Gaming Monitor Refresh Rate: How to Choose for Smooth Gameplay

Ever felt that sting? You've got the drop on an opponent in Apex, your crosshair is perfect… and then a micro-stutter hits. The enemy vanishes and you're staring at the respawn screen. That frustrating lag isn't always your internet. Often, the culprit is your monitor's refresh rate. Choosing the right gaming monitor refresh rate isn't just a tech spec—it's the key to unlocking truly smooth, responsive gameplay and landing those crucial shots.

AOC Q27G4XM 27" Mini-LED Gaming Monitor / QHD (2560 × 1440) Resolution / 180Hz Refresh Rate / 1ms Response Time / Fast IPS Panel / Display HDR 1000 / Q27G4XM

R10799.00In Stock

MSI MAG 274QPF X30MV 27" 2560 x 1440 (WQHD) Gaming Monitor / 300Hz Refresh Rate / 0.5ms Response Time / Rapid VA with Mini-LED / 9S6-3CF09H-042

R8799.00In Stock

MSI MAG 274F 27" FHD (1920 x 1080) Monitor / 200Hz Refresh Rate / Rapid IPS Panel / 0.5ms Response Time / AI Vision Enhances Brightness, Colors / 9S6-3CE41H-062

R3699.00In Stock

DAHUA DHI-LM32-A200X 32" LED MONITOR / Bezel-less Design / IPS Level-Display / 8ms Response Time / FHD 1920x1080 / 75Hz Refresh Rate / Low Blue Light / DHI-LM32-A200X

R3399.00In Stock

Alienware AW2524HF Gaming Monitor/ 25-inch / IPS Panel / Full HD (1920 x 1080)/ 500Hz refresh rate / 1 ms Response Time / VESA Adaptive-Sync, AMD FreeSync Premium / AW2524HF

R12999.00In Stock

Lenovo ThinkVision Monitor S22E-20 21.5 Inch / 1920x1080 Resolution / Non Touch / 4 ms Response Time / 62C6KAT1SA

R2099.00In Stock

Understanding Gaming Monitor Refresh Rate

So, what does "refresh rate" actually mean? Measured in Hertz (Hz), it's simply how many times your monitor updates—or redraws—the image on the screen every second. A 60Hz monitor redraws the image 60 times per second, while a 144Hz monitor does it 144 times. Think of it like a flipbook: more pages flipped per second create a much smoother animation.

This is different from your PC's frame rate (FPS), which is how many frames your graphics card produces per second. For the best experience, you want your refresh rate to match or exceed your GPU's output. There's no point having a beastly GPU pumping out 200 FPS if your monitor can only display 60 of them. Finding that perfect balance is crucial when browsing for the latest PC monitors.

How to Choose the Right Refresh Rate for Your Games

The ideal gaming monitor refresh rate depends entirely on you: the games you play, your budget, and how competitively you take it. Let's break down the common tiers.

60Hz – The Bare Minimum

A 60Hz refresh rate is the baseline. It’s perfectly fine for slower-paced, story-driven games like Baldur's Gate 3 or strategy titles where split-second reactions aren't critical. However, for fast-paced action, you will notice motion blur and a distinct lack of smoothness compared to higher refresh rates.

144Hz/165Hz – The Gamer's Sweet Spot 🎯

This is where the magic happens for most South African gamers. The jump from 60Hz to 144Hz is massive and immediately noticeable. Aiming feels more precise, tracking moving targets becomes intuitive, and the overall experience is incredibly fluid. For titles like Warzone, Valorant, and Fortnite, a 144Hz or 165Hz monitor is the new standard, offering a significant competitive edge without the premium price of higher tiers. It's the perfect middle ground found across our complete range of gaming monitors.

DAHUA DHI-LM32-A200X 32" LED MONITOR / Bezel-less Design / IPS Level-Display / 8ms Response Time / FHD 1920x1080 / 75Hz Refresh Rate / Low Blue Light / DHI-LM32-A200X

R3399.00In Stock

MSI MAG 274CXF Monitor / 27" FHD (1920x1080) Rapid VA Display / 280Hz Refresh Rate / Curved 1500R / 0.5ms Response Time / AMD FreeSync™ Premium / 9S6-3CE31T-028

R4999.00In Stock

ViewSonic TD1655 15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) Portable Touchscreen Monitor / Ultra-portable Design / Advanced in-cell Capacitive Touchscreen / 2-Way Power With USB Type-C / Frameless Design / Portrait and Landscape Modes / dual integrated speakers / TD1655

R5199.00In Stock

AOC AGON PRO AG276UZD 26.5" OLED Gaming Monitor / 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) Resolution / 240Hz Refresh Rate / 0.03ms Response Time / QD - OLED Panel / HDR True Black 400 / Adaptive Sync / AG276UZD

R19999.00In Stock

SAMSUNG Odyssey G9 Gaming 49" Monitor / DQHD (5120 x 1440) / 144Hz / GtG 1ms / FreeSync Premium Pro / LS49FG910EUXEN

R30899.00In Stock

HP OMEN 27 QHD 165Hz Gaming Monitor / AMD FreeSync™ Premium / Eyesafe® certified / Height adjustable for personalized comfort / Pivot rotation for flexible viewing angles / 780H4AS

R7999.00In Stock

240Hz+ – The Pro-Tier Advantage

Are you serious about climbing the leaderboards? A 240Hz or even 360Hz monitor offers the absolute pinnacle of motion clarity. While the visual jump from 144Hz isn't as dramatic as from 60Hz, the reduction in input lag and superior target tracking gives elite players a measurable advantage. If you're competing at a high level, this is your endgame. Many of these top-tier displays are immersive curved gaming monitors that pull you right into the action.

More Than Just Refresh Rate: Key Specs to Consider

Choosing the best gaming monitor refresh rate is vital, but it's part of a bigger picture. To avoid bottlenecks, consider these factors too:

• Resolution: A higher resolution means a sharper image. However, driving a 1440p or 4K monitor at a high refresh rate requires a powerful graphics card. For many competitive gamers, 1080p at 240Hz is better than one of the many high-resolution 4K monitors at 60Hz.
• Response Time: Look for 1ms (GtG) to minimise "ghosting" or motion blur, which is crucial for clarity in fast-moving scenes.
• Adaptive Sync: NVIDIA G-Sync or AMD FreeSync technology synchronises your monitor's refresh rate with your GPU's frame rate, eliminating ugly screen tearing for a flawless picture.
• Your Setup: Even your desk setup matters. Adding a second portable monitor for Discord or stream chats can seriously optimise your gaming space.

Fine-Tuning for Flawless Performance 🔧

Got your new high-refresh-rate monitor? Amazing! But you're not done yet. A surprising number of gamers forget the final, most important step: actually enabling the high refresh rate. By default, Windows often sets it to 60Hz.

Samsung Odyssey G55T 34" Ultra WQHD (3440 x 1440) 165Hz Curved Gaming Monitor / AMD FreeSync Premium / 165Hz Refresh Rate / 1ms Response Time / 1000R Curved Display / Futuristic Design / LC34G55TWWRXEN

R9999.00In Stock

AOC Q27G4S 27" Gaming Monitor - Black / QHD (2560 × 1440) / 300Hz Refresh Rate / 0.3ms Response Time / IPS-Level Display / Certified HDR400 / Support Adaptive Sync / Q27G4S

R6299.00In Stock

HP 527SW G5 FHD Gaming Monitor - White/Silver / 27" FHD (1920 x 1080) / IPS Panel / 1x HDMI 1.4, 1x VGA / Eye Ease with Eyesafe Certification / 94F46AS

R4499.00In Stock

ViewSonic VX3219 32" Curved Gaming Monitor / Full HD (1920 x 1080) / 240Hz Refresh Rate / 1ms MPRT Response Time / Adaptive Sync Prevents Screen Tearing / 1500R Curve Ultimate Immersion / VX3219-PC-MHD-SN

R4899.00In Stock

HP OMEN 34c Curved Monitor — 34' WQHD VA 165hz — Gaming Console Compatible — 2x HDMI 2.0 — 1x DisplayPort 1.4 — AMD FreeSync Premium — Dual Speakers — Tilt & height adjustments — VESA Mountable - Black / 780K8AS

R12999.00In Stock

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

R7499.00In Stock

Dive into your Display Settings (Right-click desktop > Display settings > Advanced display settings) and select the highest available refresh rate from the dropdown menu. Also, ensure you're using a DisplayPort cable, as older HDMI versions might not support your monitor's maximum refresh rate and resolution. Getting the right monitor accessories ensures you get the performance you paid for.