So you’re not a competitive gamer and you’re wondering if 144Hz is worth it for casual gaming. Is a 144Hz monitor overkill for the games that you like to play? Should you stick with a cheaper 60Hz monitor?
I was struggling with the same decision, and after hours of research, I want to share what I learned with you. Let’s take a look. Hopefully, when you’re done reading this article it will be easier for you to make an educated decision.
Is 144Hz Worth It for Casual Gaming?
144Hz is only worth it for casual gaming if your PC’s hardware can support 144+ FPS (frames per second) on your favourite games.
While 144Hz monitors are designed primarily for competitive first-person shooters, the improved refresh rate will also make navigating Windows feel smoother and more responsive. In that way, even casual gamers can benefit from a 144Hz monitor.
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You don’t need 144Hz for most casual games. However, certain games will benefit from a high refresh rate more than others. For example, single-player first-person shooter games will benefit the most from 144Hz because the motion will be more fluid.
However other games like RTS, RPG, Retro, and Indie games, won’t benefit much from 144Hz. There’s no point in using 144Hz on games like the Witcher 3. Not to mention games like Stardew Valley or Terraria. For those games, a regular 60Hz display is more than enough.
Some people might experience motion sickness at 144hz, read this article on how to reduce motion sickness at 144hz.
Understanding Hz vs FPS:
To make the most of a 144Hz monitor, your computer needs to be able to reach 144 + FPS in games.
I need to remind you that Hz is not the same as FPS. Hz is a hardware specification on panels that represents the number of times a screen can refresh in a second. On a 144Hz monitor, the screen can refresh 144 times a second.
FPS stands for frames per second, and it’s the number of frames your computer can generate for the game scene. As you might have guessed, the frame rate will mostly depend on your graphics card and the graphics settings in games. Your monitor will only be able to show the number of frames that your computer can send it.
Need a quick recommendation? Try the Acer XFA240 144Hz Monitor.
For example, if your computer can only reach 60 frames a second in certain games, your 144Hz monitor will only be able to show 60 of those frames. In that case, the 144Hz monitor will have the same performance as a 60Hz monitor.
On the other hand, if you reach 144 + FPS on games, then your 144Hz monitor will be able to show all of the frames, and the result will be extremely smooth animations. Once again, when it comes to games, to make the most of a high refresh rate monitor you need to have a somewhat powerful computer.
Assuming your computer can reach 144 + FPS on every game, moving from 60 Hz to 144 Hz is a 140% increase in refresh rate. Moving from 144Hz to 240Hz is only a 67% increase in frame rate. In other words, the jump from 60Hz to 144Hz is huge.
Having said that, you could buy a 144Hz monitor while you wait to upgrade your computer. Nowadays upgrading a computer can be a challenge due to the lack of graphics cards, but you could consider buying a pre-built computer.
Is 144Hz Worth it for Non-Gamers?
A 144Hz monitor could be worth it for non-gamers because the operating system user interface will refresh 144 times a second, making casual computer tasks feel much more responsive.
Simple tasks like scrolling through a webpage, browsing the internet, editing photos and videos, adjusting Windows, and even typing articles, will feel faster. Even the mouse cursor will feel smoother.
One interesting point is when you move from 60Hz to 144Hz you might not notice a dramatic difference. You only notice the difference when you move from 144Hz back to 60Hz, and that’s when you realize 60Hz feels incredibly choppy. Very few people regret buying a 144Hz monitor, even if they aren’t gamers.
The good news is 144Hz monitors are not as expensive as they once were, and there are plenty of affordable options out there. You can find plenty of 144Hz 1080P monitors for under $300. You should also consider 1080P 144Hz vs 1440P 144Hz.
One 144Hz monitor that I recommend is the Sceptre Curved 27″ 165 Hz monitor.
The Bottom Line:
To summarize, 144Hz is worth it for both casual gamers and non-gamers. Almost every activity that you do on a computer will feel better on a 144Hz monitor vs a 60 Hz monitor. To notice the difference, test a 144Hz monitor, and then move to a 60Hz monitor. The 60Hz monitor will not feel nearly as smooth.
What do you think? Do you think it’s worth buying a 144Hz monitor if you don’t play games?
Drop a comment below.
