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Displays review

What refresh rate do you actually need?

A straightforward guide for PC and console players.

PLAY FOUNDRY SCORE8.2OUT OF 10
What refresh rate do you actually need? review

Refresh rate matters, but it is only one part of a good display. Resolution, panel response, contrast, variable refresh support and the performance of your PC or console all affect what you actually see.

For most players, a dependable 120–165Hz screen is the useful middle ground. Competitive players may benefit from more, while slower single-player games often gain more from image quality and strong contrast.

Match the monitor to the games and hardware you already own. Paying for a headline number that your system cannot sustain rarely makes a sensible upgrade.