Is 120Hz Good for Gaming?

As a passionate gamer, I’ve always been curious about what makes a great gaming experience. One of the most important elements of a great gaming experience is the refresh rate of the display. Recently, I’ve been hearing a lot about 120Hz gaming, and I wanted to find out whether it’s really as good as people say.

So, I decided to do some research and testing to learn more about this topic. In this blog post, I’ll be sharing my findings and exploring the benefits and potential drawbacks of 120Hz gaming.

A 120Hz TV will deliver a smoother viewing and gaming experience as the screen refreshes at a higher rate. You won’t experience any glitches, and the image will be more natural. However, you need to have a game that supports this number of images per second, or you won’t actually feel a big difference between a 60Hz and a 120Hz TV.

Aspect	30Hz Refresh Rate	60Hz Refresh Rate	120Hz Refresh Rate
Image Smoothness	Low	Moderate	High
Response Time	Slow	Faster	Fastest
Gaming Experience	Limited	Good	Best
Game Compatibility	High	High	Limited*
Price	Low	Moderate	High
Potential Impact on Skills	Low	Moderate	High

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If you’re considering buying a new 4K TV to enjoy your favorite gaming console, you’re probably confused about the refresh rate. So, what does 120Hz mean?

The Hz or hertz is a frequency unit that measures how many times your screen refreshes per second, or what we call the refresh rate. When you have a TV with a higher refresh rate, new information will appear on your screen faster, so there will be no lag, and you’ll be able to see all the details on the screen. However, you’re also governed by the frame rate of your game.

Having a 120Hz TV means that 120 new images will appear every second, so you’ll have a natural, smoother image with no weird cuts or glitches. If the game you’re playing supports 120Hz, you can enjoy an incredible gaming experience.

In general, texts, animation, and fast-paced scenes will appear better. Some people believe that this can positively impact your abilities as a player, so you can even play better.

This might be true, especially in first-shooter or fast-paced games. When the images render smoothly, you’ll be able to locate and hit your targets accurately while different objects are moving on the screen.

What is the Frame Rate of Games?

The frame rate or fps is the number of frames delivered from the game to your TV per second. This depends on the game’s setup and the operating system of your TV.

If you have a new TV, the system will have higher fps and deliver a smoother image. However, an older TV will struggle, and the image will appear as if it’s glitching, although it’s not.

For an excellent gaming experience, you need to be able to run your games at a high fps, while the TV can refresh the images at a higher rate. So, without a system that supports higher fps, you won’t be able to benefit much from the higher refresh rate.

What is the Difference Between a 30Hz, 60Hz, and 120Hz TV?

The refresh rate is mentioned in the specifications of the TV you’re buying. Most TVs have refresh rates that are either 30Hz, 60Hz, or 120Hz. However, you can find some other rates like 50Hz and 144Hz, although they’re less common.

This rate refers to how many new images will appear on the screen. For example, a 120Hz screen will show a new image or detail every eighth millisecond, while a 60Hz screen will show a new detail every 16^th millisecond. A 30Hz screen will show a new image and detail almost every half a second.

Scientists are still debating the number of frames per second the human eye is able to perceive. Some believe that humans can see between 30 to 60 frames per second, while others claim that they can see more than 60 frames per second.

The difference between a 30Hz and a 120Hz can be noticeable. You can see how smooth the image is, and this will help you focus on the details of the game. The difference between a 60Hz and a 120Hz isn’t that noticeable all the time.

In some cases, you’ll find a TV that states that it has a motion rate of 120Hz, but not a refresh rate of 120Hz. This means that it can display 60 frames per second, but it simulates the display. As a result, you’ll experience a smoother image that very much mimics that of the 120Hz screen for a more affordable price.

Do I Need to Buy a 120Hz Gaming TV?

With more advancements in gaming graphics with the newest game consoles, you need to invest in a TV to support this video output. However, there aren’t currently many games that support 120Hz, so you might not need to switch to 120Hz right away. However, this should definitely be on your to-do list if you’re an avid gamer.

Pros of 120Hz Gaming

120Hz TVs provide a smoother viewing and gaming experience

Image quality is more natural and no glitches are experienced
Faster response time and improved gaming ability

Cons of 120Hz Gaming

120Hz TVs are more expensive

Not many games currently support 120Hz refresh rates
Motion Rate of 120Hz TVs mimics the display of a 120Hz TV, but doesn’t provide the same level of performance

Conclusion

Getting a 120Hz TV for gaming will definitely deliver a smoother image, but only if your game supports that many frames per second. Currently, there aren’t many games that support 120Hz, but more are to follow in the future. However, if you play one, the 120Hz screen will give you an edge while playing because your game renders smoothly.