A 360Hz refresh rate represents the optimal balance for competitive first-person shooter (FPS) games, according to insights gathered from professional Counter-Strike 2 players. This assertion builds upon previous testing and analysis, now bolstered by discussions with players Oscar "Azuwu" (Oscar Bell) and "yxngstxr" (Simon Boije) of the Luminosity team.
At Logitech's G Play event in Warsaw, which featured a Counter-Strike 2 tournament, both players shared their perspectives on high refresh rates. Azuwu noted that while he didn't significantly notice the jump from 240Hz to 360Hz initially, he now finds it difficult to revert to lower refresh rates. He believes that rates around 360Hz, 400Hz, and 600Hz offer similar experiences, with 400Hz being a "nice spot" and 600Hz being "extra nice." However, he also pointed out that many PCs struggle to consistently achieve 600 frames per second (fps).
Yxngstxr echoed this sentiment, suggesting that extremely high refresh rates like 600Hz can be subject to a "placebo, personal thing." He argued that if a PC cannot maintain frame rates close to the monitor's refresh rate, the benefit is negligible, stating, "600 Hz with like 300 fps, it doesn't even matter." The author, running Counter-Strike 2 on a high-end rig with a Ryzen 7 7800X3D and RX 9070 XT, typically hovers around 500 fps, indicating that even powerful systems may not consistently reach 600 fps in the game.
Beyond refresh rate, Zowie's DyAc (Dynamic Accuracy) anti-ghosting technology was highlighted as a feature that makes a noticeable difference. Many professional players, including those spoken to, utilize Zowie monitors, partly due to this technology. Yxngstxr commented that DyAc makes "the edge of the players" more perceptible. The author corroborated this observation from personal testing of the 600Hz Zowie XL2586X+ monitor, noting that DyAc, a proprietary backlight strobing technique, enhances motion clarity. While acknowledging its potential benefit for professionals, he also mentioned that Azuwu found it difficult to discern the impact of DyAc.
Ultimately, the consensus among the interviewed players and the author points towards diminishing returns as refresh rates exceed 360Hz. This supports the initial claim that 360Hz likely represents the sweet spot for competitive FPS gaming, offering a significant advantage without the performance constraints or subtle benefits of even higher refresh rates.