I PAid More for This Computer Monitor Because I Can’t Live Without Its Best Feature
Summary
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I have a secondary 100Hz monitor, and it is much smoother than my old 60Hz monitor.
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100Hz hits the sweet spot, as it’s significantly smoother than 60Hz while still being affordable.
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Even for a secondary monitor, you should probably avoid 60Hz, unless you can find a cheap used one.
I used to think refresh rate only mattered for gaming. My secondary monitor was just there to display static text, while I opted for a 240Hz 1440p primary display. Nonetheless, I decided to spend a little more to get a secondary 100Hz monitor, and now I’m glad I did.
There is no longer any reason to buy a 60 Hz monitor
Before we dive in, here’s a quick explanation for those of you who aren’t familiar with the term “refresh rate.” It refers to the number of times per second that a screen updates its content (to keep things simple, let’s assume FPS equals refresh rate).
A 60 Hz screen refreshes 60 times per second, while a 100 Hz screen refreshes 100 times per second. This is why a higher refresh rate results in smoother movements and animations.
To be honest, I think 60Hz monitors are slowly becoming a thing of the past, and that’s a good thing. Depending on where you buy monitors, you may not even encounter 60Hz displays anymore, as they are largely replaced by higher refresh rate models even in the professional segment.
I looked through some monitors on Amazon and had to scroll a bit to find one with 60Hz, the SAMSUNG LC24F390FHNXZA. Humorously, its feature set doesn’t match its price at all, so it’s probably an older model that just never managed to sell.
In reality, when you’re browsing Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, or any other online storefront, you’ll likely come across refresh rates of at least 100 Hz. Even when you find 60 Hz monitors, they’re usually only $10 to $20 cheaper, so it’s not really a good deal.
It makes more sense to spend a little more on one of these affordable high refresh rate displays and use it as a secondary monitor, rather than struggle with an unstable 60Hz panel for years.
Deeply discounted gaming monitors are usually the best deal, as they can offer refresh rates of 144Hz or higher, plus additional features for the same price as a standard pro monitor. Some good examples that I would consider for a secondary display are the ASUS TUF VG249QE5A, Philips 241V8LB and ASUS VA249HG.
- Brand
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ASUS
- Screen size
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24″
The ASUS TUF Gaming VG249QE5A is the perfect 24-inch secondary monitor, as it offers a 1080p IPS panel with a 144Hz refresh rate. If you’re on a budget, it could even serve as your primary gaming monitor, thanks to its smooth refresh rate and 1ms response time.
The only reason to consider a 60Hz secondary monitor is if you can find a used one locally for an incredibly low price. Personally, I set the limit at around $40 for a used monitor, because you can never really know its age or condition. To me, it makes more sense to spend $100 on a new unit with a high refresh rate and use it for years as a secondary monitor.
100 Hz is the right balance between cost and smoothness
After my old secondary monitor, which I had used for 15 years, caught fire last year, I casually searched for a replacement over the past few months.
I wasn’t sure if I should buy a cheap used 60Hz monitor, as that was one of the things that always bothered me about my old secondary monitor. At the time it was a 19-inch 1440×900 screen installed next to a 1080p 140Hz monitor, and the transition between the two always seemed laggy. Now that I have a 240Hz monitor, I knew that going from 240Hz to 60Hz when moving windows would be even more jarring.
That’s why I decided to pay a little more for a quality monitor that comes with a warranty and will likely last for many years. I finally came across the MSI PRO MP252. I had a pretty basic list of requirements, and this monitor checked all the boxes: at least 24 inches, IPS panel, 100Hz+ refresh rate, DisplayPort and HDMI connectivity, and a VESA mount so I could attach it to a monitor arm. At less than $100, I considered it a reasonable price, especially since most of the gaming monitors I reviewed didn’t have VESA support, which was a deal breaker for me.
- Brand
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MSI
- Screen size
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25″
The MSI PRO MP252 is a 24.5-inch professional monitor with a resolution of 1920×1080 and a refresh rate of 100 Hz. It supports adaptive sync, is VESA mountable, has built-in speakers, and includes several Eye Care features to help protect your eyesight.
The second I installed my new monitor, I knew I made the right choice. I tried the classic refresh rate test, sliding a window up and down on both screens, and while I could notice the difference between the two, it wasn’t as dramatic as one might expect given the gap between 100Hz and 240Hz.
In fact, I can barely tell the difference between my 120Hz TV and my 240Hz monitor in non-competitive gaming, so using a 100Hz display for everyday Windows tasks is more than enough.
I know 100 Hz doesn’t sound like much, but it actually is: 100 Hz is 66.7% faster than 60 Hz, and that’s a difference that almost everyone can feel. This makes any modern computer much smoother to use. Even though the average person can’t say it exactly Why their PC runs smoother with a high refresh rate display, they’ll notice the difference.
Surprisingly, what bothered me the most was the 1080p resolution, since I was so used to my 1440p monitor. However, given the significantly higher prices of 1440p monitors, it’s not something I’m willing to spend more money on for a secondary display.
Whether you buy a primary or secondary monitor, make sure it has a high refresh rate. Unlike other gamer-oriented features, like low response time or Adaptive Sync, a high refresh rate is noticeable even during basic web browsing or everyday tasks. Definitely worth spending a few extra dollars!
