What gaming monitor do pros use? What happens if your FPS is higher than your refresh rate?

Professional gamers typically prioritize performance and response time over visual quality. Here are some key factors and examples of gaming monitors commonly used by pro gamers:

Key Factors Pro Gamers Look for:

  1. High Refresh Rate: Professional gamers prefer monitors with refresh rates of 144Hz, 240Hz, or even 360Hz. These high refresh rates ensure smoother gameplay, reducing input lag and making it easier to track fast-moving objects in competitive games.

  2. Low Response Time: A low response time (often measured in ms), typically around 1ms or less, is essential for reducing motion blur and ghosting, making gameplay feel more responsive.

  3. G-Sync/FreeSync Support: Pro gamers often use G-Sync (NVIDIA) or FreeSync (AMD) compatible monitors to prevent screen tearing and stuttering by syncing the monitor's refresh rate with the GPU's frame rate.

  4. Size and Resolution: 27-inch monitors are popular due to the balance between screen real estate and fast refresh rates. 1080p and 1440p resolutions are common choices for professional esports, where frame rate and response time are prioritized over ultra-high resolution.

Popular Monitors Used by Pro Gamers:

  • BenQ Zowie XL2546K:

    • A highly popular choice among FPS pros like those in CS:GO and Fortnite. It features a 240Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and DyAc+ technology to reduce motion blur.

  • Alienware AW2521H:

    • Known for its 360Hz refresh rate and NVIDIA G-Sync support, this is a go-to choice for elite esports players looking for the smoothest experience.

  • ASUS ROG Swift PG259QN:

    • A 360Hz monitor with a 1ms response time, favored for fast-paced competitive games like Valorant and Apex Legends.

  • Samsung Odyssey G7:

    • Offers a 240Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and a curved screen, making it popular for both competitive gaming and immersive single-player experiences.

What Happens if Your FPS is Higher Than Your Refresh Rate?

When your frames per second (FPS) exceeds your monitor's refresh rate, a few things can happen depending on your hardware setup and settings:

1. Screen Tearing:

  • What it is: Screen tearing occurs when the GPU outputs more frames than the monitor can display. This results in horizontal lines or visual artifacts where different parts of the screen show different frames.

  • Why it happens: The monitor is trying to display multiple frames in one refresh cycle, causing a mismatch between what the GPU is rendering and what the monitor is displaying.

  • Solution: Enabling V-Sync, G-Sync (NVIDIA), or FreeSync (AMD) can sync the GPU's frame output to the monitor's refresh rate, eliminating screen tearing and providing a smoother experience.

2. Unused Frames:

  • What it is: If your FPS exceeds the refresh rate, the extra frames that your GPU renders will go unused. The monitor can only display as many frames as its refresh rate supports. For example, if your FPS is 200 but your monitor is 120Hz, the monitor will display 120 frames, and the other 80 frames will not be used.

  • Impact: While this doesn't cause major issues, it wastes GPU power because it's rendering frames that the monitor can't display. This is usually not a big deal unless you’re trying to maximize performance for very high FPS.

  • Solution: If you’re experiencing screen tearing, consider using V-Sync or Adaptive Sync technologies to prevent the GPU from outputting unnecessary frames, which also helps maintain a consistent frame rate.

3. Input Lag Reduction:

  • Some gamers believe that running FPS higher than the monitor's refresh rate results in less input lag because the GPU renders more frames per second. However, in most cases, this can result in frame drops and inconsistent frame timing, which can actually increase input lag. Ensuring that your FPS is synced with the monitor’s refresh rate can lead to a more consistent experience.

Summary:

  • Pro Gamers use high-refresh-rate monitors like 240Hz or 360Hz to ensure smooth gameplay and minimal input lag. Monitors like the BenQ Zowie XL2546K and Alienware AW2521H are popular choices.

  • If your FPS exceeds the refresh rate, screen tearing is the most common issue. You can solve this by using V-Sync, G-Sync, or FreeSync to sync the FPS with the monitor's refresh rate.

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