Are you thinking of buying a new monitor? Can't decide what to buy? Keep on reading for the latest insight.
We all agree that computer screens are a part of our daily lives. We all use computers for work and leisure. And different purposes may lead to additional requirements and specifications. If you're worried about what type of specifications you need for your system, you must not panic. Your preference should be made according to your use.
Usually, people are confused about their choice of GPUs, CPUs, and monitors. GPUs or CPUs are comparatively easy to buy as there are certain fixed aspects you need to consider before buying them, so no hassle.
But monitors are a tricky business. Especially when you want a good resolution and a higher FPS rate, and that too, in a pocket-friendly budget. So, what should one do? Should one buy a 60Hz monitor? Or should one go for a 144Hz one? And what are the crucial factors which one should consider while making this choice?
We have some recommendations for you.
Which monitor should you choose?
If you don't use your computer for gaming purposes, a normal monitor screen with standard audio/visual features should work for you. A regular 60Hz screen is of ample use to meet your daily requirements except for competitive gaming.
If you're a serious or professional gamer and play competitive games that involve a higher FPS (Frame per second) rate, then a monitor screen with 144Hz is preferable. But, if you search for better graphics and sharp, colorful visuals and have a taste for new video games, then a regular 60Hz is more suitable.
A 144Hz screen indeed provides you with a great and luxurious visual experience while you play games. But that doesn't necessarily mean that it’s the only choice you have. There are other options as well. 144Hz would only benefit you in undemanding & competitive games (like CS: GO, Overwatch, Fortnite, etc.) if FPS also equals that number.
Now, other games are more graphic-oriented. FPS rate is hardly 60 FPS or more in such games. Suppose you are thinking of changing your current regular monitor just for the sake of playing such games on a high-quality screen. In that case, you might want to reconsider because that would be an utter waste of money since it would not have any noticeable change in your gaming or visual experience. For such reasons, you want a screen with a better panel or a higher resolution.
If you play both types of games, then, of course, you can happily go for a 144Hz screen. It would enhance your competitive gaming experience and take it to another level. At the same time, you can enjoy graphics-oriented games in almost the same fashion.
However, a noticeable positive change can be observed only when you surpass the 60 FPS threshold and hit a good 100 FPS.
Advantages of 144Hz
Now, let’s take a look at the benefits of using a 144Hz monitor.
As we have already mentioned that 144Hz screens would only benefit you in competitive FPS games, not in graphics-oriented ones. And this is mainly because of the reason that due to the high FPS rate in such games, 144Hz is preferable. You can also see the difference when playing non-competitive games like RPGs with less than 100FPS.
On top of that, there's no denying that it's overkill for consoles users if they use gaming monitors instead of TVs or regular computers monitors at home or in their offices. Professional gamers prefer using gaming laptops which are portable and expensive but offer them all the features required to play their game on a competitive level at tournaments held across different countries.
Another thing that makes 144Hz screens very popular over other models is its variable refresh rate technology called G-Sync & Free-Sync. The basic concept behind this technology is its ability to match the outcoming frames by the GPU and monitor’s refresh rate. The former already includes scanning out of images that are rendered from GPUs, etc., to produce a complete frame.
Disadvantages of 144Hz
There are a few drawbacks of using a 144Hz screen as well. First and foremost, you need a very powerful graphics card with at least an Nvidia GeForce GTX 960/1050 or AMD Radeon RX 460/560 to support this refresh rate.
This is because these cards have the tendency to hold back your FPS rate in non-competitive games so as to present you with fluid visuals which can be obtained by using a 144Hz monitor only. Otherwise, if your graphics card lacks the power required for this refresh rate, then it would only result in producing choppy frames and even tearing of images on the screen (if V-Sync is turned off) which decreases your visual pleasure. Secondly, people who suffer from motion sickness cannot use such monitors at all due to the fact that their frequency is high.
Advantages of 60Hz
Now, let’s take a look at the benefits of 60Hz screens.
First and foremost, they are equipped with an in-panel scalar or not which results in giving you more real estate area on your desktop for viewing different items simultaneously without having to move the mouse too much during multitasking. This is unlike 144Hz screens where you can hardly view anything other than the game screen because it consumes 80% of your display space only if you have a narrow bezel design monitor.
Moreover, if you are playing graphics-oriented games which require a high FPS rate so as to provide fluid visuals without tearing & stuttering issues, then again this refresh rate would suit you just fine. This means that non-competitive gamers also must have a 60Hz screen to feel the difference between a high FPS rate and a low one.
Additionally, the price of such monitors is slightly lower than that of expensive 144Hz ones which means buying them by conducting an online search on different eCommerce sites would not pinch your pocket so badly. 60Hz screens are also less power-consuming as compared to their higher counterparts.
Disadvantages of 60Hz
Having said that, since this refresh rate is slightly lower than the maximum possible limit (144Hz), you cannot expect it to render graphics perfectly for competitive games like first-person shooters, etc. where unpredictable things happen very frequently resulting in frame drops or tearing of images on screen whereas if you have a 144Hz monitor then these issues can be circumvented almost entirely.
Besides, if you are already using a 60Hz monitor and thinking of upgrading to the next level then you must realize that it would not make much difference in your gaming experience because both these models work well under different circumstances.
Finally, there are fewer choices available when it comes to purchasing 60Hz screens as compared to other products in this category. This means that you cannot use any product for this refresh rate unless you find the exact match required for your PC requirements.
It’s totally up to you which screen refresh rate is better suited for your needs but be sure that buying anything blindly without analyzing its pros & cons is never recommended by experts. You should also consider the following things before making a decision: Price or cost of monitor Screen size Budget Gaming Skill level
Conclusion
All in all, both are good for different reasons. A 144Hz monitor can be better but it would also cost more money. If you have the option to buy a 60Hz screen go ahead otherwise just choose one that's best suited for your price range and skill level.
So, in a debate of 60Hz vs. 14Hz, it all boils down to your own choice of video games.