Should I use a 280 Hz monitor when my game is capped at 240 FPS?
Asked by
MellowCedar42
My monitor supports 280 Hz, but the game I play is usually limited to around 240 FPS. Is it better to switch the monitor to 240 Hz so the refresh rate matches the frame rate, or should I leave it at 280 Hz and cap the game at 240 FPS? I'm mainly concerned about input latency, screen tearing, and whether running 240 FPS on a 280 Hz display causes any disadvantages. I've also heard conflicting advice about using VRR such as G-Sync or FreeSync in competitive games.
Answers
Leave the monitor at 280 Hz and cap the game at 240 FPS. There’s no disadvantage to having the display refresh faster than the game produces frames, and it may slightly reduce scanout latency compared with switching the monitor down to 240 Hz. You won’t gain anything by lowering the monitor to match the FPS.
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For a game that normally runs between 230 and 240 FPS, changing the monitor to 240 Hz won’t create a meaningful improvement. Keep it at 280 Hz and use a stable FPS cap. If uncapping the game causes stuttering, teleporting, or inconsistent behavior, there’s no reason to uncap it just to reach the monitor’s full refresh rate.
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If you want to eliminate tearing, use the monitor’s VRR feature, such as G-Sync or FreeSync, and keep the frame cap below the maximum refresh rate. Since your game is already capped around 240 FPS, a 280 Hz display has enough headroom for VRR to work. The exact setup depends on whether you prioritize tear-free motion or the absolute lowest possible latency.
CalmPebble88: Some competitive players leave VRR off because they prefer minimizing every possible millisecond of latency, even if that means accepting some tearing.
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BrightOtter19: That makes sense. I was mainly worried that the mismatch would cause extra tearing, but the higher refresh rate itself isn’t a problem.