Refresh rates play a very important role in the gaming world, especially when it comes to dynamic games and high-quality animations and visuals.
While there is no doubt that the refresh rate is a crucial factor in the overall gaming experience, in this guide, we will compare 144 Hz and 165 Hz refresh rates and see if a high refresh rate makes an important difference.
The main differences between 144 Hz and 165 Hz are that the 165 Hz refresh rate provides smoother gameplay and a high frame rate.
What is 144 Hz?
144 Hz is the refresh rate of the monitor, and it means that the monitor is able to show 144 frames per second.
In a nutshell, when it comes to the refresh rate of the gaming monitors, the rate determines the number of images that can be displayed per second.
While the refresh rate may not be as important with monitors that aren’t used for gaming purposes, it makes a huge difference when it comes to high-quality video games.
As you can already imagine, a higher refresh rate automatically means a smoother gaming experience and a better response time in your dynamic video game – especially if there are multiple players involved.
The refresh rate is one of the main factors that will determine the quality and clarity of the images in your video game, in addition to the GPU specifications.
However, even if you rely on a powerful GPU, a poor resolution or refresh rate of the monitor will still seriously affect the quality of the game.
For instance, you won’t be able to fully enjoy your 250 Hz GPU with a 144 Hz monitor, as the gap in quality will be quite noticeable, and the visuals will mostly appear blurry and choppy.
It is also important to make sure that the monitor capabilities are aligned with the refresh rate, as a huge, high-quality monitor with a poor refresh rate will still not be satisfactory when it comes to dynamic games.
But, is a 144 Hz refresh rate generally considered bad or insufficient? We wouldn’t say so, as the performance largely depends upon the game you choose to play.
Also, a 144 Hz refresh rate will usually be enough for static games that don’t include many dynamic scenes and rich environments.
Many gamers choose to stick with 144 Hz as it is a much more affordable option than 165 Hz, and they simply don’t require a higher refresh rate monitor for their favorite games.
Therefore, if you’re not too fond of visually demanding games, you can certainly stick to a 144 Hz monitor and not experience any difficulties.
However, if your favorite games rely on fast response time and require a higher frame rate, you will certainly be far more satisfied with a 165Hz monitor.
What is 165 Hz?
Many gamers find that a 165 Hz refresh rate is an absolute must in high-quality, demanding video games, as it provides smooth gameplay while decreasing the overall motion blur.
A high refresh rate also means a high frame rate in your competitive game, which lessens the input lag and allows you to act promptly and adequately – especially in multiplayer games.
When you think about it, a 165 Hz monitor provides extra 21 frames/second compared to a 144 Hz monitor, which may not seem like a lot, but is actually quite important in 4K gaming and competitive gaming.
However, if you plan on making the upgrade to a 165 Hz monitor, make sure that your GPU can support it.
In fact, if the GPU you’re using cannot put out that many frames per second, switching to a 165 Hz refresh rate is not the best solution in your case.
Therefore, you want to aim for the max refresh rate for your particular GPU, which doesn’t necessarily have to be 165 Hz.
Of course, you can always invest in a new GPU to optimize your experience and get the most out of your high refresh rate monitor.
If you’re a competitive gamer, you will definitely enjoy the viewing angles and the smooth, effortless gameplay a 165 refresh rate provides.
Compared to 144 Hz monitors, 165 Hz models are certainly more on the expensive side, but the difference in quality when it comes to demanding games is far from negligible.
A 165 Hz monitor is also a far better choice for games that include a great number of details, including immersive RPGs.
A higher frame rate will also allow you to catch all the quick transitions and act on them in your competitive games.
A higher refresh rate option such as 165 Hz also offers sharper images, vivid colors, faster response, better panels, and improved HDR as opposed to 144 Hz.
What are the differences between 144 Hz and 165 Hz?
As we’ve explained, the choice of the best gaming monitor for you largely depends upon your preferences, expectations, GPU, and finally – the games you’re playing.
A higher refresh rate probably won’t improve your gaming experience if you’re a fan of static games. However, more demanding, competitive games are meant to be enjoyed with a higher refresh rate.
Keep on reading as we compare 144 Hz and 165 Hz refresh rates in the most important aspects.
1. Image and animation quality
Both of these refresh rates can give you a smooth experience depending on the games you choose.
However, if we’re talking about the overall performance, especially in more demanding games, the 165 Hz refresh rate certainly takes the win.
With this refresh rate, you get sharper, clearer images, stronger colors, smooth transitions, and more details, as opposed to the 144 Hz that simply cannot reach this standard due to the number of frames.
A higher image resolution with the 165 Hz refresh rate will also minimize motion blurring, screen tearing, and overall stuttering that can significantly affect your performance in competitive games.
The 144 Hz refresh rate, on the other hand, will provide smooth gameplay for static games that aren’t as demanding as horror games, or immersive RPGs.
2. The number of frames
While this difference between these two refresh rates is pretty obvious, it is still important to mention it as it shapes the entire gaming experience.
With 165 Hz, you get 21 more frames per second, which means less screen tearing, ghosting, and motion blurring.
A high frame rate is also extremely important in a competitive game, as you’ll be able to catch every single move and transition without your screen tearing.
When you think about it, with a 165 Hz refresh rate, your screen gets refreshed 165 times, which allows it to display all the visuals with far more detail and clarity than the 144 Hz.
3. Price
Needless to say, better quality and performance come at a higher price, and high refresh rate monitors are no exception.
Is a 165 Hz gaming monitor worth the investment? If you’re a passionate, competitive gamer who enjoys high-quality, demanding video games, especially if they’re dynamic, we’d say that you won’t regret upgrading to a better monitor.
On the other hand, many video games can be enjoyed on a 144 Hz monitor, especially if your GPU doesn’t support the upgrade to a 165 Hz one.
At the end of the day, the choice depends upon your gaming preferences and the GPU you’re using.
4. Response time
As we’ve explained, a 165 Hz refresh rate means that the monitor is able to display 165 images per second, whereas a 144 Hz monitor will display 144 images per second.
Therefore, the smoothness and the speed of your characters’ movement largely depend upon these refresh rates, and so does the response time.
A shorter response time also makes the controls more fluid and eliminates visual artifacts that can seriously compromise your overall performance.
5. FPS
FPS stands for the number of frames your monitor is able to render each second, as opposed to the refresh rate which determines the maximum frames the monitor can actually display per second.
That being said, you want to aim for as little of a gap as possible between these two rates, as huge differences could easily lead to screen tearing.
Therefore, a 60 fps system won’t fully support your upgrade to 144 Hz, let alone 165 Hz, as it won’t be able to render and display that number of frames.
Before investing in a high refresh rate monitor, make sure to get familiar with your system and learn more about its capabilities.
6. Competitive gaming standards
When it comes to competitive gaming, it is safe to say that a 165 Hz monitor is a far more reliable solution than a 144 Hz one, as the difference in overall quality will certainly be emphasized in these games.
While there are far better options for competitive gaming, 165 Hz is considered a pretty good choice, especially for a multiplayer, dynamic environment.
What you get with a 165 Hz gaming monitor is smoother gameplay, vivid colors, faster transitions, as well as a lower chance of visual issues such as screen tearing, ghosting, and stuttering.
144hz vs 165hz: are they the same?
Most gamers will agree that these two refresh rates can never be considered the same, especially when it comes to competitive gaming, as well as demanding, high-quality games.
If you’re not a competitive gamer, and your specialty is static games, you may not notice too much of a difference between 144 Hz and 165 Hz in refresh rates.
However, objectively speaking, the quality and performance you get with a high refresh rate such as 165 Hz surpass everything that a 144 Hz monitor could offer.
A 165hz monitor is even suitable for competitive online gaming, as it offers faster yet smooth transitions, vivid colors, sharper images, and a superior resolution.
However, it is important to take your entire system and its capabilities into consideration when choosing a gaming monitor.
If your system’s FPS rate and GPU don’t support the upgrade to a 165 Hz or a 144 Hz monitor, we wouldn’t recommend investing in one, as you won’t be able to fully experience everything it has to offer.
What’s more, a large gap between these specifications and your monitor’s refresh rate will usually lead to screen tearing and similar issues.
