144Hz vs 240Hz – Which Is The Best Option? – WePC

High refresh rate gaming monitors are becoming more and more affordable, with 144Hz models nearly stretching as far as the budget category. We have already taken a look at the key differences between 60Hz to 240Hz but we want to focus in on 144Hz vs 240Hz to really see which is best for gaming.

Can you spot a difference between these higher refresh rates? Well, in this article, we look to find out what subtle differences there are between the two rates and if there is value in going for the higher option where possible.

Let’s find out.

144Hz Vs 240Hz – What Are Faster Refresh Rates?

Quickly going back to basics, a refresh rate is simply the number of times the monitor refreshes the image on the page every second. The refresh rate is referred to as Hertz(Hz), meaning a 144Hz monitor will refresh the page you see 144 times a second.

The higher the refresh rate, the more times the image on the screen will be updated and ultimately ends in a more responsive experience. This is why competitive gamers generally prefer higher Hz monitors.

It wasn’t that long ago us gamers were perfectly happy with what 60Hz monitors had to offer, I mean, our eyes can only see up to 30Hz right? Well, that isn’t strictly true and we quickly found out there was a massive advantage to higher refresh rates with the modern monitors at the time feeling sluggish compared with our older CRT monitors.

It didn’t take long for the industry to introduce the golden egg of gaming monitor refresh rates- 144Hz. Jumping from 60Hz to 144, you could instantly notice a huge difference in performance, with everything feeling buttery smooth in comparison.

When we get to 144Hz vs 240Hz, differences start to be less noticeable but there is still clearly an advantage to a higher rate. While you may not notice the jump from 144Hz to 240Hz, if your PC can handle it, it is 100% worth the upgrade. 240Hz is the highest commercially available refresh rate in a monitor and will give a competitive player the edge over similarly skilled players with slower monitors.

144Hz Vs 240Hz: Things To Consider

There are some things to consider before you upgrade to the higher refresh rate gaming monitor and it’s largely down to your budget and system specs.

Graphics Card

It’s often recommended to have a GPU powerful enough to output frames at the same rate as your monitor’s refresh rate (144Hz from monitor + 144 FPS from GPU) in order to take advantage of a higher hertz monitor. When people began to switch from 60Hz to 144Hz, the difference was highly noticeable with gaming feeling much more responsive. The jump from 144Hz to 240Hz may not be perceivable to the eye, but it for sure has an edge when gaming thanks to lower latency times.

If you have a lower spec GPU then gaming on a 240Hz monitor could be considered overkill and your money could be better spent upgrading your card instead! On the other hand, if you are regularly outputting 240 frames per second on your favored games, a 240Hz monitor could be a great addition to your setup.

Can You Actually Notice A Difference Between 144Hz and 240Hz?

As mentioned, the difference is noticeable when upgrading to a 144 or 240Hz monitor. It’s hard to put my finger on as the difference isn’t always apparent to the eye but motion feels fluid in all games. It’s a smoother experience just like when jumping from 60 to 144Hz, only less noticeable. Lower latency means FPS gaming feels highly responsive and can certainly give competitive players the upper hand.

144Hz Vs 240Hz Gaming Monitor

Now you understand refresh rates and what a 144Hz/240Hz can do for your gaming experience, let’s look at each rate and take a look at some of the better options out there.

144Hz Gaming Monitors

When it comes to 144Hz gaming monitors, a new image is produced approximately every 7th ms. This is the main reason as to why images appear to be much smoother when compared to lower rates like 60Hz. The difference between 144Hz and 240Hz is certainly less noticeable unless you slow the footage down but there is sufficient evidence to support the fact that a higher refresh rate brings you the most responsiveness.

144Hz could be considered a modern benchmark for competitive players, with a wide variety of options sprouting up, even in budget categories.

ASUS VG279Q Monitor Piatto per PC 68,6 cm (27") 1920 x 1080 Pixel Full HD...

240Hz Gaming Monitors

If you are currently rocking a decent gaming PC build and love competitive esports titles, a 240Hz gaming monitor could be the ideal next step for you and your gameplay. 240Hz monitors aren’t cheap and don’t come with all the added benefits we see in 144Hz monitors yet.

If you cant achieve 240 frames per second with your favorite titles, you won’t reap the full rewards from a 240Hz gaming monitor and should look into a 144Hz model instead, as some can be overclocked to 165Hz.

17%

BenQ ZOWIE XL2740 27 inch 240Hz Gaming Monitor with G-Sync Compatible/...

Final Word

Competitive gamers stand to gain the most from a 144Hz or 240Hz monitor. For gamers, the small differences with 144Hz Vs. 240Hz plays an integral role in winning competitive games, especially FPS titles such as; CS:GO, Valorant, Overwatch, Battlefield, Fortnite, and PUBG.

If you do decide to go for a 240Hz option just ensure your PC is actually capable of such frame rates to being with. For the money you could save, going for a 144Hz monitor is a really good choice too and gives a similar experience and response times for a lot less money.