If you’re wondering what’s the best refresh rate for gaming, especially when it comes to online multiplayer titles, you’re definitely not alone.
Choosing the right refresh rate can dramatically change how responsive and immersive your gameplay feels.
And with so many options available in 2025, from 60Hz all the way up to 360Hz, it’s easy to get lost in the numbers. So, let’s break it all down in a clear way.
What Is Refresh Rate and How It Works
Refresh rate, measured in Hertz (Hz), tells you how many times per second your monitor updates the image on screen. A 60Hz monitor refreshes 60 times per second. A 144Hz monitor does it 144 times per second, and so on.
The refresh rate is different from frame rate (measured in FPS), which is how many frames your graphics card can produce in one second.
Source: Crua Monitor
Ideally, these two numbers should be as close as possible. If your PC can pump out 144 FPS and your monitor is only 60Hz, you won’t see the full benefit. Your screen is bottlenecking the experience.
In short: the higher the refresh rate, the smoother the motion, but only if your system can keep up.
How Refresh Rate Impacts Gaming
Now let’s talk about what really matters: gaming performance. In online games, especially first-person shooters (FPS) and battle royales, reaction time and motion clarity are king.
A higher refresh rate:
- Reduces motion blur
- Increases clarity during fast camera pans (great for spotting enemies)
- Makes the game feel more responsive and snappy
- Gives you a competitive edge by showing more up-to-date information
Source: Crua Monitor
Even if you’re not a pro, the difference between 60Hz and 144Hz is easy to notice once you try it. It’s one of those things that, once you experience it, you really don’t want to go back.
Comparing 60Hz, 144Hz, 240Hz, and 360Hz
Here’s a quick breakdown of how different refresh rates stack up:
- 60Hz: Still common in budget monitors or older laptops. Fine for casual gaming or slower-paced titles. Not ideal for competitive multiplayer.
- 144Hz: The sweet spot for most gamers. Offers a massive jump in smoothness and responsiveness over 60Hz.
- 240Hz: Great for competitive players who want an edge in ultra-fast games. Less noticeable improvement over 144Hz unless you’re already a high-FPS player.
- 360Hz: Niche but impressive. Mostly for esports athletes and ultra-competitive players. Gains are small beyond 240Hz, and you’ll need a powerful setup to make use of it.
While higher is generally better, there are diminishing returns. Going from 60Hz to 144Hz is huge. 144Hz to 240Hz? Noticeable, but smaller. 240Hz to 360Hz? Only the most trained eyes will truly benefit.
So, Which Is The Best Refresh Rate For Gaming?
For most online gamers, the best refresh rate is 144Hz. It hits the perfect balance between performance, cost, and accessibility. It’s enough to feel a major improvement over 60Hz, and monitors in this range are widely available and affordable.
If you’re into competitive FPS games and your PC can handle it, 240Hz is a great upgrade. But remember: the higher the refresh rate, the more frames your system needs to deliver consistently.
Unless you’re a pro competing at the top level, 360Hz is probably overkill. Cool to have, but not essential.
What Is the Relationship Between Resolution and Refresh Rate? Is It Important?
Absolutely. And this is where things get tricky.
Higher resolution (like 1440p or 4K) requires more GPU power, which can lower your frame rate. And if your frame rate drops, you won’t benefit from a high refresh rate monitor.
For example:
- Running 1080p at 240Hz is easier than
- Running 1440p at 240Hz, which is easier than
- Running 4K at 240Hz, which very few systems can do well.
So, when shopping for a monitor, think about what your PC can realistically handle. Many competitive gamers stick with 1080p to reach higher frame rates.
What Should I Consider When Choosing a Monitor?
Besides refresh rate, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Response time: Look for 1ms or lower for competitive gaming.
- Panel type: TN panels are fastest but have worse colors. IPS offers better visuals with slightly slower response (but still great for most gamers).
- Adaptive Sync: Features like G-Sync or FreeSync help reduce screen tearing.
- Ports: Make sure your GPU and monitor both support the desired refresh rate via HDMI 2.1 or DisplayPort.
And of course: budget. No point in going broke over a 360Hz screen if your PC can’t push more than 100 FPS.
The 5 Best Monitors for Gaming in 2025
Here are some top gaming monitors this year, based on performance and value:
- ASUS ROG Swift PG27AQDM – 1440p, 240Hz OLED panel, amazing colors and super-fast response time.
- Alienware AW2525HF – 1080p, 360Hz, top-tier for competitive FPS games.
- Gigabyte M27Q X – 1440p, 240Hz, affordable and high-performance.
- BenQ ZOWIE XL2546K – 1080p, 240Hz, a long-time favorite among pro gamers.
- Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 – 1440p, 240Hz, great for both gaming and general use.
All of these offer solid performance for different types of gamers, whether you’re into esports or want a great all-around experience.
What Is The Gamer’s Experience Like With Each Refresh Rate?
According to a 2023 NVIDIA study on refresh rate and competitive gaming, players using 144Hz monitors were significantly more likely to land shots in games like Apex Legends and Valorant compared to those on 60Hz.
Source: NVIDIA
A survey by DisplayNinja also found that over 70% of gamers who upgraded from 60Hz to 144Hz reported a noticeable improvement in aim accuracy and overall enjoyment.
Meanwhile, 240Hz and above were rated highly by players in the esports community, especially in CS2 and Overwatch, where every frame counts.
Bottom line: if you’re serious about improving your online gameplay, your refresh rate does matter, and most players agree.
How to Improve Your PC Performance?
If you want to make the most of a high-refresh-rate monitor, you’ll need to optimize your PC to deliver consistently high FPS. Here are a few easy ways to do that:
- Use NoPing’s Boost FPS Feature: If you’re already using NoPing to reduce latency and stabilize your ping (which is awesome for online games), you should definitely take advantage of the Boost FPS feature.
How it helps:
- Closes unnecessary background services
- Frees up RAM and CPU resources
- Optimizes network routes to reduce data congestion (which indirectly helps FPS in online matches)
How to use the Boost FPS feature:
- Sign-up through the website and download NoPing (you can test it for free).
- When you open the software, click on “Boost FPS” in the left side menu.
- On the next screen, you’ll see a range of options to customize the feature (there are over 50 settings). You can enable or disable everything and choose between Windows default or user settings. You can also filter the options using the bar on the right.
And that’s it! Boost FPS is now activated. Just launch your game and enjoy high FPS!
- Lower in-game settings: Shadows, reflections, and post-processing effects can eat up a lot of frames. Tone them down to improve performance.
- Keep drivers updated: Make sure your GPU drivers are always up to date for the latest game optimizations.
- Enable performance modes in Windows and GPU settings: Use “High Performance” mode in power settings and tweak your GPU control panel.
- Clean your system: Dust, background programs, and overheating can all slow down performance. Keep your rig clean and cool.
So, what’s the best refresh rate for gaming? If you’re into online games, even casually, 144Hz is the sweet spot.
It’s smooth, affordable, and offers a huge upgrade over 60Hz. If you’re more competitive and have the gear to support it, 240Hz is worth the jump. And for the ultra-elite players with beast PCs, 360Hz is the new frontier, though the benefits are more niche.
Whatever you pick, just remember: a higher refresh rate only helps if your PC can match it. Combine the right monitor with smart performance tweaks and you’ll be dominating the leaderboards in no time.
Improve your FPS up to 60% in more than 3000 games with NoPing. Download now and test it for free!
