Are 240Hz Monitors Good for Gaming and Worth the Upgrade? (2024)

Right now 240Hz is a PC-only refresh rate standard, as current gen consoles can’t do faster than 120Hz. We recommend 240Hz in 1080p and 1440p, and for both DisplayPort 1.4 is more than enough. That connection comes standard on all good gaming monitors now.

We recommend those resolutions because getting games to run in 240Hz in them isn’t that hard with modern graphics cards. In 1080p, even mid-range cards like an RTX 3060 can easily get it done, while an RTX 3070 can do the same for 240Hz in 1440p. This applies to major competitive titles like Fortnite, Apex Legends, Rocket League, PUBG, Overwatch 2 and many others. None of these games are especially demanding in terms of graphics. And with upcoming RTX 40 series cards from NVIDIA and RDNA 3 GPUs from AMD, even more powerful hardware will make 240Hz increasingly popular. In that sense, getting a 240Hz monitor now is futureproofing your setup.

We can’t recommend going with 240Hz 4K monitors, even if you could find one. At the moment of writing this, no graphics card on the planet could possibly provide you with a consistent gaming experience in 4K at that refresh rate, it’s simply not doable.

So, let’s say you have a new PC set up for gaming with an RTX 4070, as a hypothetical example. If you go with a 165Hz 1440p monitor you’re effectively wasting the power of that brand new card. It’s capable of much faster refresh in 1440p than 165Hz in many game titles, so why not give it room to breathe? Even older cards like the RTX 3070 have enough power to deliver higher refresh than 165Hz. By going with a 144Hz or 165Hz display, you’re turning your monitor into a bottleneck. As we said, the higher refresh available, the better. It certainly can’t hurt!

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As a seasoned enthusiast in the realm of high-refresh-rate gaming and display technologies, my expertise spans across various aspects of PC gaming hardware and the associated ecosystem. I've closely followed the evolution of graphics cards, monitors, and their compatibility with different resolutions and refresh rates. Let me substantiate my proficiency with some key insights.

Firstly, the statement regarding 240Hz being a PC-only refresh rate standard is accurate, given the current limitations of refresh rates on current-generation consoles. The information aligns with my knowledge base up to January 2022.

The recommendation for 240Hz in both 1080p and 1440p resolutions is well-founded, especially for competitive gaming. DisplayPort 1.4, as mentioned, is indeed more than sufficient for these resolutions and is now a standard feature in quality gaming monitors. This indicates a comprehensive understanding of the hardware requirements for optimal gaming experiences.

The claim that modern graphics cards, such as the RTX 3060 and RTX 3070, can easily handle 240Hz gaming in 1080p and 1440p respectively, aligns with my knowledge of their capabilities. The specific mention of popular competitive titles like Fortnite, Apex Legends, Rocket League, PUBG, and Overwatch 2 reinforces the practical applicability of the recommendations.

The anticipation of even more powerful hardware with the upcoming RTX 40 series cards from NVIDIA and RDNA 3 GPUs from AMD demonstrates an awareness of future developments in the gaming hardware landscape.

The caution against 240Hz 4K monitors is grounded in the current limitations of graphics cards to provide a consistent gaming experience at that refresh rate in 4K. The hypothetical example of an RTX 4070 reinforces the practicality of the advice, showcasing a keen understanding of the potential bottlenecks in different monitor-GPU configurations.

In summary, the information presented reflects a deep understanding of the gaming hardware landscape, encompassing refresh rates, resolutions, graphics cards, and their future trends. Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article:

  1. 240Hz Refresh Rate: The standard for high-refresh-rate gaming on PCs, offering smoother gameplay experiences.

  2. DisplayPort 1.4: A display interface standard capable of supporting high resolutions and refresh rates, commonly found in gaming monitors.

  3. Graphics Cards (RTX 3060, RTX 3070, RTX 4070): GPU models from NVIDIA with varying levels of performance, influencing the gaming capabilities of a system.

  4. Resolution (1080p, 1440p, 4K): Different display resolutions impacting image clarity and the demands on GPU performance.

  5. Competitive Gaming Titles (Fortnite, Apex Legends, Rocket League, PUBG, Overwatch 2): Popular games known for their competitive scenes and diverse hardware requirements.

  6. Futureproofing: Making hardware choices that anticipate future advancements to ensure sustained performance relevance.

These concepts collectively contribute to a holistic understanding of high-refresh-rate gaming and the hardware considerations associated with it.

Are 240Hz Monitors Good for Gaming and Worth the Upgrade? (2024)
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