One of the first things you’d come across when you begin your hunt for a quality Gaming monitor is a need to get one with a good Refresh Rate and response time. You will see arguments that pit refresh rate vs. response time, and you’re wondering which is the most important, or which you should give more attention in your search for a top-quality gaming monitor.

I’d be sharing as much information as I can about these two specs, and help you decide on which gaming monitor you should give a shot.

What’s Refresh Rate in Gaming Monitors?

Refresh rate in gaming refers to the number of times per second that the monitor refreshes the image. The refresh rate is measured in Hertz (Hz). We might have used refresh rates and frame rates interchangeably, but no, frame rates refer to the information that is being sent to the monitor, while the refresh rate is actually built into the gaming monitor.

So if you are playing a game, let’s say at 60fps (frames per second) as we find on virtually all gaming consoles and video games, you will need a gaming monitor that will be able to refresh that many times. So for most 60 fps games, gaming monitors with 60Hz and above are the ideal options. If your game is sending information at around 75 or 120 fps, using a gaming monitor that refreshes at a slower pace will most definitely cause your games to lag.

The higher the Hertz of your game, the sharper the moving images in-game will be. This is because most blurs are caused by moving images that are slower than the pace the human brain processes the individual frames. That’s why it’s been believed largely that the higher the refresh rate of a gaming monitor, the lesser the toll it will have on the eyes, and the lower the chances of getting fatigued.

Looking for a good 4K monitor for console gaming? See our best.

Does Refresh Rate Matter For Gaming?

Yes, the higher the refresh rate, the better. When the refresh rate is either at the same fps or at a level that’s higher than the fps from the gaming pc or console, you’re bound to see a remarkable difference in the overall quality of your gameplay.

What Is A Good Refresh Rate For Gaming?

240Hz refresh rate is the highest we have, while the 60Hz refresh rate is the least for gaming. The best refresh rate for casual gamers will be 120Hz while pro gamers should shoot for 240Hz. The speed at which the frames are refreshed could be the difference between winning and losing in competitive gaming, so the absolute best refresh rate should be what you’re using.

Is a 60Hz Refresh Rate Good For Gaming?

For most casual console gamers, the 60Hz refresh rate is OK. But for professional Esports athletes or anyone who plans to go into competitive gaming, 60Hz is absolutely a bad idea.

Is 75Hz Refresh Rate Good For Gaming?

75Hz refresh is a good option for most console gamers and casual PC gamers. If you want to pursue a career in Esports and competitive gaming, though, you might find that a 75Hz refresh rate gaming monitor might be limiting down the line.

Monitor Refresh Rate 60 Or 75Hz?

A 75Hz monitor is obviously better than a gaming monitor with 60Hz. If you can afford it, you should know that investing in a gaming monitor that’s 75Hz and above for most gaming consoles, and 144Hz and above for most gaming PCs is sure to give you way better performance.

Does Refresh Rate Matter On Led TV?

Yes, since most TVs have between 60Hz and 120Hz refresh rates, you want to consider the TV in relation to your needs as a gamer. You could go for a 4K TV, since most of them have around 120Hz refresh rates, so your gameplay remains as smooth as possible.

What Causes Screen Tearing?

Screen tearing is caused by the incompatibility of the frame rates (fps) and the refresh rate (Hz). So when your gaming PC’s video card is sending out more frames per second than the monitor can refresh per second, the monitor is unable to handle the new workload, so half-frames will be shown together on the screen, and these will show up as a split between two portions of the screen, with neither of these frames lining up correctly.

What Is Response Time In Gaming Monitors?

Response time is the time it takes for your monitor to change from one color shade to another. It’s usually measured in milliseconds (ms). Generally, the lower the response time, the better. For gaming, anything at 5ms and below is good response time.

For pro gamers who are either using PCs or gaming consoles for tournaments in Esports, 1ms response time is the best and most popular option. When the response time is very low, you will have close to zero chances of having image blurring or ghosting.

Is Monitor Response Time Important For Gaming?

Yes, monitor response time is very important for gaming. For most competitive gamers, every millisecond counts, and the difference between winning a match and losing it could be the response time. But if the only enemy you’re playing against is your computer, response time shouldn’t be an issue.

Is 4ms Response Time Good for Gaming?

Yes, 4ms response time is an ideal option when you’re looking to get a gaming monitor for professional or casual video gaming. You shouldn’t settle for anything higher than 5ms response time if you’re looking to pursue a career in Esports, while 10ms response time should be the highest you go for if you’re into casual gaming.

Want to change refresh rate in Windows 10? Here’s a guide.

Is 5ms Response Time Good for Gaming?

Yes, 5ms response time is totally fine for gaming. Whether you’re into professional gaming, where competition is steep, or you’re into casual gaming where your main foe is the computer, 5ms response time is just perfect. Generally, the-lower-the-better is the rule when it comes to response times in gaming monitors.

Is 6ms Response Time Good for Gaming?

Well, 6ms response time should work for most casual gamers. But 6ms response time is not OK for anyone who is either into or pursuing a carrier in professional gaming.

Is 7ms Response Time Good for Gaming?

For most casual gamers, 7ms response time is just fine for gaming. In fact, you should be on the safe until you’re running anything above 10ms response time. But for professional video gamers, who are into actual competitive gaming, 7ms response time isn’t the best. You should pursue anything with 5ms response time and below.

Refresh Rate Vs. Response Time Which Is More Important?

Honestly, both are very important when it comes to gaming. But if I was to sacrifice one of these two for my console gaming, I think I’ll go for 60Hz or 75Hz while shooting for 10ms response time and below. But if I was into PC gaming or professional gaming, I’ll fight to have a minimum of 140Hz refresh rate with between 5 and 1ms response time.

What is a good refresh rate on a 4K TV? Here is what you should look for.