Does refresh rate need to match FPS? 144Hz vs 240Hz

No, your game’s FPS does not need to match your monitor’s refresh rate. In this calculation, a 240Hz monitor shows more new frames than a 144Hz one only when a game runs above 144 fps.

Per the official specs, the PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Switch 2 output up to 120 fps, so a 120Hz or higher monitor is enough; 240Hz doesn’t raise the limit. FPS is how many pictures (frames) a game draws each second. Refresh rate (Hz) is how many times the monitor redraws the screen each second.

The numbers come from official specs as of October 2026 and from “1000 ÷ refresh rate”. No monitors were tested for this article.

Quick table by FPS

If your game runs at 144 fps or less, 144Hz and 240Hz monitors show the same number of new frames. Assumption: the game holds a steady fps, and input lag is not included.

Each monitor column is the smaller of your FPS and the refresh rate. Any other FPS works the same way.

How to check your own FPS

1. Show the FPS counter in the games you play. Most games have one in the settings. With an NVIDIA graphics card, the overlay in the NVIDIA app works too
2. Look at heavy scenes (lots of players or objects). Judging by light scenes alone leaves a high refresh rate unused
3. Compare that FPS with 144Hz. A 144Hz monitor is enough if heavy scenes stay at 144 fps or below, a 240Hz one if they go above that, and a monitor that accepts 120Hz for console-only use

For example, a PC that holds 180 fps in heavy scenes shows 144 on a 144Hz monitor and 180 on a 240Hz one.

How FPS and refresh rate fit together

The number of new frames you see is the smaller of your FPS and the refresh rate.

• A faster monitor can’t show more new pictures than the game draws
• A faster game can’t show more than the monitor redraws

When the two drift apart, you can get tearing, where different frames are mixed in the top and bottom of the screen. VRR (the monitor follows your FPS) reduces that. Monitors labeled G-SYNC Compatible or FreeSync support it.

One frame lasts “1000 ÷ refresh rate”: 16.67 ms at 60Hz, 6.94 ms at 144Hz and 4.17 ms at 240Hz.

The time per frame drops by 9.72 ms going from 60Hz to 144Hz, but by only 2.78 ms from 144Hz to 240Hz. Each step up saves less.

Console limits and HDMI 2.1

Per the official specs, the PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Switch 2 output up to 120 fps, so a 120Hz or higher monitor is enough; 240Hz doesn’t raise the limit. Assumption: the maximum video output in the official specs, checked in October 2026.

• What to buy: a monitor that takes 120Hz over HDMI is enough. If you also play on a PC above 144 fps, 240Hz is worth a look
• VRR: Sony lists the condition for PS5 VRR as an HDMI 2.1 VRR-compatible TV or PC monitor. According to the HDMI Forum, a spec sheet saying “HDMI 2.1” doesn’t guarantee VRR support. For a console, look for an HDMI VRR line in the specs. Of the console models that pass the rules, HDMI VRR is listed for 1 model
• 1440p: PS5 supports VRR at 1440p since the system update of March 8, 2023. Advice that says “no VRR at 1440p” is out of date
• If the screen stays below 120Hz: the game and the monitor both need to support 120Hz. Check the PS5 video output settings too

How to read response time

According to the makers’ explanations, if the rated response time (GtG) is shorter than one frame at your refresh rate, pixels finish changing before the next frame arrives. One frame lasts 6.94 ms at 144Hz and 4.17 ms at 240Hz.

• GtG: how long a pixel takes to change from one gray to another
• MPRT: how long a picture stays visible, and its floor is set by the refresh rate. At 144Hz it’s 6.9 ms
• Which to read: GtG shows how fast colors change and MPRT how much blur you see, so one “1ms” alone doesn’t decide it. Compare GtG with GtG and MPRT with MPRT. Some “1ms” figures are MPRT

For IPS, VA, TN and OLED differences, see Choosing a monitor panel by use.

Picks by use

One pick per use. Of the models checked, each pick is the cheapest with shipping among those that meet these four rules:

• Sold new on Amazon.com by Amazon or the maker
• 100 or more ratings and 4 stars or higher
• Not sold by a third-party seller
• Not a pricey import

Specs come from the makers’ official pages. These monitors weren’t tested.

Ratings are per Amazon page and may be pooled across model variants. Check prices on the listing. The number passing the rules is 5 for console, 1 for PC up to 144 fps and 3 for PC above 144 fps.

Console (PS5 and others)

It needs an official spec of 120Hz or more over HDMI. Its specs list 1440p and up to 200Hz (144Hz over HDMI), with no HDMI VRR line and no mention of PS5 VRR.

The rating count is shared with other models on the same listing.

PC up to 144 fps

It needs 1080p, a top rate of 144Hz or more and under 240Hz, and a variable-refresh-rate listing.

The rating count is shared with other models on the same listing.

PC above 144 fps

It needs a top rate of 240Hz or more and a variable-refresh-rate listing. Its specs list 1440p and up to 300Hz, with G-SYNC Compatible and FreeSync Premium.

The rating count is shared with other models on the same listing.

FAQ

Is the difference between 144Hz and 240Hz noticeable?

This calculation does not establish whether the difference is noticeable. In this calculation, a 240Hz monitor shows more new frames than a 144Hz one only when a game runs above 144 fps.

The time per frame drops by 9.72 ms going from 60Hz to 144Hz, but by only 2.78 ms from 144Hz to 240Hz. Each step up saves less.

Does a 240Hz monitor make sense for PS5?

Per the official specs, the PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Switch 2 output up to 120 fps, so a 120Hz or higher monitor is enough; 240Hz doesn’t raise the limit. If you also game on a PC above 144 fps, the 240Hz shows more new frames there.

Does PS5 VRR need HDMI 2.1?

Sony lists the condition for PS5 VRR as an HDMI 2.1 VRR-compatible TV or PC monitor. According to the HDMI Forum, a spec sheet saying “HDMI 2.1” doesn’t guarantee VRR support.

For a console, look for an HDMI VRR line in the specs. VRR at 1440p has worked since the system update of March 8, 2023.

Is a 1ms response time necessary?

According to the makers’ explanations, if the rated response time (GtG) is shorter than one frame at your refresh rate, pixels finish changing before the next frame arrives. One frame lasts 6.94 ms at 144Hz and 4.17 ms at 240Hz.