Frame Rate vs. Refresh Rate

Frame Rate Monitors operate by flashing dozens of still images ("frames") one after the other, creating the illusion of movement. “Frame rate” refers to how many frames per second ("FPS") your graphics card ("GPU") is sending to your monitor.

The more frames per second your graphics card sends, the smoother your gameplay can potentially look (less movement in between frames). Refresh Rate Refresh rate refers to the capability of a monitor to show multiple frames per second. It is typically measured in Hz ("Hertz"), where a monitor with a 60Hz refresh rate refreshes the displayed image 60 times per second.

If the refresh rate of your monitor is less than the frame rate sustained by your GPU, you may experience image problems like tearing. While there are usually options available to limit the frame rate produced by your GPU, in doing so, you lose out on the previously mentioned benefits of a higher frame rate.

As such, many modern monitors now offer higher frame rates above the classic 60Hz. Some commonly supported higher refresh rates are 75Hz, 100Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz, 165Hz, 240Hz, and even as high as 360Hz. Moving from a 60Hz display to a 144Hz normally offers a significant improvement in viewing experience, assuming your GPU can maintain a matching frame rate.