700Hz Monitor: How Many FPS Do You Really Need?

To actually benefit from a 700Hz monitor, you need a frame rate that is at least as high as the refresh rate—so 700 FPS or more—but you only need that in fast-paced esports titles where every millisecond matters. For most games and everyday use, a 700Hz display will look identical to a 360Hz or 500Hz panel because the human eye perceives motion smoothly beyond a certain point. This article explains the real relationship between FPS and refresh rate, what 700Hz actually offers, and how to decide if it’s worth chasing.

What Does 700Hz Actually Mean?

A monitor’s refresh rate is the number of times per second the screen redraws the image. A 700Hz panel updates 700 times per second, so each frame is displayed for about 1.43 milliseconds. For comparison, a 60Hz monitor holds each frame for 16.67ms, and a 144Hz monitor for 6.94ms. The higher the refresh rate, the lower the time between updates, which reduces motion blur and input lag.

However, the monitor can only display as many frames as your graphics card sends. If your GPU outputs 200 FPS, a 700Hz monitor will show those 200 frames, each repeated several times. The extra refresh cycles go unused. So the benefit of 700Hz is only realized when your FPS is also around 700.

The FPS-Refresh Rate Relationship

To get the full benefit of any monitor, your FPS should match or exceed the refresh rate. This is because the monitor can only show a new frame when it receives one. If your FPS is lower than the refresh rate, the monitor will show some frames twice, which can cause micro-stutter and increased input lag.

Here’s a simple breakdown:

• FPS < Refresh Rate: The monitor repeats frames. You see smooth motion but not the full potential of the display.
• FPS = Refresh Rate: Each frame is shown exactly once, giving the smoothest possible motion.
• FPS > Refresh Rate: The monitor cannot display all frames, so it drops or tears them. V-Sync or G-Sync/FreeSync can help, but you still don’t see beyond the refresh rate.

So for a 700Hz monitor, you want at least 700 FPS in the games you play to see every frame. In practice, that’s only achievable in esports titles like Counter-Strike 2, Valorant, or Overwatch 2 on low settings with a top-tier CPU and GPU.

Can the Human Eye Even See 700Hz?

This is the most common question, and the answer is nuanced. The human eye doesn’t have a fixed “FPS limit.” Instead, our visual system processes continuous motion, and we can detect differences in refresh rates up to very high levels—especially in fast-moving scenes. Studies have shown that people can perceive flicker up to 500Hz or more, and some research suggests that the brain can process information at rates equivalent to 1000 FPS.

However, the practical benefit of going from 360Hz to 700Hz is much smaller than going from 60Hz to 144Hz. The difference between 500Hz and 700Hz is only 0.57ms per frame, which is barely noticeable even for professional esports players. In double-blind tests, most people cannot reliably tell the difference between a 500Hz and 700Hz monitor when both are running at their native refresh rates.

Real-World Scenarios: Where 700Hz Helps

700Hz is not for everyone. It’s specifically designed for competitive gaming where reaction times are measured in milliseconds. Here are the scenarios where it genuinely helps:

• Esports titles: Games like CS2, Valorant, and Rocket League can run at 700 FPS on powerful hardware, especially with reduced graphics settings.
• Motion clarity: In fast-paced scenes, a 700Hz display reduces motion blur and makes moving objects appear sharper, which can help you track enemies.
• Input lag: Higher refresh rates reduce the time between your mouse input and the screen updating, which can give a slight competitive edge.

For single-player games, 4K gaming, or content creation, 700Hz is overkill. You’ll rarely hit 700 FPS in demanding titles, and the visual difference from a 240Hz or 360Hz monitor is negligible.

How to Get 700 FPS

Reaching 700 FPS requires a very powerful system. Here are the key factors:

1. CPU: The processor must be able to handle the game’s logic and physics at high frame rates. Modern top-end CPUs like the Intel Core i9-13900K or AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D can push 700+ FPS in esports titles when paired with fast RAM.
2. GPU: A high-end graphics card like the NVIDIA RTX 4090 or AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX is needed, but even these may struggle at 1080p in some games. You’ll often need to lower settings to reach 700 FPS.
3. RAM: Fast memory (DDR5 with low latency) helps the CPU feed frames quickly.
4. Game settings: Lowering resolution to 1080p and turning off shadows, anti-aliasing, and other effects can significantly boost FPS.

For example, in CS2 at 1080p with low settings, a top-tier system can hit 700 FPS. In Valorant, it’s also possible. But in a game like Cyberpunk 2077, even the best hardware won’t come close.

Common Misconceptions

There are several myths about high refresh rates that need clearing up:

• “More FPS than refresh rate is useless” – Actually, having FPS higher than the refresh rate can reduce input lag, even if you don’t see all the frames. This is because the monitor can pick the most recent frame to display, reducing the time between your action and the screen update.
• “You need 700 FPS to benefit” – Not necessarily. Even if you only get 400 FPS, a 700Hz monitor will still display those 400 frames smoothly, and you’ll have lower input lag than on a 360Hz monitor (which would show 360 of those frames).
• “700Hz is a marketing gimmick” – It’s not a gimmick, but it’s a niche product. The technology is real, and it does reduce motion blur, but the practical benefit over 360Hz is small.

Cost and Alternatives

700Hz monitors are extremely expensive, often costing more than a high-end gaming PC. They are also rare, with only a few models released as of 2024. If you’re not a professional esports player, a 240Hz or 360Hz monitor offers a much better price-to-performance ratio.

Alternatives to consider:

• 360Hz monitors: These are more affordable and still offer excellent motion clarity. They’re a sweet spot for competitive gaming.
• 240Hz monitors: Great for most gamers, especially if you play a mix of titles.
• 144Hz monitors: The minimum recommended for smooth gaming, and much cheaper.

Remember, the monitor is only one part of the system. You also need a PC that can push high FPS, otherwise the monitor is wasted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need 700 FPS to use a 700Hz monitor?

No, you don’t need 700 FPS to use the monitor, but you need it to see the full benefit. If your FPS is lower, the monitor will still work, but you won’t see more than your FPS. For example, at 200 FPS, a 700Hz monitor looks the same as a 200Hz monitor.

Is 700Hz noticeable compared to 360Hz?

In controlled tests, most people cannot reliably tell the difference between 360Hz and 700Hz. The improvement in motion clarity is there, but it’s very subtle. Professional esports players might notice a slight reduction in input lag, but for the average gamer, it’s not worth the premium price.

Can a console run 700 FPS?

No. Current consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are capped at 120Hz output, and most games run at 30-60 FPS. 700Hz is a PC-only feature.

What games can actually run at 700 FPS?

Only lightweight esports titles can reach 700 FPS, and only on high-end PCs. Examples include CS2, Valorant, Overwatch 2, Rocket League, and Fortnite (with performance mode). Triple-A games are far too demanding.

Does a 700Hz monitor reduce eye strain?

Higher refresh rates can reduce eye strain for some people because there is less flicker, but the effect is minimal. Eye strain is more related to brightness, contrast, and how long you stare at the screen. A 700Hz monitor won’t solve that.

Is 700Hz worth the money?

Only for professional esports players or extremely competitive gamers who have the hardware to hit 700 FPS. For everyone else, a 360Hz or 240Hz monitor offers nearly the same experience for a fraction of the cost.

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