You’ve probably heard the term Refresh rate when buying a monitor, TV, or smartphone. But what exactly is a refresh rate, and is a higher refresh rate better for your eyes?
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What is Refresh Rate?
The refresh rate refers to the number of times per second an image displayed on the screen will be updated. Refresh rate is measured in Hertz (Hz). A high refresh rate means more information will reach your eyes in the same amount of time, giving a smoother-looking motion. For instance, if your display refreshes 60 times in a second, its refresh rate is 60Hz.
Most standard monitors come with 60Hz. However, you can buy monitors with higher refresh rates if you’re a gamer. The most common refresh rates for high-end monitors are 144Hz and 240Hz.
Frame rate Vs. Refresh rate
Since monitors with high refresh rates can display smoother motion, you might assume that buying one will improve your viewing experience. But this isn’t always the case. The refresh rate represents the maximum rate at which your monitor updates its image. But the rate at which a program sends output to your monitor depends on the frame rate.
Frame rate is the frequency in which games and videos can display frames per second. If you want to take advantage of a monitor with a high refresh rate, your computer must send data to the display faster. High refresh rates are very important when playing videos.
When gaming, the graphics card produces the visual data and transfers it to your monitor. Therefore, if you have a high-end graphics card, you receive more data on the screen quickly. This means you will enjoy games at high frame rates, thus offering a smooth and immersive gaming experience.
How Important is Refresh Rate?
The people who benefit most from a high refresh rate monitor are competitive gamers. A high refresh rate is important for optimal gameplay in fast-paced games. When your monitor shows several frames per second, you will receive more data… data that you would have missed on a lower refresh rate monitor.
Some gamers claim that higher refresh rates make aiming easier because targets move smoothly. Another major issue in fast-paced games is input lag. Higher refresh rate monitors can reduce input lag, making them ideal for fast-paced games.
So, Is a Higher Refresh Rate Better for Your Eyes?
The refresh rate doesn’t matter when reading. Reducing the brightness according to the ambient light should help prevent eye fatigue.
A higher refresh rate will make a difference if you play fast-paced games. A high refresh rate is easier on the eyes because there’s minimal flickering. You will experience less eye fatigue when you use monitors with high refresh rates.
If you are going to choose a monitor with a high refresh rate, make sure that the resolution is also high enough so that you can actually see the benefits of having such a fast screen update rate.
If you’re looking for a gaming monitor, 75Hz or higher is a good number to aim for (check out my comparison between 60Hz and 75Hz refresh rates). However, other factors such as the monitor’s placement greatly impact your eyes’ health. Although your eyes will adjust to high refresh rates, doing this repeatedly can lead to eye damage.
If you work on a computer for long hours or are a gamer, here’s what you need to do:
- Have proper lighting: If you depend on your monitor’s light, the glare and reflection will be directed into your eyes. This light can damage your eyes.
- Blink more consciously: If you blink severally when working with your computer, you will reduce the risk of eye strain.
- Adjust your monitor’s brightness: Your monitor’s brightness should match the surrounding. If you’re working in a dim room, reduce the brightness to fit it.
- Take a break: After working for a while, take a break from your computer and allow your eyes to relax and adjust.
How Many Hz Can the Human Eye See?
Your eyes cannot see beyond 60Hz. But why are 120 or 140 Hz monitors considered the best? Although your eyes cannot process anything beyond 60Hz, your brain does more seeing than the eyes. Some signals your eyes transmit to the brain are lost in the journey, making it possible for the eyes to see images beyond 60Hz. Additionally, a higher refresh rate monitor has a smoother transmission and clear images.
FAQs
Is 60Hz or 75hz better for the eyes?
75Hz refresh rate is better than 60Hz. A higher refresh rate is associated with reduced eye strain, better video quality, and improved gaming experiences. Clearer and more natural motion on your monitor will go a long way towards better eye health. In fact, with a lower refresh rate, you may notice a flicker, which can lead to vision problems.
Can the human eye tell the difference between 60Hz and 144hz?
Although the human eye cannot tell the difference between 120Hz and 144Hz, you can easily see the difference between 30FPS and 60FPS.
Final Thoughts
If you want to upgrade your monitor, choosing a monitor with better image quality and higher resolution is better. You can also buy a curved monitor for improved viewing angles, minimizing distortion, and enjoying a wider field of view. However, there are several factors that contribute to a smooth viewing experience, refresh rate being one of them.