Refresh rate: The difference between 60hz and 144hz?

Published on 17 februari 2019

Refresh rate 

Refresh rate is the rate at which the content of a display is rebuilt. The refresh rate is expressed in Hertz (number of times per second). An image display with a refresh rate of 144 Hz thus replaces the image 144 times per second. Refreshing the image is necessary continuously to ensure that the image remains visible. If the refresh rate is too slow, flickering is noticeable. And the higher the speed, the quieter the picture becomes.

Gamers

Especially for gamers, the refresh rate of the screen is an important part of the gaming experience. The refresh rate ensures that you play games such as shooters with a lot of visual spectacle smoothly. Can't quite figure it out? Then we would like to explain what it is, which screens are best for games and what you should pay more attention to. You can also always call our customer service for personal advice or for all your specific questions.

 

Which refresh rate do I need?

60Hz - suitable for movies and simple games

60Hz is the most common number of Hertz that displays display. With 60Hz you can play your favorite games and movies with a maximum frame rate of 60 fps. This means that the image is refreshed 60 times per second, which is already fairly smooth and suitable for movies and simple games.

120Hz - suitable for movies and simple games

Laptops met een 120Hz beeldscherm hebben vaak een ingebouwde technologie om de refresh rate te boosten. Daardoor geef je beelden weer in de buurt van de 144hz. Het verschil is minimaal en is per persoon afhankelijk.

144Hz - Smooth display of fast action scenes in movies and games

144Hz is a high refresh rate which is very suitable for displaying very fast and hectic images, such as games and action scenes in movies. Shooting games, shooters and games with lots of visual effects and action scenes certainly benefit from this refresh rate. Last but not least ... you react a lot faster to everything that appears on your screen. And so you defeat your enemy in your favorite game a bit easier.

 

What is the difference between refresh rate and frame rate?

Maybe you already know the term frame rate or fps or have you come across it. The frame rate is the number of times per second that your graphics card produces an image and sends it to your screen. A game that runs at a high frame rate, such as 60 fps or 120 fps, plays smoothly. For this, your monitor needs a high refresh rate. If you opt for a screen with 144Hz, check whether your video card is powerful enough to take advantage of the high refresh rate.

In short, the difference between refresh rate and frame rate is the following:

- Frame rate is how smoothly your video card produces and sends images to the screen.

- Refresh rate is how smoothly your screen displays a video signal it receives from the video card.

What is G-Sync?

G-Sync is a technology that prevents tearing and stuttering. This technique is based on adaptive sync, a technique that gives screens a variable refresh rate. This means that the screen adapts the refresh rate to that of the video card at any time. This allows you to enjoy a smooth gaming experience, without stuttering images. Useful during fast actions in which you have to shoot targeted or avoid opponents.

 

Where else should I pay attention?

Graphicscard:

If you want to enjoy smooth gameplay, then in addition to a 144Hz screen, you also ensure that your games run in a high frame rate. This frame rate depends on how powerful your video card is. The more powerful the video card, the higher the frame rate. When writing this explanation, the new Nvidia RTX 2060, 2070 or 2080 video card is recommended for the gamer.

Cables and connections:

If you want to use an external (separate) monitor, you also need a video cable with one of the following specifications:

- DisplayPort 1.2 (supports 144Hz in 1080p).

- Dual-Link DVI (supports 144Hz in 2560 x 1600 resolution).

- HDMI 1.4 only transmits 1080p video signals in 120Hz.

G-Sync:

G-Sync is a technology that prevents tearing and stuttering. This technique is based on adaptive sync, a technique that gives screens a variable refresh rate. This means that the screen adapts the refresh rate to that of the video card at any time. This allows you to enjoy a smooth gaming experience, without stuttering images. Useful during fast actions in which you have to shoot targeted or avoid opponents.