If you are a hardcore gamer like me who get worked up about every tiny detail, you must have wondered whether a 240 Hz is worth it. I have seen many gamers, including myself engaging in a heated debated over this. A lot of people consider it to be an overkill. Well, I strongly disagree.
As somebody who owns both 144 Hz and a 240 Hz monitor, I think I am qualified to answer this question and put a full stop to this never-ending debate.
A 240 Hz monitor has an incredibly high refresh rate which makes for an incredibly smooth gaming experience. While it is definitely not a must-have for a regular gamer who plays for recreation, it will give aspiring competitive gamers a huge advantage.
However, my personal inclination for 240 Hz won’t help you reach a conclusion. You need to know what 240 Hz exactly offers, what are the good, bad and in between.
I’m assuming that you’d also want to know if there will be a noticeable difference between 144 Hz and 240 Hz, whether upgrading the monitor will be worth it and before you make your mind read this guide of best 240hz monitors to make a sound choice.
I will answer all these questions and more in the upcoming sections. So, sit back, relax and put your reading glasses on:
240 Hz Monitors: What Are the Advantages?
The higher refresh rate of these monitors have two great advantages:
- Higher refresh rates reduce motion blur when you are playing at high speed.
- This would also aid exceptionally quick response times which would make a significant impact in multiplayer games.
Despite the high FPS and smooth gaming experience they offer, 240 Hz monitors are not completely free from drawbacks.
What Are the Potential Downsides of 240 Hz Monitors?
240 Hz monitors have to sacrifice IPS or VA panels and stick to TN panels to reach such high frame rates. This means you will have to reduce the graphics settings as well to achieve higher frame rates on your brand new 240 Hz monitor. If higher FPS is all you need, then it won’t be a problem.
However, if visual quality matters a lot to you, you might be disappointed. When I play Overwatch (which I do a lot, by the way) on the 240 Hz, the colors look a bit muddy.
144 Hz vs 240 Hz Monitor: Should You Upgrade?
If you are a type of gamer who prioritizes responsiveness over visuals, a 4K resolution screen might not be enough for you.
If you are into competitive gaming like me, high responsiveness will give you a clear edge over your competitors in certain scenarios during the gameplay.
To achieve this, you will need a monitor with higher refresh rates. It simply denotes the number of times the display can refresh per second. For example, a 60 Hz monitor will refresh 60 times per second. Needless to say, the refresh rate also controls the frames person second your monitor can display in real-time.
Even if your GPU allows over 100 frames per second, a monitor with 60 Hz refresh rate will only display 60 frames per second.
That’s when a 144 Hz and 240 Hz come into the picture. These monitors push the refresh rates to show the extra frames. While 144 Hz monitors are good enough, a 240 Hz monitor raises the bar by delivering crisp, blur-free, high responsive visuals when we play at high FPS.
Will a 240 Hz Monitor Make a Huge Difference? – Final Verdict
I mostly play CS: Go and Overwatch these days. Like everyone else, I also started my gaming venture with a standard 60 Hz one. When I upgraded to 144 Hz, I noticed a significant difference. My gaming experience improved dramatically and so did my performance. I thought I had everything I needed.
But when I took a leap from 144 Hz to 240 Hz, I realized what I was missing out all this time. It’s like I never knew I needed this in my life until I actually used it.
There’s practically no noticeable motion blur on my 240 Hz monitor when I play at a lightning-fast speed. The overall gaming experience is as fluid as it gets. If you are seriously into competitive multiplayer games, higher FPS in your top priority and money isn’t an issue, go for a 240 Hz monitor. You won’t regret it.
Parting Words
Having said all the above, you need to remember that buying the most expensive gear won’t automatically make you an expert. And before buying a 240 Hz monitor, you should definitely figure out whether your GPU can handle it. If it can’t, consider your money totally wasted. You need to run a benchmark to see how your GPU performs when you amp up the frame rate.