You’ve just spent £400 on a monitor, plugged it in, and everything looks… fine. Not amazing. Not the silky-smooth experience everyone on Reddit raves about. Then someone asks what refresh rate you’re running, and you realise you’ve been gaming at 60Hz on a 144Hz panel because you never changed the Windows display settings. Welcome to the most common monitor mistake in the UK.
In This Article
- What Refresh Rate Actually Means
- 60Hz: The Baseline Everyone Starts With
- 144Hz: The Sweet Spot for Most People
- 240Hz and Beyond: Diminishing Returns or Genuine Edge?
- Refresh Rate vs Frame Rate: The Distinction That Matters
- Adaptive Sync: FreeSync and G-Sync Explained
- Response Time vs Refresh Rate
- How to Check and Change Your Monitor’s Refresh Rate
- Which Refresh Rate Do You Actually Need?
- Panel Type Matters Too
- UK Buying Recommendations by Refresh Rate
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Refresh Rate Actually Means
Refresh rate is measured in hertz (Hz) and tells you how many times per second your monitor redraws the image on screen. A 60Hz monitor refreshes 60 times per second. A 144Hz monitor refreshes 144 times. More refreshes means smoother motion — it’s that simple.
Why Higher Numbers Feel Different
The jump from 60Hz to 144Hz is something you notice the instant you move your mouse cursor across the desktop. Everything feels more fluid, more responsive. I’ve been running a 165Hz monitor for about two years now, and going back to a 60Hz laptop screen feels like wading through treacle. Your eyes adjust to the higher refresh rate quickly, and they flat-out refuse to go back gracefully.
It’s Not Just About Gaming
There’s a persistent myth that high refresh rates only matter for gaming. They help with gaming enormously, but you also notice the difference when scrolling through long documents, browsing websites, and dragging windows around. If you spend 8 hours a day staring at a screen for work, a smoother display reduces eye strain over long sessions. The NHS Moorfields Eye Hospital recommends regular screen breaks regardless, but a smoother display makes the time between breaks more comfortable.
60Hz: The Baseline Everyone Starts With
Every office monitor, most laptops, and the cheapest desktop screens run at 60Hz. It’s been the standard since the days of CRT televisions, and it works perfectly well for most productivity tasks.
Where 60Hz Still Makes Sense
- Office work and email — if you’re writing reports, handling spreadsheets, and attending Teams calls, 60Hz is completely adequate
- Budget constraints — a decent 27-inch 60Hz IPS panel costs about £120-150 from Currys or Amazon UK, roughly half the price of an equivalent 144Hz model
- Older hardware — if your PC runs an integrated graphics chip or a GPU from 2018, it probably can’t push enough frames to benefit from a higher refresh rate anyway
The Limitations You’ll Notice
Where 60Hz falls down is motion clarity. Fast mouse movements leave a visible trail. Scrolling text smears slightly. In games, quick camera movements feel choppy and imprecise. Once you’ve experienced something faster, 60Hz feels noticeably sluggish — not unusable, just less pleasant.
144Hz: The Sweet Spot for Most People
If someone asks me what refresh rate to buy, I say 144Hz without hesitating. It’s the point where the improvement over 60Hz is dramatic and unmistakable, the price premium is reasonable, and virtually any modern dedicated GPU can take advantage of it.
The Jump From 60Hz to 144Hz
The difference between 60Hz and 144Hz is the biggest perceptual leap in the refresh rate spectrum. It’s more than double the frames, and your eyes notice it immediately. Mouse movements become buttery smooth. Game camera pans feel natural rather than jerky. Even Windows animations look more polished.
What You Need to Drive 144Hz
Your GPU needs to output at least 144 frames per second in whatever you’re doing to take full advantage. For desktop work and web browsing, any modern GPU handles this without breaking a sweat. For gaming, it depends on the title and resolution:
- 1080p gaming — an Nvidia RTX 4060 or AMD RX 7600 (about £250-300 from Scan or Overclockers) will push 144fps in most competitive titles
- 1440p gaming — you’ll want an RTX 4070 or RX 7700 XT (about £400-500) for consistent high frame rates
- 4K gaming — even top-end cards struggle to maintain 144fps at 4K in demanding titles, though less graphically intensive games manage it
Price in the UK
A solid 27-inch 1440p 144Hz IPS monitor costs about £200-280. The AOC Q27G2E, LG 27GN800-B, and Dell S2722DGM are all strong options in that bracket. It’s a sweet spot of performance and value that’s hard to beat.
240Hz and Beyond: Diminishing Returns or Genuine Edge?
Here’s where it gets honest: the jump from 144Hz to 240Hz is nowhere near as dramatic as 60Hz to 144Hz. You can see the difference if you look for it, especially in side-by-side comparisons, but in daily use it’s subtle.
Who Benefits From 240Hz+
- Competitive FPS players — if you’re playing Valorant, Counter-Strike 2, or Apex Legends at a high level, every millisecond of input latency matters. 240Hz delivers a measurably faster response chain from mouse click to screen update
- Professional esports — tournament monitors run at 240Hz or 360Hz because at that level, the marginal gains matter
- People who just want the best — nothing wrong with that, as long as you know you’re paying for diminishing returns
The Cost Reality
A 240Hz monitor in the UK costs about £350-500 for a good 27-inch 1440p panel. The ASUS VG27AQ1A and Samsung Odyssey G7 sit in this range. Moving to 360Hz or 500Hz pushes prices past £600, and you’re typically locked to 1080p resolution at those speeds.
360Hz and 500Hz — Do They Matter?
I’ve tested a 360Hz panel and the honest assessment is this: in a blind test, most people cannot reliably tell the difference between 240Hz and 360Hz. If you’re not a professional or semi-professional competitive gamer, 240Hz is already overkill. Spend the extra money on a better panel type or higher resolution instead.
Refresh Rate vs Frame Rate: The Distinction That Matters
This trips up a lot of people. Your monitor’s refresh rate is its maximum capability — it’s a hardware ceiling. Your frame rate is what your GPU actually delivers in real time, and it varies constantly depending on the scene complexity.
When Frame Rate Is Lower Than Refresh Rate
If your GPU outputs 80fps on a 144Hz monitor, you’re only seeing 80 unique frames per second despite the monitor being capable of more. The display still refreshes 144 times, but many of those refreshes show the same frame. This isn’t harmful, but you’re not getting the full benefit of your panel.
When Frame Rate Is Higher Than Refresh Rate
If your GPU pushes 200fps on a 144Hz monitor, the screen can only display 144 of those frames. The rest are discarded. This can cause screen tearing — visible horizontal lines where two different frames overlap — unless you enable V-Sync or use an adaptive sync technology.
The Practical Takeaway
Match your GPU to your monitor. There’s no point buying a 240Hz monitor if your graphics card can only manage 90fps in the games you play. Equally, a powerful GPU paired with a 60Hz monitor is leaving performance on the table.
Adaptive Sync: FreeSync and G-Sync Explained
Adaptive sync technology is arguably more important than raw refresh rate numbers. It matches your monitor’s refresh rate to your GPU’s frame output in real time, eliminating tearing and stuttering without the input lag penalty of traditional V-Sync.
AMD FreeSync
FreeSync is AMD’s adaptive sync standard. It’s royalty-free, so most monitors include it at no extra cost. There are three tiers:
- FreeSync — basic adaptive sync, works well for most users
- FreeSync Premium — adds low framerate compensation (LFC) and a minimum 120Hz refresh
- FreeSync Premium Pro — adds HDR support on top
FreeSync works over both HDMI and DisplayPort. Most FreeSync monitors also work with Nvidia GPUs through the “G-Sync Compatible” programme, so don’t worry too much about brand lock-in.
Nvidia G-Sync
G-Sync comes in two flavours. “G-Sync Compatible” monitors use the same adaptive sync standard as FreeSync and cost no extra. “G-Sync Ultimate” monitors have a dedicated Nvidia hardware module built in, delivering wider variable refresh ranges and better HDR — but they cost a lot more, often £150-300 extra for the same panel size and resolution.
Which Should You Choose?
For most people, any monitor with FreeSync or G-Sync Compatible certification is perfectly good. The premium G-Sync Ultimate hardware module is a luxury, not a necessity. Save the money for a better panel or higher resolution.
Response Time vs Refresh Rate
These two specs get confused constantly, and monitor marketing makes it worse by advertising “1ms response time” on panels that demonstrate nothing close to that in real-world testing.
What Response Time Measures
Response time is how quickly a pixel can change from one colour to another. It’s measured in milliseconds (ms). A lower response time means less motion blur and ghosting — that smeared trail you see behind fast-moving objects.
Grey-to-Grey vs MPRT
Manufacturers quote two different measurements:
- Grey-to-Grey (GtG) — measures the transition between two grey shades. More realistic but still often cherry-picked
- Moving Picture Response Time (MPRT) — measures how long a pixel is visible during a single refresh. Often quoted as “1ms” on marketing materials, but this requires backlight strobing which dims the display
The Honest Numbers
- IPS panels typically deliver 4-6ms GtG response times in practice
- VA panels run about 6-10ms, with dark transitions being slower (causing noticeable smearing in dark scenes)
- TN panels are fastest at 1-3ms but have poor viewing angles and colour accuracy
For most people at 144Hz, a response time under 5ms GtG is perfectly fine. You won’t notice ghosting in normal use. Check independent reviews on sites like Rtings rather than trusting the manufacturer’s spec sheet.
How to Check and Change Your Monitor’s Refresh Rate
The number one mistake I see people make — and I made it myself when I first bought a 144Hz monitor — is assuming it runs at the advertised refresh rate out of the box. It often doesn’t.
Windows 11 and Windows 10
- Right-click on your desktop and select Display settings
- Scroll down and click Advanced display settings (Windows 10) or Advanced display (Windows 11)
- Look for the Refresh rate dropdown — if it says 60Hz, change it to your monitor’s maximum
- Click Apply and confirm the change
If your monitor’s maximum refresh rate doesn’t appear in the dropdown, you’re likely connected via the wrong cable. HDMI 1.4 maxes out at 60Hz for 1440p — you need HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.2+ for higher refresh rates.
macOS
Macs handle this differently. Go to System Settings > Displays and look for the refresh rate option. Note that many MacBook displays run at ProMotion (up to 120Hz) but external monitors may be limited depending on the connection and adapter.
The Cable Matters
- DisplayPort 1.4 — supports 1440p at up to 240Hz, 4K at up to 144Hz. The best all-round choice
- HDMI 2.1 — supports 4K at 120Hz+. Make sure your cable is certified HDMI 2.1, not just labelled as such
- HDMI 2.0 — maxes out at 1440p 144Hz or 4K 60Hz
- USB-C / Thunderbolt — typically runs DisplayPort Alt Mode. Check your specific laptop’s specs for maximum output
If you’ve bought a 144Hz monitor and it’s running at 60Hz, check the cable first. The cable bundled in the box is sometimes HDMI 1.4, which can’t carry the signal fast enough.
Which Refresh Rate Do You Actually Need?
Let me save you some overthinking. Match the refresh rate to your primary use case:
For Office Work and Productivity
60Hz is fine. If you’re working in Word, Excel, email, and web browsers all day, a high refresh rate is a nice-to-have, not a need. Spend the money on a larger screen or better colour accuracy instead. A 27-inch or 32-inch 60Hz IPS panel from Dell or LG gives you more usable workspace than a smaller, faster monitor.
For Casual Gaming and Mixed Use
144Hz is the answer. Playing Fortnite on a Friday evening or editing photos on Saturday morning — 144Hz delivers a noticeably smoother experience across everything. The price premium over 60Hz has shrunk massively — often just £50-80 more for an equivalent panel.
For Competitive Multiplayer Gaming
240Hz if your GPU can drive it. In fast-paced shooters where reaction time decides fights, the lower input latency of a 240Hz panel gives you a measurable edge. But be realistic — if you’re playing casually and not pushing for Diamond ranks, 144Hz serves you just as well.
For Content Creation
60Hz or higher, but prioritise colour accuracy. If you’re editing photos or video, a factory-calibrated IPS panel with good sRGB/DCI-P3 coverage matters far more than refresh rate. Many excellent creator monitors run at 60Hz and that’s perfectly acceptable. The BenQ PD2705Q is a great example — 60Hz, but superb colour accuracy for about £350.
Panel Type Matters Too
Refresh rate doesn’t exist in isolation. The underlying panel technology has a massive impact on your experience, and sometimes a better panel type at a lower refresh rate beats a worse panel at a higher one.
Quick Panel Comparison
- IPS (In-Plane Switching) — best colour accuracy and viewing angles, slightly higher response times, good for everything. Most popular choice in 2026
- VA (Vertical Alignment) — best contrast ratios (deeper blacks), slower dark transitions can cause smearing, good for immersive single-player games and movies
- TN (Twisted Nematic) — fastest response times, worst colours and viewing angles, largely obsolete for new purchases
For a deeper breakdown of panel technologies, have a look at our guide to IPS vs VA vs TN panels.
The Real-World Recommendation
Buy an IPS panel unless you specifically want deep blacks for a dark room setup (VA) or need the absolute fastest pixel response for professional competitive play (TN, though fast IPS panels have largely closed this gap).
UK Buying Recommendations by Refresh Rate
Here’s what I’d actually buy in each category, based on UK availability and pricing as of early 2026:
Best 60Hz Monitor for Productivity
Dell P2723QE — 27-inch, 4K, USB-C hub, factory-calibrated IPS. About £350 from Dell or Amazon UK. Brilliant for office work with the USB-C connectivity handling power delivery, display, and data through a single cable.
Best 144Hz Monitor (Best Overall Value)
AOC Q27G2E — 27-inch, 1440p, IPS, 144Hz, FreeSync. About £200 from Amazon UK or Currys. It’s hard to beat this combination of resolution, refresh rate, and panel quality at this price. The colours are solid, the stand is height-adjustable, and it does everything well.
Best 240Hz Monitor for Competitive Gaming
ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ1A — 27-inch, 1440p, IPS, 240Hz, G-Sync Compatible. About £400 from Scan or Overclockers. Fast, colour-accurate, and well-built. If you’re serious about competitive gaming at 1440p, this is the one.
Best Budget Option
AOC 24G2 — 24-inch, 1080p, IPS, 144Hz. About £130 from Amazon UK. If budget is tight, this is the best monitor you can buy for under £150. The 1080p resolution is fine at 24 inches, and 144Hz makes everything feel responsive. I’ve recommended this to four different people and none of them have been disappointed.
For more on how monitors fit into your overall workspace, check out our guides to USB-C monitors and ergonomic home office setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 144Hz really noticeable compared to 60Hz? The difference is immediately obvious. You’ll notice it the moment you move your mouse cursor or scroll a webpage. It’s one of those upgrades where you wonder how you ever tolerated the old way. Going back to 60Hz after using 144Hz feels properly sluggish.
Do I need a special cable for 144Hz? At 1080p, most HDMI cables handle 144Hz. At 1440p, you need at least HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.2. The safest bet is to use the DisplayPort cable — it supports higher refresh rates across all resolutions and is included with most gaming monitors.
Does higher refresh rate use more power? Slightly, yes. A 144Hz monitor uses about 10-15% more power than the same panel at 60Hz. At typical UK electricity rates, that’s a few pence per day — not worth worrying about.
Can my laptop run a 144Hz external monitor? It depends on your laptop’s GPU and outputs. Most modern laptops with a dedicated GPU can handle 1080p at 144Hz over DisplayPort or USB-C. Check your laptop’s specifications for the maximum external display output. Integrated graphics (Intel UHD, AMD Radeon) can usually manage 144Hz at 1080p but may struggle at 1440p.
Is 240Hz worth it for casual gaming? For casual gaming, no. You’d be paying a significant premium for a difference you’ll rarely notice outside of competitive multiplayer. Put the money toward a better panel type, higher resolution, or larger screen instead. 144Hz is more than enough for casual play.