Is 240Hz better than 165Hz for gaming?
Yes, a 240Hz gaming monitor is superior to a 165Hz monitor, providing even faster refresh rates, lower input lag, and an edge in fast-paced competitive games. However, the differences may be less noticeable for casual gamers.
What‘s the Difference Between 165Hz and 240Hz?
At a basic level, a higher refresh rate means the monitor updates the image on screen more frequently. 165Hz displays update 165 times per second, while 240Hz pushes that even higher to 240 times per second.
This increased refresh rate translates into:
- More fluid and seamless motion
- Reduced motion blur in action scenes
- Lower input lag for a more responsive feel
Competitively, the faster response can give players an edge in tracking enemies in shooters and reacting quicker in MOBAs or RTS games. The differences become smaller past 165Hz, but they remain.
Framrates Matter – Feed That 240Hz Beast!
To fully utilize the potential of 240Hz, your graphics card needs to output very high framerates consistently, at least over 165 fps. This is why many 240Hz gamers opt for 1080p instead of 1440p – it‘s easier to achieve sky-high framrates at the lower resolution.
As a baseline, consider an Nvidia 3070 or AMD 6800 XT or better to feed frames to a 240Hz display properly. Competitive settings in various games will also help push fps up near the 240 fps threshold.
Diminishing Returns At High Refresh Rates
While 240Hz appears better on paper, the real-world differences compared to 165Hz may be less perceptible depending on the user. Some studies show the human eye struggles to discern changes beyond 150-200Hz.
So while 240Hz looks buttery smooth, offers excellent motion clarity, and has advantages in esports…it provides somewhat diminishing returns over 165Hz. Regardless, it wins out over 165Hz on specs alone.
240Hz Sweet Spot – Fast Competitive Games
For fast-paced competitive games like CS:GO, Valorant, Rainbow Six Siege, Fortnite, and Overwatch, a 240Hz display truly shines. The genre rarely taxes GPUs too heavily, allowing extremely high frame rates to take full advantage of the monitor‘s capabilities.
In slower paced, cinematic games, the differences narrow further. Still, competitive players gladly take any small edge they can get.
Casual Gamers Need Not Apply
Casual gamers playing single player adventures and RPGs are unlikely to benefit much from a 240Hz panel. Since framrates won‘t approach 240 fps in these games consistently, a 240Hz monitor would be overkill.
165Hz or 144Hz displays already provide excellent motion clarity and smoothness for more cinematic games where lightning reflexes don‘t matter as much.
So 240Hz makes the most sense for esports pros or very hardcore competitive players. Casual gamers should save their money and stick to 144Hz-165Hz monitors.
