Is 60hz Good for Gaming?

The reach and pace of online gaming have improved drastically over the years. Online gameplay is now as seamless as split-screen on one console. However, to get the best results when gaming competitively, it’s crucial to get the best equipment.

60hz is perhaps the most common refresh rate found in most displays. The advent of newer and higher refresh rates such as 120hz, 240hz, and even 360hz has made gamers wonder if 60hz is still a good choice for gaming.

Well, answers to questions like this depend on various factors. How can you determine what refresh rate is ideal for you? Is 60hz good for gaming? We’ll answer this and more in this article.

What does Hz mean?

Before we get into how good 60hz is for gaming, we need a deeper understanding of what Hz means.

A screen refreshes itself constantly with still images to create the illusion of a moving picture. The number of times a screen refreshes itself is referred to as its refresh rate. Thus, Hertz (Hz), also referred to as refresh rate, is the number of times a screen refreshes in a second.

A 60hz monitor will refresh 60 times in a second, and a 120hz monitor will refresh 120 times. Essentially the number of Hertz is the number of times a display refreshes its image per second. So, what does this mean, and how does it impact gaming?

What Hz does

The more images a screen can display in a second, the more fluid movement will be. Our brains don’t require an ultra-fast refresh rate to enjoy movies and other motion pictures. However, this is not to say we won’t spot the difference between 120hz and 144hz.

What impact do refresh rates have on games? For video games that require fast input and reaction, refresh rates are important as they enable players to carry out commands and react faster during gameplay.

The refresh rate does not improve the quality of the image, only the frequency with which it is updated; thus, leading to a smoother, more fluid display.

The refresh rate is also responsible for how fast input commands are reflected on the screen. A higher refresh rate typically has a faster response time because it refreshes quicker and can sooner respond to user commands.

It’s worth noting that the difference in response times is often milliseconds. This slight difference may go unnoticed when you’re working on an excel sheet, but for a competitive gamer, it could be the difference between winning and losing.

To summarize, the refresh rate of a display determines how smooth the image on the screen is and how quickly the display responds to actions made by the gamer. The refresh rate doesn’t impact the image quality; that depends on the display’s resolution.

Hz Types

60hz is perhaps the most common refresh rate today. Some of the other refresh rates include;

60Hz

A 60hz display refreshes its screen 60 times every second. That’s a new image every 16.67ms. 

So, is 60hz good for gaming? We’ve put together a list of factors to consider that’ll help us answer the question.

Things to Consider

Response Time

The refresh rate of a display influences response time. A 60hz monitor refreshes every 16.67 milliseconds. For comparison, a 120hz display halves this number and refreshes every 8.3 milliseconds.

A 10ms shorter response time may seem unimportant, and for many people, it is. However, for professional or competitive gamers, this could be a game-changer.

It’s worth pointing out that your monitor doesn’t determine your response time; your system does. However, it does determine how fast you see the command on your screen.

Hardware

A 60hz monitor isn’t all that’s needed to game at 60hz. You also need a CPU, RAM, and graphics card that can generate 60 FPS. As stated earlier, 60hz is pretty standard, and most graphics cards can run at this speed.

To transition to faster gaming, you’ll need a higher refresh rate screen and more powerful hardware that can run at the new speed. If you have a 240hz monitor with hardware that can only run at 60FPS, the 240hz display will only display 60hz.

For laptop screens, it’s good to assume that your laptop has the necessary components to operate your screen at optimal refresh rate capacity because the manufacture would’ve ensured the hardware is compatible with the laptop screen.

Adaptive Sync

Some of the best displays have Adaptive-Sync technology to ensure smooth gameplay and eliminate motion blur, stuttering, and screen tearing. Some 6ohz monitors incorporate this tech to compensate for the low refresh rate.

The number of frames a GPU produces per second is subject to change every second. These changes can cause problems like screen tearing.

Adaptive sync tech takes Frames per Second (FPS) volatility into account and adjusts the display’s refresh rate to automatically match the system’s FPS output. This eliminates the problem and leads to smoother gameplay.

With features like G-Sync and FreeSync, 60hz gaming can be amazingly fluid.

Resolution

Resolution is what’s in charge of the image quality. While high-resolution monitors offer impressive image quality, they also typically have lower refresh rates. It’s significantly harder to generate 60 FPS in 4K than it is in 2K.

At 60hz, it’s much easier to game at higher resolutions and image quality. This enhances the look and feel of the game, making it better to play.

This improved image quality may come in handy when playing in dark scenes, colorful games, or games where you may be required to spot tiny anomalies which may be harder to find in lower quality images.

4K 60Hz monitors are cheaper to buy and easier to run than higher refresh rate counterparts. That said, here’s a list of the best 60hz 4K monitors.

Type of Games

The type of game is what determines the importance of the refresh rate. As we stated earlier, the difference between refresh rates is down to milliseconds. If you’re not playing a game where milliseconds matter, then there’s no real reason to go higher than 60hz.

Higher refresh rates only improve fast-paced games such as First-Person Shooters (FPS), and even then, it only really matters in multiplayer. The reason is that in games like this, players need to react quickly to win against opponents.

The extra millisecond it takes to perform actions such as lining up a headshot can be the difference between victory and defeat.

Its worth noting that this only applies to gamers with the reflex and skill to take advantage of the extra milliseconds a higher refresh rate grants them.

Most people do not require the extra milliseconds of a higher refresh rate, and they also do not possess the skill to make the best out of it.

A casual gamer does not need a high refresh rate, and you’re better off spending that money on new games.

High refresh rates are typically preferred and coveted by professional competitive gamers who possess the hardware, skill, and need for them.

Cost

60hz displays are typically cheaper than higher refresh rate displays with similar features.

Availability

60hz displays are perhaps the most common refresh rate in displays today. You’re likely to find a 60hz TV or monitor before you find one with a higher refresh rate.

Recommendations

Here are two of the best 60hz gaming monitors

1. LG 27UL650

The LG 27UL650 is a 27-inch, 4K, IPS gaming monitor. The monitor features an impressive 5ms response time. It also has amazing HDR10 color and contrasts to ensure top-line gaming.

The 27inch monitor has an ideal pixel density at 4K resolution. The 60hz refresh rate at 4k isn’t too tasking for your hardware and ensures smooth gameplay. The LG display also incorporates Radeon FreeSync to eliminate screen tearing and stuttering.

The monitor reaches a max brightness of 350nits, making it great for lit rooms. This is undoubtedly one of the best monitors in the market at the moment.

Specs:

  • Screen size: 27-inch
  • Resolution: 4K
  • Panel type: IPS
  • Response time: 5 ms
  • Brightness: 350 nits
  • Adaptive Sync: Radeon FreeSync

2. Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q

Asus is one of the best manufactures of gaming monitors, and the Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q monitor is another excellent product. The monitor has AMD FreeSync, which virtually eliminates screen tearing and stuttering. While it’s not G-Sync certified, it is G-Sync compatible.

The monitor produces stunning imagery with 4K resolution, HDR, and 90% DCI-P3 color. It also allows for physical adjustments with tilt and swivel settings. The Asus monitor also protects your eyes with blue light filters and a flicker-free display.

Additionally, Asus GamePlus is also available on the monitor.

Specs:

  • Screen Size: 28 inches
  • Resolution: 4K
  • Panel: IPS 
  • Brightness: 350 nits
  • Response time: 5ms
  • Adaptive-Sync: AMD FreeSync

Conclusion

The answer to the question is yes, 60hz is good for gaming. And yes, it depends on a series of factors like the type of game played and whether or not you’re a casual gamer.

If you’re a casual gamer or a person who prefers single-player games, then a 60hz monitor is ideal for you.

As we stated earlier, higher resolutions typically come with lower refresh rates, but is bigger always better? Find out if 8K monitors are worth getting.