What is Refresh Rate on a Screen?
Understand what refresh rate means, how it affects your viewing experience, and what to consider when choosing a screen.
Applies To
All CommBox Touchscreens and Commercial Displays
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1
Know what refresh rate means
Refresh rate is the number of times your screen updates the image every second. It’s measured in Hertz (Hz).
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For example, a 60Hz screen refreshes 60 times per second.
Refer to CommBox Product Spec Sheets for the details of the refresh rates for each screen.
Step 2
Understand why refresh rate matters
A higher refresh rate creates smoother motion on your screen.
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60Hz: Standard for most tasks like web browsing, presentations, and documents.
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120Hz: Smoother visuals, ideal for video playback and light animation.
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144Hz and above: Great for gaming or high-speed content, where fast refresh reduces motion blur.
💡 Tip: For classrooms and meeting rooms, 60Hz is more than enough for smooth writing and video playback.
Step 3
Check or change your refresh rate settings
On most operating systems or devices, you can check or adjust the refresh rate in the display settings.
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Windows: Right-click on the desktop > Display Settings > Advanced Display > Choose refresh rate
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Mac: System Settings > Displays > Refresh Rate
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CommBox Touchscreens: Settings may depend on the input source (e.g. OPS, external PC)
💡 Note: Your device and cable must support the higher refresh rate. HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort is required for rates above 60Hz.
Troubleshooting / What to Do If It Doesn’t Work
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Image looks choppy? Check if your refresh rate is set too low.
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Can’t select a higher rate? Make sure your device, cable, and screen all support the desired refresh rate.
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Using a third-party device? It might default to a lower refresh rate—check display settings on that device.