165Hz to 200Hz Gaming Upgrade: Is It Worth It?

You’re dominating in your favourite lobby. Your aim is sharp, your reflexes are on point, and your 165Hz monitor feels buttery smooth. But then you see it… that 200Hz or even 240Hz display on a pro’s stream. A thought creeps in: could you be even faster? Is making the 165Hz to 200Hz gaming upgrade the secret to climbing the ranks? Or is it just a numbers game with diminishing returns? Let's break it down.

The On-Screen Difference: Is a 200Hz Upgrade Noticeable?

Let’s talk milliseconds, because that’s where the battle is won or lost. A 165Hz monitor refreshes the image on your screen 165 times per second, which means a new frame appears every 6.06ms. A 200Hz monitor shaves that down to just 5ms per frame.

That’s a 1.06ms advantage. Does it sound tiny? It is. But in the world of competitive, twitch-reaction shooters like Valorant, CS2, or Apex Legends, that tiny sliver of time can be the difference between seeing an enemy first or seeing the killcam. While the visual jump isn't as dramatic as going from 60Hz to 144Hz, for highly competitive players, the added smoothness and slightly reduced input lag from a 165Hz to 200Hz gaming upgrade can provide a subtle yet tangible edge. ⚡

The key takeaway is that while not everyone will feel the difference, those who play at a high level often can. The motion feels clearer, tracking fast-moving targets becomes marginally easier, and the connection between your mouse movement and the on-screen action feels just a little more immediate.

Dahua LM27-E231 27inch Gaming Monitor, 165Hz, 1ms, Adjustable stand, 100% sRGB, FPS/RTS Gaming Modes / DHI-LM27-E231

R3199.00In Stock

AOC 27G42E 27" 180Hz Ultra-Fast Gaming Monitor, 1920 × 1080 (FHD), 0.5ms, Fast IPS, Adaptive Sync, 3-Sided Frameless Design, Black / 27G42E

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ViewSonic 27” Full HD Monitor / Fast 1ms Response Time / 100Hz Refresh rate / IPS Panel / VA270-H

R2599.00In Stock

SAMSUNG Odyssey G8 Gaming 34" Monitor / 3440 x 1440 1800R OLED / 175Hz / GtG 0.03ms / FreeSync Premium Pro / G-Sync Compatible / LS34DG852SAXXA

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DAHUA DHI-LM27-A201X 27" LED Monitor / Ultra-narrow bezel / IPS Level-Display / 5ms Response Time / FHD 1920x1080 / 100Hz Refresh Rate / Low Blue Light / DHI-LM27-A201X

R2399.00In Stock

Alienware AW3225DM - 32" Curved Gaming Monitor / 180Hz Refresh Rate / QHD (2560x1440) / 1ms (GTG Extreme Mode) Response Time / AMD FreeSync / AW3225DM

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Can Your PC Handle the 200Hz+ Jump?

Before you even think about the monitor, you need to ask a tough question: can your rig actually push 200+ frames per second (FPS)? A high-refresh-rate monitor is only as good as the GPU feeding it frames. If your graphics card is struggling to consistently deliver more than 165 FPS in your go-to game, upgrading your monitor won't make a difference.

To truly benefit from a 200Hz display, you need a powerful graphics card—think NVIDIA's RTX 40-series or a high-end AMD Radeon card—paired with a capable CPU. Many pro players even lower their in-game graphical settings to "low" or "competitive" to ensure their frame rate is as high and stable as possible. For gamers looking for that performance without breaking the bank, there are some fantastic high-refresh-rate monitors available for under R4000 that offer a great balance of speed and value.

Who Benefits Most from a 165Hz vs 200Hz Upgrade?

So, who is this upgrade really for? The answer depends entirely on the kind of gamer you are.

The Aspiring Pro & Ranked Grinder

If you live and breathe competitive titles and your goal is to climb the leaderboards, then yes, the 165Hz to 200Hz gaming upgrade is worth considering. You're the player who will most likely perceive the enhanced motion clarity and fractional reduction in input lag. For you, it’s not about luxury; it’s about optimising every single component of your setup for peak performance. Investing in one of the premium 170Hz to 240Hz monitors could be the final piece of your competitive puzzle. 🚀

The Casual & Immersive Gamer

If your library is filled with stunning single-player adventures like The Witcher 3, cinematic RPGs like Baldur's Gate 3, or grand strategy games, the upgrade is much harder to justify. These games prioritise visual fidelity and immersion over raw refresh rate. The difference between 165Hz and 200Hz will be virtually unnoticeable here, and your money would be better spent on a monitor with better colour accuracy, a higher resolution (like 1440p or 4K), or HDR capabilities.

The Final Verdict: Is It Worth It For You?

Ultimately, the decision to upgrade from 165Hz to 200Hz+ is a personal one, balancing competitive ambition against budget. It represents a move into the territory of marginal gains—small, incremental improvements that give dedicated players an edge.

It's not the night-and-day difference of your first high-refresh-rate monitor, but rather a fine-tuning of an already excellent experience. If you're a competitive player whose PC can already push the necessary frames, it's a worthy investment in your performance. For everyone else, 165Hz remains a fantastic sweet spot for smooth, responsive gaming. If you're ready to see what that extra speed feels like, it's worth exploring the wide world of 170Hz to 240Hz gaming monitors to find the perfect fit for your setup.