Expert in

PC Health Solution

Advanced SystemCare

All-in-one PC health solution.

Free Download
IObit > Blog > PC Boost

[5 Ways] How to Optimize Gaming PC for High Refresh Rates 2026

Check how to optimize gaming for PC for high refresh rates like 120, 144, or even 240Hz. No need to upgrade hardware. 5 fast, easy hacks inside.

Playing games but underperforming because of lag? Low refresh rates causing unbearable motion blur and screen tearing? Trying to update hardware but have a budget limit? Learn how to optimize gaming PC for high refresh rates here! Higher refresh rates along with better FPS performance can be attained after reading this—no need to update any part of your PC. 5 easy but effective settings collected for you below:

How to Optimize Gaming PC for High Refresh Rates

Users whose monitors are running at 120Hz can see much smoother motion than those at 60Hz. It means that they will have an advantage when playing games like CS: GO because their enemies will appear in a smooth way.

A high refresh rate monitor can reduce motion blur and screen tearing to help you take advantage when gaming. Reducing input lag and increasing responsiveness can also be achieved.

Why High Refresh Rates Are Important

Here’s how the refresh rate works for different occasions. For gamers like you, the higher the refresh rate, the better the gaming experience you will have.

  • 60Hz - Daily work/entertainment

  • 120/144Hz - Most Games

  • 240Hz or Higher - Competitive e-sports gaming like first-person shooter games.

So, let’s find out how to optimize gaming PC for 120Hz now!

Here are 5 easy settings that you can find to get your PC prepared for 120Hz or even 144Hz. Check them one by one below!

Make Sure Your Monitor Supports High Refresh Rates

First of all, make sure that you have chosen the highest refresh rate for your monitor. No matter it is 120Hz or 144Hz, check your refresh rate in the display settings just like the steps shown below:

Step 1. Right-click your mouse and select Display Settings.

Step 2. Scroll down to find Advanced display.

How to Optimize Gaming PC for High Refresh Rates - Step 2

Step 3. Find Choose a refresh rate and select 120Hz or higher as long as your monitor supports.

How to Optimize Gaming PC for High Refresh Rates - Step 3


Get Your PC Ready


How to optimize gaming PC for 144Hz? Follow the steps below to choose a High performance power plan and enable Game Mode as a solution.

Step 1. Go to the Control Panel and find Power settings.

Step 2. Click Choose a power plan and select High Performance.

How to Optimize Gaming PC for High Refresh Rates - High Performance

Windows Game Mode can be toggled on by Settings > Gaming > Game Mode.

How to Optimize Gaming PC for High Refresh Rates - Game Mode


Enable G-SYNC or FreeSync if Supported

If your monitors and graphics cards support G-SYNC or FreeSync, you can have a tear-free experience, low latency, low framerate compensation, etc. when it’s enabled. Therefore, it is vital to learn how to use it:

For NVIDIA G-SYNC

  • Go to NVIDIA Control Panel > Display > Set up G-SYNC.

  • Click Enable G-SYNC.

How to Optimize Gaming PC for High Refresh Rates - G-SYNC

For AMD FreeSync:

  • Go to AMD Radeon Settings > Display > AMD FreeSync.

  • Make sure it’s on.

How to Optimize Gaming PC for High Refresh Rates - FreeSync


Update Driver

Graphics drivers and display drivers are also important for high refresh rates. Make sure they are updated for the best performance. Here’s how you can update them: Search Device Manager >  find Monitors/Display adapters > Update driver > Choose Search automatically for drivers.

How to Optimize Gaming PC for High Refresh Rates - Update Driver

If you want to save time and are not sure which is the best version of drivers, a one-click solution is also here for you. Driver Booster, a free driver updater that can find the best drivers for your PC in seconds, is available here.

Driver Booster Free
  • Automatically scan and update drivers.
  • Update game ready drivers for peak gaming performance.
  • Identify and fix various common of hardware issues.
  • Boost 30% of system performance for fast & smooth running.

Optimize In-Game Settings

In the Graphics quality settings of games, choose very low for shadows, textures, post-processing, etc., to achieve higher FPS to match your refresh rate. You can start with very low for all and adjust one demanding option, like effects, at a time to find the balance of FPS and graphics quality.

Use NVIDIA DLSS/AMD FSR

NVIDIA DLSS/AMD FSR can improve FPS significantly to match high refresh rates. No need to upgrade hardware, and all you need to do is check if the game you play supports DLSS/FSR or not. Then open it in the settings, just like the screenshot shown below:

How to Optimize Gaming PC for High Refresh Rates - DLSS

Besides adjusting your PC and game, there is also a tool for upgrading your gameplay. Clearing RAM, boosting PC performance, monitoring CPU and GPU performance, etc., can be done with it. IObit Advanced System Care, this free tool, is ready for you. Let’s check its brilliant features one by one below:

Clear RAM to Get Your PC Ready for Gaming

High RAM usage making your gaming PC laggy? Advanced SystemCare has a PC performance monitor to enable you to clear RAM at any time. Just one click to release 1.5GB RAM, reducing usage from 87% to 53%.

Game Mode

It has a Game Mode that can boost your PC for a superior gaming experience by terminating unnecessary system and non-Windows services, as well as heavy background apps.

PC Monitoring

It also has a CPU GPU temperature monitor. Net speed, process, CPU & GPU usage, mainboard temp, fan speed, etc., all are in your control.

How to Optimize Gaming PC for High Refresh Rates - Performance Monitor

Here are the steps on how you can make use of this tool:

Step 1. Download Advanced SystemCare and install it.

Step 2. Launch this free tool and find Speed Up.

Step 3. Turn on Game Mode and Performance Monitor.

How to Optimize Gaming PC for High Refresh Rates - Use Advanced SystemCare

With this PC gaming optimizer, you can use all the features mentioned above and enjoy gaming with a better experience!

The Bottom Line

All about how to optimize gaming PC for high refresh rates has been introduced above. 6 free and easy methods, along with a one-stop solution: Advanced SystemCare, can be chosen by you now! No hesitation or wasting your time. Try some of them to improve your refresh rates and FPS right away!

Advanced SystemCare Free
  • Clean: 420 billion traces removed & 85 EB junk files cleaned
  • Protect: 80 million unauthorized access blocked & 20 million bugs fixed
  • Speed Up: 6 million hours of startup time saved & Turbo boost
  • Optimize: Auto clean and auto care your PC with AI mode
About the Author

Kevin Hart

Kevin is an experienced editor focused on tech blog writing. Familiar with all kinds of PC software on the market. All the topics he chooses are aimed at bringing more benefits to users.

Table of Contents

Advanced SystemCare

All-in-one PC health solution.

Free Download

Subscribe to IObit

Subscribe to keep you updated on products updates and special offers via email. And you can opt-out at any time.

Thank you!

Email has been sent! Please kindly check your email.

Back to Homepage

IObit uses cookies to improve content and ensure you get the best experience on our website.
Continue to browse our website agreeing to our privacy policy.

I Accept