I’m on a computer from 2017, so I care about what a screen will actually show me, not the biggest number on the box. I looked at what refresh rate really buys you. Here’s what works.

Start with 144Hz

One retailer guide calls the jump from 60Hz to 144Hz the biggest visual upgrade in PC gaming, and treats 144Hz as the floor for a new gaming monitor.

Match the screen to your GPU

A high-refresh monitor is wasted if your graphics card can’t keep up. An older computer like mine is the case where a 240Hz screen would likely sit unused.

Don’t pay for 240Hz by default

The returns shrink after 144Hz, and shrink more past 240Hz. Smoother motion is real, but it costs more each step.

Treat OLED as a separate upgrade

Panel type can matter as much as the Hz number. One guide says a 240Hz OLED beats a 360Hz IPS screen for motion clarity.

Check before you buy

• What frame rate your graphics card reaches in your games
• Panel type, not just the Hz figure
• The resolution you’ll actually run

You don’t need the highest number. You just need a screen your computer can fully use.