Why and who needs monitors with a refresh rate of 500 Hz and higher
In the world of computer technology and eSports, new developments are constantly emerging that are designed to improve the gaming experience and increase the competitiveness of players. One of the latest achievements is monitors with a refresh rate of 500 Hz and above. In this article, we will look at the technical aspects of such displays, analyze their advantages and limitations, and discuss who really needs them.
Technical explanation of 500Hz refresh rate
Monitor refresh rate is measured in hertz (Hz) and shows how many times per second the screen can refresh the image. If we use simplifications, then 500Hz monitor is capable of displaying up to 500 frames per second. This determines the time during which the frame will be displayed on the screen. For 500 Hz, this value will be approximately equal to 2 millisecondswhich is significantly less than standard 60Hz or even 144Hz monitors. The output is:
Minimize motion blur: The higher the refresh rate, the shorter the time a frame is displayed on the screen, which almost completely eliminates the blurring effect of moving objects.
Reduced input lag: A high refresh rate minimizes the delay between a user's action and the result being displayed on the screen, which is critical in certain use cases.
Improved smoothness of movement: The increased frequency ensures exceptionally smooth motion rendering, which is especially noticeable when moving the camera quickly in FPS-dependent games.
Reduce tearing: High refresh rates reduce the likelihood of screen tearing even without V-Sync or adaptive sync.
Frame rate (FPS) and monitor refresh rate (Hz) – these are related but different concepts. FPS defines, how many frames per second can a computer generatewhile the refresh rate of a monitor indicates how many times per second the screen can refresh the image.
However, to fully utilize the potential of a monitor with a refresh rate of 500 Hz or higher, the computer must be able to generate the corresponding number of frames per second (FPS). To do this, it must have outstanding performance, which means being equipped with a high-end processor and graphics card.
In which games is 500 fps achievable?
Modern games like Alan Wake 2 are unlikely to provide you with a stable 60 fps at 4K resolution, even if you run them on a setup of Ryzen 7 7800X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090. That is, even 120Hz monitor would be redundant for this, not to mention anything more. But if the stars are lit, then someone needs it. Right?
In most games the achievement stable 500 FPS difficult even at maximum performance settings even on super-powerful hardware. Under normal conditions – that is, without all sorts of smoothing and improving tools like DLSS – this is possible only in the most undemanding games. This condition mainly applies to eSports titles such as Counter-Strike, DOTA 2, Overwatch, Valorant and others.
The thing is that after a certain limit, each subsequent frame in addition to the current fps is given with incredible difficulty, and cool graphics and special effects will only play a minus here. In some cases, even the engine itself prevents the hardware from bringing the game to the peak refresh rate supported by the monitor. An example of performance in popular eSports games:
Counter-Strike 2:
Valorant:
Overwatch 2:
To achieve such results, an extremely productive system is required:
CPU: Intel Core i9-14900K, AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D or similar top models with high frequencies and large cache memory.
Video card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090, AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX or newer. For eSports titles, it's not so much the graphics power that's critical, but high memory bandwidth and low latency.
RAM: Minimum 32GB DDR5 with high frequencies (6000MHz and above) and low timings.
Accumulator: NVMe SSD PCIe 4.0 or 5.0 to minimize loading times and texture loading.
Motherboard: High-end model with a high-quality power subsystem for stable CPU overclocking and high-frequency memory support.
power unit: With a power of at least 1000 W to ensure stable operation of all components under load.
Cooling system: Highly efficient liquid cooling for the CPU and high-quality GPU cooling to maintain maximum frequencies during long gaming sessions.
Who needs monitors with a refresh rate of 500 Hz
It is easy to guess that the main audience of users of monitors with a frequency of 500 Hz are eSportsmenfor whom such equipment can provide a certain advantage in games. For example, to improve their reaction, since victory depends on it. Minimal delay between the player's action and the result being displayed on the screen can be critical at a high level of competition.
Certainly, play Counter-Strike are loved not only by professionals, but also by ordinary gamers who strive to achieve the same results as their idols. But even with this approach monitors with a refresh rate of 500 Hz and above do not represent any practical value for them. First of all, because there are solutions with frequency up to 360 HzThey are significantly cheaper than the most advanced models and at the same time will be no worse for the absolute majority of users.
Even professional tournaments such as PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 have used 360Hz monitorswhich may indicate that 500Hz displays lack a critical advantage. The difference between 144Hz and 240Hz is almost unnoticeable even for a seasoned gamer, and the transition to higher values when updating the image will be perceived only in exceptional cases.
Disadvantages of High Refresh Rate Monitors
Despite the obvious advantages, monitors with a refresh rate of 500 Hz and above have a number of significant drawbacks that must be carefully considered before deciding to purchase and use them.
One of the key limitations is technology. TN-matriceswhich is typically found in high refresh rate monitors. These panels, while offering minimal response times, suffer from limited color reproduction, typically only covering about 95% sRGB color space. In addition, TN matrices are known for their narrow viewing angles, which leads to noticeable distortion of colors and contrast when deviating from the perpendicular viewing angle.
Contrast of TN panels also leaves much to be desired, usually not exceeding the ratio of 1000:1, which is significantly inferior to the indicators of VA and OLED matrices. Not to say that this is especially important in games, but if you also use the monitor for working with graphics or video, the result may not please you. The bet on TN panels is made due to the fact that they are better optimized for minimal response time, which can reach values less than 0.5 ms (GtG). For comparison, even high-performance IPS panels usually have a response time of at least 1 ms.
Technical limitations are not limited to PC components. 1080p signal transmission at 500Hz requires the use of an interface DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC support (Display Stream Compression) This may cause compatibility issues with some graphics cards or systems, especially older models.
Well, and finally – resolution. Oddly enough, such advanced technical products as monitors with a refresh rate of 500 Hz are usually equipped with matrices only Full HD. While there are plenty of 360Hz monitors with 2K panels on sale, you probably won't find top-end solutions with a resolution higher than Full HD even in 2024. This is because such monitors already process a huge data flow – more than 1.6 billion pixels per second – and increased resolution would overload them too much.
Should You Buy 500Hz Monitors?
500Hz monitors are a niche product aimed at professional eSports players and enthusiasts looking for maximum performance in competitive shooters. Although the achievement stable 500 FPS in most games remains a challenging task, these monitors provide unrivaled smoothness and minimal input lag when running in the 400-500 FPS range.
To fully exploit the potential of 500Hz monitors, not only high-performance hardware is required, but also careful optimization of the system and gaming settings. In the context of eSports, where every millisecond can be decisive, investing in such technologies can be justified for players seeking the maximum advantage. The same applies to specific professions where reaction and minimal delay when changing images are important.
However, for most casual users, including gaming enthusiasts, 240-360Hz monitors remain the optimal choice, offering a balance between high performance and a more affordable price. The future of display technology development will likely focus on achieving high refresh rates in combination with improved color reproduction and contrast, possibly using hybrid technologies.
