Is 170 Hz Good for Gaming? | A Real-World Look at the Refresh Race

Yes, a 170 Hz monitor is a strong choice for gaming, offering noticeably smoother motion than standard 60 Hz displays.

For the full breakdown, see our best 170 Hz Monitor guide.

Most gamers upgrading from a 60 Hz or 144 Hz screen find the jump to 170 Hz a meaningful step up in fluidity, especially in fast-paced titles. This refresh rate sits comfortably in the premium mainstream tier, balancing performance and price. Whether it’s the right choice for you, however, depends on your hardware, the games you play, and your budget.

What Does 170 Hz Actually Do for Gaming?

A monitor’s refresh rate, measured in Hertz (Hz), dictates how many times per second the screen updates its image. A 170 Hz panel refreshes 170 times per second, which is nearly three times faster than a standard 60 Hz display. The most immediate benefit is a reduction in motion blur and perceived lag, which helps you track moving targets and react to on-screen action with greater precision.

The practical payoffs are most pronounced in games where quick reactions matter. ASUS explicitly names competitive shooters, racing, and sports titles as the genres that benefit most from its 170 Hz monitors. In these scenarios, the smoother motion makes it easier to follow a target’s movement and reduces the visual “judder” that can occur on slower displays.

This advantage isn’t just about raw smoothness. 170 Hz panels are also commonly paired with adaptive-sync technologies like G-SYNC Compatible and FreeSync Premium. These features eliminate screen tearing and stuttering by syncing the monitor’s refresh rate to your GPU’s frame output, creating a more consistent and enjoyable gaming experience.

Is 170 Hz Better Than 144 Hz for Gaming?

The difference between 144 Hz and 170 Hz is noticeable but not night-and-day. For gamers, the jump from 60 Hz to 144 Hz is a transformative experience; the move from 144 Hz to 170 Hz is more of a refinement. It offers a small but measurable improvement in motion clarity, which some competitive players appreciate.

Choosing between them often comes down to price and availability. As 170 Hz panels have become more common, they’re frequently priced similarly to their 144 Hz counterparts, making them a compelling option for new builds. The key is to ensure your GPU can actually push high frame rates to take advantage of the extra headroom. If you’re already on a 144 Hz monitor, upgrading solely for a 26 Hz increase may not be the best use of funds. But if you’re buying new, 170 Hz is a worthwhile step up.

What to Check Before You Buy a 170 Hz Monitor

Here’s what to look for on a spec sheet and why it matters:

• Your GPU’s power: A 170 Hz monitor is only as good as the hardware driving it. If your graphics card can’t produce high frame rates in the games you enjoy, the display’s potential goes unused. You need a GPU that can output well over 170 frames per second—or at least consistently high frames—to see the benefit.
• Port and cable limits: Not every connection supports the full refresh rate. Asus notes that 170 Hz output on some models requires a DisplayPort connection. For example, the MSI Optix G27C4 E2 listing on Newegg says DisplayPort supports up to 170 Hz, while its HDMI 2.0 ports max out at 144 Hz. Always check the monitor’s port specifications to ensure your setup can hit the advertised rate.
• Resolution and your setup: 170 Hz panels are available in both 1080p (FHD) and 1440p (QHD) resolutions. The MSI G2722 offers a 1920 x 1080 IPS panel, making it easier to drive to high frame rates, while models like the AOC AG275QXR and MSI G321Q offer 2560 x 1440 QHD sharpness, which demands more from your GPU.
• Refresh rate vs. response time: These are separate specs. Refresh rate is how often the image updates; response time (like 1 ms MPRT) is how fast a pixel changes color. Both reduce motion blur, but they work differently. Don’t confuse the two when comparing monitors.

The Bottom Line

For PC gamers building a new rig or upgrading from an older 60 Hz monitor, 170 Hz is an excellent sweet spot. It provides a major boost in motion clarity for competitive and fast-paced games without the premium price tag of 240 Hz or 360 Hz panels. A word of caution: 170 Hz is a display capability, not a performance guarantee—your GPU still needs to deliver the frames.

When you’re ready to see what’s out there, our roundup of the best 170 Hz monitors is a solid place to start your research.