Do you have a monitor but are not getting an immersive gaming experience? If yes, then you may be having issues with your refresh rate. Refresh rates dictate the performance of your monitors and laptops, and if the refresh rate is low, you won’t have a good gaming performance.
Although there are different refresh rates available in the market, 144Hz and 165Hz are among gamers’ most common refresh rates. So, how do 144Hz and 165Hz compare? This article will help you determine which refresh rate is good for your gaming needs.
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What is the refresh rate?
A refresh rate refers to the number of times an image displayed on the screen will be updated per second. It is measured in hertz (Hz). A higher refresh rate means more information will reach your eyes in the same amount of time, leading to a smooth-looking motion.
For instance, if your monitor has a 144Hz refresh rate, it refreshes the images 144 times per second. Coupled with the high frame rates produced by a CPU and GPU working together, this will result in a higher FPS and smoother experience.
144Hz Vs 165Hz Refresh Rate: The Differences?
The main difference between 144Hz and 165Hz is 21Hz, or it can display 21 more images per second. This translates to a 14.5% increase over 144Hz. The difference the 14.5% will make depends on how frequently you play at high framerates.
However, a beginner or an untrained eye may not notice the difference between 144Hz and 165Hz, and may even fail to tell the difference between anything above 120 FPS.
The reduction in display time and proportion increase in hertz gets lower as the refresh rate increases, which explains why it’s hard to tell the difference between higher framerates. With a 165Hz monitor, you will notice a slight improvement in gaming performance.
Although the improvements are imperceptible, the additional 21 FPS will make camera panning and movement smoother, make your controls more fluid, eliminate or reduce x-axis blur, and make games feel and look more immersive.
Even if the improvement from 144Hz to 165Hz won’t be as significant as a jump from 60 to 144Hz, a competitive gamer will easily notice a change in gaming performance.
144Hz Vs. 165Hz: Which is good for gaming?
165Hz will provide a smoother gaming experience compared to 144Hz. With 165Hz, you will have 165 frames per second, while at 144Hz, you will have 144 frames per second.
It’s tricky to determine which is better for gaming because every gamer has different preferences for gaming setups. Some gamers prefer maximum refresh rates of peak performance, while others are comfortable with an affordable alternative that can get the job done.
The recommended refresh rate for most games is 60Hz. However, 165Hz is better for gaming because it comes with a higher refresh rate, regardless of its price. If you combine a high-end 165Hz monitor with good syncing software, it will be able to handle anything you throw at it.
144Hz Monitors Overview
If you opt for a 144Hz monitor, you will notice butter-smooth gestures when playing high-resolution games. A higher refresh rate means the ability to handle a higher frame rate. However, your display will only show the source fed to it. Thus a high refresh rate may not improve your experience if the refresh rate is higher than the frame rate of your source.
Pros
- Affordability: Monitors and laptops with lower refresh rates are more affordable than the higher ones. Although the difference between 144 and 165Hz is between $40-$70, these monitors have outstanding specifications that can improve your overall performance.
- Frame rate: With a 144Hz refresh rate, you’re guaranteed excellent frames per second that improve the overall visuals you see on the screen, and without screen shuttering or tearing, you will have fast and smooth gameplay.
- Image clarity: This is one of the best features of the 144Hz display. You will have crystal clear pictures while viewing content. Additionally, the image details are genuinely captivating if you have compatible hardware components.
Cons
- Display panel: Whether your monitor uses TN or IPS panel, both are more expensive than they should be. Additionally, the color combination of the TN panel is not worth the price.
- High-end GPU: Generally, 144Hz monitors are power-hungry. You need a high-end graphics card to get the best out of a 144Hz display. You need to install a powerful GPU to feel the improved gaming experience.
165Hz Monitors Overview
A 165Hz monitor is an upgrade from 144Hz and can handle highly competitive games with high visual requirements. If your monitor has an IPS display and a 165Hz refresh rate, you will enjoy a flawless gaming experience. A 165Hz refresh rate will give you a high-quality gaming display without facing image blurring.
Pros
- High-quality images: A 165Hz monitor will most likely have the highest image resolution, providing a smooth gaming experience without motion blurring for screen tearing. Since 165Hz is higher than 144Hz, you will enjoy smoother visuals and images at 165 compared to 144Hz.
- Frames per second: A high refresh rate means that more frames will be displayed on your screen per second. Therefore, a 165Hz monitor will have impressive details and clarity, thus giving you a smooth gaming experience.
- Reduced eye fatigue: A higher refresh rate is friendly to the eyes.
Cons
- Configuration and setup: Monitors don’t have refresh rates as a default setting. Therefore, if you want to use 165Hz on the monitor for your laptop, you need to set it, which can be tricky, especially for beginners. The configuration and setup are more complicated than that of a 144Hz monitor.
Conclusion
In both 144 and 165Hz monitors, you will notice an increase in 3D rendering in all games, but it will be more visible when gaming in rich environments. Generally, 165Hz monitors are better in all aspects than 144Hz. However, you may not notice any difference unless you’re in a highly competitive field.