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Refresh rate
What is refresh rate on a monitor?
The refresh rate is how many times per second your monitor can draw a new image (or frame, if you're feeling technical). It's measured in Hertz (Hz), and the higher the number, the more frames it can display every second, giving you smoother visuals. Depending whether you're competitive gaming or just web surfing, the refresh rate can make a huge difference to how enjoyable your PC feels to use, no matter what fancy specs you've got behind the scenes.
Refresh rates to look out for
60hz
For everyday browsing and working from home, a monitor that refreshes 60 times per second will do the job. It'll easily keep up with spreadsheet scrolling, watching videos, or even a little casual gaming, but think more farm simulator than competitive fighting game.
120hz
If you're a bit of a gamer in your spare time, a monitor that refreshes 120 times per second will keep game play smooth and realistic. They're ideal for keeping you immersed in single-player experiences and, while they still hold up when you're playing online, you might not have the competitive edge players with higher refresh rates have.
144hz
Fancy climbing the online leaderboards? A monitor that refreshes 144 times per second will get you well on your way to being a competitive master. Whether it's shooters or sports games, smoother gameplay will help you keep one step ahead of your opponents. It's not all about gaming though, the realistic movement is perfect for video editing too.
Just be sure your computer's GPU is fast enough to keep up, otherwise you won't see the difference.
240hz
From frame-perfect combos to flawless victories, a monitor that refreshes 240 times per second is the competitive edge you need in fast-paced games. With a refresh rate this high, you'll hardly see any motion blur and you can consider input lag almost entirely eliminated.
But remember, you’ll need the right GPU to really take advantage of the improved motion.
Give your games an upgrade with G-sync or FreeSync
If you're up to date on your gaming lingo, you might already be familiar with tech like NVIDIA G-SYNC® and AMD FreeSync™. These clever features sync your monitor's refresh rate to your game, helping reduce screen tearing while keeping the action silky smooth.
What’s a GPU?
The GPU (or Graphics Processing Unit) is really important to make sure your computer can keep up with the monitor's refresh rate. Every computer has a basic one, but gaming laptops also have a dedicated GPU giving you smoother gameplay, less lag, and a more enjoyable experience.
Shop all gaming laptops here
For more computing inspiration and advice, explore our Computing Hub.
FAQs
- What is a good refresh rate?
60Hz is a standard refresh rate and fits the bill for general use, but for intensive tasks like video editing or gaming, a good starting point is 120Hz.
- What is the difference between 60Hz and 120Hz refresh rate?
The 120Hz refresh rate will draw a new image at double the speed of a 60Hz model, making movement on-screen smoother. For everyday use, 60Hz will do the trick but 120Hz+ is better for gaming.
- Is a 60Hz refresh rate good enough?
For day-to-day browsing, checking emails, or watching films, 60Hz will fit the bill. If you want a good refresh rate for gaming, 120Hz or more will make a big difference.
- How can I adjust the refresh rate?
You’ll be able to adjust your screen’s refresh rate in the display settings, however there will be a maximum speed for your model, so always check the specs before buying.
- What is refresh rate?
Refresh rate tells you how quickly a display can draw images. It’s measured in Hertz (Hz) and the number tells you how many times it’ll update an image within 1 second, so a 60Hz screen will refresh the picture 60 times per second. The higher the number, the smoother the movement.
- What is screen refresh rate?
The screen refresh rate tells you how quickly a display can update the images. Measured in Hertz (Hz), the number lets you know how many times it’ll update within a second, for example a 60Hz model will refresh the pictures 60 times per second.
- How to change the refresh rate on a laptop?
You can change the refresh rate on your laptop in the advanced display settings. However, you can’t increase the refresh rate once you reach your model’s maximum. This info is easy to find on the product page, so have a quick look before you buy.
- How to check a laptop or monitor refresh rate?
This information will be in your advanced display settings, but if you’re looking to buy a new laptop or monitor, we make it really easy to find on the product page.
- Does refresh rate affect battery life of a laptop?
A higher refresh rate can deplete the battery life quicker. So, if you’re trying to save some juice you can lower it in the advanced display settings.
