NZCity NewsLinks -

All Links

23 Aug 2025

Search

No doubt the players would welcome Isak back - Howe
Manager Eddie Howe says he wants to see Alexander Isak back in a Newcastle United shirt and that the players would "welcome the striker back".

Eze's journey from Arsenal rejection to brink of dream return
The Eberechi Eze story - from being released by Arsenal to be on the cusp of a return to the club as a Ł60m superstar 14 years later.

US to review all 55 million visas to check if holders broke rules
A US state department official says US visa holders will face "continuous vetting".

Our brother was killed in the Shoreham air crash. I will never unhear Mum's wail
Ten years after the Shoreham Airshow crash bereaved families describe how their lives changed.

British Airways attendant found naked and on drugs in onboard toilet
A blood test revealed Haden Pentecost, 41, had methamphetamine and amphetamines in his system.

Home Office seeks to appeal court ruling on Epping asylum hotel
The High Court refused a last-minute request by the Home Office to intervene in the Epping asylum hotel case.

Refresh-rate reality check: 144Hz vs. 240Hz vs. 500Hz monitors
Refresh rate is one of the main metrics PC gamers check on to see what kind of gaming experience we’re going to have with a monitor — with higher rates generally meaning smoother gameplay. That’s the gist of it, but most gamers don’t need astronomically fast refresh rates when the sweet spot of 144Hz is good enough for most gaming needs. Refresh rate in a nutshell A refresh rate, measured in hertz (Hz), indicates how many times per second a display updates the image it shows. That means a monitor with a refresh rate of 60Hz updates its image 60 times per second, while one with a 144Hz refresh rate updates its image 144 times, and so on. These aren’t just numbers; they do change the clarity and smoothness of the motion being displayed, with faster refresh rates producing more fluid motion, less motion blur, and less screen tearing compared to slower ones. A good way to see this in action is using the motion test at UFO Test at Blur Busters. To get the most from a monitor’s refresh rate, though, your video card needs to be able to produce enough frames per second to do it justice. You’re also going to need the right image processing software and drivers loaded — so for a 240Hz refresh rate you’re going to need an RTX 50 Series or equivalent graphics card and 4x multi-frame generation software, in order to truly utilize your frame rate. Further reading: Best gaming monitors Why 144Hz is good enough for most gamers Gaming displays start at 144Hz these days. With top-tier refresh rates now reaching more than 600Hz, you’d be forgiven for thinking 144Hz is a lousy option. In fact, it’s still head and shoulders above the 60- to 90Hz rates that ship with most productivity laptops. In fact, monitors with 144Hz are perfectly fine for most gamers and will produce mostly clear motion without any perceptible blur. Gameplay is smooth, enough for an enjoyable experience. Whereas, gaming in some titles with just a 60- to 90Hz refresh rate is a much more jerky and blurry experience. Acer An added benefit is that displays with 144Hz refresh rates tend to be more affordable. For example, you can pick up the Acer Nitro V15 gaming laptop with a 144Hz refresh rate for just $950 on Amazon, while laptops with 240Hz or above tend to cost a lot more. Gaming monitors like the Asus TUF Gaming 24 (VG247Q1A) and Samsung Odyssey G7 (G70D), are also quite affordable options sporting 144Hz refresh rates. At 240Hz it’s starting to get serious A 240Hz refresh rate is going to be a big asset if you’re an esports player trying to get the edge in competitive multiplayer games — especially games that rely on your reflexes. We’re talking about millisecond advantages to input lag here, so not everyone will benefit: For example, in a 240Hz display the maximum time between frames is 4.16 milliseconds compared to the 16.67 milliseconds on a 60Hz display. For that reason, a lot of competitive gamers of third- and first-person shooters like Valorant or CounterStrike:Go choose a 240Hz refresh rate over a slower refresh rate. Again, there are quite a lot of gaming laptops with 240Hz displays, like the 2025 Asus ROG Strix G16. You’ll also find quite a lot of gaming monitors with this refresh rate on the market — monitors like the 27-inch Alienware gaming monitor (AW2723DF) Asus ROG Strix G16 IDG / Mark Knapp Going for a 240Hz refresh rate over 144Hz means you’ll get better visual fluidity; motion will be smoother; and motion blur will be reduced, which will allow you to track foes easier and make more hits. If you’re just a casual gamer, 240Hz is going to be overkill, so save your cash and just get a 144Hz display instead. If you’re elite esports pro, then try 500Hz If I was singing the praises of a 240Hz refresh rate, then it’s not a stretch to imagine how a 500Hz refresh rate, being more than double the speed, is a step up again for smoothness in motion and reduction in motion blur. Once again, though, we’re looking at millisecond advantages to input lag for a 500Hz refresh rate compared to a 240Hz refresh rate (2ms versus 4.16ms), so not all players are going to benefit. Mentioned in this article Asus ROG Strix G16 Read our review Best Prices Today: $2,099.99 at Amazon Esports players graduating from a 240Hz display that want to push the envelope are probably the best poised to take advantage of the 2ms faster responsiveness. But 500Hz is going to be total overkill for casual gamers. The pool of available 500Hz displays on the market is lot smaller than displays with other refresh rates, too, and they tend to be a lot more expensive. Look out for monitors like the 24.5-inch Alienware gaming monitor (AW2524HF), if you really want to land one of these beauties I hope that sheds some light on the refresh rates. Good luck making the most of them and enjoy the fast-paced gaming! Related content The best gaming monitors: 9 displays that will do your games justice Tested! The best gaming laptops under $1,000 The best gaming laptops: 5 top options for portable performance Refresh rate vs. frame rate: Why they matter for gaming performance 7 settings every PC gamer should tweak immediately

'One of the most violent chapters in football history'
Universidad de Chile accuse opponents Independiente of failing to protect their supporters from a "brutal and inhuman beating".

Isak saga 'lose-lose' but I'd welcome him back into squad - Howe
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe says he will reintegrate Alexander Isak into his squad if the striker is still at the club beyond the transfer window.

Revolution Beauty to 'reset' after sale falls through
Co-founders Adam Minto and Tom Allsworth will return to the troubled brand after plummeting sales.

Assaults on public-facing workers should be specific offence, bosses say
The Institute of Customer Service says many are considering leaving their jobs as a result of abuse.

New dinosaur species unearthed on Isle of Wight named after world record sailor
The medium-sized herbivore once roamed the floodplains of what is now the Island's south-west coast.

Dozens arrested and weapons seized ahead of Notting Hill Carnival
Some 100 people have been arrested and 11 guns seized ahead of Notting Hill Carnival, police say.