You’ve invested in a high refresh rate monitor—maybe a 144Hz, 240Hz, or even something faster. That’s a fantastic first step toward incredibly smooth and responsive gameplay. But a fast monitor is only half the story. To actually see the benefit of that high refresh rate, you need a gaming PC that can produce an equally high number of frames per second (FPS).

If your PC can only manage 60 FPS, your 144Hz monitor will mostly be showing duplicate frames, and you won’t feel that fluid motion you paid for. The goal is to match your PC's frame rate output to your monitor's refresh rate. This guide will walk you through what hardware you need to make the most of your speedy display.

Pushing high frame rates is a demanding task that relies on a balanced system. However, a couple of components do most of the heavy lifting. Focusing on these parts will give you the biggest performance gains for your money.

The GPU is the single most important component for achieving high frame rates. Its job is to render every single frame you see on screen. To hit 144 FPS, your GPU needs to draw 144 distinct images every second. The more powerful your GPU, the more frames it can produce, and the smoother your game will look and feel.

Your monitor's resolution also plays a huge role. A GPU that can easily push 200+ FPS in VALORANT at 1080p resolution will struggle to maintain even 100 FPS at 1440p or 4K in the same game. More pixels require significantly more graphical horsepower. When choosing a GPU, always consider the resolution you play at.

While the GPU renders the frames, the CPU is the brain of the operation. It handles game logic, physics calculations, AI behavior, and tells the GPU what to draw in the first place. If your CPU can't process this information fast enough, it creates a "bottleneck," holding back your powerful GPU.

For high FPS gaming, especially in competitive titles like Counter-Strike 2 or Apex Legends, a CPU with strong single-core performance is crucial. These games often rely on the speed of a single core to process actions quickly, which directly translates to higher potential frame rates. A slow CPU will limit your maximum FPS, no matter how good your graphics card is.

While the GPU and CPU are the stars, other components play key supporting roles. Having at least 16GB of fast RAM allows your CPU to quickly access game data, preventing stutters that can ruin a smooth experience. For modern gaming and multitasking, 32GB is quickly becoming the new standard. Likewise, a speedy NVMe SSD ensures your games load quickly and new areas or textures appear instantly, keeping the entire experience seamless.

Whether you want to build a PC piece by piece, buy a pre-configured system, or subscribe to a flexible service, NZXT has options to get you the performance you need.

For those who love the process of building their own PC, selecting the right components is key to ensuring your system runs cool and stable while pushing high frame rates. A powerful CPU and GPU generate a lot of heat, so excellent cooling is non-negotiable.

Cases like the NZXT H7 Flow are designed with airflow as a top priority, ensuring your components get plenty of fresh air to perform their best. Pairing that with a high-performance AIO cooler like the NZXT Kraken will keep your CPU's temperatures in check during intense gaming sessions. Finally, a reliable power supply from the NZXT C-Series lineup provides stable, efficient power to keep everything running smoothly.

If you want to skip the build process and jump right into gaming, a prebuilt PC is a great choice. NZXT Player PCs are specifically designed and balanced for different performance targets, making it easy to find one that matches your monitor.

• Player One: This PC is optimized for a fantastic high refresh rate experience at 1080p. It's a great fit for gamers with 1080p 144Hz or 240Hz monitors who primarily play popular esports titles and want consistent, smooth performance.

• Player Two: Stepping up to a 1440p high refresh rate monitor? The Player Two is the perfect match. It features a more powerful CPU and GPU combination that can handle the increased pixel count of 1440p, delivering the high frame rates needed for fluid gameplay in demanding AAA titles.

• Player Three: For the ultimate experience on a 4K high refresh rate display, the Player Three is the answer. It’s equipped with top-of-the-line components capable of tackling the immense challenge of 4K gaming, pushing high FPS for incredible visual fidelity and smoothness.

For even more power, our Prime versions of each Player PC come with upgraded specs like a better GPU, a stronger CPU, and more RAM, giving you extra performance headroom for today and tomorrow.

Sometimes your needs change. You might upgrade your monitor or want to try the latest hardware without a long-term investment. That’s where a subscription service can be a great fit. With NZXT Flex, you can subscribe to a high-performance gaming PC that fits your needs today, with the freedom to swap, refresh, or cancel anytime—no commitment. This allows you to easily match your PC’s performance to your monitor without the upfront cost of buying a new system.

The core components determine your FPS, but other factors contribute to the overall experience of using a high-performance gaming PC.

• Cooling and Noise: High-end parts working hard generate heat. A well-cooled system not only prevents performance throttling but also runs quieter. Cases with good airflow and quality fans, like our F-Series fans, help dissipate heat efficiently without sounding like a jet engine.

• Aesthetics and Space: Your PC is the centerpiece of your setup. You want it to look good and fit your space. NZXT cases are known for their clean, modern aesthetic, with options like the compact H5 Flow or the panoramic H9 Flow to match your style.

• Multitasking: Do you stream on Twitch, record your gameplay, or just keep Discord and a dozen browser tabs open while gaming? These background tasks require extra processing power and memory. A PC with a multi-core CPU and 32GB of RAM, like the Player Two or Player Three, will ensure your game remains smooth even while you multitask.

A high refresh rate monitor is a gateway to a superior gaming experience, but it can't do the job alone. To unlock that buttery-smooth gameplay, you need a PC that can consistently deliver frame rates that meet or exceed your monitor's refresh rate. The best gaming PC for high refresh rate monitors is one with a balanced, powerful GPU and CPU tailored to your target resolution—whether that’s 1080p, 1440p, or 4K.

Whether you're carefully selecting parts for your own build, choosing a pre-optimized Player PC, or enjoying the freedom of an NZXT Flex subscription, you can get the performance you need to see every single frame your new monitor can display.