Difference's between refresh rates

[Daniel Hart]

I'm looking for a new monitor and as I've only ever gamed on a 24" 1080p Acer monitor at 60hz, I need some help from others who have more experience on other monitors... My main question boils down to how big of a difference the jump from 60hz --> 100hz would feel like vs the jump from 60hz --> 144hz. . .Basically I'm debating whether I should get something like the 27" ROG swift which has the 144hz refresh rate, or what I've had my eye on for a long time is the Predator X34, but that only has the 100hz. I don't game competitively, and really don't even play multiplayer shooters at all.

 

[KLawinger]

i used to game at 60 then went to 144hz, the jump was very noticeable. but before when i bought my 144hz monitor i played on my friends 100 hz monitor and the difference was hardly there. id say go 144 man!

 

[Gallarian]

I recently made the jump from a 60hz monitor, to the 165hz Asus ROG Swift - I've done a lot of testing and played many games with the refresh rate set to: 60hz, 120hz, 144hz and 165hz.

Before I got the Swift, I used to think that people could not see beyond 60fps, and anyone that could was either lying or had hyper-sensitive eyes. I can now say that I am actually embarrassed that thats what I thought. The effect of higher frames is very, very obvious.

However, it depends on your eyes when you think the benefit stops being noticeable. For me, I start to struggle to notice the difference after 120hz.

If I did a blind test and really tried, I might be able to tell the difference between 120 and 144 maybe 3/5 times. I would only be guessing if I tried to tell the difference between 144 and 165.

The above is only when Im actually testing and therefore looking out for the difference. When Im actually gaming, its a different story; I immediately notice if my frame rate drops below 75fps in all games (to the point where I actually tune my graphics setting to ensure 75 is the minimum if possible), but if they stay above 80, I never think about it.

In conclusion, I would say that for most people; anything with 100hz or above is a huge step up from 60hz and is definitely worth while. However, I would never say to someone with a 100hz monitor 'you need to try 144hz!' as the difference, while it exists, really doesn't effect you whilst you're actually playing a game and not deliberately looking out for it.

So my suggestion is:

- As you're not a 'competitive shooter player'; if you can happily afford it, and have the GPU horsepower (minimum of a 980/390x, but 980ti/FuryX recommended) to run the 3440x1440p resolution of the X34, then that's what you should go for.

 

[Daniel Hart]

I recently made the jump from a 60hz monitor, to the 165hz Asus ROG Swift - I've done a lot of testing and played many games with the refresh rate set to: 60hz, 120hz, 144hz and 165hz.

Before I got the Swift, I used to think that people could not see beyond 60fps, and anyone that could was either lying or had hyper-sensitive eyes. I can now say that I am actually embarrassed that thats what I thought. The effect of higher frames is very, very obvious.

However, it depends on your eyes when you think the benefit stops being noticeable. For me, I start to struggle to notice the difference after 120hz.

If I did a blind test and really tried, I might be able to tell the difference between 120 and 144 maybe 3/5 times. I would only be guessing if I tried to tell the difference between 144 and 165.

The above is only when Im actually testing and therefore looking out for the difference. When Im actually gaming, its a different story; I immediately notice if my frame rate drops below 75fps in all games (to the point where I actually tune my graphics setting to ensure 75 is the minimum if possible), but if they stay above 80, I never think about it.

In conclusion, I would say that for most people; anything with 100hz or above is a huge step up from 60hz and is definitely worth while. However, I would never say to someone with a 100hz monitor 'you need to try 144hz!' as the difference, while it exists, really doesn't effect you whilst you're actually playing a game and not deliberately looking out for it.

So my suggestion is:

- As you're not a 'competitive shooter player'; if you can happily afford it, and have the GPU horsepower (minimum of a 980/390x, but 980ti/FuryX recommended) to run the 3440x1440p resolution of the X34, then that's what you should go for.

Thank you very much for the well thought out answer, that's why I love Toms Hardware. While it's definitely not me "happily affording it" (basically have around a grand from my tax returns that I can blow + whatever I can save), I'm leaning towards the X34. At the moment however I'm only rocking a 970 so I'd have to save up longer for a 980ti and also hope the price of monitors goes down a tad. *sigh* decision, decisions. not a bad dilemma to be in I guess.