This is the amount of time it takes for a monitor to respond to an action. Higher refresh rates can result in less input lag, which can be beneficial for gamers who need to input instructions quickly. Monitors with higher refresh rates are also better equipped to maintain display performance during fast-paced gaming action.
Response Time and Overclocking
The response time of a gaming monitor is also something that should be considered when choosing the best Hz for gaming monitors. The response time is the amount of time it takes for the monitor to switch between displaying frames. This time is usually represented in ms. Most gaming monitors with higher Hz typically have a lower response time as they can switch frames faster.
Besides response time, there’s also the possibility of overclocking your gaming monitor. This increases the Hz of the monitor, allowing it to display more frames per second. While this may provide a better gaming experience, the drawback is that it often shortens the life span of the monitor by a considerable amount.
For most gamers, it’s best to avoid overclocking as it can cause irreparable damage to the gaming monitor. When buying a gaming monitor, it’s important to ensure that its Hz and response time are up to standards. A gaming monitor with a higher Hz, response time, and resolution would usually perform better than one with lower Hz, response time, and resolution.
Conclusion
In conclusion, selecting the best Hz for a gaming monitor isn’t an easy task. It depends on the gaming monitor’s resolution, refresh rate, Hz, as well as other features like Adaptive Sync and Variable Refresh Rate. One should also consider their gaming environment as well as gaming technologies such as motion blur reduction and input lag. And, overclocking should be avoided as it can negatively impact the life of the gaming monitor.
