Hertz is how many times per second your monitor refreshes the image on screen

Hertz (Hz) is a measurement of refresh rate — the number of times per second your monitor redraws the picture. A monitor with 60 Hz refreshes 60 times per second. A monitor with 144 Hz refreshes 144 times per second. The higher the number, the more frequently the image updates.

This matters because a higher refresh rate can make motion look smoother and feel more responsive when you move your mouse or scroll through a document. The difference is most noticeable when you are watching video, playing games, or doing work that involves a lot of cursor movement. On a lower refresh rate, motion can appear slightly choppy or blurry. On a higher refresh rate, the same motion looks fluid.

Most monitors sold today are either 60 Hz or 144 Hz. Some gaming monitors go higher — 165 Hz, 240 Hz, or even 360 Hz — but those are less common and more expensive. For everyday work like email, web browsing, and document editing, 60 Hz is sufficient and is what most people use.

Key Takeaways

  • Hertz measures how many times per second your monitor refreshes the image, with higher numbers meaning more frequent updates.
  • 60 Hz is the standard for most work and general use; you will not notice a difference for email, browsing, or spreadsheets.
  • 144 Hz and higher become noticeable when you scroll quickly, move your cursor frequently, or watch fast-moving video.
  • Your graphics card must be able to send enough frames to match your monitor's refresh rate, or the higher Hz will not make a visible difference.

How refresh rate connects to what you actually see

Your monitor can only display the image your graphics card sends it. If your graphics card produces 60 frames per second and your monitor refreshes 144 times per second, the monitor will show the same frame multiple times while waiting for the next one. You will not see the benefit of the higher refresh rate.

The opposite problem also happens: if your graphics card produces 200 frames per second but your monitor only refreshes 60 times per second, the monitor can only show 60 of those frames. The extra frames are wasted, and you may see screen tearing — a visible line across the screen where the top half shows one frame and the bottom half shows a different frame.

For the smoothest experience, your graphics card's frame rate should match your monitor's refresh rate. Most people do not need to worry about this for everyday tasks, but it becomes important if you play games or do video editing.

60 Hz versus 144 Hz: when the difference matters

At 60 Hz, your monitor updates every 16.7 milliseconds. At 144 Hz, it updates every 6.9 milliseconds. For static content — a document, a photo, a spreadsheet — you will not see any difference. The image is not moving, so how often it refreshes does not change what you see.

The difference becomes visible when something moves. If you scroll down a web page at 60 Hz, the text moves in slightly larger jumps. At 144 Hz, the same scroll looks smoother because the monitor is updating more frequently, so each jump is smaller. The effect is subtle but real, and some people find it easier on the eyes during long work sessions.

In games, the difference is more pronounced. A fast-paced game at 60 Hz can feel sluggish compared to the same game at 144 Hz. Your mouse input also feels more responsive at higher refresh rates because the monitor is updating more often, so your cursor movement appears on screen sooner.

What refresh rate you actually need

For email, web browsing, word processing, and spreadsheets, 60 Hz is fine. You will not notice any lag or choppiness because these tasks do not involve much motion. A 60 Hz monitor is also cheaper and uses less power than a 144 Hz monitor.

If you spend a lot of time scrolling through documents, watching video, or doing design work where you pan and zoom frequently, 144 Hz can reduce eye strain and make the work feel smoother. It is not necessary, but some people prefer it.

If you play competitive games or do fast-paced video editing, 144 Hz or higher is worth considering. The smoother motion and more responsive feel can improve your performance and comfort. However, your graphics card must be powerful enough to produce that many frames — a budget graphics card may not be able to keep up with a 240 Hz monitor.

How to check your monitor's refresh rate

On Windows, right-click on the desktop and select Display settings. Scroll down and click Advanced display settings. Look for Refresh rate in the list. The number shown is your current refresh rate in Hz.

On Mac, click the Apple menu and go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions). Select Displays. Click Refresh Rate and you will see the current setting. Some Macs do not show this option if the monitor does not support variable refresh rates.

If you just bought a new monitor and want to make sure it is running at its maximum refresh rate, check these settings. Sometimes a monitor will default to a lower refresh rate if the cable or connection is not optimal. Switching to a higher refresh rate (if available) is usually just a dropdown menu change.

Refresh rate and monitor cables

Not all cables support all refresh rates. An older HDMI cable might only support 60 Hz even if your monitor is rated for 144 Hz. A newer HDMI 2.1 cable or a DisplayPort cable can handle higher refresh rates.

If you buy a 144 Hz monitor but connect it with an old HDMI cable, you may only get 60 Hz performance. Check your monitor's manual to see which cable type it recommends. DisplayPort is generally the best choice for high refresh rates, but newer HDMI cables work well too.

If you change your cable and the refresh rate option in your display settings does not change, restart your computer. Windows and Mac sometimes need a restart to recognize the new capability.

Variable refresh rate technology

Variable refresh rate (VRR) is a technology that lets your monitor adjust its refresh rate to match your graphics card's output frame by frame. The most common versions are FreeSync (AMD graphics cards) and G-Sync (Nvidia graphics cards).

VRR eliminates screen tearing and stuttering without requiring your graphics card to produce a fixed number of frames. If your graphics card is producing 87 frames per second, your monitor will refresh 87 times per second instead of waiting for the next multiple of 60 or 144. This makes motion smoother and gameplay feel more responsive.

VRR is useful if you play games or do work where frame rates vary. For everyday tasks, it does not make a noticeable difference. If you are buying a new monitor and think you might use it for gaming, checking whether it supports VRR is worth doing — it usually does not cost much more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a 144 Hz monitor make my computer faster?

No. Refresh rate only affects how smoothly motion appears on screen. It does not change how fast your computer processes information, opens files, or runs programs. A 144 Hz monitor will not speed up your work — it will only make scrolling and cursor movement look smoother.

Do I need a special graphics card for a 144 Hz monitor?

Not necessarily. Any graphics card can work with a 144 Hz monitor. However, if you want to see the benefit of 144 Hz in games, your graphics card needs to produce at least 144 frames per second. Budget graphics cards may only produce 60 frames per second, in which case a 144 Hz monitor would not show an improvement.

Is 60 Hz bad for my eyes?

No. 60 Hz is the standard for most computer work and has been for decades. Some people report that higher refresh rates reduce eye strain during long scrolling sessions, but this varies by person. If you have eye strain, the problem is usually screen brightness, distance from the monitor, or how often you take breaks — not refresh rate.

Can I change my monitor's refresh rate in Windows settings?

Yes, if your monitor and cable support it. Go to Display settings, then Advanced display settings, and look for the Refresh rate dropdown. You can only select refresh rates that your monitor and cable combination actually supports. If you do not see a higher option, your cable may not support it.

What is the difference between 144 Hz and 165 Hz?

Very little in real-world use. The difference is about 1 millisecond per refresh, which is too small for most people to notice. 165 Hz monitors are often priced between 144 Hz and 240 Hz models, so they can be a middle-ground option if you want something faster than 60 Hz but do not want to pay for 240 Hz.