Many gamers upgrade their GPU and notice their frame rate jump above 200 FPS, even hitting 240 FPS in competitive titles. But when using a 144Hz monitor, the question arises: Can a 144Hz monitor run 240 FPS?
This matters because your monitor plays a direct role in how many frames you actually see, no matter how fast your graphics card is.
A 144Hz monitor can receive 240 FPS from your GPU, but it cannot display more than 144 frames per second.
Everything above 144 FPS is simply not shown on screen.
Still, there are important details to understand—such as how extra FPS improves input responsiveness, the difference between rendered vs displayed frames, and whether upgrading to 240Hz is worth it.
This guide breaks everything down clearly.
Can a 144Hz Monitor Run 240 FPS?
A 144Hz monitor cannot display 240 FPS. It will only show 144 frames per second, no matter how high your GPU pushes the FPS.
Your monitor’s refresh rate is the maximum number of times per second it can update the image.
- A 144Hz monitor refreshes the screen 144 times per second.
- Even if your GPU renders 240 FPS, the monitor will still only display 144 of those 240 frames.
This means:
- The GPU may produce 240 FPS,
- But the user only sees 144 FPS on a 144Hz display.
However, there are reasons some gamers still prefer running higher FPS even on lower refresh rate monitors, which we cover below.
Understanding Refresh Rate vs FPS
What is Refresh Rate?
Refresh rate (Hz) is how many times a monitor updates the image every second.
- 60Hz = 60 new images per second
- 144Hz = 144 new images per second
- 240Hz = 240 new images per second
What is FPS?
FPS (frames per second) is how many frames your GPU renders.
Your GPU can exceed your monitor’s refresh rate, but your monitor cannot exceed its limit.
How They Work Together
The display can only show as many frames as it refreshes.
Even if FPS > Hz, you will not “see” the additional frames on screen.
What Happens if You Run 240 FPS on a 144Hz Monitor?
If your GPU generates 240 FPS, but your monitor is limited to 144Hz, several outcomes occur:
1. The monitor discards extra frames
Only 144 out of 240 frames are shown.
The remaining frames are never displayed.
2. You may experience screen tearing
Because FPS exceeds Hz, the GPU sends new frames before the monitor updates.
This can cause visible tearing unless you use:
- V-Sync
- FreeSync
- G-Sync
- Frame capping (e.g., limiting FPS to 141)
3. Input latency can still improve
This surprises many people:
Running higher FPS than your refresh rate still reduces input lag, even if you don’t see all the extra frames.
Competitive players commonly run:
- 300 FPS on 144Hz
- 500 FPS on 240Hz
Higher FPS lowers the delay between GPU processing and visual output, which benefits responsiveness.
Advantages of Running Higher FPS on a 144Hz Monitor
1. Lower Input Delay
More frames rendered improves input response, even on a capped display.
This is why esports players run extremely high FPS values.
2. Smoother Frame Delivery
Even though you don’t see 240 frames, the GPU consistently sending a higher number of frames reduces microstutter.
3. Better G-Sync / FreeSync Performance
Adaptive sync technologies work best when GPU FPS exceeds the monitor’s lower refresh thresholds.
4. Reduced Motion Blur and Judder
High FPS means fewer fluctuations, which can reduce motion inconsistency.
Disadvantages of Running Higher FPS Than Your Refresh Rate
1. Wasted GPU Power
Your graphics card is working harder than necessary.
Rendering 240 FPS when you only see 144 FPS uses:
- More electricity
- More heat
- More noise
- More GPU utilization
2. Increased Screen Tearing
Higher FPS mismatched with lower Hz increases tearing without adaptive sync.
3. Higher Temperatures
Continuously rendering unnecessary frames can raise temperatures during gaming.
If you want to reduce these drawbacks, simply cap FPS (e.g., limit to 141 for a 144Hz monitor).
Should You Upgrade to a 240Hz Monitor?
If your PC consistently reaches 240 FPS and you play competitive titles, upgrading can offer real benefits:
Benefits of a 240Hz monitor:
- Updates the screen 96 more times per second than 144Hz
- Over 40% reduction in motion blur
- Noticeably improved responsiveness
- Better tracking in fast shooters
- Smoother target acquisition
- Reduced ghosting and trailing
Who benefits the most?
- FPS players (Valorant, CS2, Apex, Overwatch)
- Competitive and esports gamers
- High refresh rate enthusiasts
- Users with GPUs that exceed 200–300 FPS
If you mainly play AAA titles or slower-paced games, 144Hz may already be enough.
When Does 240 FPS Matter Most?
Competitive gaming environments:
- First-person shooters
- Battle royale
- Racing games
- Rhythm games
In these genres, extra frames equal better reaction accuracy.
A 240Hz monitor ensures you see all 240 FPS properly.
When it matters less:
- RPGs
- Simulators
- Strategy games
- Single-player cinematic titles
These genres don’t benefit as much from extremely high frame rates.
Is There Any Way to Make a 144Hz Monitor Show 240 FPS?
No.
A 144Hz panel is physically limited by its refresh rate.
You cannot force it to display more frames than it is engineered to refresh.
Even overclocking most monitors only increases refresh rate slightly (e.g., to 150Hz or 165Hz).
Overclocking from 144Hz to 240Hz is not possible.
FAQ: People Also Ask
Can you get 240 FPS on a 144Hz monitor?
Yes, your PC can generate 240 FPS, but the monitor will only display 144 FPS.
Does higher FPS matter on a 144Hz monitor?
Yes. Higher FPS reduces input delay and can still improve responsiveness even if the monitor doesn’t display every frame.
Should I cap my FPS on a 144Hz monitor?
Many gamers cap their FPS to 141 or 144 to prevent tearing and reduce GPU load.
Is 240Hz noticeably better than 144Hz?
For competitive gaming, yes. The motion clarity and response time improvements are significant.
Do I need a 240Hz monitor for 240 FPS?
If you want to fully see all 240 frames, then yes. Otherwise, you are losing the visual benefit.
Conclusion: Can a 144Hz Monitor Run 240 FPS?
A 144Hz monitor cannot display 240 FPS, but your system can still produce it.
The monitor will only show 144 frames per second, but higher frame rates can still:
- Reduce input lag
- Smooth out frame delivery
- Improve responsiveness
If you regularly hit 240 FPS and want to maximize visibility and responsiveness, upgrading to a 240Hz monitor is a worthwhile improvement.To see whether your system is balanced for high-FPS gaming, you can check it using a bottleneck tool such as the Bottleneck Calculator