Buzz
At this year’s CES, Nvidia and Asus revealed a new esports-oriented monitor capable of reaching 360Hz at 1080p resolution. However, even if you’re improving at games like CS:GO and aiming to elevate your performance, such a monitor is likely unnecessary for most players.
Currently, 240Hz represents the gold standard for professional-grade gaming monitors. A 360Hz monitor with G-Sync—allowing your GPU to push up to 360 frames per second without visual artifacts—is undoubtedly impressive. Yet, despite the allure of such a significant spec jump, this advancement holds little relevance for casual or even semi-serious gamers, especially given its rumored price tag exceeding $1,000.
Beyond screen size and resolution, refresh rate is a critical factor for PC gamers, as it determines how many times a monitor can refresh the displayed image per second. While your PC’s hardware and the game you’re playing influence the actual framerate, the monitor itself sets a limit on how quickly it can update the screen.
Most gamers don’t achieve 360 frames per second
This leads us to the first of two reasons why the leap from 240Hz to 360Hz is largely irrelevant. The majority of games and PCs simply cannot reach 360 frames per second. For AAA titles, players often adjust their graphics settings to balance visual quality with smooth performance, typically settling around 60fps or lower, depending on their preferences.
For example, I recently tested a high-end gaming desktop and enjoyed playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Control at nearly 90fps with maxed-out settings. However, such a setup costs over $5,000, making it inaccessible for most gamers for the foreseeable future.
Esports, however, shifts the dynamics slightly. Older titles like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Starcraft, which remain popular in competitive gaming, are less graphically intensive, allowing for extremely high framerates. Similarly, games like DOTA or League of Legends aren’t demanding on hardware. Competitive players often prioritize higher framerates over visual quality to gain a slight edge, making 360fps achievable in these scenarios.
The transition from 240Hz to 360Hz isn’t as significant as it may seem
While I’m not at CES to experience it firsthand, reports from various outlets that tested the ASUS ROG Swift 360Hz indicate that the differences between 240Hz and 360Hz are minimal at most.
Jessica Conditt from Engadget observed that she could interpret animations faster in Counter-Strike, resulting in improved response times. However, she noted that these changes were subtle and likely only noticeable to professional gamers.
In summary, if you’re a professional gamer or have the financial means to invest in top-tier equipment without hesitation, a 360Hz monitor isn’t a gimmick—it does offer some benefits. However, if your gaming sessions mostly involve titles like Civilization VI or Stardew Valley, it’s not worth stretching your budget. For most of us, the advantages of such technology remain out of reach.
