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120Hz vs 144Hz: does the extra 24 Hz matter?

Don't agonise over 120 vs 144 — the gap is tiny. Choose based on your platform and panel: 120 Hz if you're console-centric or want HDMI 2.1 TV compatibility, 144 Hz if you're buying a PC gaming monitor where it's the default. Neither will feel meaningfully different in normal use.

The small step between console high-refresh and the PC gaming standard.

144 Hz refreshes only 1.2× more often than 120 Hz — every 6.94 ms versus 8.33 ms, a difference of just 1.39 ms per frame. This is one of the smallest meaningful steps on the refresh-rate ladder. 120 Hz is the console and TV high-refresh standard; 144 Hz is the long-standing PC gaming monitor default, so the comparison is really about which ecosystem your display targets rather than a dramatic perceptual gap.

By TechCompare · Updated

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Visualise 120 vs 144 FPS motion
See just how small the 120-to-144 gap is.
Compare 60 Hz vs 144 Hz instead
The upgrade that actually feels dramatic.
Check DP 1.4 for 1440p 144 Hz
The mainstream PC 1440p 144 Hz cable scenario.

Both lanes move at the same speed. In real use, the step from 120 to 144 is subtle, a useful reality check before paying a premium for the extra 24 Hz.

120 fps
144 fps

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Option A
120 Hz
Wins 1 of 8 compared specs
Option B
144 Hz
Wins 4 of 8 compared specs

Side-by-side specs

Spec120 Hz144 Hz
Refresh rate
120 Hz
144 Hz
Frame time
8.33 ms
6.94 ms (better on this spec)
Frames per second (cap)
120 fps
144 fps (better on this spec)
Perceived difference
Baseline
Marginal (better on this spec)
Input-to-display latency
~12-18 ms
~10-15 ms (better on this spec)
Typical ecosystem
Consoles, TVs
PC gaming monitors
GPU load difference
1.0×
~1.2×
Worth the upgrade alone?
- (better on this spec)
Not on its own

How they differ

Both rates sit well past the steep part of the perceptual curve, so the 120 → 144 jump is subtle for most people — far less noticeable than 60 → 120. The practical differences are minor: about 1.4 ms less frame time and a sliver less motion blur. The bigger considerations are ecosystem and sync: 120 Hz is friendlier to consoles and HDMI 2.1 TVs, while 144 Hz is the most common native rate on PC gaming monitors and pairs cleanly with DisplayPort. Either way, the GPU cost difference between sustaining 120 and 144 fps is small.

Verdict

Numbers-wise, the difference is 1.39 ms of frame time (8.33 ms versus 6.94 ms) and 2-3 ms of input latency, both well past the steep part of the perceptual curve where humans actually feel the change. Both rates read as smooth at real speed, which is why neither wins a perceptual argument. The real differentiator is ecosystem: HDMI 2.1 TVs and PS5/Series X consoles live at 120 Hz, while PC gaming monitors with native DisplayPort default to 144 Hz.

Visualise 120 vs 144 FPS motion

Which should you pick?

Choose 120 Hz

Pick 120 Hz when your display is a TV or console-focused panel, or when 120 Hz is the highest your HDMI 2.1 setup cleanly supports at your resolution.

Choose 144 Hz

Pick 144 Hz on PC gaming monitors where it's the native default, you're on DisplayPort, and you want the slightly lower frame time for fast competitive play.

Check DP 1.4 bandwidth for 1440p 144 Hz

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Frequently asked questions

Can you actually see the difference between 120 Hz and 144 Hz?
Barely. The frame interval difference is just 1.39 ms (8.33 ms vs 6.94 ms). Both rates sit well past the steep part of the perceptual curve, so the felt difference is subtle for most people. Far less noticeable than 60 to 120. Choose based on ecosystem fit, not perceptual gap.
Is 144 Hz better for PC gaming and 120 Hz better for consoles?
Yes, that's the practical split. 120 Hz is the HDMI 2.1 standard that PS5 and Xbox Series X target. 144 Hz is the long-standing PC gaming monitor default, native to DisplayPort. Choose based on your platform. The 24 Hz difference doesn't matter perceptually.
Is upgrading from 120 Hz to 144 Hz worth it?
No, not on its own. The 1.39 ms frame-time gap is too small to feel. Only step up if you're already buying a new monitor and 144 Hz costs the same as 120 Hz. Don't replace a working 120 Hz display just for the extra 24 Hz.

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