To put it simply, a refresh rate refers to the number of times your screen refreshes the display per second. Measured in hertz (Hz), it’s sometimes referred to as the flickering frequency.

Frame rate is the frequency in which videos and games can display frames. Basically, when you’re watching a video, you’re looking at hundreds of still frames, flashing one after another to make it look like it’s moving.

Measured in frames per second (fps), video games are usually at 30 to 60 fps while YouTube caps out at 60 fps.

If your GPU is capable of displaying 120 fps, a 60 Hz monitor can only show half of those frames. On the other hand, a 120 Hz monitor will be wasted on a GPU that can only show 60 fps.

If you often play first-person shooter games: Global Offensive, then a higher refresh rate can really make a difference.

For starters, the more frames that a monitor is showing, the more information the player has. When you have more data in your hands, the better you are at making split second decisions which are crucial for fast-paced action.

A higher refresh rate also reduces input lag. This is the time that passes between you making a move and your monitor showing that action.