Is 50Hz TV OK for gaming?

As a tech expert and avid gamer, I get a lot of questions about whether a 50Hz television provides a smooth enough gaming experience compared to higher 60Hz or 120Hz displays. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll leverage my decade of experience reviewing TVs and gaming gear to break down the key considerations around 50Hz TV gaming.

What is Refresh Rate?

The refresh rate, measured in Hertz (Hz), determines how many frames per second (FPS) a display can show. Standard TV content is 24 or 30 FPS. Most TVs today have a 60Hz refresh rate, meaning they refresh the image 60 times per second to display up to 60 FPS smoothly.

However, a 50Hz TV can only refresh 50 times per second. This limits the maximum frame rate to 50 FPS for both videos and games. While fine for regular TV watching, 50 FPS is lower than the 60 FPS many modern games are designed for.

From a technical perspective, refresh rate is how often the display draws a new image. A higher refresh rate reduces motion blur and delivers a smoother, more responsive gaming experience. It‘s a crucial specification especially for competitive gaming.

50Hz and 60Hz Gaming Frame Rates

Since a 50Hz TV is limited to 50 FPS maximum, games rendered above 50 FPS will have frames skipped by the TV. This results in a choppy, uneven gaming experience – especially fast-paced first person shooters, racing games, fighting games, and other action genres running at 60 FPS or higher.

For example, Fortnite on Xbox One targets 60 FPS for smooth responsive play. On a 60Hz display, each frame rendered by the console updates instantly on screen for fluid motion.

But on a 50Hz TV, only 50 out of the 60 FPS are displayed, causing a laggy, jittery picture. This deteriorates gameplay, and makes it harder to precisely track and target opponents.

According to RTings testing, popular first person shooters see 20% higher input lag on 50Hz displays compared to 60Hz models. Slower reaction times caused by higher lag puts you at a competitive disadvantage.

Figure 1 – 50Hz vs 60Hz frame pacing comparison (simulated)

However, slower paced or older 30 FPS-locked games may look decent on a 50Hz TV since the refresh rate isn‘t a bottleneck. But for today‘s 60 FPS target, a 50Hz display can‘t keep up.

50Hz and 60Hz Console Gaming

For console gaming on PS4 and Xbox One, many titles are capped at 30 FPS which 50Hz TVs can deliver smoothly. This includes cinematic single player games like God of War. However, an increasing number of console games support unlocking the frame rate up to 60 FPS via a "performance mode", especially on the more powerful PS4 Pro and Xbox One X.

Popular examples include Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, Rise of the Tomb Raider, and Injustice 2. These higher frame rate modes will be limited by a 50Hz display. Next generation consoles arriving in late 2020 like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X will likely push 60 FPS gaming even more.

So while you may get by with 50Hz for more casual, slower paced PlayStation and Xbox gaming, a 60Hz TV provides headroom to take advantage of higher FPS. According to John Archer at Forbes, "60Hz is better for gaming" due to the prevalence of 60 FPS modes on consoles.

50Hz and PC Gaming

When it comes to PC gaming, a 50Hz refresh rate is far more limiting because desktops can output frame rates exceeding 100 FPS or higher depending on the game and hardware. This dramatically surpasses what a 50Hz TV can display.

Many competitive esports titles like CS:GO, Dota 2, and Overwatch see professional players using 144Hz or 240Hz gaming monitors to experience buttery smooth animation and rapid response times.

You can cap the frame rate to 50 FPS to match a 50Hz TV. But this negates your high FPS capable PC, and increases input lag significantly according to DisplayNinja tests:

Competitive gaming requires every millisecond advantage possible. The lower input lag and motion clarity provided by a true 120Hz or 144Hz gaming monitor makes a world of difference.

Factors Beyond Refresh Rate for Gaming

While refresh rate is critical, here are other key specifications to consider when selecting a TV or monitor for the optimum gaming experience:

• Input Lag – Should be under 20ms, the lower the better. Enable Game Mode on your TV to reduce input lag.

• Response Time – How quickly pixels transition colors. Shorter is better to reduce ghosting and motion blur.

• Adaptive Sync – Variable refresh rate tech like AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync matches the frame rate output to the display for tear-free gaming.

• HDR – High dynamic range enables vivid colors, brilliant highlights and excellent contrast for realistic graphics.

• Resolution – Match the native resolution of your console or PC. 1080p for 24" screens, 1440p for 27" and 4K for larger displays.

Getting a TV with these gaming-centric capabilities along with higher refresh rates ensures the best performance.

Improving Your 50Hz Gaming Experience

While I recommend at least a 60Hz display for gaming, here are some tips to enhance your experience if limited to 50Hz:

• Enable Game Mode – Reduces input lag for snappier reactions in games.

• Limit Framerates – If the game allows capping FPS, set to 50 or lower to match TV.

• Lower Graphics Settings – Dropping resolution or details can help maintain 50 FPS.

• Sit Further Away – Increased distance makes lower frame rates less noticeable to our eyes.

• Set TV to PC Mode – May help reduce display lag compared to standard TV viewing presets.

• Use Game Console‘s Original Cables – Avoid adapters which can introduce input lag.

• Check for Firmware Updates – Newer TV firmware sometimes boosts gaming performance.

The Verdict on 50Hz TV Gaming

While a 50Hz TV may be "good enough" for slower paced games limited to 30 FPS, and general console gaming, 50Hz won‘t provide the smoothest experience for fast action titles. Most modern games are designed for 60 FPS, which 50Hz displays can‘t fully take advantage of.

For competitive multiplayer gaming, a 60Hz screen or higher is recommended by experts to experience fluid motion and responsive controls. This is especially true for PC gaming where hardware is capable of rendering frames rates exceeding 100 FPS.

So while possible to game on a 50Hz television, to truly unlock your game‘s potential a display with a higher 60Hz, 120Hz or 144Hz refresh rate is advised. Taking the time to calibrate settings and follow other best practices can also help maximize performance on a 50Hz display.

Upgrading to a faster refresh rate monitor or TV matched to your chosen platform will immediately elevate your gaming experience. Your reactions will be sharper, motion will appear buttery smooth, and you‘ll gain a competitive edge against opponents.

Hopefully this detailed overview gives you confidence in choosing the ideal display to game like a pro no matter your platform of choice. Let me know if you have any other questions – I‘m always happy to help a fellow gamer up their setup. Enjoy that silky smooth high refresh rate gaming experience!