Performance
High Refresh Rate Gaming: Hardware Targets for 144Hz, 240Hz and 360Hz
What it actually takes to feed a 144 / 240 / 360 Hz monitor without bottlenecks.
6 min read·March 4, 2026
The CPU bill
Higher refresh = more frames per second = more work for the CPU. Doubling FPS from 144 to 240 roughly doubles draw-call load. Many builds that look balanced at 60 Hz get exposed at 240 Hz.
Realistic targets
| Refresh | Game type | Realistic CPU | Realistic GPU |
|---|---|---|---|
| 144 Hz | AAA at 1080p | i5-12400F / R5 5600 | RTX 4060 |
| 144 Hz | AAA at 1440p | R5 5600 / i5-13400F | RTX 4060 Ti / 4070 |
| 240 Hz | esports at 1080p | i5-13600K / R5 7600 | RTX 4070 |
| 240 Hz | AAA at 1440p | R7 7800X3D / 14600K | RTX 4070 Super / 4080 |
| 360 Hz | esports at 1080p | 7800X3D / 14700K | RTX 4070 Ti Super+ |
Where things go wrong
- Underestimating the CPU cost. People upgrade to a 240Hz monitor with the same i5-9400F and wonder why FPS is unchanged.
- Forgetting that 1% lows matter more than headline FPS at 240 Hz, where every dropped frame is visible.
- Leaving V-Sync on. Use G-Sync / FreeSync + an in-game frame cap a few below max refresh.
Test before you buy
Run the FPS calculator at the resolution + game you actually play. If the estimate is below your monitor refresh, the monitor is overkill until you upgrade hardware.
Related reading
Run your own numbers
Open the free bottleneck calculator or estimate FPS with the FPS calculator.