Refresh rate is how many times per second a display redraws its image. A 60Hz screen updates 60 times per second; a 144Hz screen updates 144 times per second. Higher refresh rates can make motion feel smoother and input feel more responsive, but the benefit depends on what you are viewing and what your hardware can output.
Does this affect you?
This matters when buying a monitor or TV, setting up a gaming display, or wondering why a high-refresh monitor still feels like 60Hz.
What refresh rate measures
Refresh rate is separate from resolution, color, and brightness.
- Hz counts screen redraws per second. A 1080p 144Hz monitor and a 4K 144Hz monitor refresh equally often, but one has more pixels per frame.
- Higher Hz shows more in-between motion positions, so scrolling, mouse movement, and games can look smoother.
- Refresh rate is not FPS. FPS is how many frames the computer, console, or video source creates. A 144Hz monitor cannot invent true 144fps from a 30fps video.
- Common rates include 60Hz for standard displays, 75Hz and 100Hz as small upgrades, 120Hz to 165Hz for many gaming screens, and 240Hz or 360Hz for competitive play.
- Returns shrink as numbers rise. The jump from 60Hz to 144Hz is much easier to notice than 144Hz to 240Hz.
What refresh rate you need
Match the refresh rate to your workload instead of chasing the largest number.
- Office work, browsing, and email are fine at 60Hz.
- Fast gaming benefits from 144Hz or higher if the PC or console can generate enough frames.
- Casual gaming can feel nicer at 75Hz to 100Hz without needing extreme graphics power.
- Video editing and color work usually benefit more from resolution and color accuracy than refresh rate.
- A 240Hz monitor paired with hardware producing 80fps will only receive 80 useful frames per second.
Getting the most from high refresh rate
Check the cable and port
High refresh at high resolution needs bandwidth. Older HDMI, DisplayPort, or low-rated cables can cap the monitor below its advertised maximum.
Set it in software
On Windows, open Settings > System > Display > Advanced display and choose the intended refresh rate. Many monitors default to 60Hz until changed.
Variable refresh rate is related
FreeSync and G-Sync let the display match the game frame rate to reduce tearing and stutter. VRR works alongside the monitor maximum refresh rate.
Sources
- VESA – Understanding Display Refresh Rates (2025)
- NVIDIA – What Is Refresh Rate and Why Does It Matter (2024)
- Samsung – Monitor Refresh Rate Explained (2025)