What is Refresh Rate?
For anything visual, such as games or virtual reality, refresh rate is crucial. The frequency at which your screen redraws itself every second is known as the monitor refresh rate, and it is measured in Hertz (Hz). A 60Hz screen thus redraws 60 times per second. Everything appears smoother at higher Hz, particularly when motion is rapid.
Clear and timely visuals are crucial for gaming and virtual reality, so even a slight increase in refresh rate can make a big difference. It can reduce the visibility of motion blur, eliminate bothersome stutters, and simply make everything appear and feel much more realistic.
Why Refresh Rate is Important to VR, Gaming, and Simulations
A fast refresh rate minimizes lag and gives motion a crisper appearance. This is crucial for VR and first-person shooter games. You risk motion sickness or eye strain if things move too slowly. Everything on the screen appears realistic and fluid with a high refresh rate, which helps you play better, stay focused, and prevent strain.
Refresh rate also promotes accuracy for training or design simulations. What you see must be dependable and quick to react when you're training for situations like operating heavy machinery or performing remote surgery.
What Does Refresh Rate Do?
The refresh rate meaning is simple: it refers to the number of times your screen updates, impacting how smooth things appear and how comfortable your eyes feel. If it's too slow, quick motion can look blurry or choppy, which makes for a poor VR experience. A faster refresh rate makes things clearer and reduces lag.
For VR simulations, like flight simulators or walkthroughs, using 90Hz or more makes things seem real and keeps you comfortable, even after long hours.
How Refresh Rate Differs from Frame Rate
People get frame rate (FPS) and refresh rate mixed up all the time, but they're actually different. Refresh rate is how many times your screen updates per second. Frame rate is how quickly your computer sends images to the screen. For optimal visuals, you want these to match up. If your graphics card is sending 60 FPS, getting a monitor with a 120Hz refresh rate isn't going to do much for you.
Best Refresh Rate for Gaming and Virtual Reality
Most monitors are at 60Hz, but gaming monitors often run at 144Hz, 165Hz, or 240Hz (Source). VR is even faster. Your setup ideally defines the refresh rate. But, if you're trying VR or training with simulations, the right display refresh rate can make things great or ruin them.
Optimal Refresh Rates for VR Headsets
VR headsets usually require a fast refresh rate, so you don't feel sick. The goal is often 90Hz, but good headsets can reach 144Hz. The Apple Vision Pro runs at 90Hz, and it can jump to 96Hz when it needs to make the action smooth (Source).
These speeds do more than just make things look better; they also cut down on delay and help you keep your sense of space, important for training simulations and accurate tasks.
Gaming Refresh Rate Benchmarks
In esports, 144Hz is the norm nowadays, while pros often prefer 240Hz or more (Source). This gives them faster reactions and smoother images. It can really help in quick games like shooters or racers.
If you have a PC or laptop for VR/gaming, you should use it with a monitor that's at least 120Hz, so your tech doesn't slow you down.
How to Check and Adjust Your Monitor Refresh Rate
If you run a VR setup or work on a training simulator, make sure your gear is running at its best refresh rate. Fortunately, reviewing and fine-tuning your refresh rate is easy on most systems. Here's how you can do it:
How to Find Your Monitor's Refresh Rate
On Windows:
Go to Display Settings
Click Advanced Display Settings
Find Refresh Rate in the Display Information.
On macOS:
Select System Settings > Displays
Hold the Option key and click Scaled
If supported, refresh rate options will be available
GPU and Software Settings Matter
Even with a great 144Hz monitor, you still need the right graphics card and settings to take full advantage of the refresh rate. In NVIDIA or AMD control panels, check that your refresh rate is set right. Don't forget to check within your games, as some may limit frame rates.
VR headsets usually pick the right refresh rate themselves, but you might have to tweak some settings for certain setups or on SteamVR.
The Future of Refresh Rates
As XR and spatial computing become popular, refresh rate has turned from being a geeky detail to a vital part of how people experience visuals, changing everything from design reviews to safety simulations.
Faster screens are showing up in the next round of headsets and tools. The Vision Pro's micro-OLED screens and adjustable refresh show that clean visuals, not just resolution, will be what everyone wants.
As more companies use XR, keeping refresh rates high and consistent will be key for training, design accuracy, and staying comfortable during long VR sessions.
Ready to Build a High-Performance VR Setup?
