Measured live, below, from real frame timing — not what Windows claims. The most common surprise: a 144 Hz monitor actually running at 60 because of a cable, a setting, or a laptop power profile.
| Refresh rate | New frame every | What it feels like |
|---|---|---|
| 60 Hz | 16.7 ms | Fine for desktop & film; motion smears in fast games |
| 120–144 Hz | 8.3–6.9 ms | The big jump — motion clarity, cursor smoothness |
| 240 Hz | 4.2 ms | Competitive standard; diminishing but real gains |
| 360–500 Hz | 2.8–2.0 ms | Esports niche |
If the number above is lower than your panel's spec, work down this list: OS setting (Windows: Settings → Display → Advanced → refresh rate; it ships at 60 more often than you'd think), cable (HDMI below 2.0 and old DisplayPort cables cap high resolutions at 60–120), laptop power profiles (battery saver forces 60), and browser throttling (a window on a secondary 60 Hz monitor renders at 60 even if your main panel is faster).
Nine times out of ten the OS is set to 60: check Settings → Display → Advanced display. Otherwise suspect the cable (old HDMI caps at 60 for high resolutions), a laptop power-saving profile, or the browser window sitting on a slower second monitor.
Displays actually run at rates like 59.94 Hz for historical video reasons, and measurement over finite frames adds a small spread. Anything within ~1% of the nominal rate is your panel running correctly.
Yes, noticeably: scrolling, cursor movement and window dragging all look markedly smoother at 120 Hz+. It's why phones moved to 120 Hz. Gaming just benefits most.