What Are Refresh Rate and Response Time?
Refresh rate is how many times per second a monitor updates its image, measured in hertz (Hz). Response time is how quickly each pixel changes from one color to another, measured in milliseconds (ms). Together, they determine how smooth and clear moving images look on screen.
A higher refresh rate makes motion look smoother, while a faster response time reduces blur and trailing behind moving objects. This page explains how each spec works, how they differ, what motion clarity means, and how to choose the right combination for work or gaming. For an overview of all monitor specs, see what a computer monitor is.
Refresh rate and response time essentials at a glance
Refresh rate is measured in Hz; a 144 Hz monitor updates the screen 144 times per second
Response time is measured in ms; lower numbers mean faster pixel changes
Higher refresh rates make motion smoother and help a computer’s actions feel more responsive
Faster response times reduce motion blur and ghosting
To benefit from a high refresh rate, your computer must produce frames fast enough to match it
What Is Refresh Rate?
Refresh rate is the number of times per second a monitor redraws the image on screen, measured in hertz (Hz). A 60 Hz monitor refreshes 60 times per second, or about once every 16.7 milliseconds. A 240 Hz monitor refreshes 240 times per second, or about once every 4.2 milliseconds, so motion looks smoother and more continuous.
Refresh rate vs. frame rate
Refresh rate and frame rate are related but not the same. Refresh rate is how often the monitor can update the screen. Frame rate, measured in frames per second (fps), is how many new images your computer’s graphics processor produces each second.
To see the full benefit of a 144 Hz monitor in a game, your computer needs to produce around 144 fps. If the frame rate is lower than the refresh rate, the monitor shows some frames more than once. If the frame rate is higher, some frames are never fully displayed. Learn how graphics cards affect frame rates.
Common monitor refresh rates
Time per refresh is calculated by dividing 1,000 milliseconds by the refresh rate.
Refresh rate | Time per refresh | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
60 Hz | About 16.7 ms | Everyday computing, office work, video |
75 to 100 Hz | About 13.3 to 10 ms | Everyday and office monitors with smoother scrolling |
120 Hz | About 8.3 ms | Smoother everyday use, creative work, casual gaming |
144 to 180 Hz | About 6.9 to 5.6 ms | Mainstream gaming monitors |
240 Hz | About 4.2 ms | Competitive gaming |
360 Hz and higher | About 2.8 ms or less | Esports and highly competitive play |
Even outside of gaming, a higher refresh rate makes everyday actions like scrolling web pages and moving the mouse pointer look smoother.
What Is Response Time?
Response time is how long it takes a monitor’s pixels to change from one color to another, measured in milliseconds (ms). Faster response times let pixels keep up with fast motion, which reduces blur and the faint trails, called ghosting, that can follow moving objects.
Most office monitors list response times of about 4 to 8 ms, while gaming monitors commonly list 1 ms or faster. OLED monitors can switch pixels much faster than LCD monitors, often listed at 0.03 to 0.1 ms.
GtG vs. MPRT response time
Monitor makers measure response time in two common ways, so it’s important to know which one a spec sheet lists:
Gray-to-gray (GtG): How long a pixel takes to shift from one shade of gray to another. It measures the panel’s actual pixel transition speed.
Moving picture response time (MPRT): How long a pixel stays visible on screen, which reflects how blurry motion looks to your eyes. Low MPRT figures often rely on backlight strobing features.
A 1 ms GtG rating and a 1 ms MPRT rating describe different things, so they can’t be compared directly. Response time also isn’t measured the same way by every manufacturer, so treat it as a general guide rather than an exact comparison.
Overdrive, ghosting, and overshoot
Many LCD monitors include an overdrive setting that speeds up pixel transitions by briefly applying extra voltage. A moderate overdrive setting can reduce ghosting. Setting it too high can cause overshoot, where pixels overcorrect and leave bright or dark halos called inverse ghosting. The best setting varies by monitor and refresh rate, so it’s worth testing the options in the monitor’s on-screen menu.
Response time and panel type
Panel type affects typical response times. TN panels are traditionally fast, IPS panels now commonly reach 1 ms GtG on gaming models, and VA panels can show more smearing in dark scenes. OLED panels offer the fastest pixel response. Compare IPS, VA, TN, and OLED panels.
Refresh Rate vs. Response Time
Refresh rate measures how often the whole screen updates, while response time measures how quickly individual pixels can change. A monitor needs both to deliver clear motion: a high refresh rate with slow pixels can still look blurry, and fast pixels can’t make up for a low refresh rate.
Feature | Refresh rate | Response time |
|---|---|---|
What it measures | How many times per second the screen updates | How quickly a pixel changes color |
Unit | Hertz (Hz) | Milliseconds (ms) |
Better value | Higher number | Lower number |
Main visible effect | Smoother motion and more responsive feel | Less blur, smearing, and ghosting |
Typical everyday monitor | 60 to 100 Hz | About 4 to 8 ms GtG |
Typical gaming monitor | 144 to 240 Hz or higher | 1 ms GtG or faster |
Depends on your computer? | Yes; your computer must produce enough frames per second | No; it’s a property of the monitor’s panel |
As a rule of thumb, pixels should finish changing within one refresh cycle. At 144 Hz, each refresh lasts about 6.9 ms, so a monitor with a 1 ms GtG response time has plenty of headroom.
What Is Motion Clarity?
Motion clarity is how sharp moving objects look on screen. A monitor with good motion clarity keeps fast-moving text, game characters, and scrolling content crisp instead of smeared. Refresh rate, response time, and how the panel displays each frame all contribute.
What causes motion blur on a monitor?
Motion blur on modern monitors comes from two main sources:
Slow pixel transitions: If pixels can’t change color quickly enough, the previous image lingers and leaves a trail. Faster response times reduce this.
Sample-and-hold display: LCD and OLED monitors hold each frame on screen until the next one arrives. As your eyes track a moving object, the held frame smears slightly across your vision. Higher refresh rates shorten how long each frame is held, which reduces this blur.
This is why a 240 Hz monitor looks noticeably clearer in motion than a 60 Hz monitor, even when both have fast pixels.
Backlight strobing
Some gaming monitors offer a backlight strobing mode, sometimes called motion blur reduction. It briefly turns the backlight off between frames, which reduces sample-and-hold blur and can make motion look sharper. The trade-offs are lower brightness and, on some monitors, visible flicker. Strobing usually works only at fixed refresh rates and may not run at the same time as adaptive sync.
OLED and motion clarity
OLED monitors switch pixels almost instantly, which removes most blur caused by slow pixel transitions. They still use sample-and-hold, so a higher refresh rate continues to improve motion clarity on OLED displays.
Adaptive Sync and Screen Tearing
Adaptive sync, also called variable refresh rate (VRR), lets a monitor adjust its refresh rate to match the frame rate your computer is producing. It prevents screen tearing, a visible horizontal split that appears when the monitor shows parts of two different frames at once.
Without adaptive sync, frame rates that don’t line up with the monitor’s refresh rate can cause tearing or stutter. Common adaptive sync technologies include VESA Adaptive-Sync, AMD FreeSync™, NVIDIA® G-SYNC®, and HDMI VRR. Each works within a supported refresh rate range, and compatibility depends on both your graphics card and your monitor.
Many HP OMEN gaming monitors support AMD FreeSync Premium; check each model’s specifications for supported technologies. For more on adaptive sync and other gaming display features, see the gaming display features glossary.
How to Choose the Right Refresh Rate and Response Time
The right refresh rate and response time depend on what you do most and what your computer can drive. For everyday work, 60 to 100 Hz is enough for most people. For gaming, 144 Hz or higher with a 1 ms GtG response time is a common target.
Refresh rate and response time by use
These are general starting points; your graphics hardware and budget also play a role.
Use | Refresh rate | Response time | Also consider |
|---|---|---|---|
Everyday tasks and office work | 60 to 100 Hz | About 4 to 8 ms GtG | Resolution, eye comfort, and ergonomics matter more |
Creative work | 60 to 120 Hz | About 4 to 5 ms GtG | Color accuracy is usually the priority |
Casual and story-driven gaming | 120 to 165 Hz | 1 to 5 ms GtG | Adaptive sync helps smooth uneven frame rates |
Competitive gaming | 240 Hz or higher | 1 ms GtG or faster | Your computer needs very high frame rates |
Match the monitor to your computer
A high refresh rate only helps if your computer can produce frames fast enough and send them over a connection that supports the refresh rate at your chosen resolution. For example, reaching 240 Hz at 1440p requires a capable graphics card and a port that supports that combination. See how resolution affects graphics demand and compare monitor ports and connections.
Using a high refresh rate monitor with a laptop
Many gaming laptops can drive an external high refresh rate monitor through HDMI, DisplayPort, or USB-C. Check which refresh rate and resolution your laptop’s video ports support before you buy. Learn more about gaming laptops.
Our HP OMEN gaming monitors include high refresh rate options, such as the HP OMEN 27q G2 with a QHD resolution at 180 Hz. Shop HP monitors.
How to Change Your Refresh Rate in Windows
Windows doesn’t always set a new monitor to its highest refresh rate automatically, so it’s worth checking after setup. These steps apply to Windows 11; menu names may differ slightly in other versions.
Right-click the desktop and select Display settings, or open Settings > System > Display.
If you have more than one monitor, select the monitor you want to change at the top of the page.
Select Advanced display.
Open the Choose a refresh rate menu and select the highest rate your monitor supports.
If the refresh rate you expect isn’t listed, check that you’re using a port and cable that support it, lower the resolution to test, and update your graphics drivers. Some games also have their own refresh rate or frame rate settings. Learn how drivers and firmware keep hardware working.
Frequently Asked Questions About Refresh Rate and Response Time
Is a 60 Hz monitor good enough?
A 60 Hz monitor is good enough for everyday tasks such as browsing, documents, video calls, and streaming. For gaming or if you want smoother scrolling, a 100 Hz to 144 Hz monitor or higher feels noticeably more fluid.
Can people see the difference between 60 Hz and 144 Hz?
Most people can see the difference between a 60 Hz and a 144 Hz monitor, especially when moving the mouse, scrolling, or playing fast-paced games. The difference between higher steps, such as 240 Hz and 360 Hz, is smaller and most noticeable to experienced competitive players.
Does a monitor need a 1 ms response time?
A monitor doesn’t need a 1 ms response time for everyday work, where 4 to 8 ms is fine. A 1 ms gray-to-gray response time is most useful for fast-paced gaming on high refresh rate monitors, where slower pixels can cause visible blur and ghosting.
Does a high refresh rate help when watching movies?
A high refresh rate doesn’t make movies look smoother because most films are produced at 24 frames per second and streaming video is often 24 to 60 frames per second. A higher refresh rate still makes scrolling, menus, and on-screen controls feel smoother while you browse.
Related Monitor Topics
Computer monitor basics: How monitors work and the specs that matter most
Monitor resolution: How 1080p, 1440p, and 4K compare and affect graphics demand
Panel types: How IPS, VA, TN, and OLED panels differ in speed, color, and contrast
Monitor connectivity: Which ports and cables support high refresh rates
Gaming display features: Adaptive sync and other features for gaming monitors
Gaming performance: How frame rates and hardware affect gameplay
