Best 500Hz gaming monitor

For a 500Hz gaming monitor, the Samsung Odyssey G6 was £632.47 and the Gigabyte AORUS FO27Q5P was £738.98 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (October 2026). Buy the Samsung Odyssey G6 27-inch OLED if competitive shooters are the priority, or the Gigabyte AORUS FO27Q5P if DisplayPort 2.1 connectivity matters. Both are QHD OLED displays rated at 500Hz. Samsung lists the Odyssey G6 500Hz specifications, ASUS lists the XG27AQDNG QHD 360Hz mode, and Gigabyte publishes the FO27Q5P specification sheet. This is a specialist tier: a 500Hz screen only makes practical sense when the PC can deliver very high frame rates and the player notices the difference from 240Hz or 360Hz. See our OLED gaming monitor guide for broader panel choices.

Manufacturer specifications: Samsung Odyssey G6 500Hz and Gigabyte AORUS FO27Q5P product pages confirm the QHD 500Hz modes.

Who should buy a 500Hz gaming monitor?

A 500Hz monitor suits a competitive player whose main games are lightweight enough to run at hundreds of frames per second. Counter-Strike 2, Valorant and Rainbow Six Siege are the kind of titles where reduced display intervals can matter more than cinematic detail. Even then, 500Hz is a system target, not a guarantee: the processor, graphics card, game settings and map all affect frame output. A player whose frame rate fluctuates between 180 and 260 fps does not receive 500 unique frames each second simply by connecting a 500Hz panel.

The practical decision is therefore less about the number printed on the box and more about repeatable performance. If a game averages 450 fps but its 1% lows sit near 230 fps, much of the session runs below the panel's ceiling. Lowering resolution or visual quality can raise frame rates, but that trade may be pointless if the player prefers clearer textures or plays story games as often as esports. At 27 inches, QHD is a useful compromise: 2560 by 1440 gives sharper text and scenery than 1080p while demanding less rendering work than 4K.

OLED also changes the value calculation. The G6 and FO27Q5P pair a very high refresh rate with self-emissive pixels and a 0.03 ms quoted response time. That can improve transition clarity compared with a slower LCD, but response time is not the same as end-to-end input lag. The panel cannot correct a high-latency mouse, an overloaded CPU or a game server delay. Buyers should treat 500Hz as one part of a responsive setup, alongside stable frame delivery, low-latency input and sensible display settings.

For a mixed-use desk, the extra refresh rate carries a real opportunity cost. Fast games may look exceptionally fluid, but text work still depends on pixel density, subpixel layout, brightness control and ergonomics. OLED protection features also matter when desktop interfaces stay fixed for long periods. A user who spends most of the day in spreadsheets and only occasionally plays a shooter is better served by a balanced 1440p monitor than by paying a premium for a ceiling they rarely reach. Compare this with our refresh-rate guide.

How much faster is 500Hz than 360Hz?

The frame interval falls from 2.78 milliseconds at 360Hz to 2 milliseconds at 500Hz. That is 0.78 milliseconds less per refresh, or a 28% shorter interval. The calculation is 1,000 divided by the refresh rate: 1,000 / 360 = 2.78 ms, and 1,000 / 500 = 2 ms. A 240Hz display has a 4.17 ms interval, so 500Hz reduces that interval by 2.17 ms. These figures describe the time between refreshes, not a guaranteed reduction in a player's reaction time.

The small interval difference explains why 500Hz is a marginal upgrade for most buyers. Raising refresh from 60Hz to 120Hz halves the interval from 16.67 ms to 8.33 ms. Raising it from 360Hz to 500Hz shaves less than one millisecond. A trained player tracking fast targets may value that improvement, especially if the game and PC sustain frame rates above 360 fps. A casual player is more likely to notice the jump from 60Hz to 144Hz, or from 1080p to QHD, than the final step from 360Hz to 500Hz.

ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDNG is the 360Hz comparison: its 26.5-inch QHD QD-OLED carries a 0.03ms response rating and was £509.00 in the verified October 2026 snapshot. The 500Hz G6 has a 2ms refresh interval versus 2.78ms for the ASUS. If your game rarely exceeds 300fps, a 360Hz screen already covers most frames your PC can produce.

Compare Electronic's break-even rule is practical: choose 500Hz only if the main game regularly exceeds 360 fps, the player competes seriously, and the price premium is acceptable after checking the exact current Amazon listing. Otherwise, direct the budget toward a better graphics card, processor or a higher-quality 240Hz OLED. That money can raise frame-rate lows, which often matter more to smoothness than a higher maximum refresh rate that the system seldom reaches.

Which ports and PC specs does 500Hz need?

Check the exact input mode, not just the port version. Samsung's UK Odyssey G6 product page specifies QHD at up to 500Hz and lists DisplayPort 1.4 alongside HDMI 2.1. Gigabyte's official FO27Q5P specification sheet lists 2560 by 1440 at 500Hz, DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR20, Mini DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR20, two HDMI 2.1 inputs and USB-C with up to 18W power delivery. The extra USB-C power is enough for some accessories, not for charging most performance laptops at full speed.

Before ordering, confirm that the graphics card has a compatible output and that its driver exposes the monitor's maximum refresh rate at the chosen resolution and colour format. Some combinations use Display Stream Compression to carry high refresh rates over a link. Compression is designed to be visually unobtrusive, but a signal's colour depth, chroma format and HDR mode can change which refresh rates are available. Check the monitor manual and graphics card specification rather than relying on a cable's marketing label.

500Hz also puts the PC under a demanding workload. At 500 fps, the game engine must complete a frame every 2 ms on average. That depends heavily on CPU performance in esports titles, so replacing a GPU alone does not guarantee the target. A sensible purchase plan is to benchmark the games you actually play at QHD, use competitive settings only if you like their appearance, and inspect 1% lows as well as the average. If the average is below 300 fps, a 360Hz option is likely to be the more balanced match.

Warranty and desk fit belong in the same checklist. Both OLED technology and static desktop use deserve attention: check the manufacturer's UK warranty wording for the exact model and retain proof of purchase. ASUS lists the XG27AQDNG at 360Hz; compare warranty terms separately because panel protections and coverage differ between models. A height-adjustable stand, VESA arm compatibility and enough desk depth can improve daily comfort more than another 140Hz on paper.

Which 500Hz gaming monitor should you buy?

The Samsung Odyssey G6 is the straightforward pick when the aim is a 500Hz QHD OLED for esports and its available ports match the PC. Gigabyte AORUS FO27Q5P is the stronger connectivity choice: its published spec adds UHBR20 DisplayPort 2.1 and USB-C. Neither connection makes games faster by itself, so users with a graphics card that lacks the required output should check compatibility before paying extra. The LG UltraGear GX7 at 480Hz is close enough that panel preference, image modes and verified price can decide it.

For broader options, see our best PC gaming monitor guide and best OLED gaming monitors. If 500Hz is outside your budget or your games cannot use it, the budget gaming monitor shortlist covers more sensible refresh tiers.